What is bupropion?
Bupropion is an antidepressant medication.
Bupropion is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. The Zyban brand of bupropion is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects.
Bupropion may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about bupropion?
Do not take bupropion if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.
You should not take bupropion if you have seizures, an eating disorder, if you are using a second form of bupropion, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives.
Bupropion may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions or when using certain drugs. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and the drugs you use.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bupropion?
Do not take bupropion if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.
You should not take bupropion if you have:
epilepsy or a seizure disorder;
an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia;
if you are using a second form of bupropion; or
if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives (such as Valium).
Bupropion may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions.
To make sure you can safely take bupropion, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
a history of head injury, seizures, or brain or spinal cord tumor;
heart disease, high blood pressure, history of heart attack;
kidney or liver disease (especially cirrhosis); or
bipolar disorder (manic depression).
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether bupropion will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Bupropion passes into breast milk and could be harmful to a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking bupropion.