Dextromethorphan + Bupropion
Indications
Doctors prescribe Dextromethorphan + Bupropion tablets for adults who have major depressive disorder (MDD).
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
This is a combined medicine containing Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide and Bupropion Hydrochloride. Dextromethorphan is an uncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor (an ionotropic glutamate receptor), and it also acts as a sigma-1 receptor agonist. How Dextromethorphan works in the treatment of MDD is unclear.
The way bupropion works in MDD is also unclear, though it may be related to noradrenergic and/or dopaminergic mechanisms. Bupropion raises the plasma levels of Dextromethorphan by competitively inhibiting cytochrome P450 2D6, an enzyme that catalyzes a major biotransformation pathway for Dextromethorphan. Bupropion is a relatively weak inhibitor of the neuronal reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. It does not inhibit monoamine oxidase or the reuptake of serotonin.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There isn't enough clinical data on the use of dextromethorphan and bupropion together in pregnancy to judge the risk of major birth malformations, miscarriage, or other harmful outcomes for the mother or the baby. There is some data on one of the two components, bupropion. Epidemiological studies of pregnant women who took bupropion in the first trimester have not found an increased risk of congenital malformations overall. Untreated depression in pregnancy also carries risks for the mother.
Published literature reports that bupropion and its metabolites pass into human milk. No data are available on how bupropion or its metabolites affect milk production. A limited number of post-marketing reports describe bupropion use in breastfeeding women, and these have not identified a clear link with adverse reactions in the breastfed infant.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.