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The active ingredient of the Wellbutrin preparation is a substance isolated in 1969, called amfebutammon. In 2000, with the expiry of the original manufacturer’s patent, a new name for the compound appeared – bupropion. Wellbutrin was introduced to the pharmaceutical market in 1985 as an antidepressant drug from the species of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective NDRI stimulants.
Wellbutrin – a drug for depression
During its long presence on the market, the preparation has undergone many transformations until the present form is distributed under the name Wellbutrin XR by the Irish concern GlaxoSmithKline. Wellbutrin XR are tablets with a modified release of the active substance. This drug is highly effective in the treatment of depression, it is also used in cases of seasonal depression.
Antidepressants and suicidal thoughts
Wellbutrin prescribed by a doctor is a medicine that interacts with substances called dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The concentration of these substances is associated with depressive states. Sometimes people who are first prescribed an antidepressant get more thoughts of suicide or harming themselves. This has to do with the time it takes for the medicine to reach good balance in your body. It is very important that the treating physician clearly informs the person who is prescribing Wellbutrin that it usually takes no less than two weeks from the time of the first dose to be fully effective from the time of taking the first dose. If you have thoughts of suicide, contact your doctor immediately.
If you suffer from bipolar disorder, you are at risk of developing an episode of the disease while receiving Wellbutrin therapy. As an additional precaution, it is worth informing a trusted person that you have started treating depression with Wellbutrin XR and ask them to read the package leaflet that comes with the medicine. This person will be able to let the patient know if the changes in his behavior become disturbing or the symptoms worsen – then the treating physician should be informed, who will decide about the changes in the therapy.
Wellbutrin – contraindications
As with all medicinal substances, Wellbutrin should only be taken in the absence of hypersensitivity to the active substance and to all other ingredients of the modified-release film-coated tablets. Wellbutrin should not be included in the treatment of a patient who is already taking another formulation of bupropion. Due to the increased risk of seizures and convulsions, Wellbutrin is not used in people suffering from epilepsy or with a lowered threshold of convulsive excitability. Contraindications are also the presence of a brain tumor, serious liver disease, and eating disorders (such as bulimia or anorexia). WELLBUTRIN XR therapy must not be started immediately after stopping alcohol consumption and taking sedative medications, and alcohol abuse is not allowed while taking WELLBUTRIN XR. Discontinuation of sedative medications and alcohol detoxification should be completed at least 14 days before starting Wellbutrin treatment. Do not use Wellbutrin together with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) antidepressants – the minimum time between stopping this treatment and starting Wellbutrin is 14 days.
Before using WELLBUTRIN, inform your doctor about all of the above-mentioned circumstances, and do not hide the history of such situations in the more distant past. Before starting treatment with Wellbutrin XR, make sure your doctor knows about diabetes, severe head injuries, and alcohol abuse, as these factors may increase the risk of seizures, which are a side effect of Wellbutrin. The increased risk of side effects also occurs in people with impaired liver and kidney function.
Wellbutrin and seizures
In 1986, Wellbutrin was withdrawn from the pharmaceutical market due to an increased risk of seizures. 3 years later, the drug returned to pharmacies in the form of a reduced dose of the active substance (bupropion). Despite many years of work on the preparation, it was not possible to completely eliminate the risk of seizures, therefore the candidates for Wellbutrin therapy are strictly checked in terms of convulsive excitability. Its lowered threshold may occur in the case of the combination of Wellbutrin with theophylline (they contain, among others, asthma medications), steroids, antimalarial drugs (mefloquine, chlorokine), tramadol (an opioid analgesic) and psychiatric drugs, antidiabetic drugs, antihistamines or other drugs that cause drowsiness. or controlling appetite.