Wellbutrin XL
Medically reviewed
| Name of Medication | Wellbutrin XL |
|---|---|
| Medication Type | Antidepressant |
| Generic Name of Medication | Bupropion HCL |
| How to use this medication | Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. Do not take this drug more often than you are told. This may raise the risk of seizures. Be sure you know how far apart to take your doses. Take in the morning if taking once a day. Take with or without food. If you are not able to sleep, do not take this drug too close to bedtime. Talk with your doctor. Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush. Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well. If you have trouble swallowing, talk with your doctor. |
| How to store this medication | Store at room temperature protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. Store this drug in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it, and where other people cannot get to it. A locked box or area may help keep this drug safe. Keep all drugs away from pets. |
| How to dispose of this medication | Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area. |
| Potential side effects | Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there). If seizures are new or worse after starting this drug. Chest pain or pressure, a fast heartbeat, or an abnormal heartbeat. Swelling. Shortness of breath. Change in hearing. Ringing in ears. Passing urine more often. Swollen gland. Trouble moving around. Change in eyesight. Shakiness. Trouble controlling body movements. Sweating a lot. Restlessness. Change in colour of hands, feet, or other areas. Skin may turn pale, blue, purple, or red. Numbness, pain, tingling, or cold feeling of the hands or feet. Any sores or wounds on the fingers or toes. Muscle pain or weakness, dark urine, or trouble passing urine. Change in sex interest. Call your doctor right away if you have a painful erection (hard penis) or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. This may happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and you may not be able to have sex. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache. |
| What to tell your doctor before taking this medication | If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you have ever had seizures. If you drink a lot of alcohol and you stop drinking all of a sudden. If you use certain other drugs like drugs for seizures or anxiety and you stop using them all of a sudden. If you have ever had an eating problem like anorexia or bulimia. If you have any of these health problems: Kidney disease or liver disease. If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen. If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue. If you are taking another drug that has the same drug in it. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor. |
| Be sure to tell all your health providers | Yes |
