Zyban and RA /

[Guest guest]

,

I read your latest post about your experience with Zyban (bupropion

hydrochloride) with great interest. Your past history as a smoker and

the fact that you had the rubella vaccination at 35 also introduce two

other known possibilities of immune system alteration.

Could the Zyban have been the last straw and hurled you into full-blown

RA? Why not? The initial adverse reaction you had to Zyban is

well-documented. As for lasting ill-effects, I'm not quite so sure about

what conclusions can be drawn. Most of what I read seemed to imply that

discontinuation of Zyban allowed for recovery in the great majority of

instances. But maybe, and most likely, those case descriptions and

reports were of people who didn't have other immune system problems

brewing or the same sort of genetic predisposition. If you look at the

links I've included below, you will see in the second one a reference to

one instance of rheumatoid arthritis attributed to the use of bupropion

hydrochloride. Of course, it's very hard to generalize from these

adverse event reports, but it is very interesting!

By the way, were you taking any other medications at the time you began

taking Zyban? When your physician diagnosed your RA, upon what criteria

did he or she make the decision (abnormal labs, erosions on x-rays,

prolonged morning stiffness, etc.)?

Since you had joint problems before going on Zyban, it alone is probably

not to blame, although it certainly could have been a contributing

factor. I believe that anyone who has immune system problems first and

foremost has the genes for potential trouble and then several other

immune system stressors come along and throw that person into a immune

system distress cycle that cannot be easily broken.

Here are some links that you may find interesting:

Product information on Zyban from Glaxo Wellcome:

http://www.glaxowellcome.com/pi/zyban.pdf

Reported adverse reactions to bupropion hydrochloride in Canada:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/zfiles/english/publicat/adrv10n1_e.htm\

l

http://www.cma.ca/cmaj/FDA-Advisory/Bupropion-12-12.htm

Serum sickness related to bupropion in Australia:

http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/174_12_180601/benson/benson.html

On serum sickness:

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic526.htm

Serum Sickness–like Reaction With Bupropion from JAMA:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v282n19/ffull/jlt1117-7.html

A very interesting article on the possible relationship between

vaccinations and arthritis:

http://www.rheuma21st.com/archives/cutting_aronmaor_shoenfeld_vaccination_revisi\

ted.html

Hey, totally off-topic, I'll take this chance to answer some of your

earlier questions about me. Sorry I took so long. I live about 35 miles

west of Chicago. And, yes, my divorce is pretty recent, but my ex was a

traveling man M-F since 1990 and moved out in 1999, so the kids and I

have pretty much settled into our new way of life now. He lives only

five blocks away, and we are all getting along well. When we were in

Vancouver a few years ago, we were there for a few days before leaving

on a cruise to Alaska (what a horrible trip - I think one night I was

the only non-crewmember who was not in his or her cabin puking). We

never made it to your island, but I certainly wish to return and do so!

What a beautiful area of the world. I love the water and the plants and

trees, and I envy island dwellers such as you and Heidi. My ex's

extended family lives in Hawaii (mostly near or in Honolulu) - such

magnificent vistas.

And one last thing: Congratulations for having the strength and

determination to quit smoking! That is probably the most important

single step that you could have taken to improve your health.

Hope you've been having a good weekend,