Final answer:
Bupropion SR (Zyban, Buproban) aids in smoking cessation by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, which reduces nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is one of the few antidepressants with minimal sexual side effects and acts on multiple neurotransmitters like other drugs in its class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bupropion SR, which is marketed under the names Zyban and Buproban, helps smokers quit smoking by reducing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The mechanism by which bupropion aids in smoking cessation is by blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Inhibiting the reuptake of these neurotransmitters allows them to remain longer in the synaptic cleft, thereby enhancing their mood-elevating effects and mitigating withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine cessation.
Unlike selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, which exclusively affect serotonin levels, bupropion is one of the few antidepressants that variably inhibit both serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake while having minimal sexual side effects. This characteristic makes bupropion an attractive option for individuals who are unable or unwilling to tolerate the sexual side effects often associated with the use of SSRIs.
As an example of an antidepressant that acts in this multifunctional way, bupropion (Wellbutrin) is similar to other drugs such as mirtazapine (Remeron), amoxapine (Asendin), and maprotiline (Ludiomil), which also modulate the levels of multiple neurotransmitters in the brain to achieve their therapeutic effects.