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3 Myths About Bupropion

Bupropion was the first modern, or “second generation” antidepressant, to enter the market, but it entered the scene in the worst sort of way. Released in 1985, it soon became associated with an alarming rate of seizures, particularly in patients with bulimia. It was withdrawn from the market soon after, and rereleased in 1989 with a lower maximum dosage: 450 mg per day instead of 600mg per day. By that time, Prozac (fluoxetine) had already come out in 1987 and was rapidly becoming one of the biggest blockbusters in psychiatry. Bupropion had lost ground, and never regained it.

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Featured

 Bupropion – Picking our Poisons

Bupropion is an anti-depressant commonly prescribed for seasonal affective disorder, as a smoking cessation aid, and off-label in the management of major depressive disorder. You may know it by the trade names Wellbutrin, Zyban or Champix. While frequently compared to SSRIs, it has a unique mechanism of action – it is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, with barely any serotonergic activity.

Articles of Interest

Bigger than Viagra?

It sounds too good to be true: a drug to help you stop smoking, stay happy and lose weight. Roger Henderson on the accidental discovery of bupropion. Originally developed as an antidepressant... Its main marketing point was that it did not greatly interfere with sexual function, something most antidepressants are notorious for affecting. During trials of the drug, and quite by chance, it was realized that people taking Wellbutrin were finding it far easier to stop smoking than those who were not using it. Early reports suggested that they were not craving for cigarettes as they normally did, and had fewer withdrawal symptoms on stopping their habit.

Bupropion Toxicity

Wellbutrin, a common norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor used for depression and smoking cessation, poses a significant risk to patients in overdose. Wellbutrin is structurally similar to stimulant drugs of abuse, and most closely resembles synthetic cathinones

Bupropion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness as an antidepressant

Bupropion has been used as an antidepressant for over 20 years, though its licence for such use varies and it is typically a third- or fourth-line agent. It has a unique pharmacology, inhibiting the reuptake of noradrenaline and dopamine, potentially providing pharmacological augmentation to more common antidepressants such as selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Bupropion: The “Poor Man’s Cocaine”? A Case Report

Physicians are prescribing bupropion for several different indications, and it is becoming more ubiquitous in the community. It is marketed as an antidepressant (Wellbutrin®), smoking cessation aid (Zyban®), and dieting agent (Contrave®). It is also quickly becoming a popular drug of abuse. Some users describe the high as similar to cocaine or methamphetamine but with less intensity.

Bupropion—myth-busting!

With renewed interest in bupropion, some long upheld beliefs among prescribers might need to be demystified.

Do You Want to Be Sad, or Skinny? The Slippery Solution of Wellbutrin

The internet is full of soft chatter about the weight loss effects of an antidepressant not recommended for those with eating disorders—but that gets prescribed to them anyway.

Doctors warn of potentially fatal abuse of Wellbutrin antidepressant

Doctors are warning that an antidepressant sold under such names as Wellbutrin, as well as a smoking cessation drug called Zyban, is increasingly being abused by drug users – with often fatal results.

Elon Musk On Twitter Says Wellbutrin Should Be Taken Off Market, Here’s The Pushback

Elon Musk is not a medical doctor. He’s not a psychiatrist or any other type of mental health professional. But on Friday, he expressed a very strong opinion about Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant medication, on Twitter.

How long does it take for Wellbutrin to work? 5 signs it's working

If you’ve been prescribed Wellbutrin, it may take 2 weeks before you start to notice and it can take up to 4-6 weeks to feel the maximum benefit of a particular dose.

Long-Term Effects of Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin is unique in the crowded world of antidepressants today. But like most other antidepressants, the long-term effects of Wellbutrin are not commonly discussed at the time of prescribing.

The Generic Wellbutrin Problem: Whose Fault Is It?

One of the questions I get asked most often, by people outside of the drug industry, is whether generic medications really are the same as the original branded ones. My answer has always been the same: that yes, they are. And that's still my answer, but I'll have to modify it a bit, because we're seeing an exception right now.

The Pros and Cons of Bupropion

Most antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), which means that they boost the levels of serotonin in the brain. Bupropion, on the other hand, is different. It is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). An NDRI boosts levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline and dopamine. As well as being an antidepressant, bupropion is an antagonist to nicotinic receptors. This means that it blocks receptors where nicotine normally binds, making it useful in helping people quit smoking. The overall effects of bupropion are complex, and its neurological effects and mechanism of action are only partly understood.

The Psychopharmacology of Bupropion: An Illustrated Overview

Bupropion is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, or NDRI. It is approved as an antidepressant as well as for smoking cessation. Some characteristic aspects of its side effects profile include a lack of sexual side effects, compared to other antidepressants and an increased risk of seizures.

True Health Confession: "The Pill That Made Me Happy, Horny and Skinny..."

While I think it's too much to call any pill "happy, horny, skinny" (no pill is a life cure-all, and all antidepressants have side effects), I do think it's interesting to know one woman's personal story, and I've shared it here for no other reason than to keep the dialogue open about antidepressants.

Uncovering the Uses of Wellbutrin®: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article, we will delve into the uses of Wellbutrin, how it works, and the potential side effects associated with its use. We will also discuss some frequently asked questions about Wellbutrin and provide helpful tips on how to use the medication safely and effectively.

Resources

15 Years of Clinical Experience With Bupropion HCl: From Bupropion to Bupropion SR to Bupropion XL

Bupropion HCl was initially developed to improve on the safety and tolerability of existing antidepressants. It is the only antidepressant available with a dual effect on norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) neuro-transmitter systems.

NAMI

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).

StatPearls

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that is now also used in smoking cessation. Bupropion has been FDA-approved since 1985. The drug is FDA-approved for adult depression, seasonal affective disorder, and smoking cessation. Off-label, non-FDA approved uses include anti-depressant-induced sexual dysfunction, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression associated with bipolar disorder, and obesity.

Wellbutrin

WELLBUTRIN XL® (bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a certain type of depression called major depressive disorder, and for the prevention of autumn-winter seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder).