Wellbutrin what does it do

Updated October Bupropion for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Wellbutrin SR bupropion hydrochloride sustained-release tablets. Wellbutrin XL bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets. Updated July College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.

Bupropion Wellbutrin. Updated January Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Before Taking. Side Effects. The 5 Major Classes of Antidepressants. Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? You should not take bupropion if you are allergic to it, or if you have:. Do not use an MAO inhibitor within 14 days before or 14 days after you take bupropion.

A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. Do not take bupropion to treat more than one condition at a time. If you take bupropion for depression, do not also take this medicine to quit smoking. Bupropion may cause seizures, especially if you have certain medical conditions or use certain drugs.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and the drugs you use. Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Ask your doctor about taking this medicine if you are pregnant. It is not known whether bupropion will harm an unborn baby. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant.

Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do not start or stop taking bupropion without your doctor's advice. If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of bupropion on the baby. It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

Ask your doctor about any risk. Please review before taking this medication. Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that works in the brain.

It is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder MDD , seasonal affective disorder SAD , and to help people quit smoking smoking cessation. SAD is a type of depression that occurs mainly during the autumn-winter season. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options. After starting bupropion, symptoms gradually decrease over a period of weeks.

In MDD and SAD, sleep and other physical symptoms may improve before there is noticeable improvement in mood or interest in activities.

Once symptoms are under control, MDD usually requires long-term treatment to help prevent the return of depressive symptoms. If you are using bupropion for SAD or smoking cessation, the length of your treatment may be shorter.

With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Do not stop taking bupropion or change your dose without talking with your health care provider first. Depression is also a part of bipolar illness. People with bipolar disorder who take antidepressants may be at risk for "switching" from depression into mania. Symptoms of mania include "high" or irritable mood, very high self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressure to keep talking, racing thoughts, being easily distracted, frequently involved in activities with a large risk for bad consequences for example, excessive buying sprees.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications. People living with MDD who wish to become pregnant face important decisions, each with risks and benefits as they relate to how the illness, medications, and risks to the fetus may interact.

Untreated MDD has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers. Bupropion has also been evaluated for smoking cessation during pregnancy and is recommended only after other therapies have failed. Bupropion hydrochloride is available in 3 different forms: immediate release IR , sustained release SR , and extended release XL.

Bupropion IR is usually taken 2 or 3 times per day with hours between doses. The dose usually ranges from mg twice daily to mg three times daily, with the last dose taken mid-afternoon. Bupropion SR is usually taken twice daily in the morning and mid-afternoon. The dose usually ranges from mg twice daily up to mg twice daily.

The dose ranges from mg to mg. While there are dose ranges for each form, your health care provider will determine the form and dose that is right for you based on your response. The dose may be increased to mg once daily. The dose for smoking cessation is bupropion SR mg once daily for 3 days and then twice daily for 7 to 12 weeks. You should not take more than one product that contains bupropion, including the products that are used to quit smoking.

Do not take more than your prescribed dose since higher doses may increase your risk of having a seizure. Like all antidepressants, bupropion can cause certain side effects. Most of the side effects that can occur with bupropion are minor and temporary. However, there are also several potentially severe side effects that you should be aware of before using this medication. Some of the common side effects of bupropion include:.

Many of these side effects may be mild and often disappear over the course of several days or weeks. In general, bupropion is less likely to cause sexual dysfunction than other commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants.

Like other antidepressants, bupropion may cause serious side effects. These side effects occur in a small percentage of bupropion users. Serious side effects of bupropion include:. Mental health issues, such as panic attacks, changes in mood, impulsive behavior and worsened depression or anxiety. Bupropion may contribute to hypertension high blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure or a history of cardiovascular issues, make sure you inform your healthcare provider before using bupropion. Though rare, depending on dosage, anywhere from. Conditions that may increase your seizure risk include:. Use of other drugs that may affect your seizure susceptibility, such as other antidepressants, antipsychotics, systemic corticosteroids or theophylline.

Bupropion may also not be a suitable treatment for people with liver or kidney issues, diabetes or certain mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder.

This warning is found on bupropion medications used for treating depression — bupropion smoking cessation aids do not carry the same warning. Studies do not show that this risk occurs in people aged 24 and older. Bupropion can interact with other medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbal products and health supplements.

These interactions may increase the amount of bupropion in your body or make the medication less effective. In some cases, the use of bupropion can cause dangerous interactions with other medications.

Dangerous interactions can occur when bupropion is used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs — another type of antidepressant medication.