What Is Wellbutrin (Bupropion)?
Wellbutrin is the brand name for bupropion, a prescription drug that's used to treat depression.
It's also used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that usually strikes in the fall and winter.
Under the brand name Zyban, bupropion has also been prescribed to help people quit smoking.
Wellbutrin belongs to the aminoketone class of antidepressants, which are chemically unrelated to the better-known selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft.
Wellbutrin moderates the levels and activity of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, but exactly how it works to treat depression is not known.
Doctors have also prescribed Wellbutrin off-label to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and in tandem with other medications — particularly SSRIs — to treat bipolar disorder.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally approved Wellbutrin as a treatment for depression in 1985.
However, it was withdrawn from the market in 1986 amid findings that it increased the frequency of seizures in non-depressed bulimic patients at the originally recommended dose of 400 to 600 milligrams a day.
Wellbutrin Warnings
Wellbutrin, like other antidepressants, is required to carry a black-box warning about an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, teenagers, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24.
The black-box warning notes the need to monitor patients taking antidepressants for signs of any worsening of their depression, and for the emergence of suicidal thoughts, especially in the first few months of treatment or when the dose is either increased or decreased.
The warning also extended to Zyban, which contains the same ingredient as Wellbutrin and is made by the same company.
You should tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, illegal and recreational drugs, and dietary supplements you're taking, especially if you're on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Marplan (isocarboxazid) or Nardil (phenelzine).
Pregnancy and Wellbutrin
Wellbutrin may cause harm to a developing fetus.
Nonetheless, the drug’s benefits to the mother may outweigh the potential risks to her developing fetus.
Data from population studies of pregnant women taking Wellbutrin in the first trimester indicated no increased risk of congenital malformations.
A 2010 study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggested a link between Wellbutrin taken in the first trimester and congenital heart defects but found that more data was needed to confirm a connection.
Wellbutrin is present in breast milk, and there’s some evidence that it may cause seizures in babies. It may also reduce the amount of breast milk a mother produces.
Talk with your doctor about the safety of breastfeeding while using Wellbutrin.
Wellbutrin and Weight Loss
Wellbutrin has been linked to weight loss, according to the Stanford School of Medicine, anecdotal reports, and other sources.
This distinguishes Wellbutrin from several other antidepressants, which are often associated with weight gain.
Studies have found that Wellbutrin, when combined with dietary recommendations, can result in significant weight loss.
Nonetheless, the FDA has not approved Wellbutrin for weight management.
Wellbutrin Side Effects
Common Side Effects of Wellbutrin
- Agitation
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Headache/migraine
- Nausea/vomiting
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Blurred vision
- Rapid heart beat
- Nausea
- Rash
- Hostility
- Irregular heart beat
- Itchiness
- Sweating
- Hives
- Visual disturbance
- Taste disorders
Tell your doctor if any of those symptoms become severe or do not disappear.
Wellbutrin and Drug Interactions
Interactions with the following drugs are possible:
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
- Ticlopidine (Ticlid)
- Orphenadrine (Norflex, Banflex)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Clotrimazole (Canesten, Lotrimin)
- Rifampicin (Rifadin)
- Ritonavir (Norvir)
- Lopinavir (Kaletra)
Extreme caution must be used when taking Wellbutrin with other drugs that lower the "seizure threshold," such as other products containing bupropion, antipsychotic medications, other antidepressants, drugs used for respiratory problems, or certain corticosteroids that may be taken for asthma.
Buy Wellbutrin
In some countries WELLBUTRIN may also be known as: Bupropion, Zyban, Odranal, Clorpax, Quomem, Budeprion
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