Wellbutrin Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Wellbutrin Tablet (generic name bupropion) is a prescription antidepressant belonging to the miscellaneous antidepressant class known as aminoketone antidepressants. It is used to treat major depressive disorder and, in the Wellbutrin XL form, to help prevent seasonal affective disorder. It is thought to work on the brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine.

What is Wellbutrin Tablet

Wellbutrin is a prescription antidepressant medicine used to treat depression. It is thought to work on brain chemical messengers called norepinephrine and dopamine.

Wellbutrin Tablet uses

• Treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Prevention of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) (Wellbutrin XL only)

Benefits of Wellbutrin Tablet

• Can improve mood, energy, sleep, and interest in daily activities over time
• Does not commonly cause sexual side effects, unlike many other antidepressants

How Wellbutrin Tablet works

Wellbutrin is thought to work by affecting the brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine. It weakly blocks the reabsorption of these chemicals into nerve cells, though its exact mechanism isn't fully known, and unlike many antidepressants it does not affect serotonin.

Wellbutrin Tablet dosage

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor and do not take more or less than recommended. Swallow tablets whole; do not crush, chew, or break them. It can be taken with or without food. If taking more than once daily, space doses at least 6 hours apart, and take it at the same time each day.

You may notice something in your stool that looks like a tablet; this is just the empty shell after the medicine has been absorbed. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor first, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms.

If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regular time; do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. It may take several weeks to feel the full effect; keep taking it as directed even after you start feeling better unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets: 75 mg and 100 mg (immediate release)
• Modified/extended release tablets: 150 mg and 300 mg

Side effects of Wellbutrin Tablet

Common

• Dry mouth
• Sore throat, stuffy nose
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, constipation
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Tremors, sweating, feeling anxious or nervous
• Fast heartbeats
• Confusion, agitation, hostility
• Rash
• Weight loss
• Increased urination
• Headache, dizziness
• Muscle or joint pain

Serious

• Seizures (convulsions)
• Confusion, unusual changes in mood or behavior
• Blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights
• Fast or irregular heartbeats
• Manic episode - racing thoughts, increased energy, reckless behavior, feeling extremely happy or irritable, talking more than usual, severe problems with sleep
• Severe allergic reaction - hives, itching, fever, swollen glands, difficult breathing, swelling in face or throat
• Severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling
• High blood pressure, sometimes severe
• Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, psychosis
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Warnings and precautions

• Ask your doctor about taking Wellbutrin if you are pregnant. 
• It isn't known whether it will harm an unborn baby, but stopping your antidepressant could cause your depression to come back. 
• Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, and don't start or stop this medicine on your own.
• It may not be safe to breastfeed while using Wellbutrin. Ask your doctor about any risk.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before taking this medicine, as your dose may need to be adjusted.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, especially cirrhosis, before taking this medicine, as your dose may need to be adjusted.
• Drinking alcohol with this medicine may increase your risk of seizures. 
• If you drink alcohol regularly, talk with your doctor before changing the amount you drink, since suddenly stopping alcohol can also increase seizure risk.
• This medicine may affect your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert until you know how it affects you.
• Do not take this medicine if you have a seizure disorder, an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol, seizure medications, or sedatives.
• Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor (a type of antidepressant) in the past 14 days, as a dangerous drug interaction could occur.
• This medicine may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions or when using certain drugs. The risk increases with higher doses.
• Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Doctors need to monitor progress closely, and family or caregivers should watch for mood or behavior changes.
• Some people taking this medicine have had severe high blood pressure, especially when also using nicotine replacement products like patches or gum.
• This medicine can cause a false positive result on a urine drug screening test. Tell the lab staff you are taking this medicine if you need a drug test.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
• Store WELLBUTRIN at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
• Keep WELLBUTRIN tablets dry and out of the light.
• Keep WELLBUTRIN and all medicines out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, itching, fever, swollen glands, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face or throat, or a severe skin reaction with fever, sore throat, burning eyes, or a painful red or purple rash with blistering.

Call your doctor right away if you have a seizure, confusion or unusual changes in mood or behavior, vision problems such as blurred or tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, seeing halos around lights, fast or irregular heartbeats, or signs of a manic episode like racing thoughts, high energy, reckless behavior, or severe trouble sleeping.

Report any new or worsening mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or feelings of impulsiveness, irritability, agitation, hostility, aggression, restlessness, hyperactivity, worsening depression, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm to your doctor right away.

If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide or self-harm, contact your doctor or go to a hospital right away.

If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention right away, as an overdose can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include muscle stiffness, hallucinations, fast or uneven heartbeat, shallow breathing, or fainting.

Alternatives

• Zyban
• Aplenzin
• Effexor XR