Wellbutrin sr how does it work

If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Headache, weight loss, dry mouth, trouble sleeping insomnia , nausea, dizziness, constipation, fast heartbeat, and sore throat.

These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication. Unlike many antidepressants, bupropion does not commonly cause sexual side effects and may be selected as an alternative treatment when antidepressant-induced sexual side effects are problematic.

Sexual side effects include such problems as difficulty achieving orgasm or ejaculatory delay. In general the risk of seizures due to bupropion is low. The risk of having a seizure increases with higher than recommended doses of bupropion, a history of seizures or head injury, tumor in the brain, severe liver disease, an eating disorder, alcohol or drug dependence, or taking other drugs that can also increase your risk of having a seizure.

There is a low risk of cardiovascular adverse events associated with stimulating agents, including bupropion. This risk increases if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, previous heart attack, or irregular heartbeat, or when used with transdermal nicotine replacement products.

In these cases, a thorough cardiovascular evaluation is recommended before starting this medicine. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of bupropion.

It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Bupropion should not be taken with or within two weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. There are several products with the active ingredient bupropion. Do not take more than one product that contains bupropion since this may increase your risk of having a seizure. Certain medications may increase your risk of having a seizure when combined with bupropion.

These include other antidepressants, antipsychotics, theophylline, isoniazid, tramadol, stimulants, steroids, hypoglycemic agents including insulin , certain antibiotics e. These medications can change the way your body reacts to bupropion.

Bupropion can change the way your body reacts to these medications. Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in actiities may need up to weeks to fully improve. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide.

This risk may persist until significant remission occurs. In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents and young adults when compared to placebo. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age Adults ages 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality.

Patients, their families and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia. Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses.

Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects. Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention. Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:.

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication. Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous tasks until you have determined how this medication affects you. Glaucoma: This medication may cause the symptoms of glaucoma increased pressure in the eye to become worse. If you have glaucoma, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Report any changes in vision to your doctor as soon as possible while you are taking this medication. Heart disease: It is not known whether bupropion is safe for use by people with a recent history of heart attack or unstable heart disease, as it can cause increased blood pressure. If you have heart problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you are taking one of these medications, do not take the other or any other product containing bupropion, as the risk of seizures increases with an increased dosage. To reduce the risk of seizures, the total daily dose of this medication should not be greater than mg. Kidney function: Bupropion is removed from the body by the kidney. Decreased kidney function can cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects.

If you have kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you drink alcohol while using bupropion for depression or smoking cessation, you may be more likely to experience side effects from the alcohol and the bupropion. If you drink beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages frequently, talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol while using bupropion before you start taking this medication.

Like other widely used antidepressants, bupropion has the potential to cause certain withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using it without tapering your dosage.

Common bupropion withdrawal symptoms of bupropion include difficulty sleeping, balance issues, anxiety, depression, mood changes, flu-like symptoms, sweating and more.

Instead, talk to your healthcare provider about adjusting your dosage, safely tapering your bupropion dosage over time or changing to a different antidepressant or smoking cessation aid. As a smoking cessation aid, its exact mechanism of action is not known, but scientists believe it may work by reducing cravings for nicotine by changing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain.

However, you should talk to your healthcare provider before you use bupropion with nicotine gum, lozenges, patches or other products containing nicotine. Although antidepressants are typically associated with weight gain, several studies of bupropion have found that it may cause weight loss.

In several studies , use of bupropion sustained release SR tablets has been associated with mild long-term weight loss. Not all people who use bupropion lose weight. Depending on your food intake and activity level, you may gain weight, lose weight or maintain your current weight after using bupropion.

Bupropion is one of several medications used to treat depression. Our complete guide to medications for depression goes into more detail on the options that are available, how they work and more.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice.

Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Insider tips, early access and more. Top Treatments. Top Conditions Erectile Dysfunction. Mental Health. What Is Wellbutrin Bupropion? How Wellbutrin Bupropion Works Wellbutrin bupropion belongs to a class of medications referred to as aminoketones. Wellbutrin XL may be preferred for its once-daily dosing. It may also be better for treating depression during seasonal changes seasonal affective disorder.

Wellbutrin SR or Wellbutrin XL should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefits outweigh the risks. These medications should be discussed with a healthcare provider before using during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Drinking alcohol can lead to an increased risk of adverse side effects. Alcohol should be avoided with these medications. Decreased memory is a possible side effect of taking Wellbutrin. However, it may not be as common as other side effects such as dizziness, headache, and dry mouth.

Wellbutrin increases the activity of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. This feeling usually occurs after taking a high dose of bupropion. Wellbutrin inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine.

As a result, the drug enhances the activity of these neurotransmitters. Wellbutrin can be used to treat mental health conditions affected by these chemicals in the brain.

Wellbutrin is not approved to treat anxiety. In fact, Wellbutrin may cause anxiety as a side effect. Wellbutrin is primarily used to treat symptoms of depression.

Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Wellbutrin SR vs. Wellbutrin XL: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you. By Gerardo Sison, Pharm. Want the best price on Wellbutrin SR? Want the best price on Wellbutrin XL? Top Reads in Drug vs. Toujeo vs Lantus: Main Differences and S Dulera vs Advair: Main Differences and S Suboxone vs Methadone: Main Differences