Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin

Generic Name: bupropion (byoo PRO pee on)

Brand Names: Aplenzin, Budeprion, Wellbutrin, Zyban

What is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an antidepressant medication. It works in the brain to treat depression.

Wellbutrin is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. At least one brand of bupropion (Zyban) is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects.

Wellbutrin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Wellbutrin

Do not take Wellbutrin if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. You should not take Wellbutrin if you have seizures, an eating disorder, if you are using a second form of bupropion, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives.

Wellbutrin may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions or when using certain drugs. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and the drugs you use.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Wellbutrin. It may increase your risk of seizures.

Before taking Wellbutrin

Do not take Wellbutrin if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

You should not take Wellbutrin if you have:

epilepsy or a seizure disorder;

an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia;

if you are using a second form of bupropion; or

if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives (such as Valium).

Wellbutrin may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions.

If you have any of these other conditions, your doctor may need to adjust your Wellbutrin dosage or order special tests:

a history of head injury, seizures, or brain or spinal cord tumor;

heart disease, high blood pressure, history of heart attack;

kidney disease;

liver disease (especially cirrhosis);

bipolar disorder (manic depression);

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment with Wellbutrin.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Wellbutrin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Wellbutrin. Bupropion passes into breast milk and could be harmful to a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking Wellbutrin.

See also: Wellbutrin pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Wellbutrin?

Take Wellbutrin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Wellbutrin can be taken with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time, which could increase side effects including seizures.

Do not stop taking Wellbutrin without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.

If you use the Wellbutrin extended-release tablet, the tablet shell may pass into your stools (bowel movements). This is normal and does not mean that you are not receiving enough of the medicine.

Store Wellbutrin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of Wellbutrin can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include muscle stiffness, hallucinations, fast or uneven heartbeat, shallow breathing, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Wellbutrin?

Drinking alcohol may increase your risk of seizures. If you drink alcohol regularly, talk with your doctor before changing the amount you drink. Wellbutrin can cause seizures in people who drink a lot of alcohol and then suddenly quit drinking when they start using the medication.

Avoid using bupropion to treat more than one condition at a time. If you take Wellbutrin for depression, do not also take Zyban to quit smoking. Too much of this medicine can increase your risk of a seizure.

Wellbutrin may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Wellbutrin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Wellbutrin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect while taking Wellbutrin such as:

seizure (convulsions);

severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

fever, swollen glands, rash or itching, joint pain, or general ill feeling;

confusion, trouble concentrating; or

hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior.

Less serious Wellbutrin side effects may include:

headache or migraine;

sleep problems (insomnia);

nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth;

dizziness, tremors (shaking);

appetite changes, weight loss or gain;

mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating; or

loss of interest in sex.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Wellbutrin side effects (in more detail)

Wellbutrin Dosing Information

Usual Adult Wellbutrin Dose for Depression:

Immediate release tablets:

Initial dose: 100 mg orally twice a day.

Maintenance dose: The dosage may be increased in 75 to 100 mg/day increments not more often than every 3 days up to the usual maintenance dose of 100 mg orally 3 times a day. The maximum dose is 450 mg/day, given in 4 divided doses; Wellbutrin should be discontinued if there is not an adequate response to this dose. Single doses should not exceed 150 mg.

Sustained release tablets:

Initial dose: 150 mg orally once a day in the morning.

Maintenance dose: After at least 4 days, the dose may be increased to 100 to 150 mg twice a day. If there is not adequate improvement after several weeks, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 200 mg twice a day.

Extended release tablets (Wellbutrin XL):

Initial dose: 150 mg orally once a day in the morning.

Maintenance dose: After at least 4 days, the dose may be increased to 300 mg once a day. If there is not adequate improvement after several weeks, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 450 mg once a day in the morning.

Usual Adult Wellbutrin Dose for Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Extended-release:

Initial: 150 mg orally once a day in the morning

Titration: If tolerated, after 7 days dose may be increased to maximum dose of 400 mg once a day administered in the morning. Patients who are unable to tolerate this increase in dose should be reduced back to 150 mg orally once a day.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Depression:

Initial dose: 75 mg orally twice a day.

Maintenance dose: 75 mg orally 3 times a day.

Maximum doses:

Immediate Release: 150 mg orally 3 times a day.

Sustained Release: 400 mg given as 200 mg twice a day.

Usual Pediatric Wellbutrin Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:

Immediate release tablets:

6 to 18 years:

20 to 30 kg: 50 to 150 mg/day in 2 divided doses (investigational).

31 to 40 kg: 75 to 200 mg/day in 2 divided doses (investigational).

Greater than 40 kg: 100 to 250 mg/day in 2 divided doses (investigational).

Extended release tablets:

Less than 11 years: Safety and effectiveness have not been established.

11 to 18 years: 150 to 300 mg/day in 2 divided doses (investigational).

What other drugs will affect Wellbutrin?

Many drugs can interact with Wellbutrin. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

medication used to prevent blood clots, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or ticlopidine (Ticlid), tirofiban (Aggrastat);

cancer medicine such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar), doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil), irinotecan (Camptosar), or thiotepa (Thioplex);

heart or blood pressure medication such as atenolol (Tenormin), flecainide (Tambocor), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propafenone (Rythmol), propranolol (Inderal), and others; or

HIV or AIDS medication such as lopinavir or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra).

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with Wellbutrin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you. You may have a higher risk of seizures if you use certain medications together with Wellbutrin. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

any other antidepressant, or a medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder;

antihistamines that make you sleepy;

asthma medications or bronchodilators;

birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogens;

bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Urotrol);

antibiotics such as cefdinir (Omnicef), cephalexin (Keflex), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin), penicillin, and others;

diet pills, a stimulant, or ADHD medication such as Adderall or Ritalin;

insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;

medication for nausea, vomiting, or motion sickness;

medications to treat or prevent malaria;

medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, or pituitary gland tumor (prolactinoma);

medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection;

narcotic pain medication;

a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), and others;

a steroid such as prednisone, and others;

street drugs such as "speed" or cocaine;

theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Bronkodyl Theolair, Respbid); or

ulcer or irritable bowel medications.

More Wellbutrin resources

Wellbutrin Side Effects (in More Detail)

Wellbutrin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Drug Images

Wellbutrin Drug Interactions

Wellbutrin Support Group

89 Reviews for Wellbutrin - Add your own review/rating

Wellbutrin Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Wellbutrin Prescribing Information (FDA)

Wellbutrin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Aplenzin Extended-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Aplenzin Prescribing Information (FDA)

Budeprion XL Prescribing Information (FDA)

Bupropion Prescribing Information (FDA)

Bupropion Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Bupropion Hydrochloride Monograph (AHFS DI)

Wellbutrin SR Prescribing Information (FDA)

Wellbutrin SR Sustained-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Wellbutrin XL Prescribing Information (FDA)

Wellbutrin XL Extended-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Zyban Prescribing Information (FDA)

Zyban Sustained-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Wellbutrin with other medications

ADHD

Anxiety

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Migraine Prevention

Obesity

Panic Disorder

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Sexual Dysfunction, SSRI Induced

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Wellbutrin.