How long bupropion

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Suicidal feelings are more common among children and young adults age 24 and under, but they can happen to anyone. Seek emergency medical care if you are experiencing:. The risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors is small, but it does happen to some people. Before you stop taking Wellbutrin, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

If you decide to stop your dose, a short taper may be the best way to go. The safest way to stop taking antidepressants is to slowly taper down your dose.

Wellbutrin tapering schedules are usually fairly short. Working with your doctor, you can make a schedule to incrementally reduce your dose over the course of one or two weeks. After your Wellbutrin taper, any long-term treatment will be directed towards treating the condition that led you to take Wellbutrin in the first place.

It can take several tries before you find the right medication or combination of medications. Depression is a complex disease that requires a multi-pronged treatment approach. Medication can only do so much on its own. Psychotherapy may be an important part of your recovery from depression.

Scientific research has concluded that a combination of psychotherapy and medication works better for depression and anxiety than medication alone. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a long-term process in which you work to better understand yourself. You will explore the reasons why you do the things you do and feel the way you feel.

Together with a qualified therapist, you will learn how to work towards the life you want by reforming the unhealthy patterns standing in your way.

Therapy is an essential part of depression treatment. Typically, insurance companies have a list of local providers who accept your insurance. Depression is a stubborn disease. Just keep moving forward and try not to lose hope when you bump into walls and trip over your own feet. And if you are not in psychotherapy, find a therapist in the directory and schedule some appointments.

After some time, things will likely feel more hopeful. Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated August 15, Gabriel M, Sharma V.

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Bupropion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness as an antidepressant. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. Food and Drug Administration. Wellbutrin bupropion hydrochloride Prescribing Information. Medline Plus. Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis. World Psychiatry. DOI: Glenmullen J. Going off antidepressants. Coming off your medication can cause antidepressant withdrawal — and could set you up for a relapse of depression.

Updated: August 13, Tanzi MG. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Wellbutrin bupropion is an antidepressant that treats a number of conditions. It comes as an immediate-release, sustained-release, or extended-release tablet that is taken orally.

One factor that makes Wellbutrin especially unique among antidepressants is that it doesn't tend to affect your libido and sexual function. In fact, it's often prescribed along with other antidepressants to help counter the sexual side effects , like loss of desire, found in other types.

Additionally, another brand of bupropion the active ingredient in Wellbutrin called Zyban is used to help people quit smoking. Other off-label uses sometimes include treatment for social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , and even some forms of nerve pain. Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and current health status to determine if Wellbutrin is right for you. Your doctor may not prescribe this drug if you have certain health conditions. It's not clear whether Wellbutrin is safe to take during pregnancy.

In animal studies, there has been some evidence of adverse effects on the fetus, but we don't yet have enough data about its effect on humans. The potential benefits of continuing Wellbutrin during pregnancy may outweigh the possible risks, but this should be discussed closely with your doctor. Wellbutrin can be present in breastmilk, so caution should be used by people who are breastfeeding. If you are lactating, your doctor can help you weigh your options.

Because older adults may have reduced kidney function, they may require smaller doses since the drug remains in the body longer. Among antidepressants, bupropion is in a category all its own—it's the only medication in its class, called norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors NDRIs , that boosts the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine.

By contrast, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs like Prozac fluoxetine and Zoloft sertraline affect serotonin, while serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs such as Cymbalta duloxetine and Effexor venlafaxine boost norepinephrine and serotonin. Wellbutrin is offered in three different formulations and dosing varies for each version:. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a modified dosage of the drug due to possible side effects or another health concern.

You should always take your medication as directed. Immediate-release Wellbutrin tablets can be broken if necessary, but they are small enough that doing so is not usually needed. The drug can be taken on an empty stomach or with food and should be stored at room temperature, protected from light and moisture.

If you happen to miss a dose of bupropion, take it as soon as you remember. Any remaining doses for the day should be taken at least six hours apart. The dose usually ranges from mg twice daily up to mg twice daily. The dose ranges from mg to mg. While there are dose ranges for each form, your health care provider will determine the form and dose that is right for you based on your response.

The dose may be increased to mg once daily. The dose for smoking cessation is bupropion SR mg once daily for 3 days and then twice daily for 7 to 12 weeks. You should not take more than one product that contains bupropion, including the products that are used to quit smoking. Do not take more than your prescribed dose since higher doses may increase your risk of having a seizure. Since quickly increasing the dose of bupropion can cause seizures in some people, your doctor will slowly increase your dose.

You can take bupropion on an empty stomach or with food. The SR and XL forms should be swallowed whole — not chewed, crushed, or broken — so that the medication can work correctly in your body and to reduce the risk of serious side effects. The tablet shell from the SR and XL forms may appear in your feces. Consider using a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication.

You may also ask a family member or friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. For bupropion IR or SR, if you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.

Take the remaining doses for the day at evenly spaced times at least 4 hours apart. DO NOT take 2 doses at once. You should not take more than your prescribed dose and doing so may increase your risk of having a seizure. For bupropion XL, do not take an extra tablet to make up for the dose you forgot. Wait and take your next dose at your regular time the next day.

Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking bupropion because the beneficial effects of the medication may be decreased and the risk of seizures may be increased. If you are dependent on drugs or alcohol and would like to stop, consult your healthcare provider for help.

Abruptly stopping these substances can result in a seizure, especially when taking bupropion. If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Headache, weight loss, dry mouth, trouble sleeping insomnia , nausea, dizziness, constipation, fast heartbeat, and sore throat. These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication.

Unlike many antidepressants, bupropion does not commonly cause sexual side effects and may be selected as an alternative treatment when antidepressant-induced sexual side effects are problematic. Sexual side effects include such problems as difficulty achieving orgasm or ejaculatory delay. In general the risk of seizures due to bupropion is low.

The risk of having a seizure increases with higher than recommended doses of bupropion, a history of seizures or head injury, tumor in the brain, severe liver disease, an eating disorder, alcohol or drug dependence, or taking other drugs that can also increase your risk of having a seizure.

There is a low risk of cardiovascular adverse events associated with stimulating agents, including bupropion. This risk increases if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, previous heart attack, or irregular heartbeat, or when used with transdermal nicotine replacement products.

In these cases, a thorough cardiovascular evaluation is recommended before starting this medicine. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of bupropion. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Bupropion should not be taken with or within two weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs.

There are several products with the active ingredient bupropion. Do not take more than one product that contains bupropion since this may increase your risk of having a seizure. Certain medications may increase your risk of having a seizure when combined with bupropion.