Bupropion contraindications

Side effects. The primary side effects reported with bupropion administration in cigarette smokers are headache, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and activation. Although most of these adverse effects occur during the first week of treatment, insomnia can persist. Seizures are of exceedingly low occurrence (<0.5%) at doses of 300 mg daily or less, but a prior history of seizures or a seizure disorder contraindicate its use. 

The occurrence of seizures with bupropion is dose related and may be increased by predisposing factors (e.g., history of head trauma or CNS tumor). At the ceiling dose (450 mg/day), the incidence of seizures is 0.4%. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, tremor, insomnia, dry mouth, and skin reactions. It is contraindicated in patients with bulimia or anorexia nervosa. 

Bupropion sustained release (SR) is an effective smoking-cessation treatment. It is contraindicated in patients with a seizure disorder, a current or prior diagnosis of bulimia or anorexia nervosa, and use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor within the previous 14 days. It can be used in combination with NRT. 

Atypical Antidepressants. None of the so-called atypical antidepressants have been tested in the treatment of AN. However, mianserin, an antidepressant available in Europe, has been found to increase body weight in patients with various depressive disorders. Although bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) has not been tested in the treatment of AN, it is effective in the treatment of BN. However, immediate-release bupropion is associated with an especially high risk for seizures in these patients and is therefore contraindicated in those with eating disorders. The seizure risk associated with sustained-release bupropion remains unclear at this time, as the doses studied have not been as high as those for immediate-release bupropion. 

Finally, although immediate-release bupropion is also effective in the treatment of BN, it is associated with a particularly high incidence of seizures in individuals with bulimia presumably due to electrolyte abnormalities and is now contraindicated for treatment of the disorder. 

E. Nefazodone,fluoxetine,mirtazapine, and venlafaxine have minimal effects on seizure threshold. Bupropion in its original formulation caused seizures in 4 in 1000 patients. Although this has been reduced with the slow release form of the medication (Wellbutrin SR), it remains a contraindication to prescribe this medication to patients with a history of seizures. 

Contraindications Concurrent use of amiodarone, astemizole, bepridil, bupropion, cisapride, clozapine, encainide, flecainide, meperidine, piroxicam, propafenone, propoxyphene, quinidine, rifabutin, or terfenadine (increased risk of serious or life-... 

Specific factors to consider are both psychiatric and physical contraindications. For example, bupropion is contraindicated in a depressed patient with a history of seizures due to the increased risk of recurrence while on this agent. Conversely, it may be an appropriate choice for a bipolar disorder with intermittent depressive episodes that is otherwise under good control with standard mood stabilizers. This consideration is based on the limited data suggesting that bupropion is less likely to induce a manic switch in comparison with standard heterocyclic antidepressants. Another example is the avoidance of benzodiazepines for the treatment of panic disorder in a patient with a history of alcohol or sedative-hypnotic abuse due to the increased risk of misuse or dependency. In this situation, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may be more appropriate. 

Of the more recently introduced methods for smoking cessation, bupropion (an antidepressant with dopaminomimetic properties) has recently been introduced. Clinical trial data, in which the nicotine patch, bupropion at 300 mg, and a combination of the two drugs were compared with placebo treatment, have shown cessation of smoking rates of 36% for the patch, 49% for bupropion and 58% for the combined treatments following 7 weeks of treatment. The placebo response rate was 23%. All subjects received relapse prevention therapy. Thus bupropion appears to be a reasonably safe and effective treatment for nicotine dependence. It is however contraindicated in those subject to epilepsy its main side effects are dry mouth and insomnia. 

Bupropion is another second-line agent, particularly for patients who are wary of the SSRIs negative impact on sexual dysfunction. Because it appears to relieve depression through a completely different mechanism than SSRIs, enhancing norepinephrine or dopamine, it is often administered to patients who fail SSRIs or exhibit a partial response. The most common side effects encountered with bupropion are insomnia, jitteriness, and nausea. Bupropion is contraindicated in patients with a history of seizures or eating disorders. 

Numerous pharmacotherapies have been proven to be effective for smoking cessation and should be offered in the absence of contraindications. These include sustained-release bupropion, nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine nasal spray, and nicotine patch. 

Bupropion (100 mg p.o. b.i.d.) is indicated in the treatment of depression. It is reserved for patients who cannot tolerate or have not responded to other medications. Bupropion does not alter the uptake of serotonin, has an equivocal effect on the uptake of norepinephrine, but blocks the uptake of dopamine. Bupropion has no affinity for alpha-1 and alpha-2-adrenergic receptors, H,-histamine receptors, muscarinic cholinergic receptors, or D2-dopaminergic receptors. It does not cause sedation or orthostatic hypotension. However, because it is structurally related to amphetamine, it may cause insomnia, agitation, and anxiety shortly after initiation of therapy. Bupropion lowers the seizure threshold and hence is contraindicated in patients with a history of seizure disorder (see also Tables 5 through 7). 

Visual hallucinations have been seen in one patient given zolpi-dem with bupropion. Bupropion is contraindicated during the abrupt withdrawal from any drug known to be associated with seizures on withdrawal, particularly benzodiazepines and related drugs. 

Visual hallucinations lasting 3 to 4 hours occurred in a 17-year-oid boy who had been taking bupropion 450 mg daiiy for one month and zolpidem 5 to 10 mg daily for about 6 months, when he increased the zolpidem dose to 60 mg. Note that the recommended dose of zolpidem is 10 mg daily and that zolpidem itself can cause psychiatric adverse effects such as hallucinations. Therefore an interaction is not established. Bupropion is contraindicated during abrupt withdrawal from any drug known to be associated with seizures on withdrawal, particularly benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-like drugs. ... 

Bupropion is contraindicated with MAOIs, although there is little clinical evidence of serious problems. Orthostatic hypotension occurred in a patient given bupropion and selegiline, and an isolated report describes hypertension in a patient receiving bupropion and the antibacteriai iinezolid, which has weak MAO inhibitoiy activity. 

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