Doctors prescribe bupropion oral tablet for major depressive disorder, which is often called depression. It’s an antidepressant drug that may cause mild or serious side effects. These include dry mouth and increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people.
This article describes possible side effects of bupropion oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for bupropion. You can explore this overview article to learn more about bupropion oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.
Bupropion oral tablet is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Bupropion also comes in another oral form, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form, talk with your doctor.
Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people
Bupropion has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section below.
More common side effects of bupropion
Bupropion oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of bupropion oral tablet include:
- agitation or nervousness*
- dry mouth
- constipation
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of bupropion
Bupropion may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be managed easily. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or bother you.
Mild side effects of bupropion oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- confusion
- constipation
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- headache
- nausea
- nervousness
- sweating
- tremor
- insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- vomiting
- mild agitation or nervousness*
- mild allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section below.
Bupropion oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of bupropion
Bupropion may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from bupropion oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with bupropion.
Serious side effects of bupropion oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section below.
† Bupropion oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section below.
Common questions about side effects of bupropion
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of bupropion oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can increasing the dose of bupropion cause more side effects?
Doing so might cause more side effects. Generally, higher doses of drugs tend to have a higher risk of causing side effects than lower doses. But from studies, it’s not clear whether higher doses of bupropion were more likely to cause side effects.
With bupropion, the drugmaker recommends increasing the dose slowly. This helps minimize the risk of seizures, which is a rare but serious side effect.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your bupropion dose. They can tell you how it affects your risk of side effects.
100% online care
Treatment plans in 15 minutes or less for 40+ conditions.
Start consult nowHow long do side effects of bupropion typically last?
It depends and varies from person to person. In most cases, side effects of bupropion are typically mild. They usually go away on their own within a few hours or days.
During bupropion treatment, tell your doctor if you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away. If appropriate, they may stop your treatment and recommend another.
Does bupropion cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases, bupropion oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time. Or they may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with bupropion oral tablet include:
- increased blood pressure and high blood pressure; this side effect should go away if you stop taking bupropion
- mania; this side effect requires treatment and may not go away even if bupropion is stopped
- new or worsening mental health symptoms*
- seizure*
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor how long these side effects of bupropion may last.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section below.
Coupon for bupropion
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for bupropion when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Side effects of bupropion in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of bupropion oral tablet.
Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people
Bupropion has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In studies involving bupropion oral tablet and other antidepressant medications, a small increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors occurred. The increase was observed in adolescents and young adults up to age 24 years. This side effect may be serious.
It’s important to point out that:
- depression (which bupropion is prescribed to treat) and other mental health conditions are the biggest risk factor for developing suicidal thoughts and behaviors; and
- bupropion and other antidepressants did not increase this risk in adults ages 25 years and older in these studies; and
- bupropion and other antidepressants lowered this risk in adults ages 65 years and older
This risk is most notable when beginning treatment with bupropion and whenever the dose is increased.
With suicidal thoughts and behaviors, you have thoughts of harming yourself. Symptoms may include expressing that you wish you weren’t alive. They may also include treating people as if you may not see them again.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms or have concerns about suicidal thoughts and behaviors, tell your doctor right away. They can review possible treatments for your symptoms. They’ll also likely recommend stopping treatment with bupropion and reviewing treatments for depression with you.
If you feel comfortable doing so, it may be helpful to let a close family member or friend know you’re taking bupropion. They can help watch for changes in your behaviors, moods, or thinking while you’re taking the medication.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
New or worsening mental health symptoms
In studies, new or worsening mental health symptoms were reported in people taking bupropion oral tablet. Some symptoms were common, while others were rare. These side effects may be mild or serious.
New or worsening mental health symptoms reported with bupropion include:
- agitation or nervousness; this was the most common side effect in studies of bupropion
- aggressiveness or hostility
- depression
- delusions (believing things that aren’t real)
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real)
- paranoia (having suspicion or mistrust)
- suicidal thoughts or behaviors*
- other changes to your behavior, mood, or thinking
* Bupropion oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people” section just above.
Some factors can increase the risk of new or worsening mental health symptoms with bupropion. These include having an existing mental health condition.
Ways to manage
If you experience new or worsening mental health symptoms, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend lowering your bupropion dose or stopping treatment entirely.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardSeizure
In studies, seizure was rare in people taking bupropion oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
With a seizure, you experience a sudden change in awareness or movement. This is caused by sudden electrical changes in your brain. A seizure may cause dramatic, noticeable symptoms or sometimes none at all. And other times, symptoms can occur before a seizure happens.
Symptoms of a seizure include:
- uncontrollable muscle spasm
- loss of consciousness and then confusion afterward
- rapid, sudden eye movements
Certain factors can increase the risk of seizure with bupropion oral tablet. These include:
- increasing the dose of bupropion too quickly
- taking a bupropion dose that’s higher than recommended
- having epilepsy or another condition that causes seizures
- having anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
- having a head injury or stroke in the past
- taking certain other medications
These are not all the factors that increase the risk of seizure from taking bupropion. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more. Or you can review the drug’s prescribing information.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of a seizure, tell your doctor immediately. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with bupropion. They also can review other treatments for depression with you.
Allergic reaction
For some people, bupropion oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. These reactions were rare in studies of bupropion but can still occur.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepened skin color)
In rare cases, severe allergic skin reactions have also occurred in people taking bupropion. These reactions include Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The main symptom caused by either reaction is a painful, red, or discolored skin rash. Other symptoms include:
- blistering of your eyes, mouth, nose, skin, or genitals
- broken, raw, or shedding skin
- fever
These skin reactions are life threatening emergencies. They require immediate medical treatment, such as at a hospital or emergency room.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to bupropion oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for bupropion
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking bupropion oral tablet.
Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people
Bupropion has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in certain people. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Side effects of bupropion in detail” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take bupropion oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether bupropion oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking bupropion oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Bupropion and pregnancy
Bupropion poses risks if taken during pregnancy. Having untreated depression during pregnancy also poses risks. (Bupropion is prescribed to treat depression.) If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
If you and your doctor decide you’ll take bupropion during pregnancy, consider joining the antidepressant pregnancy registry. (Bupropion is an antidepressant.) Pregnancy registries help doctors and patients make informed decisions about treatment choices during pregnancy. You can learn more or join the registry by calling 866-961-2388 or visiting this site.
Bupropion and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether bupropion oral tablet is safe to take while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Bupropion and alcohol
Bupropion oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.
Consuming alcohol while taking bupropion further raises your risk of seizure, a rare but serious side effect bupropion can cause. The drug’s manufacturer recommends avoiding or minimizing alcohol consumption while taking bupropion.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with bupropion oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of bupropion oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How do side effects of bupropion oral tablet compare with other treatments for depression?
- Does my health history raise my risk of side effects if I take bupropion oral tablet?
- Do any medications I take interact with bupropion oral tablet and increase my risk of side effects?
- If I experience side effects from bupropion, can I be prescribed a lower dose to try?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
