| This
medication is used to help you quit smoking.
Swallow this medication
whole. Do not crush or chew them or the sustained activity of the
drug will be destroyed and the chances of side effects occurring
may be increased.
Take as directed,
usually twice daily for 7 to 12 weeks. Do not take more or less
medication than prescribed. Since this drug can cause sleeplessness
at first, it is best not to take near bedtime. It is advised to
continue smoking for the first week after starting this drug, until
it reaches higher levels in your blood. Do not smoke if using any
nicotine products with this drug.
Too much nicotine can
cause serious side effects.
This medication is
generally well tolerated. Dry mouth, headache, increased sweating,
constipation, anxiety and fatigue may occur. If these effects
persist or worsen, notify your doctor.
Before taking bupropion
tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures, head injury,
brain tumor; heart, liver or kidney disease, an eating disorder or
any mental conditions, diabetes or if you have any allergies.
Limit or avoid
consumption of alcoholic beverages; alcohol can increase your risk
of seizures. Chronic alcohol users who suddenly stop the intake of
alcohol while taking bupropion may increase the risk of having
seizures. Suddenly stopping certain tranquilizers (e.g., diazepam,
chlordiazepoxide) is not recommended because doing so may increase
the risk of having seizures. Elderly patients may be more sensitive
to the effects of this drug.
Tell your doctor if you
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before taking this drug.
This drug is excreted into breast milk.
Because of the
potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug
is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Before taking bupropion
tell your doctor of all nonprescription and prescription
medications you may use especially MAO inhibitors (e.g.,
isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, pargyline, selegiline,
furazolidone), levodopa, theophylline, corticosteroids (e.g.,
prednisone), seizure medications, sedatives, ritonavir,
tranquilizers/psychiatric drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine), other
antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), salicylates (e.g., aspirin,
salsalate), isoniazid, chlolinesterase inhibitors (e.g., tacrine,
donepezil), morphine, and adrenaline-like drugs (e.g.,
pseudoephedrine).
Excess caffeine intake
can increase the chance of seizures with this drug. Check all
nonprescription/prescription drug labels for caffeine.
Consult doctor or
pharmacist. A certain product used to help quit smoking contains
bupropion. Do not take that product while using this one.
Take any missed dose as
soon as possible but not if it is within 8 hours of the next dose.
If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume
your regular schedule. Do not "double up" the dose.
Store at room
temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from
light and moisture. Keep this and all medications out of the reach
of children.
|