Understanding Bupropion
Bupropion is a prescription medication. It is often sold as Wellbutrin! Immediate and extended-release tablets are available! Adults will be prescribed an initial dose of one hundred milligrams for immediate-release pills. Two doses of this will treat depression! Maintenance doses are typically three hundred milligrams daily. Patients will receive a maximum daily dose of four hundred milligrams! Individuals with liver issues need a lower dose. The same often applies to those with kidney issues!
This medication is a major option in depression treatment. Many patients will take it and undergo therapy for depression. This is often cognitive behavioral therapy! Mindfulness for depression is also a great addition. In fact, mindfulness is an amazing natural remedy for depression! Understanding this medication before taking it is crucial.
How It Works
Bupropion is an antidepressant! It is part of a group of medications called aminoketones. However, it is not related to other known antidepressants in its chemical structure! It is water-soluble and quite similar in structure to diethylpropion. There are researchers who consider this medication a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It blocks both dopamine and norepinephrine from reabsorption! It will also trigger their release from the presynaptic neuron. This antidepressant also binds to and activates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The interaction with these receptors reduces cravings for nicotine!
Get the full details on the uses and benefits linked to this medication next.
Uses And Benefits
Bupropion is approved for treating major depressive disorder in adults. It is also approved for seasonal affective disorder in adults! One brand of this medication is also an approved medication for individuals who want to quit smoking! It reduces withdrawal symptoms and nicotine cravings. Of course, there are also 'off-label' uses for this medication. Doctors will prescribe it for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for one. Another 'off-label' use is for bipolar disorder treatment!
Patients need to ask about the benefits and risks of this medication related to their health condition. This is especially important when this medication is used 'off-label.' Approved medicines should be used first! Patients also need close monitoring when taking this medication. Doctors will keep them safe!
Read about the side effects of this medication next.
Side Effects
Every medication has side effects, including this one! Common side effects are sweating, dry mouth, and weight loss. Ringing in the ears is also common! Other fairly frequent side effects are a sore throat, insomnia, and nausea. Patients will also deal with tremors, a fast heart rate, and constipation! They will urinate frequently too. Insomnia and agitation are quite strong in the first weeks.
Less common side effects include migraines, chest pain, twitching, and hot flashes. Others are flushing, arthritis, issues swallowing, and hives! Another less common side effect is urinary tract infections. Of course, there are rare side effects too! Patients need to watch for neurological and mental health changes. Examples of changes include increased suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, and seizures. Increased blood pressure is also possible, though it is rare!
Uncover the precautions linked to this medication next.
Precautions
Doctors and their patients need to take precautions with this medication. It is not considered safe for epilepsy patients! Individuals with other seizure conditions should not take it either. Eating disorder patients cannot often take this medication as well. It is also not recommended for those who have suddenly stopped sedatives in the past. The same applies to suddenly stopping seizure medications! Patients must only take this medication for one condition at a time! Thus, it is not appropriate to take it to treat depression and quit smoking at the same time.
Patients need to inform their doctor of their complete medical history. Doctors have to know about their patient's history of brain tumors, seizures, and spinal cord tumors. Other crucial pieces are head injuries, high blood pressure, and diabetes. A history of kidney and heart disease matter as well! Liver issues are essential to mention. Doctors need to ensure this medication is safe for their patients! Pregnant women must talk about risks and benefits. Doctors will need to monitor their unborn baby closely. Individuals younger than eighteen cannot take this medication. The extended-release tablets cannot be crushed or chewed! Other precautions for patients include close blood pressure monitoring and stopping use gradually. Patients should never stop taking it suddenly! This medication also causes false positives on drug tests. Patients need to tell staff they are taking this medication if they take such a test!
Get the details on medication interactions next.
Medication Interactions
Bupropion has over four hundred medication interactions! Of these, there are more than two hundred major interactions. Extreme caution is needed when dealing with this medication along with epilepsy medications. Certain ones will reduce the effectiveness of bupropion! An HIV medication called ritonavir reduces the concentration of this medication by sixty-six percent!
Patients who are stopping their use of diazepam and similar medications are at an increased seizure risk when they take this medication as well. An alternative is necessary! Patients must wait fourteen days after taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors before starting this medication. They will avoid severe side effects this way!