BUY BUPROPION

Bupropion is applied together with a stop-smoking program (e.g., support group, counseling) to help you quit smoking. It may lower your nicotine withdrawal symptoms (e.g., restlessness, irritability, anxiety) and your urge to smoke. Quitting smoking decreases your risk of heart and lung disease, as well as cancer. This medication belongs to a class of medications known as antidepressants. It is not known exactly how bupropion works to reduce smoking urges. It may work by restoring the balance of certain natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.

HOW TO USE BUPROPION:

Ask your doctor all the questions that may interest you. It is an oral medication. Take bupropion two times a day. If you have some stomach problems, take it with food to avoid stomach upset. It is important to take your doses at least 8 hours apart or as directed by your doctor to decrease your risk of seizure. As far as you may experience trouble sleeping, don't take this medication before going to bed. Swallow this medication whole without crushing, chewing, or breaking the pills because it may increase risk of side effects. Your dosage depends on your medical condition and response to therapy. Your dose may be slowly increased to limit bupropion side effects. Do not take more or less medication than prescribed. Do not take more than 150 milligrams in a single dose. Do not take more than 300 milligrams per day. Taking more than the recommended dose of this medication may increase your risk of having a seizure. It is recommended that you do not try to quit smoking until you have been taking bupropion for 1 week so that the drug can reach a high enough level in your blood. Set a date for quitting, and stop smoking sometime in the second week of taking the drug. If necessary, this medication may be combined with nicotine patches or gum to help you quit smoking. Ask your doctor for more information. The combination of nicotine and this medication may increase your blood pressure. Your doctor may need to monitor your blood pressure closely. Do not smoke at any time if using any nicotine products with this drug. Too much nicotine can cause serious side effects. Use bupropion regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day. Tell your doctor if you are not able to stop smoking after 7 to 12 weeks on this medication.

BUPROPION SIDE EFFECTS:

You may experience dry mouth and trouble sleeping as your body gets used to the drug. You also may experience dizziness, diarrhea, fatigue, constipation, blurred vision, drowsiness, nausea, increased sweating, strange taste in mouth, or stomach pain may. Consult your doctor immediately in the case of worsening or persisting any of the bupropion side effects. Don't forget that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of the bupropion side effects. Tell your If you experience such unusual but serious side effects as chest pain, mental/mood changes (e.g., anxiety, agitation, confusion), muscle aches, ringing in the ears, severe headache, fainting, fast/pounding heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, uncontrolled movements (tremor), unusual weight loss or gain, muscle pain/tenderness/weakness, change in the amount of urine. This drug may rarely cause seizures notify your doctor immediately. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a seizure. If you have a seizure while taking bupropion, you should not take this drug again. If you experience serious allergic reaction ask for medical help. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: severe dizziness, rash, itching, swelling, trouble breathing. Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you experience some not listed side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious bupropion side effects.

BUPROPION PRECAUTIONS:

Tell your doctor if you have any allergic reaction. Your doctor or pharmacist must know your medical conditions, especially if you have such problems as seizures, eating disorders (e.g., bulimia, anorexia nervosa). This medication should not be used if you are suddenly stopping regular use of sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines such as lorazepam) or alcohol, which may increase your risk of seizures. Your doctor should be aware of your medical conditions, especially of: alcohol/drug dependence, high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver problems (e.g., cirrhosis), mental/mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, thoughts of suicide), brain tumor, diabetes, head injury, heart disease (e.g., recent heart attack, congestive heart failure), . This drug may make you giddy, drowsy or cause blurred vision. Be attentive while carrying out actions requiring high attention, such, for example, as driving or using machinery. Limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol can increase your risk of dizziness or seizures. Do not take this medicine with any other product that contains bupropion (e.g., antidepressants) since large doses of bupropion are more likely to cause seizures. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, elderly people may be more sensitive to this drug and to side effects. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Behavioral therapy and stop-smoking education is preferred for pregnant women who desire to stop smoking. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Infrequently, newborns whose mothers have used certain newer antidepressants during the last 3 months of pregnancy may develop symptoms including persistent feeding or breathing difficulties, jitteriness, seizures or constant crying. Promptly report any such symptoms to the doctor. However, do not stop taking bupropion unless your doctor directs you to do so. This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

BUPROPION INTERACTIONS:

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be acquainted with any possible bupropion interactions. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine consulting the doctor. Certain medications taken with this product, such as certain x-ray dyes such as thioridazine, sibutramine, iomeprol, may result in very serious bupropion interaction. If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting bupropion. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., isocarboxazid, linezolid, furazolidone, phenelzine, procarbazine, moclobemide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment and for 2 weeks before and after treatment with this medication. In some cases a serious, possibly fatal, drug interaction may occur. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: amantadine, diabetes medications (e.g., glipizide, glyburide, insulin), regular use of sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines such as lorazepam), stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine, "ecstasy, " ephedrine), HIV drugs (e.g., efavirenz, nelfinavir, ritonavir), levodopa, warfarin. Also tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs which are affected by certain liver enzymes such as antidepressants (e.g., desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol), antiarrhythmics (e.g., propafenone, flecainide), orphenadrine, thiotepa, beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), cyclophosphamide, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin, among others. Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with bupropion such as corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., chlorpromazine), theophylline, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, such as those found in weight loss and cold/sinus medications, can increase the chance of seizures with this drug. Check all prescription and nonprescription/herbal product labels for caffeine and other stimulants (e.g., ephedra). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

NOTES:

Do not share bupropion with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood pressure monitoring, liver function tests) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. ask your doctor for more information.