Bupropion Hydrochloride (Smoking Deterrent), Oral byoo-PROH-pee-on hy-droh-KLOR-ide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: smoking deterrent

Generic and brand names: bupropion hydrochloride, oral; Buproban; Zyban

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to help people stop smoking.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a head injury or brain tumor
• an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa
• depression or bipolar disorder
• diabetes
• heart disease, angina, or a heart attack
• high blood pressure
• liver or kidney disease
• problems with alcohol or drug abuse
• seizures

Tell your provider if you are taking an antidepressant such as an MAO inhibitor, or if you take Wellbutrin for depression. Tell your healthcare provider if you drink alcohol or use sedatives on a regular basis. The risk of seizures is increased if you stop taking sedatives suddenly or if you drink a lot of alcohol and suddenly stop.

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.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Taking too much may increase the risk of side effects.

This medicine is usually started while you are still smoking because you need to take it for 1 week to build an effective level of medicine in your blood. Set a target date to stop smoking (usually within the second week of taking this medicine).

Treatment with this medicine usually lasts for 7 to 12 weeks but may take longer, depending on your response. Read the information sheet that comes in the medicine package. It is important that you receive counseling and support during treatment and for some time after.

This medicine comes in regular tablets and sustained-release tablets. Do not crush or chew the sustained-release tablets. Swallow them whole.

You may be able to use nicotine patches or nicotine gum while taking this medicine. Do not smoke if you use a nicotine replacement product while taking this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What if I miss a dose?

All doses should be taken 8 hours apart. 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.

What if I overdose?

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, tremors, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, coma.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may also be used to treat depression. Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. Call your child's healthcare provider right away if you notice: new or increased thoughts of suicide changes in mood or behavior such as becoming irritable or anxious.

The active ingredient in this medicine is also used to treat depression. Do not take this medicine if you are also taking Wellbutrin or Wellbutrin SR for depression. They contain the same ingredient, and increase the risk of an overdose or seizures.

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.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

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.

What are the possible side effects?

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, fast or irregular heartbeat, thoughts of suicide, change in behavior, blood in the urine, hallucinations, severe headache.

Other: Trouble sleeping, dry mouth, anxiety, dizziness, mild headache, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain, cough, stomach pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

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:

• amantadine (Symmetrel)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, bupropion (Zyban), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, duloxetine (Cymbalta), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and trazodone
• anti-HIV medicines such as efavirenz (Sustiva), nelfinavir (Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), prochlorperazine (Compro), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline)
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and phenobarbital
• beta blockers such as betaxolol, carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nebivolol, pindolol, and propranolol (Inderal LA)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Orapred), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar)
• heart medicines such as flecainide, procainamide, and propafenone
• levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet)
• linezolid (Zyvox)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine, and warfarin (Coumadin)
• natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, St. John's Wort, SAMe, and valerian
• orphenadrine (Norflex, Norgesic)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine (Compro), perphenazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• procarbazine (Matulane)
• products that contain methylene blue (Prosed DS, Utira-C, Urelle, Utrona-C)
• propafenone (Rythmol)
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
• theophylline
• tramadol (Ultram, Ultram ER)
• zolpidem (Ambien)

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.

How should I store this medicine?

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.