[veggiequeen]

<font color="brown">Hi

I was recently given Zyban (I am in the UK) for help with giving up smoking, I am meant to take the tablets for 2 months, however since starting them my level of anxiety has increased tenfold, my anger is alot worse, and I can burst into tear at the tiniest things. Sometimes its not just bursting into tears, its like a major tantrum and the intusive thoughts are extreme. I felt pretty ok before I started taking them, ok I had some underlying problems that I've had for years and have been coping with them very well, and also a period of depression a few years ago. Is it possible that Zyban can exagerate feelings and moods that normally I would be able to control and cope with. I find it confusing as Zyban is a mild antidepressant that is supposed to help with these issue, so why is it that mine have become worse?

Just for the record I didnt take my morning tablet today and I've been very calm all day, although I still cant bring myself to open the curtains.

any advice or info would be great.

thanks all and take care

Emma </font>

Welcome to PsychCentral. Sorry, I don't know a darn thing which might be helpful, but I want to say hi. I read some of your blog - great writing. Breaks my heart that you lost both parents so young.

I'm glad you found PsychCentral. There are some really wonderful people here - and quite a few from the UK. Take care, and please keep posting.

Emmy aka TofuButt

[veggiequeen]

Hi there,

thanks for replying to my post. I've just been doing some hunting around the web and I found this article, which says (if you read further down) that one of the side effects can be depression. It comes under rare side effects so I must be one of those point something percent that reacts badly to it.

have a read anyway and see what you think.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article488.html

Ive decided to go down to one a day on my tablets for a week or so and then try coming off them all together, I dont think I could last the next 3 weeks on them if this is what its doing to me, especially as I had a car crash last week and its affected me quite badly. I'm starting to wonder if, had I not taken the zyban, I would have coped better with such an incident. Its seems that my mood has been dropping slowly over the past few weeks and maybe this incident has pushed it further. I think also there are other factors involved such as lack of co-ordination that could have contributed to this accident, however I was NOT drowsy.

I hope this helps others using the same medicine. I'm not trying to put you off it, its good stuff, its stopped me smoking, but I think UK doctors should give weekly check ups on patients using this drug. My slide into depression may have been caught sooner. Other people however may not have the same symptoms as me but regular checks should be given just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for listening to my ramble.

Take care all

[Fuzzybear]

Welcome Emma! You have found a great place here, full of caring and understanding people. I can't answer your question either (sorry ) but I just wanted to say hi ... I am from the UK too

Bearhugs!
Fuzzy

[Larry_Hoover]

Although paradoxical responses to medication are not unheard of (exactly opposite reaction to what one would expect, like excitation from a benzo), I wonder if you're not experiencing withdrawal from the tobacco. There are a number of psychoactive compounds in tobacco smoke, not just nicotine. One effect is to block MAO-B, so your body may be producing too much MAO-B (rebound effect), leaving you vulnerable to stress. Try eating some dark chocolate, and see if your symptoms seem to remit.

Lar

[mj14]

Emma,

Welcome to the forums. I take Wellbutrin for depression, and anxiety is one of the most common side effects of bupropion. Some of the other things you're experiencing may be due to the increased anxiety. I know for depression, doctors will often not prescribe Wellbutrin for people who have anxiety as well, but I'm not sure there's an alternative for smoking cessation.

Not sure if that's much help, but at least you know that the side effects you are experiencing aren't unusual. I'd talk with your doctor to see if there might be some alternatives to try.

Jo

[veggiequeen]

Can I still have the effects of nicotine even after over 6 weeks of not smoking? I would have thought all the nicotine would be gone by now. My doc knew I was an anxious person, yet he still let me take it. I'm still going back to one a day, but I might carry on with all the tablets I have left or at least up to the 2 months like my doctor said. You would have thought after the car crash the first thing I would want to do is have a cig but I didnt. All I wanted was a hug from someone and there was no-one there. Zyban seems to have exaggerated problems that normally I can cope with like not having a family round me and total isolation.

Thanks for the suggestions though

[veggiequeen]

sorry to waffle on but I just found this

http://www.alexharris.co.uk/thread.asp?forum=12

.... read about halfway downt the post from Martin Ware.... he has almost the same symptoms as me

[darkeyes]

Not all antidepressants work as such for many, and sometimes can cause a state of agitation, I would reccomend you take this up with your pdoc, you may need a different med or dosage.
Also, before a person stops or reduces their meds they really should check with there doc first.
Sad to say, the medication you mentioned did not help me quit smoking or adress my depression, I had to go onto other meds.
Smoking? The only way I quit, and for 5 years was finally "cold turkey", but like a fool started during a very high stress period in my life, I am going to try today after I finish my last to cigarettes, wish me luck.
I wish you lots of luck with this, and again be sure to check with your doctor about your meds and possible alternatives.
Please take care,

DE

[Wycelf]

Buprion exacerbates anxiety, especially if there's a preexisting condition of it.