Bupropion is a atypical antidepressant primarily used to treat major depressive disorder and to support smoking cessation.
It is an effective antidepressant on its own, but it is also popular as an add-on medication in the cases of incomplete response to the first-line selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Bupropion has several features that distinguish it from other antidepressants:
- it does not usually cause sexual dysfunction
- it is not associated with weight gain and sleepiness
- it is more effective than SSRIs at improving symptoms of hypersomnia and fatigue
Bupropion is showing promise in reducing drug use in light methamphetamine users.
Based on studies indicating that bupropion lowers the level of the inflammatory mediator TNF-alpha, there have been suggestions that it might be useful in treating inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and other autoimmune conditions, but very little clinical evidence is available.
Bupropion is NOT effective in treating chronic low back pain.
Bupropion is NOT effective in the treatment of cocaine dependence.
