Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin - Bupropion

Wellbutrin is the brand name for the prescription drug bupropion. Also sold under the name of Zyban, Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters that are released by nerves are taken up again by the nerves that release them for reuse. (This is referred to as reuptake.) Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Wellbutrin is unrelated to other antidepressants. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, an action which results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Wellbutrin is unique in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect which is not shared by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs (e.g. Paxil; Prozac; Zoloft) or the tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs (e.g. Elavil; Tofranil; Norpramin).

Although no systematic studies have been done to assess the potential of bupropion to interact with other drugs, Wellbutrin should be used cautiously in patients receiving drugs that reduce the threshold for seizures. Such drugs include prochlorperazine (Compazine), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), and other antipsychotic medications of the phenothiazine class. Additionally, persons who are withdrawing from benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Xanax) are at increased risk for seizures.

A unique aspect of Wellbutrin compared to many antidepressants is that although there are no adequate studies of Wellbutrin in pregnant women, studies in pregnant animals using doses much higher than those used in humans, have demonstrated that Wellbutrin is safe. Wellbutrin, therefore, can be used in pregnancy if the physician feels that it is necessary.

Agitation; anxiety, buzzing or ringing in ears; headache (severe); skin rash, hives, itching, confusion; extreme distrust; fainting; false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); seizures (convulsions), and, especially with higher doses; trouble in concentrating are all side effects that your doctor should be notified of as soon as possible.

Some other common side effects that do not require the immediate notification of your doctor include abdominal pain; constipation; decrease in appetite; dizziness; dryness of mouth; increased sweating; nausea or vomiting; trembling or shaking; trouble in sleeping; weight loss (unusual), blurred vision; change in sense of taste; drowsiness; feeling of fast or irregular heartbeat; frequent need to urinate; muscle pain; sore throat; and an unusual feeling of well-being. Wellbutrin should not be discontinued in any quick format since dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, taste, etc are likely to occur It is suggested that a steady process of withdrawal is instead implemented.

An alarming side effect that should be given some consideration about Wellbutrin, as well as many other antidepressants, is that it has been suggested that Wellbutrin and SSRIs may cause depression to worsen and even lead to suicide in a small number of patients. These potential side effects are difficult to evaluate in depressed patients because depression can progress with or without treatment, and suicide is itself a consequence of depression. Moreover, the evidence supporting these potential side effects is weak. Therefore, no conclusions can yet be drawn about the relationship between Wellbutrin and SSRIs and worsening depression and suicide. Until better information is available, patients receiving Wellbutrin or SSRIs should be monitored for worsening depression and suicidal tendencies.