GlaxoSmithKline: Zyban Safe
May 18, 2001
Zyban, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has been prescribed to over 15 million people worldwide since winning approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000. The medication reduces the craving for nicotine that tobacco products produce.
For patients in Britain, Zyban has been marketed as the first anti-smoking medication licensed in the United Kingdom that does not contain nicotine. Smoking-related diseases are on the rise in the United Kingdom, and recent statistics show that every hour, thirteen people die of smoking-related diseases in the UK.
Despite the popularity of Zyban, there is still cause for concern. Eighteen deaths have been associated with Zyban. The UK Department of Health states, however, that the deaths may not be a direct result of Zyban use. This may be due to the fact that those patients who died had serious underlying health conditions. Although the Department of Health has not yet determined if Zyban was primarily responsible for the deaths, these new reports have prompted physicians to carefully monitor patients who use the drug. Such monitoring will give physicians an opportunity to observe side effects and determine the progress of treatment.
A spokesperson for GlaxoSmithKline reported that clinical trials produced no evidence of increased risk of death. In addition, Zyban has been found to be almost twice as effective as the nicotine patch for those patients who want to quit smoking. In spite of the reports, GlaxoSmithKline is confident that Zyban is both safe and effective for public use.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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