Everything You Know About Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
Men, you need a prescription to take bupropion. It'll often be under the brand Wellbutrin. It's good for treating depression and helping you quit smoking. You've even got a choice of immediate and extended-release pills! Expect 100 milligrams of the immediate release pills. Two doses a day will help! If you're in need of a maintenance dose, expect 300 milligrams every day. The max dose? 400 milligrams! You'll get less if you've got liver issues or kidney problems.
Men, this is a huge, huge option for depression treatment. It's also helpful in smoking cessation treatment! Of course, therapy for depression is needed too. You want to fight this on all sides! Expect this med to be paired with cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness for depression. Understand this med, and you'll be well on the road to recovery!
How It Works
Men, you know this med is an antidepressant. Bupropion's part of a group called aminoketones! But guess what? It's actually not similar to other antidepressants in its chemical structure. Not at all! Not even tricyclic antidepressants! It's similar to diethylpropion instead. And what's more? It is water-soluble. Men, you want this one! Many, many researchers claim this is an NDRI. That means it blocks the reabsorption of norepinephrine and dopamine. It'll actually trigger a neuron to release them too! Men, this med works well. Really well. It'll also bind to receptors that reduce nicotine cravings. It'll get them so active. So active!
The Best Uses
Men, get ready to say sayonara to major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. These are among the best uses for this med. The best uses! One brand of this med will even get you to quit smoking in no time. No time at all! It'll get rid of nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. You're going to feel much, much better with this med in your corner. And men, it doesn't stop there! Docs will use this med 'off-label' for bipolar disorder and even ADHD. So many of you can benefit from it! Just be sure to talk about the risks for you and your health condition with this med. Your doc will make sure it's the right choice! And once you have it? They need to monitor you to see all the success!
Side Effects
Yep, you saw this one coming. Men, all meds have side effects. This one's no different! You'll deal with dry mouth. Sweating too! Other common effects of this one are weight loss, ringing in your ears, and a sore throat. Nausea will make an appearance as well. Men, you may not sleep well in the first few weeks of taking this med. Feeling a little agitated is common then too. Many, many men also have tremors, constipation, and a fast heart rate on this med. Peeing more often is common as well. Be ready!
Men, there are less common side effects out there too. Some examples? Obviously you've got chest pain, migraines, and twitching. Issues swallowing, hives, and flushing happen as well! And rarely? Hallucinations, seizures, and increases in suicidal thoughts, among others, can be possible. But you're strong, men. So strong. You'll be able to handle the common ones, and with your doc as your reinforcement, you'll be safe no matter what.
Precautions
Talk to your doc about this med. They have to know your medical history! If you've got epilepsy, or something similar? Bupropion's not safe for you. Ever had an eating disorder? Docs don't often recommend taking this medication. Other considerations are if you've ever suddenly stopped taking sedatives or seizure meds. Your doc needs to know if they're going to recommend bupropion! You also can't take it for 2 conditions at the same time. It's not meant for that!
Other pieces of your medical history matter too. Men, remember all of it. Talk about if you've had a brain tumor, high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease. Liver problems too! Many, many men can't take this med if they have had certain health issues. Your doc needs the info so they can take precautions and fight for you with the right med! Under 18? Try something else! And men, don't get ahead of yourselves. You need to stop this med gradually. Talk to your doc about that to avoid complications! And if you need to take a drug test? Let the staff know about bupropion. It can cause false-positives!
Medication Interactions
Men, bupropion's got over 400 medication interactions. There are over 200 major drug interactions in that too! Sad. You have to make a list of all the meds you take. Your doctor needs it to check for these interactions! Epilepsy meds reduce the effectiveness of this one. You need extreme caution here. The same applies to some HIV meds. Ritonavir? It reduces the body's concentration of bupropion by 66 percent! You'll need something else if you're stopping diazepam or a similar med. There's an increased seizure risk if you don't! And yes, when taking MAOIs, you have to wait 14 days before taking this one. This makes sure you don't have severe side effects!