Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) is used to treat depression. Bupropion (Zyban) is used to help people stop smoking. Bupropion is in a class of medications called antidepressants. It works by increasing certain types of activity in the brain.
How should this medicine
be used ?
Bupropion comes as a tablet and a sustained-release or extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. The regular tablet (Wellbutrin) is usually taken three or four times times a day, with doses at least 6 hours apart. The sustained-release tablet (Wellbutrin SR, Zyban) is usually taken twice a day, with doses at least 8 hours apart. The extended-release tablet (Wellbutrin XL) is usually taken once daily in the morning. To help you remember to take bupropion, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take bupropion exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the sustained-release and extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of bupropion and gradually increase your dose. It may take 4 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of bupropion. Continue to take bupropion even if you feel well. Do not stop taking bupropion without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet when you begin treatment with bupropion. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
What special precautions
i should follow ?
Before taking bupropion, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bupropion or any other medications. do not take bupropion if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have taken them within the past 14 days. Do not take Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, or Wellbutrin XL and Zyban together. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: amantadine (Symmetrel); beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar); diet pills; insulin or oral medications for diabetes; medications for irregular heartbeat such as flecainide (Tambocor) and propafenone (Rythmol); medications for mental illness such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), and thioridazine (Mellaril); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); levodopa (Sinemet, Larodopa); nicotine patch; oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); orphenadrine (Norflex); other antidepressants such as desipramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft); sedatives; sleeping pills; and theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had, or anyone in your family has or has ever had, depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you have , or anyone in your family has, thought about or attempted suicide. Also tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol or have a drug addiction and if you have or have ever had seizures; an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia); head injury; brain tumor; high blood pressure; liver, kidney, or heart disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking bupropion, call your doctor. you should know that bupropion may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. minimize or avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking bupropion. Alcohol can make the side effects from bupropion worse. you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and at any time your dose is increased or decreased. These changes may occur at any time if you have depression or other mental illness, whether or not you are taking sertraline or any other medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied, abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
What special dietary
instructions should i follow ?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What side effects can
this medicine cause ?
Bupropion may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: drowsiness restlessness excitement anxiety dry mouth difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep dizziness headache upset stomach vomiting tremor weight loss constipation excessive sweating Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately: seizure confusion seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating) irrational fears fever severe skin rash itching hives swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs hoarseness difficulty breathing or swallowing chest pain muscle or joint pain rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat Bupropion may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
What storage conditions
are needed for this medication ?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
What other information
should i know ?
What should i do if i
forget a dose ?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
