Wellbutrin

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 purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

Do not use Wellbutrin if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

You should not take Wellbutrin if you have seizures, an eating disorder, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol, seizure medication, or sedatives. If you take Wellbutrin for depression, do not also take Zyban to quit smoking.

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.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using Wellbutrin. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

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.

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Wellbutrin if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

You should not take Wellbutrin if you are allergic to bupropion, or if you have:

• epilepsy or a seizure disorder;

• an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia; or

• if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol, seizure medication, or a sedative (Valium, Nembutal, Seconal, Solfoton, and others).

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

Do not take Wellbutrin to treat more than one condition at a time. If you take bupropion for depression, do not also take Zyban to quit smoking.

To make sure Wellbutrin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

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

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

• kidney or liver disease (especially cirrhosis); or

• bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using Wellbutrin. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

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 this medication.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Bupropion can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How should I take Wellbutrin?

Take Wellbutrin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Too much of this medicine can increase your risk of a seizure.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release Wellbutrin tablet. Swallow it whole.

Do not stop using Wellbutrin suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.

This medication can cause you to have a false positive drug screening test. If you provide a urine sample for drug screening, tell the laboratory staff that you are taking Wellbutrin.

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 . 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?

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.

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; difficult 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:

• seizure (convulsions);

• fast heartbeats;

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

• confusion, trouble concentrating, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior; or

• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Less serious Wellbutrin side effects may include:

• dry mouth, nausea, stomach pain;

• headache, dizziness, ringing in your ears;

• loss of interest in sex;

• sore throat, muscle pain;

• mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating, increased urination; or

• changes in appetite, weight loss or gain.

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 .

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Wellbutrin?

Many drugs can interact with Wellbutrin. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with Wellbutrin, especially:

• medication used to prevent blood clots, such as clopidogrel, ticlopidine, tirofiban;

• heart or blood pressure medication such as atenolol, flecainide, metoprolol, propafenone, propranolol, and others;

• HIV or AIDS medications such as efavirenz or ritonavir; or

• seizure medication such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with Wellbutrin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines 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;

• an antibiotic (amoxicillin, cefdinir, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and others);

• antihistamines that make you sleepy;

• asthma medications or bronchodilators;

• birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogens;

• bladder or urinary medications (oxybutynin, tolterodine, and others);

• diet pills, a stimulant, or ADHD medication;

• insulin or oral diabetes medication;

• medicine 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;

• numbing medicine such as lidocaine or Novocain;

• a steroid such as prednisone, and others;

• street drugs such as "speed" or cocaine;

• theophylline; or

• ulcer or irritable bowel medications.