How and When to use Bupropion? (Wellbutrin, Zyban) - Medical Doctor Explains

This is an informational overview video on Bupropion. Bupropion is available under several brandnames: Wellbutrin and Zyban. It is only available as a tablet.

When to use it?
Bupropion can be used to treat a depression, and secondly bupropion can also be used to support stoping smoking.

How to use it?
Swallow it tablet whole, with a glass of water. Do not chew on it or crush it.
And always take it at fixed times; preferably in the morning (if you need to take 1 tablet) or in the morning and afternoon (if you need to take it twice a day). Prevent taking it in the evening.

What is the correct dosage?
Wellbutrin: to treat depressions.
Starting dose: 150 mg 1x/day

Zyban: to quit smoking.
Quit smoking: Zyban:
Starting dose: 150mg 1/day, and after 4 weeks it can be increased to 150mg 2/day.

If you forget to take a dose, than skip it, and take the next tablet when you usually do so.

If you are looking for a video on nicotine substitutes, like the nicotine patches, check it out here:

If you are looking for a video on Varenicline, than you can find it here:

What are the side-effects?
(Very) common (≥ 10%):
Insomnia, headache, dizziness, shaking of your hands, concentration problems, sadness, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, belly pain, constipation, dry mouth, fever, skin irritations (itching, red spots).

Uncommon (0.1-1%):
Weight loss, fast beating heart, increased blood pressure, chest pain, confusion, hearing of a squeaky sound.

Rarely (0,01-0,1%):
Low blood pressure, muscle twitching, cramps, and an allergic reactions.

Stay safe while using Bupropion:
Avoid driving your car the first week you are using bupropion. This is because you might experience some side effects like dizziness and confusion. Which do not exactly make driving very safe. The same is true every time your dose is increased.
Now after 1 week most people are used to the effects, and than it is safe again to drive. However only do so if indeed your are not experience these side effects.
Secondly, I would also advice you to avoid alcohol, as it may increase the side effects of bupropion.

Pregnancy and Lactation:
Try to avoid bupropion, if possible.
It is unclear if it is harmful for you baby, but there are signs it could. So my advice would be to avoid it, and try to use other medicines which are not harmful for your child.

- Disclaimer: this video is meant purely informational! This is not medical advice! If you are looking for medical advice always contact your own doctor. -

Literature:
1: Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas. (2019). Bupropion.
3. Sinha S. (2018). Bupropion.

* The images in this video are used for educational purposes only.

Music:
Vibe Tracks, Beat your competition
Unicorn heads, Boardroom theme

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[sinasho]

Wellbutrin saved my life. My doctor gave me wellbutrin 5 months ago . the first 3 weeks i saw the effect. i was depressd for the past 4 years but wellbutrin saved my life. in one month ive done so many positive things then 4 years of depression .

[bestlifenow]

Wonderful medicine….clarity of mind, energy and weight loss has been my experience 👍

[mikeciccarello]

The stethoscope around his neck makes me believe him so much more.
😂

[chucknorris-pwjc]

4 weeks in and I feel a lot better, sleep has been affected I used sleep a solid 8 hours and now get bout 4
dont feel tired, have been able to focus for hours on end and have incredible energy.besides sleeping poorly truly done wonders for me

[schiros]

This told me nothing more than what is on the label. Would be good to hear more about how it works in the brain as compared to other drugs.

[max_hanma]

I started these tablets today after seeing this video and talking to my doctor's, hopefully my fitness will be even more extreme after stopping

[generic]

i’m on day 4 of taking it, was on prozac before and all it did was numb me to everything and made me not care about anything, depression included but also good stuff. my psychiatrist said this might be better for me and my adhd which i’m also getting vyvanse for and that’s been amazing. here’s to hoping wellbutrin works as well!

[JohnPatersonAu]

If anyone is taking an SSRI and doesn't like the side-effects, Bupropion is definitely worth trying. I hated being on SSRI's but have no side-effects on Bupropion.

[joshuaniemann]

Just started today. First day went well!

[cm]

Why do you recommend Wellbutrin for depression and Zyban for quitting smoking? Isn't it all just bupropion? Why would the brand matter?

[teatea_bae]

I shared this with my grandma since she finally made the decision to quit smoking after the passing of my grandpa from 2nd hand.

[RuDev]

I start tomorrow morning, I'll leave an update for anyone curious.

[erikthechosenone]

I just got my Bupropion HCL 150 MG filled today. Since this mediation has a black box warning. I have to meet with my Nurse Practitioner every month. I have my bottle in my hand now. I have yet to take it. I’ve heard really great things about the medication. I got it prescribed for my depression, but especially for my ADHD. I’m hoping it does great things for me. Considering I’m not hyper, but I have a difficult time focusing and concentrating on this. I procrastinate a lot. I start wayyy to many projects that I don’t finish. With my ADHD it’s like this:

Imagine being in a gymnasium with hundreds of thousands post it notes on the walls. On every post it note, there are thoughts, tasks and projects listed on them. That’s what my mind is like 24/7. The projects, thoughts, ideas and advice are really great. It will definitely benefit my life and progress me further. But I just cannot even go through step one and sit down to focus. I get so distracted easily. It’s horrible. Hopefully this medication will really help me!

[djdebrra]

i’m so glad you brought up the driving side effect while using bupropion, i definitely see the difference in how i drive now while i’m on it . my boyfriend was saying i drive differently :(

[Derpuwolf]

I just started taking Bupropion today for my lack of focus and anxiety. If it doesn't work within the first 3 weeks, I was instructed to try out Adderall. I'm a bit nervous about both these medications but I'm doing it for my own good. I just hope everything turns out alright.

Edit on 15 of April, 2022.

I tried out Bupropion for a few weeks but had to get off of it shortly after. Even though it was an antidepressant, it caused me to have depressive episodes and my emotions weren't in my hands, so to speak. My best guess is that I was equipped with the wrong type of drug. I didn't have strong depression at the time, I needed something for my ADHD. A stimulant would work better than an antidepressant.

Now on adderall, it works quite well. It's not a miracle drug, it helps me focus but only when I actually try to focus. Unlike without it, where I try to focus but can't. However, I can easily drink adderall and spend the next four hours hyperfocused on the wrong thing. But unlike Bupropion, it has no side effects because adderall is the equivalent of drinking coffee, for example. It's a drug consumed within a few hours and once it's done, it's chemically done and decomposed. The only side effects you'd have are during the usage time of a few hours, and it's not severe. If you don't stay hydrated, or forget to eat, you might get headaches.

[pascalecat]

I started bupropion at age 20 at 150mg. I’m still on bupropion, but now 300mg, at age 26, and I’ve taken it almost consistently over the last 6 years (emitting ~8 months trying out other medication). The side effects went away, for me, in less than a month of use.

[MrToad-rvrg]

I find this medication a really powerful tool. This medication has helping me with my anxiety and depression and for some reason the medication help me with sleep and might seen odds but I am glad for it. I sleep 8 hours and instead of feeling ultra energizing I am just feeling calm and focus.

[aaronryze]

I'm taking it for borderline personality disorder, I get drowsy on it which is pretty bad since I'm a delivery driver. The first week I lost the ability to cry, drift (don't attempt to drift/power slide on the first week as reaction time slows down), and feel anxiety which was cool cause sliding around downtown delivering packages right after black friday is stressful. Effects lessened and driving became easier second week. I still get sleepy, my doc told me to play around with the time I take the medication so I started taking it at night. For me, taking bupropion feels like theres a mechanic in my head trying to fix my brain but hes taking his time cause he wants to maximize the paycheck. I'm impulsive so I keep the meds on another floor just in case I start feeling 'quirky' and do something i regret. Btw I'm on week 3 and I feel like my normal self but less impulsive, and still drowsy

[FrotLopOfficial]

Perfect, I cant take these AND drink alcohol. A great reason to stop binge drinking every day (just started so not a big deal). Right now its just a habit I want to stop but havent cared to until falling into suicidal depression.

[antoinettedominguez]

I was prescribed this for my ADHD, it's helped with my depression at first but not my ADHD and since it's not working for my bigger problem I've become depressed anyway for some reason 🙃 halp