What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-An eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia
-Bipolar disorder
-Brain or spine tumor
-Diabetes treated with medications
-Frequently drink alcohol
-Glaucoma
-Heart disease, previous heart attack, or irregular heart beat
-Head injury
-High blood pressure
-History of substance use disorder
-Kidney disease
-Liver disease
-Low blood sugar
-Low levels of sodium in the blood
-Schizophrenia
-Seizures
-Stroke
-Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member
-Weight loss
-An unusual or allergic reaction to bupropion, dextromethorphan, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to become pregnant
-Breastfeeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Linezolid
-MAOIs, such as Azilect, Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
-Methylene blue (injected into a vein)
-Other medications that contain bupropion, such as Wellbutrin or Zyban
-Other medications that contain dextromethorphan, such as Robitussin or Delsym
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Alcohol
-Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
-Certain medications for blood pressure, such as metoprolol or propranolol
-Certain medications for depression or other mental health conditions
-Certain medications for HIV or AIDS, such as efavirenz, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir
-Certain medications for irregular heartbeat, such as propafenone or flecainide
-Certain medications for Parkinson disease, such as amantadine or levodopa
-Certain medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital
-Cimetidine
-Clopidogrel
-Cyclophosphamide
-Digoxin
-Furazolidone
-Isoniazid
-Nicotine
-Orphenadrine
-Procarbazine
-Steroid medications, such as prednisone or cortisone
-Stimulant medications for attention disorders, weight loss, or to stay awake
-Tamoxifen
-Theophylline
-Thiotepa
-Ticlopidine
-Tramadol
-Warfarin
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not get better or if they get worse. Because it may take several weeks to see the full effects of this medication, it is important to continue your treatment as prescribed.
Watch for new or worsening thoughts of suicide or depression. This includes sudden changes in mood, behaviors, or thoughts. These changes can happen at any time but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you experience these thoughts or worsening depression.
Manic episodes may happen in patients with bipolar disorder who take this medication. Watch for changes in feelings or behaviors such as feeling anxious, nervous, agitated, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, severely restless, overly excited and hyperactive, or trouble sleeping. These symptoms can happen at anytime but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you notice any of these symptoms.
This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Contact your care team right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or, you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.
Avoid drinks that contain alcohol while taking this medication. Drinking large amounts of alcohol, using sleeping or anxiety medications, or quickly stopping the use of these agents while taking this medication may increase your risk for a seizure.
Do not drive or use heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you. This medication can impair your ability to perform these tasks.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medication may increase thoughts of suicide. This may be more common in children, teenagers, and young adults. The risk may increase after first starting the medication and after dose changes. Talk to your care team right away if you have changes in mood and behavior or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.