text: why is welbutrin prescribed to people who are trying to quit smoking? a co-worker said her doctor prescribed welbutrin to her because she is trying to quit smoking. i aked her why, but she said, "i don't know." i think i would of had to ask, but thats just me. it has me wondering why. anyone know? wellbutrin was given to depressed people and it was found that some of the smokers also stopped as a side effect. so the drug maker marketed a new product now called zyban.  zyban or wellbutrin are ssrs, meaning - they are a class of drugs dealing with selective serontonin re-uptake.  it is designed to 'top up' the serontonin supply, which act on the brain's neuro pathways triggering a supply of 'mood changing' chemicals... similar to the reaction smokers get from nicotine.  zyban has side effects, some serious and occaisionally fatal, and it does not help with the habitual or psychological addiction to smoking, which are very important. see 'ways to stop smoking,' at the website below.