bupropion
a drug used to help people stop smoking. It is taken by mouth; side-effects include insomnia, headaches, dizziness, depression, and rashes. Amfebutamone should not be taken by those with a history of epilepsy or eating disorders.
Bupropion is used to treat depression. and seasonal affective disorder (SAD; episodes of depression that occur at the same time each year [usually in the fall and winter but rarely may occur in the spring or summer months]). Bupropion is also used to help people stop smoking. Bupropion is in a class of medications called antidepressants. It works by increasing certain types of activity in the brain.
Full drug information on MedlinePlus →This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy and breastfeeding decisions should always be made with your healthcare provider.
Can taking bupropion affect fertility or make it harder to get pregnant?
Studies have not been done to see if taking bupropion can make it harder to get pregnant. There have been two case reports of irregular menstrual cycles with bupropion use, but these reports did not describe fertility problems. Any concerns about fertility while taking bupropion should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Does taking bupropion increase the risk of miscarriage?
Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Studies have not found a higher chance of miscarriage among people taking bupropion during pregnancy compared with the background chance in the general population. Individual questions about miscarriage risk are best discussed with your healthcare provider.
Does taking bupropion increase the risk of birth defects?
Every pregnancy starts with a background risk of 3–5% for a birth defect. Most available data on bupropion in pregnancy do not suggest an increased chance of birth defects, though two studies have suggested a possible link with heart defects in the first trimester; those studies had limitations that make the findings hard to interpret. Overall, it is considered unlikely that bupropion use during pregnancy would raise the chance of birth defects above background, but this should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Can taking bupropion during pregnancy cause other pregnancy-related complications?
It is not known whether bupropion causes other pregnancy-related problems such as preterm delivery. In a small study of 30 people given bupropion during pregnancy for 12 weeks to help quit smoking, no differences were seen in birth weight, length, head circumference, or Apgar scores. Some antidepressants can cause temporary newborn symptoms such as irritability, jitteriness, or trouble sleeping or eating; one study suggested this may be less likely with bupropion than with some other antidepressants. Letting your healthcare providers know about bupropion use helps them plan appropriate care for the baby.
Can taking bupropion during pregnancy affect the child's brain development, learning, or behavior?
It is not known if bupropion increases the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child. One study suggested an association between bupropion exposure during pregnancy and ADHD, but because many factors contribute to ADHD, it is hard to know whether the medication or other factors played a role. Questions about long-term child development are best discussed with your healthcare provider.
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking bupropion?
Bupropion passes into breast milk in small amounts, and studies suggest that taking it while breastfeeding is not expected to cause harmful effects for most breastfed infants. There are two case reports of seizures in 6-month-old babies exposed through breast milk, which stopped when bupropion was discontinued; signs in infants can include unusual eye movements, blinking, staring, sucking or chewing motions, pedaling leg movements, or pauses in breathing. Close monitoring of the infant is suggested, and any concerns—such as unusual movements or increased sleepiness—should be brought to the child's healthcare provider, along with discussing breastfeeding plans with your own provider.
Source: National Library of Medicine
bupropion