Also indexed as: Wellbutrin SR®, Wellbutrin®,
Zyban®
Bupropion is used to treat people with depression
and to aid in smoking cessation treatment.
Safetychecker Summary
for Bupropion
(for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article)
 May be Beneficial: Supportive
interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication
work better. |
Yohimbine*
|
 Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements
when taking this medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous
results. |
Alcohol
|
| Depletion or interference |
None known
|
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known
|
| Reduced drug
absorption/bioavailability |
None known
|
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interactions with Herbs
Yohimbine
A 50-year-old woman who was unresponsive to traditional antidepressant therapy was reported to
have a marked and persistent improvement in mood when yohimbine was added to her bupropion
therapy.1 Further research is necessary to determine the significance of this
finding.
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Alcohol
Unlike most other antidepressant drugs, there is no evidence that alcohol causes significant
changes in blood levels of bupropion.2 However, people taking bupropion who are
also attempting to discontinue chronic alcohol consumption have been reported to sometimes
experience convulsions.3
References:
1. Pollack MH, Hamerness P. Adjunctive yohimbine for treatment in
refractory depression. Biol Psychiatry 1993;33:220–1.
2. Posner J, Bye A, Jeal S, et al. Alcohol and bupropion pharmacokinetics
in healthy male volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1984;26:627–30.
3. Storrow AB. Bupropion overdose and seizure. Am J Emerg Med
1994;12:183–4.
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Safetychecker.
The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational
purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro),
clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may
not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with
prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor,
practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or
before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2003.
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