Brand name: Wellbutrin
Pronounced: Well-BEW-trin
Generic name: Bupropion hydrochloride
Other brand names: Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL
Why is Wellbutrin prescribed?
Wellbutrin is prescribed to help relieve major depression. Symptoms
include a severely depressed mood (for 2 weeks or more) and loss of
interest or pleasure in usual activities accompanied by sleep and appetite
disturbances, agitation or lack of energy, feelings of guilt or worthlessness,
decreased sex drive, inability to concentrate, and sometimes, suicidal
thoughts or behavior.
Wellbutrin is thought to work by altering levels of the brain chemicals
norepinephrine and dopamine. It is not chemically related to other
antidepressants such as tricyclics (Elavil), MAO inhibitors (Nardil,
Parnate), or serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (Paxil and Prozac).
Most important fact about Wellbutrin
Wellbutrin is associated with an increased risk of seizures. This
risk is greater at higher doses (approximately 4 in 1,000 patients
at dosages of 300 to 450 milligrams a day). Certain factors increase
the risk of seizure, including:
A history of head trauma or previous seizure
Central nervous system tumor
Severe liver disease such as cirrhosis
A history of eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia
Excessive use of alcohol, or abrupt withdrawal from alcohol or sedatives
Taking medications that lower the seizure threshold (see "Possible
food and drug interactions when taking Wellbutrin")
To minimize the risk of seizures, dose increases should be done gradually,
and the total daily dose of Wellbutrin should not exceed 450 milligrams.
Additionally, the doctor should be aware of all your medical conditions,
and you should not take any other medications (both prescription and
over-the-counter) unless the doctor approves.
How should you take Wellbutrin - non prescriptions
- Free Rx FDA approved meds online?
Take Wellbutrin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The usual dosing
regimen is 3 equal doses spaced evenly throughout the day. Allow at
least 6 hours between doses. Your doctor will probably start you at
a low dosage and gradually increase it; this helps minimize side effects.
You should take Wellbutrin SR, the sustained-release form, in 2 doses,
at least 8 hours apart. Wellbutrin XL extended-release tablets should
be taken once a day in the morning. Swallow Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin
XL tablets whole; do not chew, divide, or crush them.
If Wellbutrin works for you, your doctor will probably have you continue
taking it for at least several months.
If you miss a dose...
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 4 hours of your next
dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule.
Never take 2 doses at the same time.
Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature. Protect from light and moisture.
Wellbutrin side effects
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity,
inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine
if it is safe for you to continue taking Wellbutrin.
* Side effects of Wellbutrin may include:
Agitation, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, excessive sweating, headache,
nausea, vomiting, skin rash, sleep disturbances, tremor
* Side effects of Wellbutrin SR may include:
Agitation, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, rash, sweating,
weight loss
* Side effects of Wellbutrin XL may include:
Abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry
mouth, heart palpitations, increased urination, insomnia, muscle soreness,
nausea, rash, ringing in the ears, sore throat, sweating
Why should Wellbutrin not be prescribed?
Do not take Wellbutrin if you are sensitive to or have ever had an
allergic reaction to it.
Since Wellbutrin causes seizures in some people, do not take it if
you have any type of seizure disorder or if you are taking another
medication containing bupropion, such as Zyban, the used to help quit
smoking. If you have a seizure while taking Wellbutrin, stop taking
the drug and never take it again.
Do not take Wellbutrin while abruptly giving up alcohol or sedatives,
including tranquilizers such as Librium, Valium, and Xanax. Rapid withdrawal
increases the risk of seizures.
If you have had any kind of heart trouble or liver or kidney disease,
be sure your doctor knows about it before you start taking Wellbutrin.
It must be used with extreme caution if you have severe cirrhosis of
the liver. A reduced dosage may be needed if you have any sort of liver
or kidney problem.
You should not take Wellbutrin if you currently have, or formerly
had, an eating disorder. For some reason, people with a history of
anorexia nervosa or bulimia seem to be more likely to experience Wellbutrin-related
seizures. Do not take Wellbutrin if, within the past 14 days, you have
taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO inhibitor) drug, such as the
antidepressants Marplan, Nardil or Parnate. This particular drug combination
could cause you to experience a sudden, dangerous rise in blood pressure.
Special warnings about Wellbutrin
In clinical studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal
thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and
other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Wellbutrin
or any other antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this
risk with the clinical need. Wellbutrin has not been studied in children
or adolescents and is not approved for treating anyone less than 18
years old.
Additionally, the progression of major depression is associated with
a worsening of symptoms and/or the emergence of suicidal thinking or
behavior in both adults and children, whether or not they are taking
antidepressants. Individuals being treated with Wellbutrin and their
caregivers should watch for any change in symptoms or any new symptoms
that appear suddenly--especially agitation, anxiety, hostility, panic,
restlessness, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior--and
report them to the doctor immediately. Be especially observant at the
beginning of treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.
Be sure to let the doctor know if you have heart trouble, liver problems,
or kidney disease before you start taking Wellbutrin. Use Wellbutrin
with extreme caution if you have cirrhosis of the liver.
Stop taking Wellbutrin and call your doctor immediately if you have
difficulty breathing or swallowing; notice swelling in your face, lips,
tongue, or throat; develop swollen arms and legs; or break out with
itchy eruptions. These are warning signs of a potential severe allergic
reaction.
Wellbutrin may affect your coordination or judgment and impair your
ability to drive or operate dangerous machinery. Avoid activities that
require full alertness until you know how the drug affects you.
Like all antidepressants, Wellbutrin could trigger a manic episode
in people with bipolar disorder.
Although Wellbutrin occasionally causes weight gain, a more common
effect is weight loss: Some 28 percent of people who take Wellbutrin
lose 5 pounds or more. If depression has already caused you to lose
weight, and if further weight loss would be detrimental to your health,
Wellbutrin may not be the best antidepressant for you.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Wellbutrin
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Wellbutrin; an interaction
between alcohol and Wellbutrin could increase the possibility of a
seizure.
Wellbutrin should not be combined with drugs that lower the seizure
threshold, including:
Antidepressants classified as MAO inhibitors, such as Nardil and Parnate
Other antidepressants such as Elavil, Norpramin, Pamelor, Paxil, Prozac,
Tofranil, and Zoloft
Antipsychotic drugs such as Haldol, Risperdal, Mellaril, and chlorpromazine
Cocaine
Diabetes medications such as Glucotrol and Prandin
Insulin
Opiates such as heroin and morphine
Sedatives, including benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium
Steroid medications such as prednisone
Stimulants, including over-the-counter diet drugs
Theophylline (Theo-24, Uniphyl)
If Wellbutrin is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either
could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important
to check with your doctor before combining Wellbutrin with the following:
Beta blockers (used for high blood pressure and heart conditions)
such as Inderal, Lopressor, and Tenormin
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Heart-stabilizing drugs such as Rythmol and Tambocor
Levodopa (Larodopa)
Nicotine patches such as Habitrol, NicoDerm CQ, and Nicotrol patch
Orphenadrine (Norgesic)
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, notify your doctor
immediately. Wellbutrin should be taken during pregnancy only if clearly
needed.
Wellbutrin does pass into breast milk and may cause serious reactions
in a nursing baby; therefore, if you are a new mother, you may need
to discontinue breastfeeding while you are taking this medication.
Recommended dosage for Wellbutrin
No single dose of Wellbutrin should exceed 150 milligrams.
ADULTS
Overdosage
There have been rare reports of death after an overdose of Wellbutrin.
If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
* Symptoms of Wellbutrin overdose may include:
Hallucinations, heart failure, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat, seizures
* Symptoms of Wellbutrin SR overdose may include:
Blurred vision, confusion, jitteriness, lethargy, light-headedness, nausea,
seizures, vomiting
