What is Bupropion: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Bupropion

• Take this medicine as directed. The dose may need to be changed several times to find the most effective dose.

• Please read the Medication Guide that comes with this medicine.

• No matter what the dosage form, take doses at the same time each day.

  • You will take two or three doses of bupropion daily. Take doses at least six hours apart.

  • You will take one or two doses of sustained-release bupropion daily. Take doses at least eight hours apart.

  • You will take one dose of extended-release bupropion daily. Take doses 24 hours apart.

• Doses can be taken with or without food.

  • Take doses with food if the medicine causes stomach upset.

• Swallow bupropion tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not break, cut, or chew them.

• The tablets may have an odor. This is normal.

• Store immediate-release and sustained-release bupropion in a closed container at room temperature. Keep the tablets dry and protected from light.

• Store extended-release bupropion in a closed container at room temperature.

What to do if you miss a dose of Bupropion

• Skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. 

• Never take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Bupropion contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. 

• Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to bupropion or if you have:

  • A seizure disorder

  • A history of anorexia or bulimia

Bupropion warnings

• Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.

• The prescribing physician will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

• Tell your prescriber if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you have:

  • An eating disorder

  • Kidney disease

  • Liver disease

  • A head injury

  • A central nervous system tumor

  • Heart disease

  • A history of heart attack

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • Mental illness (including bipolar disorder)

  • A history of drug addiction or alcohol abuse

  • A history of bipolar disorder

  • A history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors

• This medicine can cause serious problems, including: 

  • Changes in mood or behavior, including thoughts of suicide

  • Psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations

  • Seizures

  • High blood pressure

  • Manic episodes

  • Angle-closure glaucoma

  • Severe allergic reactions

• For some children, teenagers, young adults, and people taking bupropion for smoking cessation, this medicine may increase mental or emotional problems and lead to thoughts of suicide. Talk with your doctor right away if you or someone taking buspirone has any thoughts or behavior changes that concern you. 

• When using buspirone for smoking cessation, you may still have urges to smoke at times. Have a plan to cope with these situations.

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

Bupropion interactions

• Do not take bupropion and an MAOI within 14 days of each other. Find a list of MAOIs here.

• Do not take bupropion with other drugs that contain bupropion, including Aplenzin, Forfivo, Wellbutrin, Auvelity, or the weight-loss medication Contrave (naltrexone-bupropion).

• Do not take bupropion if you suddenly quit taking drugs that make you sleepy or drink heavily and suddenly stop. Bupropion is contraindicated in patients who have recently and abruptly discontinued alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or antiepileptic drugs. Abrupt cessation of these substances increases the risk of seizures, and bupropion itself lowers the seizure threshold, compounding this risk. Therefore, starting bupropion in this situation can significantly increase the likelihood of a seizure and should be avoided. 

• Bupropion has many potentially hazardous drug interactions. Tell the prescribing healthcare provider and pharmacist about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements being taken before starting bupropion, particularly:

  • Opioids

  • Benzodiazepines

  • Tricyclic antidepressants

  • Other antidepressants, particularly amantadine

  • Antipsychotics

  • Drugs that treat heart rhythm problems, particularly flecainide or propafenone

  • Beta blockers

  • Corticosteroids

  • The antiseizure medications carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital

  • Clopidogrel, digoxin, efavirenz, levodopa, lopinavir, nicotine patch, Paxlovid, ritonavir, tamoxifen, theophylline, ticlopidine

• Avoid alcohol when using bupropion. There’s a small risk that the combination will reduce alcohol tolerance or produce psychiatric adverse effects.

• Tell the doctor if you consume stimulants like caffeine or nicotine. The combination with bupropion may produce high blood pressure.

Find more information about bupropion interactions here.