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Addiction (Expert Forum)
ZYBAN AND DRINKING
Questions in the Addiction forum are answered by a medical expert.
Doctor's Answer
by HVM-MD-SA, Dec 30, 1998 12:00AM
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Bupropion (the generic name of Zyban) lowers the seizure threshold, which means that people who take it are more likely to have seizures (convulsions)on the drug than when they aren't taking the drug. The risk of a generalized seizure is about 1 in 1000 for someone taking 300mg of the sustained-release preparation (this is what is recommended for smoking cessation). People who drink heavily also lower their seizure thresholds, especially when the effects of alcohol are wearing off. So it stands to reason that people who take bupropion (for any reason) should be exceptionally careful about drinking alcohol. If it is safe for you to drink (by that I mean you're not pregnant, not an alcoholic, and have not been told to avoid drinking for medical reasons), then you should check with the doctor who is prescribing the Zyban to see what he or she advises regarding drinking. If the prescribing doctor says its okay for you to drink while taking the Zyban, I would take care to drink very moderately: Never more than a drink at a sitting (and not more than 1 sitting per day). You should also keep in mind that people who want to stop smoking and who drink are more likely to pick up a cigarette than those who do not drink. Good luck!!
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and
treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.
Steve Adelman, M.D. (a.k.a. DrSteve)
Keywords: bupropion, drinking
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