Swallow this medication whole. Do not crush or chew them or the sustained activity of the drug will be destroyed and the chances of side effects occurring may be increased. Take as directed, usually twice daily for 7 to 12 weeks. Do not take more or less medication than prescribed. Since this drug can cause sleeplessness at first, it is best not to take near bedtime. It is advised to continue smoking for the first week after starting this drug, until it reaches higher levels in your blood. Do not smoke if using any nicotine products with this drug. Too much nicotine can cause serious side effects.

Skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of a Zyban overdose include seizures, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, and heart attack.

Avoid alcohol or drink it only in moderation while taking Generic Zyban. Alcohol may increase the risk of having a seizure while taking Generic Zyban. However, if you usually drink a lot of alcohol, talk with your doctor before stopping. Suddenly stopping may increase the risk of having a seizure. Talk to your doctor about alcohol use before starting treatment with Zyban. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Zyban may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. Bupropion may be used to treat different medical conditions. You should not be taking more than one product containing bupropion at a time (e.g., Wellbutrin and Zyban SR). Talk to your doctor if a second product containing bupropion is prescribed for you. Too much of this medicine can increase the risk of a seizure.

Generic Zyban is generally well tolerated. Dry mouth, headache, increased sweating, constipation, anxiety and fatigue may occur. If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor.

Before taking bupropion tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures, head injury, brain tumor; heart, liver or kidney disease, an eating disorder or any mental conditions, diabetes or if you have any allergies. Limit or avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages; alcohol can increase your risk of seizures. Chronic alcohol users who suddenly stop the intake of alcohol while taking bupropion may increase the risk of having seizures. Suddenly stopping certain tranquilizers (e.g., diazepam, chlordiazepoxide) is not recommended because doing so may increase the risk of having seizures. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before taking this drug. This drug is excreted into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using Zyban is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Do not take Zyban if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. Many drugs can interact with Zyban, resulting in side effects and/or decreased effectiveness of the medication. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, without first talking to your doctor during treatment with Zyban.