Bupropion

Bupropion, formerly called amfebutamone, and sold under the brand name Wellbutrin among others, is an <a href="/facts/Atypical_antidepressant/hj9MG1RV">atypical antidepressant</a> that is indicated in the treatment of <a href="/facts/Major_depressive_disorder/l2lQeWqr">major depressive disorder</a>, <a href="/facts/Seasonal_affective_disorder/KhYtPUBv">seasonal affective disorder</a>, and to support <a href="/facts/Smoking_cessation/DDddp1SQ">smoking cessation</a>. It is also popular as an <a href="/facts/Adjunct_therapy/WrmcN4nU">add-on</a> medication in the cases of "incomplete response" to the first-line <a href="/facts/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor/L6jjcmEH">selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor</a> (SSRI) antidepressant. Bupropion has several features that distinguish it from other antidepressants: it does not usually cause sexual dysfunction, it is not associated with weight gain and <a href="/facts/Somnolence/mIlFhyf0">sleepiness</a>, and it is more effective than SSRIs at improving symptoms of <a href="/facts/Hypersomnia/wxfTgA1W">hypersomnia</a> and fatigue. Bupropion, particularly the immediate-release formulation, carries a higher risk of seizure than many other antidepressants, hence caution is recommended in patients with a history of seizure disorder. The medication is taken <a href="/facts/Oral_administration/vNQcvLVx">by mouth</a>.
Common <a href="/facts/Adverse_effect/vAhfbr1J">adverse effects</a> of bupropion with the greatest difference from <a href="/facts/Placebo/3fw50t53">placebo</a> are <a href="/facts/Dry_mouth/aKMwe59z">dry mouth</a>, <a href="/facts/Nausea/dyhkcbeD">nausea</a>, <a href="/facts/Constipation/l4DHHM6L">constipation</a>, <a href="/facts/Insomnia/C1TnQTb2">insomnia</a>, <a href="/facts/Anxiety/Geekl883">anxiety</a>, <a href="/facts/Tremor/rD6ogM7X">tremor</a>, and <a href="/facts/Excessive_sweating/koG3nCEn">excessive sweating</a>. Raised <a href="/facts/Blood_pressure/VtqqSM2J">blood pressure</a> is notable. Rare but serious side effects include <a href="/facts/Seizure/zuIrQyze">seizures</a>, <a href="/facts/Hepatotoxicity/xbLcKPNG">liver toxicity</a>, <a href="/facts/Psychosis/cVGd7MKK">psychosis</a>, and risk of <a href="/facts/Overdose/Jlo2AX3Y">overdose</a>. Bupropion use during <a href="/facts/Pregnancy/vEKYGpep">pregnancy</a> may be associated with increased likelihood of <a href="/facts/Congenital_heart_defect/QsuPPC2Y">congenital heart defects</a>.
Bupropion acts as a <a href="/facts/Norepinephrine%E2%80%93dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor/Y4Bg2Bkd">norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor</a> (NDRI) and a <a href="/facts/Nicotinic_receptor_antagonist/3U1fdaks">nicotinic receptor antagonist</a>. However, its effects on <a href="/facts/Dopamine/5gNy8Xkd">dopamine</a> are weak and clinical significance is contentious. Chemically, bupropion is an <a href="/facts/Aminoaldehydes_and_aminoketones/wBp0jvkl">aminoketone</a> that belongs to the <a href="/facts/Chemical_classification/ePAxWT8S">class</a> of <a href="/facts/Substituted_cathinone/6p5r2YLm">substituted cathinones</a> and more generally that of <a href="/facts/Substituted_amphetamine/KlmrodPb">substituted amphetamines</a> and <a href="/facts/Substituted_phenethylamine/dte6TQxS">substituted phenethylamines</a>.
Bupropion was invented by <a href="/facts/Nariman_Mehta/5skX4q5h">Nariman Mehta</a>, who worked at <a href="/facts/Burroughs_Wellcome/NrnnxFNW">Burroughs Wellcome</a>, in 1969. It was first approved for medical use in the United States in 1985. Bupropion was originally called by the generic name amfebutamone, before being renamed in 2000. In 2022, it was the 21st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 25 million prescriptions. It is on the <a href="/facts/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Medicines/6kmu81Xm">World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines</a>. In 2022, the US <a href="/facts/Food_and_Drug_Administration/rCEnh9WB">Food and Drug Administration</a> (FDA) approved the combination <a href="/facts/Dextromethorphan/bupropion/P39ojGmS">dextromethorphan/bupropion</a> to serve as a rapid-acting <a href="/facts/Antidepressant/N62ND3Fa">antidepressant</a> in patients with <a href="/facts/Major_depressive_disorder/l2lQeWqr">major depressive disorder</a>.

Bupropion open-in-new

Bupropion