Bupropion: uses and side effects of this drug

This psychotropic drug is used both to treat depressive symptoms and tobacco addiction.

Tobacco is one of the substances with psychoactive effects that has been consumed legally since its discovery. Even though today smoking is prohibited in establishments and enclosed public spaces and its price has been increased by taxes, millions of people continue to smoke.

But many of these people, at some point, need to quit. While it is possible to do so through sheer willpower, in some cases they may need psychological or even pharmacological help. In the latter case, one of the existing drugs used for smoking cessation is bupropion. bupropion, a drug originated as an antidepressant..

What is bupropion?

Bupropion is a well-known antidepressant-type drug, although its application for depression is more common and distinctive for its efficacy in the treatment of tobacco addiction. its efficacy in the treatment of tobacco addiction.. In this sense, it is a treatment that does not include nicotine and that is recommended together with some kind of therapy or psychological treatment. This shows that psychotropic drugs are not designed following a plan from scratch, but that in their development there is a certain process of trial and error, and that sometimes utilities arise for the drug that had not even been taken into account at the beginning.

Bupropion is a specific dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, which works by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine.which works by increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Compared to other drugs of the Antidepressant group, bupropion has the advantage of not generating sexual dysfunctions, although on the other hand its effectiveness by itself seems to be lower compared to other drugs on the market.

Thus, bupropion is an example of how molecules related to other substances used for certain types of disorders can be more useful in different health disorders, even if their structure is similar.

Mechanism of action.

The functioning of bupropion and its mechanism of action is based on its role as a selective inhibitor of dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake. This implies that bupropion acts by preventing these two transmitters (associated with gratification and energy) from being reuptaken by the presynaptic neuron, so that they are available to postsynaptic neurons for a longer time. In addition, it appears to stimulate the secretion of these neurotransmitters. Thus, the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline and their transport increase at the level of the brain, which may alter mood. may alter mood..

It has also been observed to have an effect on acetylcholine, binding to nicotinic receptors and exerting a non-competitive antagonistic effect. Although there is not complete certainty for this, this element is one of the possible explanations for its role in smoking cessation.

However, it should be kept in mind that the exact way in which the mechanism of action of bupropion and of psychotropic drugs in general works is still unknown. Its use does not guarantee that it will work by alleviating the symptoms of the disorder to be treated, and in fact its efficacy is only slightly better than that of the placebo. This does not detract from the fact that in many cases it is very useful, simply that the percentage of patients who try this treatment and do not obtain any benefit is relatively high.

Indications: uses in disorders

Bupropion is a drug that has had various uses throughout its history. Although it was born as an antidepressant and is still sometimes used today to treat this condition both as monotherapy (single therapy) and combination therapy (more commonly, to boost specific antidepressants when the first-choice drugs are not effective), the fact is that on its own is generally considered less effective than other antidepressants..

Where this drug stands out and has the greatest use is in smoking cessation, being effective in reducing the habit of consumption and the desire to smoke. In this sense, its mechanism of action seems to contribute to the cessation of craving (possibly due to its antagonism of nicotinic receptors and its interaction with brain dopamine, although the exact mechanism is not fully known). Another disorder in which it is used is seasonal affective disorder, in which depressive episodes associated with certain times of the year appear.

In addition to the above it has sometimes been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, especially during depressive episodes.especially during the depressive episodes that can occur in this disorder (although this use requires caution as there is a risk of turning the disorder into a manic crisis). Also in ADHD. But in any case, more research is needed and the existence of possible risks must be taken into account.

Side effects

Bupropion is a drug that is very useful in smoking cessation and is used in cases of depression, but as with other drugs, its clinical usefulness is not free of risks and possible side effects. its clinical utility is not free of risks and possible side effects..

This occurs because the active ingredient of bupropion affects many areas of the body, not only in the areas that could produce an improvement in relation to the symptoms. This undesired interaction generates a chain reaction of unpredictable consequences, which can lead to new health alterations (although they usually disappear as the substance leaves the body). For this reason, its use should always be supervised and indicated by physicians.

In this sense, among the main side effects of bupropion we can find insomnia (being one of the most frequent), dry mouth and dizziness, headaches, nausea, constipation, tachycardia, tremors, skin rashes, agitation and nervousness. It can also produce a decrease in appetite.

In more serious cases, it can cause convulsions (being this one of the most known serious risks), arrhythmias, hallucinations, panic or difficulties to breathe or to feed or inflammations being necessary to go to the doctor. In some cases it can cause irritability, hostility, depression, suicidal ideas.

Contraindications

In addition to these side effects,this drug is totally contraindicated in some groups of the population. This drug should not be consumed by those allergic to it or to any of its components (something obvious on the other hand), those who consume certain medications (especially IMAOS), dependence to substances other than tobacco (such as alcohol, drugs and medicines) and those who suffer from epilepsy, brain tumors and anorexia nervosa or bulimia (as it reduces appetite).

It is also not recommended, although sometimes it can be used if the advantages are considered greater than the risks, in cases of people with renal or hepatic insufficiency, cranioencephalic trauma, insomnia or consumption of other drugs that may interact with bupropion.

Diabetics, alcoholics, hypertensive or people with psychiatric disorders. (as it may contribute to the onset of mania in bipolar patients or psychotic crises in schizophrenia, among others) are also contraindicated (or at least the treatment must be carried out with a high level of control of the patient's condition and the doses administered) due to the risk of seizures and other side effects. Finally, it is also not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Price

The price of bupropion, for a box of 30 tablets of 150 milligramsThe price of bupropion, for a box of 30 tablets of 150 milligrams, is approximately 26 euros in Spain and 1400 Mexican pesos in Mexico. In any case, it must be taken under medical indication, since its effects are too powerful to be taken without the supervision of specialists.