Uses

This medication is used in combination with a stop-smoking program (such as a support group, counseling) to help you quit smoking. Bupropion can decrease your nicotine withdrawal symptoms (such as irritability, anxiety, restlessness) and your urge to smoke. Quitting smoking decreases your risk of heart and lung disease, as well as cancer.

This medication belongs to a class of medications known as antidepressants. It is not known exactly how bupropion works to reduce smoking urges. It may work by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (dopamine, norepinephrine) in the brain.

Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication, as well as other ways to quit smoking (such as nicotine replacement treatment), with your doctor.

Other Uses

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This drug may also be used for binge eating disorder (BED) or mental/mood disorders (such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-ADHD, seasonal affective disorder, depressive phase of bipolar disorder).

How To Use

Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using bupropion and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily. If stomach upset occurs, take with food. It is important to take your doses at least 8 hours apart or as directed by your doctor to decrease your risk of seizure.

You may have trouble sleeping when you start taking this drug. Do not take your evening dose too close to bedtime.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Your dose may be slowly increased to limit side effects. Do not take more or less medication or take it more often than prescribed. Taking more than the recommended dose of bupropion may increase your risk of having a seizure.

It is recommended that you do not try to quit smoking until you have been taking bupropion for 1 week so that the drug can reach a high enough level in your blood. Set a date for quitting, and stop smoking sometime in the second week of taking the drug.

If necessary, this medication may be combined with nicotine patches or gum to help you quit smoking. Ask your doctor for more information. The combination of nicotine and this medication may increase your blood pressure. Your doctor may need to monitor your blood pressure closely. Do not smoke at any time if using any nicotine products with this drug. Too much nicotine can cause serious side effects.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.

Tell your doctor if you are not able to stop smoking after 7 to 12 weeks on this medication.

Side Effects

See also Warning section.

Dry mouth and trouble sleeping may occur as your body gets used to the drug. Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, diarrhea, tiredness, constipation, blurred vision, increased sweating, strange taste in mouth, or stomach pain may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:

• chest pain
• fainting
• fast/pounding heartbeat
• irregular heartbeat
• mental/mood changes (such as anxiety, agitation, confusion, memory loss)
• muscle aches
• ringing in the ears
• severe headache
• uncontrolled movements (tremor)
• unusual weight loss or gain
• muscle pain/tenderness/weakness

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including:

• eye pain/swelling/redness
• widened pupils
• vision changes (such as seeing rainbows around lights at night)
• seizure

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

• rash
• itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
• severe dizziness
• trouble breathing

An empty tablet shell may appear in your stool. This is harmless.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking bupropion, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

• seizures or conditions that increase your risk of seizures (including brain/head injury, brain tumors, arteriovenous malformation, eating disorders such as bulimia/anorexia nervosa)
• alcohol/drug dependence
• diabetes
• heart disease (such as heart failure, recent heart attack)
• high blood pressure
• kidney problems
• liver problems (such as cirrhosis)
• mental/mood disorders (such as bipolar disorder, thoughts of suicide)
• personal or family history of glaucoma (angle-closure type)

This medication should not be used if you are suddenly stopping regular use of sedatives (including benzodiazepines such as lorazepam), drugs used to treat seizures, or alcohol. Doing so may increase your risk of seizures.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or blur your vision. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear vision until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). Alcohol may also increase your risk of seizures.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially dizziness and memory loss. Dizziness can increase the risk of falling.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Behavioral therapy and stop-smoking education is preferred for pregnant women who desire to stop smoking. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include:

• codeine
• pimozide
• tamoxifen
• thioridazine

Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before and after treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.

This medication may interfere with certain medical/lab tests (such as brain scan for Parkinson's disease, urine screening for amphetamines), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Alberta residents can call PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service) 24 hours a day at 1-800-332-1414. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: seizures, severe confusion, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, and loss of consciousness.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure monitoring, liver function) may be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you have questions about missing a dose or you don't have more medication, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Bupropion tablets may have a strange odor. This is normal, and the medication is still safe to use. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.