Wellbutrin: Medifacts and Uses

Wellbutrin is brand name for bupropion. It is an antidepressant drug. Wellbutrin is used for treatment of major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. It works in brain and effectively treats depressive disorders. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

Structural Formula

Wellbutrin SR mainly contains bupropion hydrochloride. It is an antidepressant and belongs to aminoketone class of medicines. It is different and unrelated to other antidepressant agents. It is chemically different from tricyclic, tetracyclic, and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor too. It is chemically named as (±)-1-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]-1-propanone hydrochloride. Its chemical formula is C13H18ClNO • HCl and molecular weight is 276.2. Its structure is closely similar to diethylpropion. Its structural formula is as follows:

It is a white crystalline powder and is highly soluble in water. It tastes bitter and can produce the sensation of local anesthesia on the oral mucosa.

Wellbutrin SR comes in 100-mg blue colored, 150-mg purple colored and 200-mg light pink colored tablet. Tablets are film-coated. It also contains carnauba wax, cysteine hydrochloride, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, and titanium dioxide as inactive ingredients.

Uses of Wellbutrin

It is used for treatment of depression. It improves mood and instigate feeling of well being after using it. It acts by maintaining and restoring chemical balance in brain. It helps to restore certain natural chemicals or neurotransmitters in brain.

It is used as well for purposes other than listed on label. It is up to doctor to prescribe it for other uses on clinical judgments.

It is also used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

It is also used to help people in quitting smoking. It decreases cravings and withdrawal effects.

It is also used to treat bipolar disorder.

Precautions before using Wellbutrin

One should avoid use of Wellbutrin if other medications such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) are being used too.

If you have epilepsy or any seizure disorder, you should not use Wellbutrin.

It may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions. Tell your medical history to your doctor if you are prescribed Wellbutrin.

In case of an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, Wellbutrin should be avoided.

If you are using other bupropion drug, then you should not take Wellbutrin.

Do not take it, if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or any sedative.

Consult your doctor before taking wellbutrin if you have following conditions

If you have a history of head injury, seizuresr
If you have a history of brain or spinal cord tumorr
If you are suffering from heart disease or have history of heart attackr
If you are suffering from high blood pressurer
If you are suffering from bipolar or manic depressionr
If you have any kidney diseaser
If you have any liver disease including cirrhosisr
Consult your doctor if your depression worsens.

You can have mood changes while using this drug. There should be regular monitoring to check mood or any other changes.

Wellbutrin is a FDA pregnancy category C medicine. Its adverse effects on pregnant and breast-feeding women are not known. But it is advisable to consult a doctor before using this drug in such conditions. If this drug is necessary for you, you should not breast feed while on this medicine.

If you experience any mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, impulsiveness, irritability, agitation, hostility, aggressiveness, restlessness, hyperactivity, worsened depression or suicidal thoughts immediately seek medical help.

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