What is bupropion used for in mental health?

Bupropion (Aplenzin, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) is used to treat depression.


What does bupropion do to a normal person?

Bupropion is an effective antidepressant with efficacy comparable to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants. It is well tolerated in short-and longer-term treatment. Headache, dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, constipation, and dizziness are the most common adverse events.

Is bupropion a mood stabilizer?

Bupropion is an antidepressant drug approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and as an aid for smoking cessation. This medication works by improving your mood and your sense of well-being.


How do bupropion make you feel?

Bupropion may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies, or to become more depressed.

How does bupropion help with anxiety?

Wellbutrin is part of a class of antidepressants called norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors, or aminoketones. It works by changing the way your brain uses the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine helps regulate learning and pleasure. Norepinephrine helps keep the body awake and alert.


BUPROPION (WELLBUTRIN): Treatment for Depression/What are the Side Effects?



Why do doctors not prescribe Wellbutrin?

This drug has a boxed warning about the following risk. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Antidepressants, such as Wellbutrin, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Does bupropion start working immediately?

When used as a treatment for depression, Wellbutrin (buproprion) usually takes around six to eight weeks before it starts fully working as a treatment for depression. However, you may begin to experience improvements in your sleep habits, appetite and energy levels as early as one to two weeks of treatment.

What are the negative effects of bupropion?

Bupropion may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • drowsiness.
  • anxiety.
  • excitement.
  • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
  • dry mouth.
  • dizziness.
  • headache.
  • nausea.


Does bupropion calm you down?

Also known as bupropion, Wellbutrin has been established as an effective antidepressant demonstrating an impressive ability to reduce anxiety levels. There are many benefits to Wellbutrin as an anxiety treatment, including its lack of common mood medication symptoms, like weight gain and sexual side effects.

Will bupropion give you energy?

With the increase of dopamine that Wellbutrin provides, some patients may experience a boost of energy and motivation while taking Wellbutrin. What drug is closest to Wellbutrin? Wellbutrin is the brand name drug of bupropion.

Is bupropion used for bipolar?

Bupropion is widely used for treating bipolar disorder (BD), and especially those with depressive mood, based on its good treatment effect, safety profile, and lower risk of phase shifting.


How long does it take for bupropion to work for anxiety?

Individuals may experience significant improvements to physical symptoms such as sleep patterns, appetite, and energy levels during the first couple of weeks of treatment. However, it may take around four to six weeks to experience any noteworthy improvements in mood and interest in activities.

Is bupropion a psychiatric drug?

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation). Symptoms of depression include: Depressed mood - feeling sad, empty, or tearful.

Does bupropion make you focus?

It helps improve concentration and focus by keeping the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine available to the brain's neurons for a longer time. Wellbutrin does not influence serotonin, so it works differently than many other types of antidepressants.


How long should you take bupropion for?

Most people take bupropion SR for 12 weeks.

Your healthcare provider might prescribe bupropion for longer, if needed.

Does bupropion cause weight gain?

And a 2019 review of 27 studies on antidepressants and weight gain found that antidepressant use increases body weight by an average of 5%—except bupropion, which is associated with weight loss (Alonso-Pedrero, 2019).

Is bupropion good for panic attacks?

One case study found that bupropion at a dose of 150 milligrams daily improved panic and anxiety symptoms in an individual with panic disorder. Anecdotal evidence also supports the use of bupropion in addition to other medications to treat panic disorder.


Does Wellbutrin stop emotions?

A 2017 internet-based survey found that only 33% of people experienced emotional blunting while on Wellbutrin, compared with 75% who reported emotional blunting while taking Cymbalta, a common SSRI.

Does bupropion help with ADHD?

Bupropion may lead to a small improvement in ADHD and it may also decrease symptoms related to ADHD. The drug does not have more adverse effects than treatment with placebo. Bupropion may be an alternative treatment for adults with ADHD who cannot or will not take stimulant drugs.

What should you avoid while taking bupropion?

Do not use an MAO inhibitor within 14 days before or 14 days after you take bupropion. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. Do not take bupropion to treat more than one condition at a time.


What should you avoid when taking Wellbutrin?

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that may interact with many medications.
...
These medications include:
  1. TCAs, like amitriptyline.
  2. Antipsychotics, like clozapine (Clozaril)
  3. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
  4. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  5. Opioids, like tramadol.
  6. Theophylline.


What does emotional blunting mean?

Emotional blunting is a condition present in many psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia (26) and post-traumatic stress disorder (27). As its name suggests, emotional blunting refers to a sense of numbing of both positive and negative emotions.

What are the long term effects of Wellbutrin?

Some side effects may take longer to resolve or require medical attention. Serious adverse effects, such as severe allergic reactions, angle-closure glaucoma, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, seizures, severe high blood pressure, and severely low blood sodium levels will require medical attention.


How common is weight loss with Wellbutrin?

Studies of Wellbutrin XL show that 23% of people taking a dose of 150 to 300 mg per day lost 5 pounds or more. In the same studies, 11% of people gained more than 5 pounds. Studies of Wellbutrin SR show that 14% of people taking a dose of 300 mg per day lost more than 5 pounds.

Who gets prescribed Wellbutrin?

If you have been suffering from major depressive disorder or seasonal affective disorder symptoms for two weeks or more, talk to your doctor about whether an antidepressant like Wellbutrin is right for you.