Bupropion

U.S. Brand Names

Budeprion XL®; Budeprion™ SR; Buproban™; Wellbutrin SR®; Wellbutrin XL™; Wellbutrin®; Zyban®

Canadian Brand Names

Novo-Bupropion SR; Wellbutrin XL™; Wellbutrin®; Zyban®

Mexican Brand Names

Wellbutrin

Pharmacologic Category

Antidepressant, Dopamine-Reuptake Inhibitor; Smoking Cessation Aid

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

The desire to harm yourself is a serious symptom of depression. It may last until your depression is completely treated. If you are planning on harming yourself, call the emergency department right away. Both Wellbutrin® and Zyban® contain the same active ingredient. You should not take both medicines at the same time. Risk of seizures may be increased. Talk with healthcare provider.

Please read the medication guide given to you.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to bupropion or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you have any of the following conditions: Eating disorder or seizures.

• If you have taken isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine in the last 14 days. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (eg, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine) must be stopped 14 days before this medicine is started. Taking the two together could cause dangerously high blood pressure.

• If you are breast-feeding.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to help you stop smoking.

• This medicine is used to treat depression.

How does it work?

• Bupropion increases chemicals in the brain.

• In depression, sleep and appetite may improve quickly. Other depressive symptoms may take up to 4-6 weeks to improve.

• It relieves the craving and withdrawal symptoms from smoking.

How is it best taken?

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

• Long-acting products: Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

• You may take this medicine for 1 week before you stop smoking.

• Nicotine replacement and counseling may be used at the same time for best results.

• Swallow Wellbutrin® SR whole or as a half. Do not crush or chew.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• You may have certain heart tests before starting this medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you are allergic to tartrazine, talk with healthcare provider. Some products contain tartrazine.

• Do not use Zyban® and Wellbutrin® together. They are the same medicine.

• If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.

• If you abuse alcohol or cocaine, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Long-acting tablet shell in the stool.

• Hot flashes. Wearing layers of clothes or summer clothes and cool environment may help.

• Headache.

• Belly pain.

• Shakiness.

• Nervous and excitable.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

• Dry mouth.

• Inability to sleep.

• Abnormal taste. This is usually reversible.

• Not hungry.

• Ringing in ears.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Check blood pressure regularly if you have heart disease or are taking a nicotine replacement product.

• Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• If you are planning to harm yourself or the desire to harm yourself increases.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Fast heartbeat.

• Severe headache.

• Very nervous and excitable.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from light.

• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 11:04:52.0

Modified: 2008-05-28 15:15:18.0

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