Mayo Study Finds Long-Term Use of Zyban EffectiveSeptember 24, 2001
Research Summary
Smokers who take the antidepressant Zyban for a year are significantly less likely to relapse than those who try to quit without using the drug, according to a Sept. 20 press release from the Mayo Clinic.Typically, 70 to 80 percent of smokers who quit relapse within six to 12 months. But the multi-site study coordinated by Mayo researchers found that 55 percent of patients taking bupropion (a.k.a. Zyban) remained abstinent after a year, compared to 42 percent in a control group.
However, the relapse rate for both groups was about the same -- 40 percent -- after three years, leading researchers to wonder how long smokers should continue taking the antidepressant. The usual course of treatment calls for smokers to take Zyban for seven to 12 weeks.
The Zyban group also gained less weight than the control group.
The research was published in the Sept. 18 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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