What is Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin)
It is a prescription-strength medicine originally used to treat depression. It is most commonly used today to help people quit smoking. It is nicotine-free.
What Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) used for?
It is used to treat depression (antidepressant). While antidepressants can provide great benefits, a small percentage of children/teenagers taking these medications for various psychiatric conditions have had a worsening of depression/other symptoms, including suicidal thoughts/attempts. However, depression itself can sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts/attempts as well, in both children and adults. Therefore, when medications to treat depression/other psychiatric conditions (antidepressants) are used (especially in children/teenagers), the benefits and risks must be discussed with the doctor.
Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) Facts
Active Ingredients: bupropion hydrochloride.
Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose, cysteine hydrochloride, magnesium stearate, macrogol, titanium dioxide (E171), carnauba wax, edible black ink
Class and Mechanism: Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters that are released by nerves are taken up again by the nerves that release them for reuse. (This is referred to as reuptake.) Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) is unrelated to other antidepressants. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, an action which results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) is unique in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect which is not shared by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs (e.g. paroxetine, Paxil; fluoxetine, Prozac; sertraline, Zoloft) or the tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs (e.g. amitriptyline, Elavil; imipramine, Tofranil; desipramine, Norpramin).
Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) storage
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
How to take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin)?
Take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew these tablets. Do not cut these tablets in half unless instructed to do so by your health care prescriber. It is important to take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking the tablets except on your prescriber's advice. If you take more than one dose of Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) daily: To limit difficulty in sleeping, the second dose of the day should not be taken at bedtime; take it earlier in the day but at least 8 hours after your morning dose.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
When OVERDOSE is suspected contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
Difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness, fainting, shakiness, sweating, confusion, blurred, vision, seizure, seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating), loss of consciousness, rapid or pounding hearbeat blurred vision, lightheadedness, confusion, lack of energy, upset stomach, jitteriness.
What to do if I miss a dose?
If you take several doses per day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.
If you take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) once a day at bedtime and do not remember to take it until the next morning, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Who should not take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin)?
Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) hydrochloride is not a suitable quit smoking therapy for everyone.
Below is a list of conditions under which taking this drug would not be recommended:
- You are taking any other medicine containing bupropion HCl
- You have or have had a seizure disorder
- You have or have had an eating disorder
- You are abruptly discontinuing use of alcohol or sedatives(including benzodiazepines)
- You are currently taking or have recently taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor(MAOI)
- You are allergic to Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) HCl
- You are pregnant or nursing.
You should not take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) if you have epilepsy or a seizure disorder, an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, if you are using a second form of bupropion, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives. Do not take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.
What side effects may occur?
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect: difficulty in sleeping (insomnia); headache; concentration disturbance; tremor; dizziness; anxiety and agitation; depression; dry mouth; disturbances of the gut such as constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain; fever (pyrexia); sweating; rash or itching; increased heart rate (tachycardia); increased blood pressure; loss of appetite; visual disturbances; chest pain; seizures; hypersensitivity reactions such as narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm), swelling of the lips, throat and tongue (angioedema), itchy blistering rash or anaphylactic shock
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) Drug Interactions
Do not take Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) with other medicines containing bupropion.
Other medicines that can interact with Generic Zyban (Wellbutrin) include: alcohol; amphetamine; carbamazepine; cimetidine; cocaine; corticosteroids; dextroamphetamine; doxercalciferol; kava kava, Piper methysticum; levodopa or combination drugs containing levodopa; linezolid; medications or herbal products for weight control or appetite; medicines for mental depression, emotional, or psychotic disturbances; medicines for difficulty sleeping; medicines called MAO inhibitors-phenelzine (NardilŽ), tranylcypromine (ParnateŽ), isocarboxazid (MarplanŽ), and selegiline (EldeprylŽ); nicotine; orphenadrine; Phenobarbital; phenytoin; rifampin; ritonavir; some medicines for heart rhythm or blood pressure; some medicines for migraine headache (propranolol); some medicines for pain, such as codeine; St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum; theophylline; tramadol; valerian, Valeriana officinalis; valproic acid; warfarin.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines. Also, tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines
Additional Information
Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
