wellbutrin side effects

SusanRN2004, RN · Mar 25, 2003

Brand Name Example(s):

Brand Name Supplied As Rx or OTC?

Wellbutrin Tablets: 75 mg, 100 mg RX

Active Ingredient:

Bupropion HCL

Type of Drug:

Antidepressant; mood-elevating agent.

Uses:

To treat depression. Use in treating depression for more than 6 weeks has not been evaluated. Patients who use this drug for extended periods should be periodically re-evaluated by their doctor.

Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or if you are planning to take any over-the-counter or prescription medications with antidepressants. Doses of one or both drugs may need to be changed or a different drug may need to be prescribed. The following drugs and drug classes interact with antidepressants:

antidepressants (eg, fluoxetine, amitriptyline)

antipsychotics (eg, phenothiazines)

carbamazepine (eg, Tegretol)

cimetidine (eg, Tagamet)

isocarboxazid (Marplan)

levodopa (eg, Sinemet)

monoamine oxidase inhibitors (eg, phenelzine)

phenobarbital (eg, Solfoton)

phenytoin (eg, Dilantin)

ritonavir (Norvir)

systemic corticosteroids (eg, prednisone)

theophylline (eg, Slo-Phyllin)

Side Effects:

Every drug can cause side effects, but most people have no, or minor, side effects. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following occurs:

Parkinson's Disease-Like Symptoms: Stumbling gait; movement disorders.

Digestive Tract: Nausea; vomiting; constipation; indigestion; appetite changes; stomach pain; dry mouth; mouth sores.

Nervous System: Seizures; tremor; dizziness; delusions; hallucinations; euphoria (exaggerated sense of well-being); confusion; agitation; hostility; restlessness; anxiety; sedation; sleep disturbances; fatigue; headache; activation of psychosis or mania; sleeplessness; decreased memory.

Circulatory System: Changes in heart rate and rhythm; changes in blood pressure; palpitations (pounding in chest); fast heartbeat; chest pain.

Skin: Rash; itching; excessive sweating; flushing.

Other: Taste changes; blurred vision; hearing problems; impotence; frequent urination; menstrual problems; fever; chills; joint pain; weight changes; decreased sex drive; fainting; urinary urgency; muscle pain; allergic reaction; weakness; abnormal skin sensations; shortness of breath.

Precautions:

Do not use in the following situations:

allergy to Wellbutrin or any of its ingredients

anorexia

bulimia

bupropion HCl (eg, Zyban), concurrent use for smoking cessation

monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) use, concurrent or within 14 days

seizure disorders

Use with caution in the following situations:

alcohol

attempted suicide, history

brain tumor

diabetes treated with oral hypoglycemics or insulin

drug abuse

head injury, history

heart attack, recent

heart disease

kidney disease

liver disease

manic depression, bipolar

seizure, history or risk of

therapy that lowers seizure threshold (eg, antipsychotics, antidepressants, theophylline, systemic steroids, benzodiazepine withdrawal)

Pregnancy: Adequate studies have not been done in pregnant women. Use during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy.

Breastfeeding: Wellbutrin is secreted in human in milk. Serious side effects could potentially occur in the nursing infant. Decide whether to stop the drug or stop breastfeeding, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Talk to your doctor before you begin breastfeeding.

Children: Safety and effectiveness have not been established in children

Elderly: Older patients are known to metabolize drugs more slowly and to be more sensitive to Wellbutrin. Use the lowest effective dose.

Guidelines For Use:

Wellbutrin should not be used in combination with Zyban or any other medication containing bupropion.

Do not use alcohol to reduce the risk of seizures.

Do not take in combination with MAO inhibitors or within 14 days of stopping treatment with an MAOI.

The full antidepressant effects of Wellbutrin may take 4 weeks or longer.

May cause drowsiness. Use caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness, coordination, or physical dexterity.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, become pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Usual adult dosage is 300 mg/day given in 3 equally divided doses of 100 mg separated by at least 6 hours. Dosing should begin at 200 mg/day, given as 100 mg twice daily. Based on response, dose may be gradually increased up to 300 mg/day.

Do not crush or chew tablets. This can cause numbness of the mouth or throat.

Do not exceed 450 mg Wellbutrin daily. Single doses should not exceed 150 mg due to the risk of seizures.

If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is

Store at 59° to 77°F. Protect from light and moisture.

How The Drug Works:

The actual antidepressant mechanism of Wellbutrin is not known, but is thought to enhance activity of certain chemicals in the brain (eg, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) which in turn improves depressed mood.

Definitions:

RX - "Prescription Drug", available only with a prescription.

OTC - "Over-The-Counter Drug", available without a prescription.

Drug Class - Describes the general group and function of this drug.

Generic Available - Is this drug available in generic form?

Active Ingredient - The generic name of the drug.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 25, 2003

NEat Susan. For me it's dry, VERY dry mouth (several new gumline caries) and a fine tremor. But the benefits far outweigh these side effects.

emily_mom · Mar 25, 2003

For me: VERY dry mouth (so bad that my tongue would be literally stuck to the roof of my mouth in the morning...)

Couldn't sleep. At all. And when I did, I ended up with the above. I had to stop taking it.

Rusty was on it when he quit smoking too. He didn't say much about SE...maybe ask him.

sphinx, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2003

My only problem has been a fine tremor, which I can certainly live with!!! Compared to other antidepressants, this med has had the least amount of side effects. Good luck.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 26, 2003

I do ok on a MINIMAL dosage, taken ONLY in the morning. Otherwise, I do not sleep and become agitated in the middle of the night.

emily_mom · Mar 26, 2003

I was going to add that I took it in the AM and PM (started for 3 days on just AM dose), and it was after that when I started having the bad SE.

Bonnie Blue · Mar 26, 2003

I've been taking 300 mg in the AM for almost four months. The only side effect I've noticed is that my dreams are frequently vivid and bizarre. My libido came back after being gone for months. I just feel better.

Kathy Gallimore · Mar 26, 2003

:) Nurse Jessica you spelled Wellbutrin just fine. Why are you on Paxil to begin with? Is it for depression or anxiety? I know quite a bit about most antidepressants. Wellbutrin is an old one and it is good for some people. I had problems with it myself for it made me very sick. What kind of symptoms did you have with the serotonin syndrome? Why did you want to come off of the Paxil? Is it giving you any problems? I would give you some suggestions but I would need more information before I can give you any advise. You may know that Wellbutrin is given to smokers to help them to quite. If you would like I could send you information on Wellbutrin from a drug book from the ETSU.

sanakruz, ADN · Mar 26, 2003

DO NOT mix this med with ETOH. I have seen 3 clients over the last several years have a SEIZURE from doing so.

This med is also abused on the street in high doses,because of it's "speedy" quality.

RNbeach, ASN, RN · Mar 26, 2003

Taking Wellbutrin SR for 3 months now.. I take 300 mg, 150mg in the AM, 150mg in the PM! I haven't noticed any physical side effects, I do agree with Bonnie Blue, my dreams are very colorful very vivid, and at times completely bizarre since I have been on the drug. Otherwise, it has been a life saver for me!

Brenda

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 26, 2003

300 mg in the am made the difference. One 150 at 8am and one 150 at 1 pm. Otherwise no sleep that night.