Adverse events with Zyban (buproprion)

Barbara Mintzes and associates' expressed concern last year over differences between countries in physicians' reporting of adverse reactions to prescription drugs. To illustrate, they cited significant differences in the reported rates of adverse reactions and deaths attributed to Zyban (buproprion) in Canada and the United Kingdom. We have data suggesting that the actual rates of adverse reactions related to the use of Zyban for smoking cessation in community clinical practice may exceed rates reported elsewhere. To determine if rates of adverse reactions were higher in clinical practice than in the literature, we undertook an independent study to examine adverse events associated with Zyban for smoking cessation in rural family practice. The study was carried out in Peace River, Alta. (population 6500) during the period April 2001 to February 2002. Patients 18 years of age or older who received a first-time prescription of Zyban for smoking cessation were enrolled and followed prospectively for 2 months. Previous Zyban users, those who were using Wellbutrin (another brand of bupropion) and those with an underlying seizure disorder were excluded from the study.