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Bupropion
Brand
Name: Wellbutrin SR
Most
Common Medical Uses
Bupropion
is an antidepressant medication. Bupropion is commonly used used
to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness
or guilt, loss of interest in daily activities, changes in appetite,
tiredness, sleeping too much, insomnia, and thoughts of death or
suicide. Bupropion is also used to help people stop smoking by reducing
withdrawal effects. Bupropion may also be used for purposes other
than those here.
How
to Take This Medication
Take
bupropion exactly as directed by your doctor. Take each dose with
a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the sustained-release
tablets (Wellbutrin SR and Zyban). Swallow them whole. They are
specially formulated to release slowly in your body. If you are
unsure whether you have a sustained-release formulation, ask your
pharmacist, doctor, or nurse. Do not stop taking bupropion without
first talking to your doctor. It may be several weeks before you
begin to feel better, and you may require continuous treatment for
quite some time.
Possible
Side Effects
Stop
taking bupropion and seek emergency medical attention or contact
your doctor immediately if you experience: an allergic reaction
(difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your
lips, tongue, or face; or hives); seizures; or fast or irregular
heartbeats. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely
to occur. Continue to take bupropion and talk to your doctor if
you experience headache; insomnia; dry mouth; tremors, restlessness,
agitation, or anxiety; dizziness or drowsiness. Side effects other
than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about
any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Precautions
Do
not take bupropion if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. Do not take bupropion
if you have epilepsy or another type of seizure disorder, or if
you have ever been diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia. Bupropion
may increase the risk of having a seizure if you have any of these
conditions. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
have any other medical conditions such as heart, liver, or kidney
disease. Bupropion may be used to treat different medical conditions.
You should not be taking more than one product containing bupropion
at a time (e.g., Wellbutrin and Zyban). Talk to your doctor if a
second product containing bupropion is prescribed for you. Too much
of this medicine can increase the risk of a seizure. Do not take
bupropion without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant
or breast-feeding a baby.
Drug
Interactions
Do
not take bupropion if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. Many drugs can interact
with bupropion, resulting in side effects and / or decreased effectiveness
of the medication. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter
medicines, including herbal or natural products, without first talking
to your doctor during treatment with bupropion.
Missed
Dose
Skip
the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not take a double dose.
Storage
Store
at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep this and all
medications out of the reach of children.
Notes
Do
not stop taking bupropion without first talking to your doctor.
It may be several weeks before you begin to feel better, and you
may require continuous treatment for quite some time. Talk to your
doctor about alcohol use before starting treatment with bupropion.
Do not crush, chew, or break the sustained-release tablets (Wellbutrin
SR and Zyban). Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated
to release slowly in your body. If you are unsure whether you have
a sustained-release formulation, ask your pharmacist, doctor, or
nurse.
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