Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and Adderall both drugs are both used to treat certain disorders and various other health conditions. Adderall helps to improve paying attention, focusing, and reducing impulsive behaviors in adults and children older than 3 years. The condition in which a person is unable to pay attention or is suffering from impulsive behavior is known as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is also used in the treatment of narcolepsy. Bupropion may help to prevent depression and other health conditions. Healthcare professionals can suggest oral capsules, tablets, and solutions to their patients. If you want to know more details about the difference between Bupropion vs Adderall, its similarities, and the treatment it is used for then stay with this page till last.
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What are Bupropion and Adderall
Here is a detailed review of Bupropion and Adderall medicines.
Bupropion
Bupropion medication belongs to the family of antidepressants and is primarily used to treat depression not the first choice for ADHD. So, it has been prescribed off-label for other uses on the base of the professional judgment of the health care expertise. This drug is a prescription-only medicine and should be used under the supervision of the healthcare provider. Bupropion drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Wellbutrin or you can say Bupropion is useful in the treatment of depression, seasonal affective disorder, smoking cessation, and weight management. This medication helps to prevent many health conditions like mood regulation and nicotine cravings by increasing the dopamine and the norepinephrine in the brain.
Adderall
Adderall medication belongs to the class of drugs known as CNS stimulants that combine amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. The FDA has approved this medication for treating narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults.
Always advised to seek medical assistance from a qualified doctor or healthcare provider before taking this drug. It works by changing (increasing or decreasing) the amount of the chemical in the brain. This drug can help pay attention, stay focused, and control impulsive behavior.
Comparison Between Bupropion and Adderall Drug (Adderall vs Wellbutrin)
Based on the variable, Bupropion and Adderall may differ from each other. Based on availability and dosage, strength, and uses, these two medications differ from each other here’s how.
Availability – Bupropion is available in the forms of immediate-release (IR) tablets and extended-release (ER) tablets. While Adderall is available in the form of immediate-release (IR) tablets, extended-release (ER) tablets, and extended-release (ER)capsules.
Type of Disorder – Bupropion is useful to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder, and other health conditions. On the other hand, Adderall is useful to treat narcolepsy and ADHD in children and adults. Both Bupropion and Adderall are prescription-only drugs.
Dosages and Strengths – Bupropion and Adderall are available in several dosage forms for various medical purposes.
Adderall
Adderall drug is available in two variants Immediate-Release (IR) and Extended-Release(ER). Mentioned below is the varied dosage strength of this medication along with the variations.
- Immediate-Release Oral Tablet – 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg.
- Extended-Release Oral Capsule – 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg and 30 mg.
The initial dose of Adderall drug for individuals suffering from ADHD and narcolepsy is 5 mg once or two times a day. Healthcare professionals may increase or decrease the dose gradually according to the patient’s condition.
Bupropion
Various branded medications come under the generic medicine Bupropion such as Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XR, Alpenzin, Forivo XL, and Zyban.
Furthermore, we’ll be discussing the varied dosage strengths of all these medications.
- Welbutrin (Tablet) – 75 mg and 100 mg.
- Wellbutrin SR (Sustained Release Tablet) – 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg.
- Wellbutrin XR (Extended-Release Tablet) – 150 mg and 300 mg.
- Aplenzin (Extended-Release Tablet) – 174 mg, 348 mg and 522 mg.
- Zyban (Extended-Release Tablet) – 150 mg.
Note – Welbutrin and Zyban are the discontinued drugs.
Below we mention the dosage of Bupropion medication.
- Immediate-Release Tablets – An initial dose of 100 mg is recommended. Take orally twice a day. Increased to three times a day if needed.
- Sustained-Released Tablets – An optimal dose of 150 mg orally is suggested once a day that should be taken in the morning.
- Extended-Release Tablets – 174 mg of starting dosage is advised by the healthcare professionals and is administered orally. Always take this dose in the morning.
Interaction – Bupropion medication interacts with 492 drugs, along with 8 disease interactions and 1 alcohol/ food interaction. While, the Adderall medication interacts with 181 drugs, along with 15 disease interactions and 6 alcohol/food interactions.
Half-life – Bupropion has a half-life span of 3 to 4 hours, while that of Adderall is 10 to 13 hours.
Health Problems – When people take Bupropion and Adderall medication drugs it may cause several health problems such as dizziness, chest pain, blurred vision, tunnel vision, changes in skin color, loss Of appetite, ringing ears, unusual changes in mood or behavior, etc.
Side Effects of Bupropion and Adderall Medication
While taking Bupropion and Adderall medication drug, it may cause some side effects as follows.
Adderall: The side effects of taking Adderall are as follows
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Hallucinations
- New behavior problems
- Aggression
- Hostility
- Paranoia
- Cold feeling
- Unexplained wounds
- Skin color changes
- Seizure
- Muscle twitches
- Blurred vision
- Stomach pain
- Loss Of Appetite
- Weight loss
- Mood changes
- Feeling nervous
- Fast heart rate
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Sleep problems
- Dry Mouth
Bupropion: Here are some of the side effects that can happen after taking Bupropion.
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
- Ringing ears
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Sleep problems
- Tremors
- Sweating
- Feeling anxious or nervous
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Hostility
- Rash
- Weight loss
- Increased urination
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Muscle or joint pain
- Seizure
- Confusion
- Unusual changes in mood or behaviour
- Blurred vision
- Tunnel vision
- Eye pain or swelling
- Seeing halos around lights
- Fast or irregular heartbeats
- Racing thoughts
- Reckless behaviour
Precautions for Bupropion and Adderall
- Before taking these medicines, talk to your healthcare expert if you have any other allergies.
- If you are taking Bupropion and Adderall with other medicines, it may slow your breathing and can cause dangerous side effects or even death.
- Do not share the dosage of these drugs with the other individuals.
- Do not take these medications during pregnancy without your doctor’s advice.
- If you use these two medicines with alcohol it can cause dangerous side effects and even death.
- If you miss a dose then don’t take a double dose to cover a missed dose. Do not take a double dose at one time.
- You can continue your normal diet unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Conclusion
According to the FDA Wellbutrin or Bupropion is not approved for ADHD but health professionals prescribe it as an off-label medication that shows promising benefits. But Adderall is an approved medication for ADHD that is a stimulant class of drugs, that stimulates the brain and helps to increase focus. For ADHD other medications are prescribed first but if patients are unable to tolerate the side effects of stimulants then doctors prescribe Bupropion which also has better results.