Precautions and Warnings With Bupropion

There are a number of precautions and warnings with bupropion to be aware of. For example, because bupropion can interact with certain other medicines, it is important to let your healthcare provider know (prior to taking bupropion) about all other drugs you are taking. Also, there are a number of conditions that you should let your healthcare provider know about before you take bupropion, including heart disease, diabetes, and any allergies. Among the people who should not take bupropion are those with a seizure disorder and those taking other drugs containing bupropion.

Bupropion: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking bupropion hydrochloride (Wellbutrin^®) if you have:

Seizures or epilepsy (see Wellbutrin Seizures)
A brain tumor
A history of head trauma or brain injury
Diabetes
An eating disorder, such as bulimia or anorexia
Bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression)
Heart disease
A recent history of a heart attack
A history of suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts
Liver problems, including liver failure or cirrhosis
Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.

Also let your healthcare provider know if you:

Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
Are breastfeeding (see Bupropion and Breastfeeding)
Drink alcohol regularly.

You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The information in this article refers specifically to short-acting, immediate-release bupropion, not the longer-acting forms (Aplenzin™, Budeprion XL^®, Budeprion™ SR, Buproban^®, Wellbutrin SR^®, Wellbutrin XL^®, Forfivo™ XL, Zyban^®).

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