Suddenly stopping Wellbutrin may increase the risk of certain side effects, including seizure. If you need to stop taking wellbutrin uses, dosage, side effects Wellbutrin, talk with your doctor first. They can recommend the best way to slowly decrease your dose of Wellbutrin to help prevent side effects from occurring. For SAD, your doctor may recommend starting Wellbutrin XL treatment before your symptoms begin.
Because Wellbutrin increases energy levels and has fewer sedative effects than SSRIs or other antidepressants, it may be a more appealing choice for treating depression, especially for people who have work or family responsibilities to manage. Wellbutrin is effective in treating depression and seasonal affective disorder by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, two neurotransmitters (messengers for your brain) that create a more regulated mood. Bupropion should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking bupropion, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. Tell your healthcare provider if you drink a lot of alcohol and have suddenly stopped. Taking bupropion can cause you to have unusual thoughts or behaviors.
- Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a manic episode.
- There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding.
- Of the approximately 6,000 subjects who participated in clinical trials with bupropion sustained-release tablets (depression and smoking cessation trials), 275 were aged ≥65 years and 47 were aged ≥75 years.
- Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed.
- They’ll likely recommend slowly decreasing your dose of Wellbutrin over time.
Use low initial doses and increase the dose gradually see CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS. While not systematically studied, these drugs may induce the metabolism of bupropion and may decrease bupropion exposure see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY. If bupropion is used concomitantly with a CYP inducer, it may be necessary to increase the dose of bupropion, but the maximum recommended dose should not be exceeded. Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an antidepressant in the aminoketone class used for the management of major depression and seasonal affective disorder. How quickly your medication works may depend on what it has been prescribed to treat. For example, bupropion may also be prescribed for weight loss.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using bupropion?
In the first trial, the dose range of WELLBUTRIN was 300 mg to 600 mg/day administered in 3 divided doses; 78% of subjects were treated with doses of 300 mg to 450 mg/day. The trial demonstrated the efficacy of WELLBUTRIN as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) total score, the HDRS depressed mood item (Item 1), and the Clinical Global Impressions-severity score (CGI-S). The second trial included 2 doses of WELLBUTRIN (300 and 450 mg/day) and placebo. This trial demonstrated the effectiveness of WELLBUTRIN for only the 450-mg/day dose. The efficacy results were statistically significant for the HDRS total score and the CGI-S score, but not for HDRS Item 1.
Bupropion produced an increase in chromosomal aberrations in 1 of 3 in vivo rat bone marrow cytogenetic studies. False-positive urine immunoassay screening tests for amphetamines have been reported in patients taking bupropion. False-positive test results may result even following discontinuation of bupropion therapy. Confirmatory tests, such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, will distinguish bupropion from amphetamines. Coadministration of WELLBUTRIN with digoxin may decrease plasma digoxin levels.
What should I do if I accidentally use too much bupropion?
If you miss your dose of Wellbutrin, skip your missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. You should never take an extra dose of Wellbutrin to make up for a missed dose. Taking too much of this medication may increase your risk of certain side effects. If you need to stop taking either form of Wellbutrin for any reason, talk with your doctor first.
Causes & Risk Factors
Your health care provider will want to see you often while you are taking bupropion, especially at the beginning of your treatment. Be sure to keep all appointments or office visits with your doctor. If Wellbutrin (which is also an atypical antidepressant) doesn’t seem to be working, your doctor may decide to start you on a different medication in this same class.
It’s commonly used to treat major depression and seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) is used to treat depression. Bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin XL) is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD; episodes of depression that occur at the same time each year usually in the fall and winter but rarely may occur in the spring or summer months). Bupropion is in a class of medications called antidepressants. It works by increasing certain types of activity in the brain. In general, studies show that Wellbutrin is well-tolerated, with low rates of sexual dysfunction and the possibility for weight loss instead of weight gain (which is a potential side effect of most other antidepressants).
Dosage for treating seasonal affective disorder
There are no known interactions between bupropion and foods or drinks. Ask your pharmacist or other healthcare provider if you are not sure how to take the bupropion product you are prescribed. Do not take bupropion unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Do not stop taking bupropion without talking to your healthcare provider.
Other bupropion information
Immediate-release Wellbutrin tablets can be broken if necessary, but they are small enough that doing so is not usually needed. The drug can be taken on an empty stomach or with food and should be stored at room temperature, protected from light and moisture. It’s not clear whether Wellbutrin is safe to take during pregnancy. In animal studies, there has been some evidence of adverse effects on the fetus, but we don’t yet have enough data about its effect on humans. The potential benefits of continuing Wellbutrin during pregnancy may outweigh the possible risks, but this should be discussed closely with your health provider. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
In healthy subjects, prasugrel increased bupropion Cmax and AUC values by 14% and 18%, respectively, and decreased Cmax and AUC values of hydroxybupropion, an active metabolite of bupropion, by 32% and 24%, respectively. In vitro studies indicate that bupropion is primarily metabolized to hydroxybupropion by CYP2B6. Therefore, the potential exists for drug interactions between WELLBUTRIN and drugs that are inhibitors or inducers of CYP2B6. In addition, in vitro studies suggest that paroxetine, sertraline, norfluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and nelfinavir inhibit the hydroxylation of bupropion. Studies in rodents and primates demonstrated that bupropion exhibits some pharmacologic actions common to psychostimulants.
- These doses are approximately 6 and 2 times the MRHD, respectively, on a mg/m² basis.
- But studies have shown that Wellbutrin may have promise for treating anxiety, and the drug is sometimes prescribed off-label for this use.
- Never take two doses of Wellbutrin at once to make up for a missed dose as this can increase your risk of experiencing a seizure or an accidental overdose.
- Advise families and caregivers of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.
- Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, pregnancy information, and dosage should be reviewed before taking any medication.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this step-by-step guide for tips on how to take this form of medication. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for Wellbutrin. Sometimes, doctors may adjust your dosage from those mentioned here.
Wellbutrin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is also used off-label to help with symptoms of various other conditions. We also share what you should know before you take this medication, including the potential side effects of Wellbutrin and drug interactions. Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an antidepressant used to help treat a number of health conditions. It comes as an immediate-release, sustained-release, or extended-release tablet that is taken orally.