Melissa asked
Tomorrow I start taking 300mg of bupropion. Do I take them at the same time or hours apart?
Answer
If you were prescribed 300 mg per day of bupropion, how you take it depends on how your doctor prescribed it.
Bupropion is available in a variety of forms/brand names including:
- Wellbutrin Immediate Release
- Wellbutrin SR (Sustained Release)
- Wellbutrin XL (Extended Release)
- Zyban SR (Sustained Release)
- Aplenzin
- Forfivo XL
Below, we discuss each in detal.
Wellbutrin Immediate Release
The immediate release Wellbutrin is available generically as bupropion. It comes in the following dosages:
- 75 mg
- 100 mg
How To Take Wellbutrin Immediate Release
It is recommended that no single dose of bupropion exceed 150 mg. In addition, if you are taking multiple doses per day, the doses should be separated by at least 6 hours. Immediate release bupropion is generally dosed two to three times daily. It may be taken with or without food.
Wellbutrin Sustained Release
Wellbutrin SR (sustained release) is available generically as bupropion SR. It comes in the following dosages:
- 100 mg
- 150 mg
- 200 mg
How To Take Wellbutrin Sustained Release
It is recommended that no single dose exceed 200 mg of bupropion SR. In addition, if you are taking multiple doses per day, the doses should be separated by at least 8 hours. Sustained release bupropion is generally dosed two times daily. It may be taken with or without food.
Wellbutrin XL Extended Release
Wellbutrin XL (extended release) is available generically as bupropion XL. It comes in the following dosages:
- 150 mg
- 300 mg
How To Take Wellbutrin XL Extended Release
Zyban SR Sustained Release
- 150 mg
How To Take Zyban SR Sustained Release
Zyban and associated generics are usually dosed twice daily, at least 8 hours apart. It may be taken with or without food.
Aplenzin
Aplenzin is bupropion in a different salt form. Aplenzin is only available as the brand name product. All other bupropion products are as the hydrochloride salt (e.g. bupropion hydrochloride). Aplenzin on the other hand, is a 'hydrobromide' salt form (e.g. bupropion hydrobromide). Aplenzin is available in the following dosages:
- 174 mg
- 348 mg
- 522 mg
How To Take Aplenzin
Aplenzin allows patients that need to take high doses of bupropion a once daily option. If a patient was prescribed bupropion XL 450 mg, they would need to take two tablets as one dose (150 mg + 300 mg tablet). Aplenzin allows for a one tablet dosage. All other aspects of Aplenzin (e.g. efficacy, safety, side effect profile) are thought to be similar to the hydrochloride forms of bupropion. It may be taken with or without food.
Forfivo XL
Forfivo XL is bupropion extended release and is only available in one dose:
- 450 mg
Forfivo XL is only available as the brand name. Unlike Aplenzin, Forfivo is the more common hydrochloride salt form.
How To Take Forfivo XL
Like Aplenzin, it allows for one tablet per day administration for those on high dose bupropion. It may be taken with or without food.
Summary
From the information above, you can see that there are a variety of bupropion products on the market. How you take your medication depends on the specific product you have been prescribed. In summary:
- Bupropion and Bupropion SR products are generally dosed 2 to 3 times daily.
- Bupropion XL, Aplenzin and Forfivo products are dosed once daily.
Please check with your doctor regarding your specific prescription and directions.
