Regardless of the diverse range treatment methods available to help people quit smoking, there are just a couple of prescribed stop smoking drugs that does not have nicotine as an ingredient. These pills are Chantix and Zyban. The majority of smoking cessation drugs can be classified as nicotine replacement therapies, and are mostly designed to simply move one's nicotine addiction from tobacco/cigarettes to the nicotine replacer. Zyban, which contains Bupropion as an active ingredient is primarily an antidepressant which was soon demonstrated to have nicotine antagonistic properties and have been used as a stop smoking remedy. Whereas, Chantix, a.k.a. Varenicline, is considered as a partial nicotine antagonist and is a newer addition to smoking cessation pills.

Zyban

Buopropion, the active ingredient of Zyban, is a nicotine antagonist. This denotes that Zyban will help manage your body's incessant need or craving for nicotine. Taken 2x per day for 8 to 12 weeks, the Zyban medication is known to enable you to quit smoking within only 8 days after starting the treatment.

Besides controlling your craving for nicotine, this pill moreover alleviates any nicotine withdrawal symptoms, including weight gain, depression, and even anxiety. A 15% success rate or more has been reported for individuals who have effectively stopped smoking through this medicationalone. Zyban is furthermore a known anti-depressant recommended by numerous doctors as it doesn't set off certain sexual dysfunction unlike most most other antidepressants.

Then again, there have been a lot of instances of seizure recorded after consuming Buopropion. While the seizure incidents were then demonstrated to be a dosage mistake, Buopropion-based pills are strictly not recommended for those suffering from epilepsy or those with any seizure-related diseases.

The other Zyban side effects are nausea, excess sweating, tremors, dry mouth, and tinnitus. Abrupt Zyban interruption will trigger mania, generalized pain, irritability, anxiety attacks, dystonia, and headaches.

Chantix

Chantix, also known as Varenicline, is one more prescription medication that is free of nicotine. A recent addition to quit smoking medications, Chantix has a significantly more impressive success rate in stopping smoking in comparison to Zyban. As a nicotinic receptor partial inhibitor, this pill will lessen nicotine craving plus lessen the satisfaction smokers get from tobacco use.

As of this writing, Chantix has a 19-23% success rate in making smokers quit, which can take effect at 6 months or more after beginning treatment. A vast majority of smoking cessation drugs need to be taken for approximately 12 weeks, with the potential to extend for twelve more weeks if little results were originally noticed.

But then again, the Chantix pill does lead to a number of side effects which can't be ignored, such as nausea plus different gastrointestinal problems like flatulence or constipation, pain, along with various psychological repercussions. Varencicline use is closely associated with suicidal tendencies, psychosis, heightened violence, and homicidal tendencies. Given this, Chantix has been banned for airline pilots and cops. There are reports that Chantix was the #1 pill with related incidents during the first quarter of 2008. Currently, the American Food and Drug Administration is mandating more extensive testing of Chantix.

Whatever smoking cessation drug you ultimately decide to use to help you kick the habit, you are encouraged to always consider any potential side effects as well as weigh your options with utmost care.