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PATIENT INFORMATION SHEET Continued on back What is bupropion?

What is bupropion used for?

What should I tell my doctor before starting bupropion?

Contraindications:

Warnings and Precautions:

Common side effects:

Bupropion immediate release (Brand: Wellbutrin) Bupropion is in a class of medications called dopamine and norepinephrin\ e reuptake inhibitor antidepressants.

Bupropion is FDA-approved for treating major depressive disorder. The safety and effectiveness of bupropion have not been established for patients younger than 18 years.

Before starting on bupropion, tell your doctor if you have ever experienced any of the following:

depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or other mental health problem\ s; liver or kidney prob- lems; a head injury; seizures; a tumor in your brain or spine; heart pro\ blems, a heart attack, or high blood pressure; diabetes and taking insulin or other medicines to c\ ontrol your blood sugar; heavy use of alcohol; substance abuse including prescription medicines or street drugs.

Bupropion should not be taken by patients with a seizure disorder (epilepsy), eating disorders (bulimia or anorexia), patients undergoing abrupt discontinuation of alcohol or benzodiazepines, taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant, or within 14 days of starting or discontinuing an MAOI. (See back of handout under “Are there interactions with other drugs?”) If you have any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you, call your doctor right away, or call 911 in an emergency.

Clinical worsening and suicide risk: Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or behavior in some children, adolescents, and young adults, especially during the f\ irst few months of treat- ment or when changing the dose. No increased risk of these events has been shown for adults over 24 years of age, and the risk is decreased for adults over 65 years of age. All patients start- ing antidepressants should be monitored and observed closely for new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or unusual changes in behavior.

Notify your doctor immediately if any of the following develops:

• Thoughts about suicide or dying, or attempts to commit suicide • New or worsening depression, anxiety, or irritability • Feeling very agitated, restless, aggressive, angry, or violent • Panic attacks • Acting dangerously impulsive • Extreme increase in activity and talking • Other unusual changes in behavior or mood Seizures or convulsions: Bupropion is associated with a dose-related risk of seizure, which mean\ s the chance of having a seizure increases with higher doses of the medication. If you experience a seizure while on this medication, discontinue the medication and contact\ your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy and nursing: Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed as the potential benefits of bupropion must be weighed against the pos- sible risks to the unborn child or infant.

The most commonly reported side effects are feeling nervous, constipation, problems sleeping, dry mouth, headache, nausea, vomiting, and tremor (shakiness). These side effects are generally This is a summary of important information about bupropion (Wellbutrin). For additional details, talk to your healthcare professional. Note: These guidelines are for general information only and are not intended to recommend specific treatment.

For more specific information, consult your physician or pharmacist. Subscribers are permitted to photocopy multiple copies for patients and colleagues who would benefit from the material. \ Not for resale or mass distribution. 06/14 Are there interactions with other drugs?

How should Wellbutrin immediate release be taken?

What does Wellbutrin immediate release look like?

How should bupropion be stored? mild and disappear after a few weeks. If nausea develops, try taking bupropion with food. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid taking bupropion too close to bedtime.

This is not a complete list of all known or potential adverse effects. Notify your prescriber of any symp- toms that have started since you or your child began taking this medication, changing its dose, or add- ing or changing other medication or diet.

Bupropion should not be used with MAOIs or within 14 days of starting or discontinuing an MAOI.

MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), orphenadrine (Norflex), or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Bupropion should not be used with other ant\ idepressants unless specifically recommended by your doctor. The risk of side effects could increase if bupropion is taken with carbamazepine (Tegretol), clozapine (Clozaril), fluoxetine (Prozac), haloperidol (Haldol), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), loxapine (Loxitane), molindone (Moban\ ), phenytoin (Dilantin), or trazo- done (Desyrel).

Patients should be aware that Zyban, an aid to stop smoking, contains the same active ingredient found in Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin sustained release (SR), and Wellbutrin extended release (XL), and should not be used with any Wellbutrin formulation or any other medications that contain bupropion.

This is not a complete list of all known or potential drug interactions. Be sure that your pharmacist or healthcare providers know about all medications you are taking, as well as any nonprescription dietary herbal supplements, folk or at-home remedies, or any unusual foods, drinks, or dietary habits.

Please note that the following are general dosing guidelines only. You should speak with your doctor to discuss all dosing questions.

Take Wellbutrin immediate release exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day, at least 6 hours apart. Wellbutrin may be taken with or without food. If you miss a dose, do not take an extra tablet to make up for the missed dose. Wait and take your next tablet at the regular time. This is very important since taking too much Wellbutrin can increase the risk of having a seizure.

The usual adult dose is 300 mg/day, given as 100 mg 3 times daily. Dosing should start at 200 mg given as 100 mg twice daily, and increased to 300 mg. Dose increases should be no greater than 100 \ mg/day within a 3-day period.

Wellbutrin immediate release is available as follows:

• 75 mg: yellow-gold, round, biconvex tablets, printed with “Wellbutrin 75” • 100 mg: red, round, biconvex tablets, printed with “Wellbutrin 100” Information on other Wellbutrin formulations, other brands, or generic formulations is available from your doctor or pharmacist.

Bupropion should be stored at room temperature (59°F and 86°F) i\ n a tightly closed, child-, light-, and moisture-resistant container. If you have difficulty opening child-resistant containers, your pharmacist can provide you with a container that is easier to open. Keep the medication out of direct sunlight and avoid storing it in a warm and humid area, such as the bathroom or kitchen, to avoid deterioration. To prevent accidental poisoning, keep all medications out of the reach of children or adults with dementia\ .

Do not take expired medication. Do not transfer medication from one container to anot\ her. Carefully discard discontinued medication where children, pets, or adults with dem\ entia cannot find it.

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