Antidepressant Wellbutrin SR (Bupropion)

• Generic name: Bupropion hydrochloride, sustained release
• Brand/Trade names: Wellbutrin SR
• Dosages: 150 mg, 200 mg sustained release tablets
• Pharmacologic category: Antidepressant, Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor
• FDA approved: October 4, 1996
• Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline
• Habit forming? No
• Pregnancy risk factor: C

Wellbutrin SR (Bupropion hydrochloride Sustained-Release) is an antidepressant (mood elevator), is used to treat depression. Wellbutrin SR is used to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness or guilt, loss of interest in daily activities, changes in appetite, tiredness, sleeping too much, insomnia, and thoughts of death or suicide. This medication is typically prescribed for depression when selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are not able to be used or are not effective.

• Elimination half-life: about 21 h for bupropion, 20 h for hydroxybupropion, about 37 h for threohydrobupropion, and about 33 h for erythrohydrobupropion.
• Metabolism: Extensively metabolized by hydroxylation or oxidation in the liver.
• Excretion: 87% excreted in urine, 10% in feces, and 0.5% as unchanged drug

• effective and safe as SSRIs
• fewer and less sever side effects
• not associated with weight gain or sexual dysfunction

• should not be used in people with, or at risk for, a seizure disorder
• can cause agitation, anxiety, and insomnia

• weight loss
• bipolar depression
• fibromyalgia
• headaches
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Bupropion sustained-release works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine; an action that results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Bupropion is unique and unlike other antidepressants in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect that is not shared by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

• Wellbutrin - generic vs. brand name: http://www.drugs.com/forum/drug-information/index3.html
• Wellbutrin long term effects, What are they? http://www.crazyboards.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=16158

• 1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Wellbutrin SR (Bupropion) U.S. Prescribing Information. Available at (PDF format): Prescribing Information