Bupropion
About Bupropion
Bupropion is an oral prescription medication primarily used to treat major depressive disorder and to help prevent seasonal affective disorder. It is also commonly prescribed to help adults quit smoking by reducing cravings and withdrawal effects. By regulating natural chemicals in the brain, it helps stabilise your mood and emotional well-being.
To get the best results, you should take this medication consistently at the same time every day. It can be taken with or without food, though taking it with food may help if it upsets your stomach. Combining this treatment with regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and healthy sleep habits can further support your mental health and overall well-being.
While taking Bupropion, you may experience mild side effects like dry mouth, trouble sleeping, or mild headaches. These are often temporary as your body adjusts. However, if you experience any severe side effects, such as a sudden change in mood, panic attacks, or seizures, you must contact your doctor immediately.
Talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have a history of seizures, eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, or if you are undergoing sudden alcohol or sedative withdrawal. Do not take this if you are currently taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have stopped taking them within the last 14 days, as this can cause dangerous reactions.
This medicine can interact with certain other drugs, alcohol, and nicotine, which can increase your risk of seizures or other serious side effects. If you are pregnant, planning to breastfeed, or an older adult, consult your doctor or pharmacist to discuss if this medication is safe for you.
Uses of Bupropion
Medicinal Benefits
Bupropion helps improve mood and emotional wellbeing by restoring the balance of certain brain chemicals. It is also used to support smoking cessation and, in appropriate patients, to help prevent seasonal depressive episodes.
- Helps Relieve Symptoms of Depression: By balancing key brain chemicals, Bupropion helps improve mood, increase energy levels, restore interest in daily activities, and reduce the physical and emotional symptoms of depression.
- Supports Smoking Cessation: Bupropion helps reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and restlessness, making it easier to quit smoking and remain smoke-free as part of a comprehensive smoking-cessation programme.
- Helps Prevent Seasonal Depressive Episodes: When started before the onset of seasonal symptoms, Bupropion can help reduce the risk of recurrent depression associated with seasonal changes, supporting emotional stability during the winter months.
Directions for Use
- Bupropion should be taken with food to avoid stomach upset.
- It is usually taken 3-4 times a day. However, your doctor may adjust the dose and duration of Bupropion based on your medical condition.
- Swallow Bupropion as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Bupropion
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Dry mouth
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Headache or dizziness
- Nausea or mild stomach upset
Serious Side Effects (Consult a doctor right away):
- Seizures or fits
- Severe allergic reactions (such as skin rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, and tongue)
- Mental health changes, including panic attacks, worsening depression, thoughts of self-harm, or unusual changes in behavior
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Eye pain, changes in vision, or swelling around the eyes
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the tablet carefully before swallowing; do not use it if the tablet is broken, chipped, or crushed.
- Be aware that this medication may cause a false-positive result on certain urine drug screens; inform the laboratory staff that you are taking this medicine.
- Monitor your mood closely, especially when first starting this medication or when your dose is adjusted, and ask a family member or close friend to help watch for any unusual emotional changes.
- If you are taking this medicine to quit smoking, you can continue to smoke for the first week, but you should set a target quit date within the second week of treatment.
- Do not take any other medications that contain the same active ingredient, as this increases your risk of an overdose and seizures.
Drug Interactions
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Do not take Bupropion together with MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping an MAOI, as this combination may cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure. Your doctor will advise you on the appropriate washout period before starting treatment
- Certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, and corticosteroids: These medicines may lower the seizure threshold when taken with Bupropion, increasing the risk of seizures. Your doctor may recommend closer monitoring or alternative treatment if these medicines are required.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking Bupropion as it may cause serious side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionBupropion is a pregnancy category B drug. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy. Your doctor might prescribe this medicine during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIn very small quantities, Bupropion enters the breast milk and may have negative effects on breastfed babies. Therefore, consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
unsafeDo not drive after taking Bupropion as it may cause drowsiness and interfere with your driving ability.
Liver
cautionBupropion to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases. Your doctor may adjust the dose if required based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionBupropion to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease. Your doctor may adjust the dose if required based on your condition.
Children
unsafeBupropion is not recommended for use in children below 18 years. Its safety and efficacy are not established in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid Alcohol: Drinking alcohol while taking this medicine can increase your risk of severe side effects, including seizures and mental health changes. If you drink alcohol regularly, talk to your doctor before stopping suddenly, as abrupt withdrawal can also trigger seizures.
- Limit Caffeine: Since this medication can have a mild stimulating effect, cutting back on coffee, tea, and energy drinks can help prevent jitteriness, anxiety, and sleep problems.
- Create a Sleep Routine: To counter potential insomnia, keep a consistent sleep schedule and avoid taking your evening dose too close to bedtime.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help manage dry mouth, which is a common early side effect of bupropion.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Depression: Depression is a common mental health disorder characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. It can affect mood, thoughts, behaviour, energy levels, sleep, appetite, and concentration. Depression may interfere with personal, social, and professional life and often requires proper medical treatment, counselling, or both for effective management.
Smoking Cessation: Smoking cessation refers to the process of stopping the use of tobacco products. It helps reduce nicotine dependence and lowers the risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, lung disorders, cancer, and stroke. Quitting smoking improves overall health, enhances lung function, boosts energy levels, and supports long-term well-being.
FAQs
Bupropion is used in the treatment of depression. It is also used to help people stop smoking.
Bupropion contains Bupropion, which works by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for improving mood and physical symptoms of depression.
Certain side effects of Bupropion can be dealt with simple tips, such as if you experience dry mouth, you can chew sugar-free gum or take sugar-free sweets. If you are sweating a lot while taking Bupropion, wear loose clothing and use a strong antiperspirant. If you cannot sleep after taking Bupropion, prefer to take it in the morning to avoid sleep disturbances. If you feel sleepy after taking Bupropion, avoid taking it in the evening and limit your alcohol intake. If you feel tired or weak after taking Bupropion, sit or lie down until you feel better. If you feel that the side effects are worsening, please consult your doctor.
Yes, it is safe to use Bupropion if prescribed by your doctor. However, there may be an increased risk of experiencing suicidal tendencies in children, adolescents and young adults.
Taking Bupropion in more than the recommended dose can cause unpleasant side effects such as dizziness, tremor, agitation, convulsion, coma, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rhythm, decreased blood pressure and changes in body fluid/salt balance.
In elderly patients, the risk of side effects is higher when taking Bupropion. For elderly patients, dose adjustment may be required, or your doctor may prescribe an alternative medication safe for the elderly.
No, Bupropion does not help with anxiety and sleeplessness. It is used to treat depression.
Though Bupropion may have a low risk of addiction, Bupropion does not cause addiction if taken in the dose and duration prescribed by the doctor.
Factors that can increase the chances of seizures with Bupropion are sudden and large increments in dose, bulimia or anorexia nervosa (eating disorder), history of head trauma or prior seizure, central nervous system (CNS) tumour, the presence of severe hepatic cirrhosis, and concomitant medications that lower the seizure threshold.
It is very rare to develop eye problems like redness, pain, and blurred vision with Bupropion. Please consult the doctor if you experience any eye problems during treatment with Bupropion.
Avoid exceeding the prescribed dose and use Bupropion cautiously with medicines that might lower the seizure threshold, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, theophylline, and systemic steroids.
Bupropion may cause high blood pressure; therefore, let the doctor know if you have hypertension or if you are taking medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
Unlike many other antidepressants, Bupropion is more likely to cause mild weight loss or have a neutral effect on weight rather than causing weight gain. However, weight changes can vary from person to person. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about weight changes.
No, you should avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine. Combining alcohol with this drug can increase your risk of seizures and worsen neurological or psychiatric side effects like dizziness and anxiety. Talk to your doctor if you drink alcohol regularly.
No, you should never stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your healthcare provider. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms or cause your original condition to return. Your doctor will help you gradually decrease your dose safely. Talk to your doctor before making any changes.
This medication can cause dizziness, sleepiness, or blurred vision in some people, especially when first starting or changing doses. Do not drive, ride a bicycle, or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
There is limited information on the safety of using this medicine during pregnancy. It should only be used if the potential benefits outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
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