This is the new antismoking drug that is similar in effectiveness to patches, gum and inhalations in the fight to stop smoking.

It costs the NHS about £85 for a course of tablets that are taken for 8 weeks in all. The general idea is that you take the tablets for a week while still smoking, but then stop and just  take the tablets for the next 7 weeks. The tablets stop the craving for the nicotine that causes most people to fail. By the end of 7 weeks the body has got over its dependence on nicotine so neither tablets or cigarettes are required.

The treatment works best when taken as part of a smoking cessation programme. It will not just make you stop on its own.

The likely course of action for a doctor to take when requested for a prescription for Zyban from a patient is as follows.

    We will have to make sure that you really want to give up

    We will ask you if you are prepared to quit smoking in the next 2 weeks

If the answer is "yes" to both of these we will put you in touch with "New Leaf" which is an NHS organisation with local advisers who are trained to give advice and support to people who are stopping smoking. It is probable that you would need to attend a local health centre to join the programme. If having attended the "New Leaf" programme it is thought you are sufficiently motivated to benefit from Zyban  your GP would be able to prescribe it provided there were no medical reasons not to do so.

We are keen for our patients to stop smoking because stopping smoking is the biggest single thing that anyone can do to improve their health.