A risk of suicidal thinking and behavior has been linked to the use of several antidepressants, but it is not clear that the drugs increase the risk. The patient should be monitored for any worsening of the symptoms of depression. For more detail on the different adverse effects, it is important to read the patient information leaflet online or inside the packaging. Wellbutrin may not be suitable for people with:.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs are also used to treat depression. If taken together, side effects may include confusion, restlessness, stomach discomfort or pain, high body temperature, dangerously high blood pressure, leading to headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision, and an increased risk of convulsions.
Wellbutrin should not be taken within 2 weeks of stopping MAOIs. When used to help people stop smoking, bupropion is sold as Zyban or Chantix. The Food and Drug Administration FDA warns that people who are taking one of these drugs to stop smoking must not take the same drug under another name to treat depression.
This will increase the dose of the same ingredients, and it may raise the risk of seizures. Ritonavir or efavirenz are used to treat HIV infection. These can reduce the effects of Wellbutrin. People with liver problems should discuss with their doctor whether or not Wellbutrin is suitable, before taking it. A severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur if a person has an allergy to any of the ingredients in Wellbutrin.
If any of the following symptoms occur, medical assistance should be sought immediately: a skin rash, itching, trouble breathing, chest pain, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.
Alcohol : This should be avoided or at least severely limited when using Wellbutrin, as it has been linked to neuropsychotic side effects in a few cases. Pregnancy and breastfeeding : Mouse studies have not shown that Wellbutrin is likely to harm a pregnancy or the developing fetus. However, since drugs do not alway affect humans and animals in the same way, this drug should only be used in pregnancy and breast feeding if it cannot be avoided.
Bipolar disorder : A major depressive episode can develop into the first signs of bipolar disorder. A doctor should monitor the patient for signs of this. Wellbutrin is not approved for use in bipolar disorder. Driving and use of machinery : Dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision, and a false sense of wellbeing can occur when using this drug. Because of this, using heavy machinery or driving should be considered with caution. Overdose : In rare cases, an overdose has led to seizures.
Anyone who may have taken an overdose should go to the hospital. In a new study, universally screening students for depression meant that more students were initially identified and started treatment. You should not take more than your prescribed dose and doing so may increase your risk of having a seizure. For bupropion XL, do not take an extra tablet to make up for the dose you forgot.
Wait and take your next dose at your regular time the next day. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking bupropion because the beneficial effects of the medication may be decreased and the risk of seizures may be increased.
If you are dependent on drugs or alcohol and would like to stop, consult your healthcare provider for help. Abruptly stopping these substances can result in a seizure, especially when taking bupropion. If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Headache, weight loss, dry mouth, trouble sleeping insomnia , nausea, dizziness, constipation, fast heartbeat, and sore throat.
These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication. Unlike many antidepressants, bupropion does not commonly cause sexual side effects and may be selected as an alternative treatment when antidepressant-induced sexual side effects are problematic.
Sexual side effects include such problems as difficulty achieving orgasm or ejaculatory delay. In general the risk of seizures due to bupropion is low.
The risk of having a seizure increases with higher than recommended doses of bupropion, a history of seizures or head injury, tumor in the brain, severe liver disease, an eating disorder, alcohol or drug dependence, or taking other drugs that can also increase your risk of having a seizure.
There is a low risk of cardiovascular adverse events associated with stimulating agents, including bupropion. This risk increases if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, previous heart attack, or irregular heartbeat, or when used with transdermal nicotine replacement products. In these cases, a thorough cardiovascular evaluation is recommended before starting this medicine.
To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of bupropion. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Bupropion should not be taken with or within two weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. There are several products with the active ingredient bupropion.
Do not take more than one product that contains bupropion since this may increase your risk of having a seizure. Certain medications may increase your risk of having a seizure when combined with bupropion. These include other antidepressants, antipsychotics, theophylline, isoniazid, tramadol, stimulants, steroids, hypoglycemic agents including insulin , certain antibiotics e.
These medications can change the way your body reacts to bupropion. Bupropion can change the way your body reacts to these medications.
Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in actiities may need up to weeks to fully improve. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide.
This risk may persist until significant remission occurs. In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents and young adults when compared to placebo. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age Adults ages 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality. Patients, their families and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia.
All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their healthcare provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment. Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.
This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have high blood pressure or a history of cardiovascular issues, make sure you inform your healthcare provider before using bupropion. Though rare, depending on dosage, anywhere from. Conditions that may increase your seizure risk include:. Use of other drugs that may affect your seizure susceptibility, such as other antidepressants, antipsychotics, systemic corticosteroids or theophylline.
Bupropion may also not be a suitable treatment for people with liver or kidney issues, diabetes or certain mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder.
This warning is found on bupropion medications used for treating depression — bupropion smoking cessation aids do not carry the same warning. Studies do not show that this risk occurs in people aged 24 and older. Bupropion can interact with other medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbal products and health supplements.
These interactions may increase the amount of bupropion in your body or make the medication less effective. In some cases, the use of bupropion can cause dangerous interactions with other medications.
Dangerous interactions can occur when bupropion is used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs — another type of antidepressant medication. If you have used an MAOI medication, such as phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, selegiline or others, you must inform your healthcare provider before being prescribed bupropion. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider if you currently use or have recently used any other medications to treat depression.
Other medications that can interact with bupropion include antipsychotics, beta-blockers, blood thinners, corticosteroids, antiarrhythmics, theophylline, amantadine, dopamine precursors such as levodopa and transdermal nicotine patches. To avoid interactions, inform your healthcare provider of all medications you currently use or have recently used, as well as any relevant health conditions, before using bupropion.
Take bupropion as directed by your healthcare provider. You can take bupropion with or without food. They may recommend starting bupropion several days before you plan to quit smoking. Do not suddenly stop using bupropion, adjust your dosage or start using additional smoking cessation aids without first talking to your healthcare provider. If you forget to take bupropion, skip the missed dose and continue using the medication as you normally would.
You should not take a double dose of bupropion to make up for a missed dose. Drinking alcohol with bupropion is not recommended. If you drink alcohol while using bupropion for depression or smoking cessation, you may be more likely to experience side effects from the alcohol and the bupropion.
If you drink beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages frequently, talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol while using bupropion before you start taking this medication. Like other widely used antidepressants, bupropion has the potential to cause certain withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using it without tapering your dosage. Common bupropion withdrawal symptoms of bupropion include difficulty sleeping, balance issues, anxiety, depression, mood changes, flu-like symptoms, sweating and more.
Instead, talk to your healthcare provider about adjusting your dosage, safely tapering your bupropion dosage over time or changing to a different antidepressant or smoking cessation aid. As a smoking cessation aid, its exact mechanism of action is not known, but scientists believe it may work by reducing cravings for nicotine by changing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain. However, you should talk to your healthcare provider before you use bupropion with nicotine gum, lozenges, patches or other products containing nicotine.
Although antidepressants are typically associated with weight gain, several studies of bupropion have found that it may cause weight loss.
0コメント