Buproprion is used for:

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication.

Bupropion is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. At least one brand of bupropion (Zyban) is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects.

Bupropion may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Do NOT use Buproprion if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Buproprion
• you are taking any other medicine that contains bupropion
• you have a history of an eating disorder (eg, anorexia, bulimia) or seizures (eg, epilepsy)
• you are suddenly stopping the use of alcohol or sedatives (eg, benzodiazepines) after long-term use
• you are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) within the last 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Buproprion :

Some medical conditions may interact with Buproprion. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you or a family member has a history of bipolar disorder (manic depression), other mental or mood problems (eg, depression), suicidal thoughts or attempts, or alcohol or substance abuse
• if you have diabetes, kidney problems, high blood pressure, heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure), or a recent heart attack
• if you have a history of seizure, head injury, tumor in the brain or spinal cord, or liver problems (eg, cirrhosis)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Buproprion. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Amantadine, antipsychotics (eg, haloperidol, risperidone), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), insulin, levodopa, MAOIs (eg, phenelzine), nicotine patches, oral hypoglycemics (eg, glipizide), other antidepressants (eg, fluoxetine, amitriptyline), sympathomimetics (eg, pseudoephedrine), theophylline, or tiagabine because they may increase the risk of Buproprion 's side effects
• Carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin because they may decrease Buproprion 's effectiveness
• Antiarrhythmics (eg, propafenone, flecainide), beta-blockers (eg, metoprolol), phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants (eg, fluoxetine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, nortriptyline) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Buproprion

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Buproprion may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Buproprion :

Use Buproprion as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Buproprion comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Buproprion refilled.
• Take Buproprion by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Several weeks may pass before your symptoms improve. Do not stop taking Buproprion without checking with your doctor.
• Take your doses at the same times each day at least 6 hours apart unless directed otherwise by your doctor. This may help to decrease the risk of seizures with Buproprion.
• Continue to take Buproprion even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Buproprion , skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Buproprion.

Important safety information:

• Buproprion may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Buproprion with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Check with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are taking Buproprion ; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Buproprion may increase your risk of seizures. Your risk may be greater if you also have certain medical conditions, use certain medicines, or if you drink large amounts of alcohol. Talk to your doctor to see if you may have a greater risk of seizures while taking Buproprion.
• If you already drink alcohol or use sedatives, do not suddenly stop them without first checking with your doctor. Suddenly stopping them may increase your seizure risk.
• Do not take decongestants (eg, pseudoephedrine), stimulants, or diet pills while you are taking Buproprion without first checking with your doctor. They may increase your risk of seizures.
• The risk of seizures may be greater if you take Buproprion in high doses or for a long time. Do NOT take more than the recommended dose, change your dose, or use Buproprion for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
• Children and teenagers who take Buproprion may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions. Adults may also be affected. The risk may be greater in patients who have had suicidal thoughts or actions in the past. The risk may also be greater in patients who have had bipolar (manic-depressive) illness, or if their family members have had it. Watch patients who take Buproprion closely. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
• If you have trouble sleeping, you may be taking your dose too close to bedtime. Talk with your doctor about changing your dosing schedule.
• Buproprion contains the same ingredients as Zyban, a medicine used to help stop smoking. Do not take Buproprion if you are also taking Zyban. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.
• Use Buproprion with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Buproprion should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Buproprion while you are pregnant. Buproprion is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Buproprion.

Possible side effects of Buproprion :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Agitation; anxiety; constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; restlessness; taste changes; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weight changes.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain; confusion; changes in sexual desire or ability; delusions; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever or chills; hallucinations; hearing problems; joint or muscle pain; menstrual changes; new or worsening concentration problems, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated sense of well-being, inability to sit still, or other unusual or severe mental or mood changes; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent anxiety, agitation, restlessness, or trouble sleeping; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; unusual swelling; worsening depression.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy waves often used in medicine. 2. The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

Replantation: 1. Literally, the act of planting again. 2. In surgery, the restoration of any part of the body to its original site. Also known as reimplantation.

The Chinese surgeon Zhong Wei Chen (1929-2004) was the "father of replantation." Dr. Chen was the first to reattach a severed hand with success which he did in 1963. Dr. Chen also developed many microsurgical procedures including techniques for preserving severed extremities, reattaching amputated fingers and thumbs, reconstructing muscles and repairing nerves and blood vessels.

Rheumatism: Rheumatism is an older term, used to describe any of a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.

Rheumatism conditions have been classified as either localized, regional, or generalized. Localized rheumatism conditions include bursitis and tendinitis. Regional rheumatism conditions include chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndromes. Generalized rheumatism conditions include fibromyalgia.

Another category of rheumatism is psychogenic rheumatism. With this term it is understood that the patient is reporting inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for the symptoms.

Rheumatology: A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the non-surgical evaluation and treatment of the rheumatic diseases and conditions. Rheumatic diseases and conditions are characterized by symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. Many of the rheumatic diseases and conditions feature immune system abnormalities. Therefore, rheumatology also involves the study of the immune system. Classical rheumatology training includes 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship in internal medicine, 2 years of internal medicine residency, and 2 years of rheumatology fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification. The American College of Rheumatology is the official organization acting on behalf of the field of rheumatology in the United States.

T cell: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.

Immature T cells (termed T-stem cells) migrate to the thymus gland in the neck, where they mature and differentiate into various types of mature T cells and become active in the immune system in response to a hormone called thymosin and other factors. T-cells that are potentially activated against the body's own tissues are normally killed or changed ("down-regulated") during this maturational process.

There are several different types of mature T cells. Not all of their functions are known. T cells can produce substances called cytokines such as the interleukins which further stimulate the immune response. T-cell activation is measured as a way to assess the health of patients with HIV/AIDS and less frequently in other disorders.

T cell are also known as T lymphocytes. The "T" stands for "thymus" -- the organ in which these cells mature. As opposed to B cells which mature in the bone marrow.

Teleology: The study of the ultimate purpose of the design of something in nature.

For example, "what is the true purpose of the nose?" is a teleological question and, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite purpose is a teleological explanation of evolution.

"Teleology" comes from ancient Greek roots but it (and teleological) did not enter English until the 18th century. It is a compound of the Greek "tele-, telos," meaning "end or purpose" + the ending "logos" meaning "the science or study of" = the study of the ends or purposes.

Testosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages the development of male sexual characteristics, stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics, and prevents changes in them following castration. Chemically, testosterone is 17-beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one.

Testosterone is the most potent of the naturally occurring androgens. The androgens cause the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deep voice and a beard; they also strengthen muscle tone and bone mass.

High levels of testosterone appear to promote good health in men, for example, lowering the risks of high blood pressure and heart attack. High testosterone levels also correlate with risky behavior, however, including increased aggressiveness and smoking, which may cancel out these health benefits.

Testosterone may be given to treat medical conditions, including female (but not male) breast cancer, hypogonadism (low gonadal function) in the male, cryptorchism (nondescent of the testis into the scrotum), and menorrhagia (irregular periods).