Bupropion (oral): What Should I Discuss With My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Bupropion

Content provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bupropion?

Do not take bupropion if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

You should not take bupropion if you have:

• epilepsy or a seizure disorder;
• an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia;
• if you are using a second form of bupropion; or
• if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives (such as Valium).

Bupropion may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions or when using certain drugs. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and the drugs you use.

Before taking bupropion, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease or high blood pressure;
• head injury, brain or spinal cord tumor;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease (especially cirrhosis);
• bipolar disorder (manic depression);
• diabetes for which you use insulin or take oral medication;
• if you currently use steroids, theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Bronkodyl Theolair, Respbid), or medicine to treat depression or mental illness; or
• if you recently used alcohol, sedatives (such as Valium), narcotic pain medicines, diet pills, or street drugs such as "speed" or cocaine.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use bupropion, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Bupropion passes into breast milk and could be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take bupropion without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Last updated:	August 29, 2007