Bupropion and dextromethorphan

Generic name: Bupropion And Dextromethorphan
Brand names: Auvelity
Dosage form: oral tablet, extended release (105 mg-45 mg)
Drug class: Miscellaneous antidepressants

Usage of Bupropion and dextromethorphan

Bupropion and dextromethorphan is used in adults to treat major depressive disorder.

Bupropion and dextromethorphan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Bupropion and dextromethorphan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your doctor right away if you have new or sudden changes in mood or behavior, including new or worse depression or anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, more active or talkative, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Bupropion and dextromethorphan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

seizures;

changes in your vision, eye pain or redness;

paranoia (feeling that people are against you), hallucinations (see or hear things that are not there), delusions (belief that you are someone else), or feeling confused; OR

serotonin syndrome--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, diarrhea.

Common side effects of bupropion and dextromethorphan may include:

dizziness;

headache;

diarrhea;

drowsiness;

dry mouth;

excessive sweating; or

sexual problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Bupropion and dextromethorphan

You should not use bupropion and dextromethorphan if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

a seizure disorder;

an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia; or

if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol, seizure medication, or a sedative (such as Xanax, Valium, Fiorinal, Klonopin, and others).

Do not use bupropion and dextromethorphan if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. Wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you take bupropion and dextromethorphan.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

low blood sodium;

a stroke;

a head injury, seizures, or brain or spinal cord tumor;

glaucoma;

heart disease, high blood pressure, or a heart attack;

diabetes;

kidney or liver disease;

depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental illness;

if you have a history of falls; or

if you have alcoholism or drug addiction.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of bupropion and dextromethorphan on the baby.

Bupropion and dextromethorphan may harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed while using bupropion and dextromethorphan, and for at least 5 days after your last dose.

Relate drugs

How to use Bupropion and dextromethorphan

Usual Adult Dose for Major Depressive Disorder:

Initial dose: 1 tablet orally once a day in the morning for 3 daysMaintenance dose: 1 tablet orally twice a dayComments:-Maintenance doses should be administered at least 8 hours apart.-The maintenance dose should not be exceeded.Use: For the treatment of major depressive disorder

Warnings

What other drugs will affect Bupropion and dextromethorphan

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

other medicines containing bupropion or dextromethorphan;

medicine to treat anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness;

theophylline;

steroids;

insulin or oral diabetes medicine;

medicines to control appetite;

medicines to help you stop smoking; or

street drugs.

Other drugs may affect bupropion and dextromethorphan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Popular FAQ

Auvelity worked significantly better than Wellbutrin (bupropion) at relieving symptoms of depression in a small randomized double-blind, parallel trial that lasted for 6 weeks. It also had a faster onset of effect, with improvement in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score being observed as early as week 1 and differences being statistically significant by week 2. Continue reading

Both Auvelity and Wellbutrin are effective for depression but a small RCT (n=80) reported that Auvelity worked significantly better than Wellbutrin and took less time to start working. 43 people prescribed Auvelity experienced an overall decrease in their Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of 13.7 points after 6 weeks compared to a decrease of 8.8 points in the 37 people prescribed bupropion (least-squares mean difference=-4.9; 95% CI=-3.1, -6.8). Continue reading

Auvelity works in several different ways because it contains two different ingredients, dextromethorphan and bupropion, although the exact way it works for depression is unknown. The dextromethorphan component targets the NMDA receptor (N-methyl-D-aspartate), the serotonin transporter (SERT), the norepinephrine transporter (NET), and the sigma-1 receptor, to regulate levels of glutamate and other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine. Continue reading

Auvelity is a combination oral tablet for depression containing dextromethorphan and bupropion that works differently from other antidepressants because it has a direct effect on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor as well as possibly other traditional neurotransmitter effects. It also works much faster than traditional antidepressants, and it does appear to be more effective. Continue reading

Weight gain has not been reported with Auvelity, but in one 6-week study, participants lost, on average, half a pound, while those taking placebo gained about one pound. Animal studies have also reported that the administration of dextromethorphan/bupropion did not affect body weight, weight gain, or food consumption. Continue reading

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