Zyban vs. Zoloft

• Are Zoloft and Zyban the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zyban?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zoloft?
• What Is Zyban?
• What Is Zoloft?
• What Drugs Interact with Zyban?
• What Drugs Interact with Zoloft?
• How Should Zyban Be Taken?
• How Should Zoloft Be Taken?

Zyban (bupropion) and Zoloft (sertraline) are antidepressants used to treat different conditions.

Zyban used for smoking cessation. The Wellbutrin brand of bupropion is used to treat depression.

Zoloft is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Zyban and Zoloft are different types of antidepressants. Zyban is an aminoketone antidepressant and Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

Side effects of Zyban and Zoloft that are similar include dry mouth, sleep problems (insomnia), headache, dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, constipation, weight changes, changes in appetite, loss of interest in sex, and skin rash.

Side effects of Zyban that are different from Zoloft include agitation, tremor, ringing in your ears, sore throat, muscle pain, itching, increased sweating, increased urination, and seizures (especially at higher doses).

Side effects of Zoloft that are different from Zyban include sleepiness, drowsiness, tired feeling, nervousness, skin rash, upset stomach, abnormal ejaculation, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm, and weight loss.

Both Zyban and Zoloft may interact with alcohol, blood thinners, seizure medications, and other antidepressants.

Zyban may also interact with heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medications, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, antibiotics, antihistamines that make you sleepy, asthma medications or bronchodilators, birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogens, bladder or urinary medications, diet pills, stimulants, ADHD medications, insulin or oral diabetes medications, medicines for nausea/vomiting or motion sickness, medications to treat or prevent malaria; medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, or pituitary gland tumor; medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, narcotics, numbing medicines, steroids, street drugs, theophylline, and ulcer or irritable bowel medications.

Zoloft may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for anxiety), cimetidine, digoxin, fentanyl, linezolid, lithium, St. John's wort, tramadol, 5-hydroxytryptophan, cough and cold medicines, heart rhythm medications, and migraine headache medicines.

Do not stop using Zoloft suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Zyban include:

• agitation,
• dry mouth,
• insomnia,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• stomach pain,
• constipation,
• tremor,
• insomnia,
• weight loss or gain,
• changes in appetite,
• ringing in your ears,
• loss of interest in sex,
• sore throat,
• muscle pain,
• itching or skin rash,
• increase sweating, or
• increased urination.

Seizures may also occur, especially at higher doses of Zyban. Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Zyban including:

• chest pain,
• fainting,
• fast or pounding heartbeat,
• irregular heartbeat,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., anxiety, agitation, confusion, memory loss),
• muscle aches,
• ringing in the ears,
• severe headache,
• uncontrolled movements (tremor), or
• unusual weight loss or gain.

Common side effects of Zoloft include:

• sleepiness
• drowsiness
• tired feeling
• nervousness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• dizziness
• nausea
• skin rash
• headache
• diarrhea
• constipation
• upset stomach
• stomach pain
• dry mouth
• changes in appetite
• abnormal ejaculation
• impotence
• decreased sex drive
• difficulty having an orgasm
• dry mouth, and
• weight loss.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Zoloft including:

• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;
• agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors;
• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination;
• trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

Zyban (bupropion) is an antidepressant in the aminoketone drug class used for smoking cessation.

Zoloft is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Zoloft belongs to a class of medicines known as SSRIs.

Zoloft is also used to treat or manage:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Zoloft is safe and effective in treating children with OCD age 6 to 17 years.

It is not known if Zoloft is safe and effective for use in children under 6 years of age with OCD or children with other behavior health conditions.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Zoloft treatment.

Zyban may interact with medication used to prevent blood clots, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV or AIDS medication, seizure medications, other antidepressants, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, antibiotics, antihistamines that make you sleepy, asthma medications or bronchodilators, birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogens, bladder or urinary medications, diet pills, stimulants, ADHD medications, insulin or oral diabetes medications, medicines for nausea/vomiting or motion sickness, medications to treat or prevent malaria; medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, or pituitary gland tumor; medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, narcotics, numbing medicines, steroids, street drugs, theophylline, or ulcer or irritable bowel medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Zyban; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. Zyban can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Breastfeeding while using Zyban is not recommended.

Do Not take Zoloft if you:

• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• have taken an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Zoloft unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
• have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
• take any other medicines that contain sertraline (such as sertraline HCl or sertraline hydrochloride).
• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap^®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
• are allergic to sertraline or any of the ingredients in Zoloft. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Zoloft.
• take Antabuse^® (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of Zoloft) due to the alcohol content.

People who take Zoloft close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• high fever
• uncontrolled muscle spasms
• stiff muscles
• rapid changes in heart rate or blood
• confusion
• loss of consciousness (pass pressure out)

The usual dose of Zyban is 150 to 450 mg daily.

• Take Zoloft exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Zoloft until it is the right dose for you.
• Zoloft Tablets may be taken with or without food.
• Zoloft Oral Solution may look cloudy or hazy after mixing, this is normal.
• Zoloft Oral Solution must be diluted before use:
  • Do not mix Zoloft until you are ready to take it.
  • When diluting Zoloft Oral Solution, use only water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice.
  • The oral dropper contains latex. If you are sensitive or allergic to latex, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to measure your medicine.
• If you miss a dose of Zoloft, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.Do not take two doses of Zoloft at the same time.

If you take too much Zoloft, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.