IT was hailed as the wonder drug that would save thousands of lives - a tablet to stop people smoking. But in the nine months that Zyban has been available in Britain it has been linked to 18 deaths.
Yesterday, the Record told how father-of-four Thomas McNichol was fighting for his life after taking the drug and we asked others who had suffered side effects to get in touch.
We received more than 100 calls from worried readers who had suffered a variety of symptoms.
Medicine Control Agency figures have revealed several serious side-effects which may leave smokers wondering whether the cure is worse than the disease.
GPs have reported 3457 cases of adverse reactions - 73 of them fits and seizures - since last June.
And last night, an expert called for an urgent investigation of the drug and its side effects.
Dr Peter Fletcher, a former assessor to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, said: "This is not a trivial matter and demands major investigation as a matter of urgency.
"Anything that is associated with 18 deaths is bad news - it is a high number even for an anti-cancer drug. We are getting close to the point where the cure is worse than the disease."
Zyban is the first nicotine-free tablet treatment for smokers wanting to kick the habit.
In an English trial, almost one in three patients treated with it were not smoking after one year.
Manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline tried to calm fears by pointing out that adverse effects are not necessarily caused by the drug.
They said many symptoms could relate to other illnesses, medicines or indeed the withdrawal from nicotine - a highly addictive drug.
Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK.
Smoking-related diseases claim 120,000 lives a year, representing a fifth of all deaths in the UK.
GlaxoSmithKline say Zyban has a major role to play in reducing the mortality associated with smoking.
But last week, the Record revealed how a young fisherman who tried to kill himself blamed Zyban for his condition.
Andrew Baker, 19, of Islay, nearly died after taking an overdose of Zyban, ibuprofen and vodka. The teenager remembered nothing about taking the deadly cocktail and insisted he had no reason to want to commit suicide.
He had been taking Zyban for a few weeks in a bid to help him quit his 20-a-day cigarette habit.
The Record also revealed how two drivers were involved in separate accidents after they blacked out behind the wheel. Both blamed Zyban.
Those in favour of the wonder drug include ITV's doctor Chris Steele, who runs the UK's biggest anti- smoking clinic.
He has defended Zyban, claiming the adverse reactions are no worse than those of nicotine withdrawal.
He said: "I am not denying that the drug has side effects but it is difficult to prove unequivocally.
"There have been reports of fits but many people going cold turkey after an addiction would also be inclined to blackout or fit anyway."
Wandsworth GP Dr Alex Boback also supports the use of Zyban and readily prescribes it to his patients.
He said: "As long as it is prescribed responsibly, the risks are far, far lower than the benefits it definitely gives.
"It's certainly not a dangerous drug where extra precautions are needed.
"There are antibiotics which have far higher allergy risks than Zyban."
But the pro-smoking lobby said the of calls to the Record highlighted the need for further investigation.
Forrest director Simon Clark said: "It is a cause for concern that so many people have reported these side effects.
"That alone justifies further investigation.
"If people want to give up smoking they can, by using willpower. I would argue they don't need to use an artificial aid like Zyban."
JOSEPH'S STORY GRANDFATHER Joseph Docherty believes he has developed epilepsy after taking Zyban.
The 55-year-old, who smokes 30 a day, is to see a specialist later this month after suffering fits and blackouts.
He was prescribed Zyban in December but after he came off the tablets he started suffering blackouts.
Joseph, of Clydebank, near Glasgow, said: "One minute I would be sitting on the settee, the next I would be lying on the floor.
"At first I thought I had fallen asleep and then fallen over but then I did it in front of my daughter and grandson.
"My daughter has seen people have an epileptic fit and said it looked like I was having one.
"I had the flu and the doctor said it was possible that I was coughing so severely it was stopping the blood flow and that could be what had caused it. But there is no history of epilepsy in our family. I was terrified.
"After that I had four fits in five days. I just thank God that I wasn't driving at the time. There could have been a terrible accident."
SHONA'S STORY AFTER 20 years of smoking, sales assistant Shona Allan decided to try Zyban when it was successful for her sister Isobel.
The 35-year-old, of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, had tried patches and chewing gum in the past to kick her 30-a-day habit.
But after eight days on the tablets the first side effects began to show.
She said: "In the morning I felt quite horrible and a bit nauseous but Isobel had felt that so I didn't really worry too much.
"But by lunchtime I was feeling terrible. I got really dizzy and passed out at work so I phoned my doctor.
"I was told I couldn't speak to anyone until 3pm but my mouth totally dried up and my cheeks and tongue became swollen.
"Everything in my body began to feel really heavy - it was like my blood was lead - so my boss phoned casualty.
"They took me straight away but I began having convulsions and violently shaking and hyperventilating. It was almost like I had had a stroke down my left side but I wasn't paralysed. I was so scared I honestly thought I was going to die. The doctors gave me something and then put me on a drip for four hours.
"I never took another tablet and have been fine since but I would never recommend that anyone else takes it."
ALAN'S STORY TAKING Zyban nearly drove Alan Gardiner to suicide.
Two weeks ago, his doctor suggested he might want to try it in a bid to stop him smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
At first Alan, 34, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire, felt a little disorientated but persisted with the tablets.
But on Saturday, he began to feel paranoid and woke up at 11pm thinking he was having a heart attack.
He said: "I felt suicidal. I live four floors up and I could have quite happily jumped out of the window.
"I was hallucinating, I wanted to die. I was crawling around my flat hanging on to a fridge because I couldn't stand up properly.
"For some reason I scribbled down a note saying, 'Something has gone wrong' because I genuinely thought I would die.
"I had a terrible feeling of helplessness, of paranoia and depression yet I have no medical history of that.
"When I woke up on Sunday I was so surprised to be alive. I found my note.
"I didn't realise I had written it.
"Needless to say I stopped taking the tablets. I'll never touch them again. That stuff is death.
"The sooner something is done about this drug the better.
"LORRAINE'S STORY LORRAINE MORAN'S weight plunged by two stones in just three weeks while she took Zyban.
The 37-year-old was confined to her bed as the side effects of the drug left her unable to eat and struggling to drink.
She decided to try the tablets after smoking 25 cigarettes a day for the last 23 years.
Lorraine, from Greenock, said: "I started to have side effects almost straight away. The first week I felt very sick.
"By the second week I had got a lot worse and I couldn't even get out of bed. I couldn't eat because I couldn't keep anything down.
"I was shaking so violently that I couldn't even hold my hand up to my face to put on make-up or be able to write properly.
"I had these really bad migraines and because I was so sick I lost two stones in weight in three weeks.
"I had real problems with memory loss as well.
"One day I was driving my car and I suddenly stopped and asked my mum where we were going. I couldn't remember.
"By the third week I stopped taking them but no-one has admitted that these were the effects of taking Zyban. I was told I was having a nervous breakdown because I was going to have a hysterectomy.
"I understand that the drug has worked for some people. It stopped me smoking for seven days although I've started again.
"I really think they need to look at this drug again because it's obviously not safe."
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