Fact Checked
Fact Checked
This article has been fact checked by a licensed expert before publication to ensure all information provided is correct and safe.
Can you take Zyban and Champix together?
Zyban and Champix are two treatments that can help people stop smoking. Sometimes, Zyban is also prescribed ‘off-label’ as an antidepressant if other more common medications haven’t worked. Although Zyban and Champix work in different ways, both affect brain pathways involved in nicotine dependence.
Here, we'll look at the risks and benefits involved in using both treatments together.
Medically reviewed by
Sanjeda Chowdhury, Superintendent Pharmacist + Independent Prescriber
Using Zyban alongside Champix
Champix and Zyban both work by reducing cravings. Unlike patches or gum, neither medication contains nicotine; they instead work in the brain to help reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Champix partially activates these receptors, which tricks the brain into thinking you’ve had a small amount of nicotine, while Zyban mainly affects the brain chemicals dopamine and noradrenaline, which are involved in nicotine dependence and withdrawal. Both medications also affect dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in reward and pleasure.
A study showed that combining varenicline (Champix) with bupropion (Zyban) was more effective than using varenicline alone for smokers with a high level of dependence when used for 12 weeks.
But currently, Treated don’t recommend using both treatments at the same time. Although there’s evidence to suggest the two medications work well together, they generally aren’t prescribed this way.
In some circumstances, such as if you’ve been referred to a specialist stop smoking service, you might be recommended both medications at the same time, but this would need to be done under close medical supervision to ensure there are no risks to your health.
What are the risks of using Zyban alongside Champix?
The risks of using two smoking cessation treatments like Champix and Zyban together largely come from the side effects that the combined medications can cause.
Both Zyban and Champix work systemically, which means they’re absorbed into your bloodstream and act on your body and brain. Each medication works effectively as a single treatment. Studies have shown bupropion (Zyban) can almost double people’s chances of stopping smoking, while varenicline (Champix) was found to help 64.6% of people quit after using it for twelve weeks.
But both treatments can cause side effects like headaches, nausea, and insomnia. So using the two together could potentially double the chances of these kinds of side effects developing.
So if E-cigarettes and stop smoking aids like nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), which come in the form of gums, patches, tablets and sprays (as well as other forms) haven’t helped you quit, you might be prescribed a systemic treatment like Champix or Zyban. If they’re not successful after using them for a number of weeks, your clinician might switch you to another option rather than prescribing a similar treatment alongside it.
Can Zyban treat depression?
In the United States, bupropion is used as both an antidepressant and as a smoking cessation treatment. In the UK, bupropion is currently only available as Zyban, which is licensed and prescribed to help people quit smoking.
But because UK clinicians are aware that the active ingredient in Zyban works as an antidepressant, they might sometimes prescribe it ‘off-label’ to treat depression if other first-line treatments haven’t worked. Off-label prescribing is when clinicians use medications outside of their stated licence, when they think doing so will work effectively.
Bupropion belongs to a class of medications called norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), which work by stopping your brain from reabsorbing norepinephrine and dopamine. This is thought to help regulate mood and energy. In studies, it was shown to be as effective as other treatments at relieving symptoms of depression.
Can you switch between the two treatments?
You can switch between treatments like Champix and Zyban quite easily. But when you do switch, you’ll usually start on the new treatment at the lowest available dose.
Clinicians recommend this so your body can adjust to a new medication in your system, as starting at high doses might increase the chances of experiencing side effects. It also means the new medication might not work as effectively at reducing your cravings when you first start using it.
If you want to change stop smoking treatments, your clinician can help you do it safely, and can talk you through what you might experience during the transition period.
What to expect when changing stop smoking treatments
Adjusting to any new systemic medication involves a settling-in period where you get used to how it feels in your body.
So you might experience new side effects or mood changes that you hadn’t encountered while using your previous stop smoking treatment. Taking tablets on an empty stomach, or using them at the same time as drinking alcohol, might increase the chances of side effects developing, so this might be something to keep an eye on.
You might find that your cravings fluctuate, too, as you’ve started on a lower dose than you’d been using previously. If this is the case, your clinician might suggest things you can do to combat cravings returning more frequently, like going for a brisk walk, or finding ways to distract yourself at the times your cravings usually occur, such as right after meals.
Get advice on stopping smoking
Our clinicians will work with you to choose effective treatments that can help you stop smoking. If you’re currently using a treatment and want to change to a different one, they can help you make the switch smoothly, and support you throughout.
Once you’ve started a treatment plan, they can discuss practical things you can try that can also help you quit, such as forming new habits, exercising more, and seeking out talk therapy.
Reference Popover #ref1
Treated trusted source
Rose, J.E. and Behm, F.M. (2014).
Combination treatment with varenicline and bupropion in an adaptive smoking cessation paradigm. The American journal of psychiatry.
Reference Popover #ref2
Treated trusted source
Selby, D.P., Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (2017).
The STOP Study: Real World Effectiveness of Zyban Treatment in a Clinical Population. clinicaltrials.gov.
Reference Popover #ref3
Treated trusted source
Boudrez, H., et al. (2011).
Effectiveness of varenicline as an aid to smoking cessation: results of an inter-European observational study. Current medical research and opinion.
Reference Popover #ref4
Treated trusted source
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (2014).
Off-label or Unlicensed Use of medicines: Prescribers’ Responsibilities.
Reference Popover #ref5
Treated trusted source
Patel, K., et al (2016).
Bupropion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness as an antidepressant. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology.
Tell us what you want to hear.
Have a subject you’d like us to cover in a future article? Let us know.
Give us the inbox treatment.
We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Find treatment
I'm looking for
Popular searches:
Sign up to our newsletter for all the latest on Stop smoking and more.
By clicking 'Subscribe now' you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy.