Type of medicine: antidepressant
Generic and brand names: bupropion hydrochloride, oral, antidepressant; Aplenzin; Budeprion; Budeprion XL; Wellbutrin; Wellbutrin SR; Wellbutrin XL
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat depression, including seasonal affective disorder. It may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Do not take this medicine if you:
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Also tell your provider if you drink alcohol or take any other medicines regularly, such as sedatives, stimulants, or weight-loss medicines.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
This medicine comes in regular tablets and extended-release tablets. Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablets. Swallow them whole. Ask your pharmacist if you have the extended-release tablets.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider in the proper amounts and at the proper times of the day. You may take this medicine with or without food.
Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed. Taking too much of this medicine may increase the risk of side effects. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: seizures, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, coma.
Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. Talk with your provider about this.
Behavior changes may be caused by the medicine or by depression or another mental illness. Contact your provider right away if you or your family notice any disturbing changes in your thoughts or behavior, such as:
If you have any seizures while you are taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.
Your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly to determine whether you should continue taking this medicine. Keep your appointments.
This medicine may affect your ability to perform tasks requiring coordination. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your health care provider approves.
If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain drug tests.
You may see pieces of the extended-release tablet in your stool. This is normal. This is the empty tablet shell leaving your body.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Seizures, thoughts of suicide, extreme nervousness, chest pain, yellowish eyes or skin, extreme weakness, muscle or joint pain, dark urine, light colored bowel movements, hallucinations, fast or irregular heart beat.
Other: Headache, nausea, vomiting, dry itchy skin, trouble sleeping, dizziness, loss of appetite, constipation, weight gain or loss, dry mouth, sweating, ringing in the ears, urinating more often, nervousness, abnormal dreams, change in sense of taste, tremors.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
Drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine may increase its side effects. Ask your healthcare provider about this.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
