Wellbutrin

Why is this medication prescribed?

Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) is used to treat depression. Bupropion (Zyban) is used to help people stop smoking. Bupropion is in a class of medications called antidepressants. It works by increasing certain types of activity in the brain.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking bupropion:

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bupropion or any other medications.

Do not take bupropion if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have taken them within the past 14 days. Do not take Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, or Wellbutrin XL and Zyban together.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: amantadine (Symmetrel); beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar); diet pills; insulin or oral medications for diabetes; medications for irregular heartbeat such as flecainide (Tambocor) and propafenone (Rythmol); medications for mental illness such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), and thioridazine (Mellaril); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); levodopa (Sinemet, Larodopa); nicotine patch; oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); orphenadrine (Norflex); other antidepressants such as desipramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft); sedatives; sleeping pills; and theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide. Also tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol or have a drug addiction and if you have or have ever had seizures; an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia); head injury; brain tumor; high blood pressure; liver, kidney, or heart disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking bupropion, call your doctor.

You should know that bupropion may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Minimize or avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking bupropion. Alcohol can make the side effects from bupropion worse.

You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and at any time your dose is increased or decreased. These changes may occur at any time if you have depression or other mental illness, whether or not you are taking sertraline or any other medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied, abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.