Bupropion Dosing: An Introduction
The dose of
bupropion hydrochloride (
Wellbutrin®) your healthcare provider prescribes will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As always, do not adjust your bupropion dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Bupropion Dosing for Depression
The recommended starting bupropion dose for treating
depression is bupropion 100 mg twice daily. After three days, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to bupropion 100 mg three times daily. To help avoid bupropion
seizures, each individual dose should not exceed 150 mg, and you should not take more than 450 mg total per day. Also, your healthcare provider should increase your dose slowly.
For people with liver problems (such as liver failure or
cirrhosis), the maximum bupropion dose is bupropion 75 mg once daily.
General Bupropion Dosing Information
Some considerations for people taking bupropion include:
- It usually takes four weeks (or longer) to feel the full, beneficial effects of bupropion. Try not to be discouraged if bupropion does not work right away for you.
- It does not matter if you take bupropion with or without food. If bupropion bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- Taking the last dose of the day at bedtime may increase your chance of insomnia. If you are having trouble sleeping, ask your healthcare provider about taking your last bupropion dose earlier in the evening.
- Bupropion should be taken at the same times each day to maintain even levels of the drug in your blood.
- For bupropion to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Bupropion will not work if you take it in a way other than how your healthcare provider has prescribed.
- If you are unsure about anything related to your dosage or bupropion dosing in general, please talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking bupropion without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
