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7 Interactions found for:

Wellbutrin XL and Xanax
Interactions Summary
  • 4 Major
  • 3 Moderate
  • 0 Minor
  • Wellbutrin XL
  • Xanax

Drug Interactions

Moderate
Xanax + Wellbutrin Xl

The following applies to the ingredients: Alprazolam (found in Xanax) and Bupropion (found in Wellbutrin Xl)

Excessive use of ALPRAZolam, or abrupt discontinuation following long-term use, may occasionally trigger seizures in patients taking buPROPion. Talk to your doctor before using these medications together if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Food Interactions

Moderate
Xanax + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Alprazolam (found in Xanax)

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with ALPRAZolam and lead to potentially dangerous side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor. Do not drink alcohol while taking ALPRAZolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. You may feel more drowsy, dizzy, or tired if you take ALPRAZolam with alcohol. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Moderate
Wellbutrin Xl + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Bupropion (found in Wellbutrin Xl)

Using buPROPion with alcohol may increase the risk of uncommon side effects such as seizures, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, mood and behavioral changes, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and panic attacks. On the other hand, sudden withdrawal from alcohol following regular or chronic use can also increase your risk of seizures during treatment with buPROPion. If you are prone to frequent or excessive alcohol use, talk to your doctor before starting buPROPion. In general, you should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with buPROPion. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

The following applies to the ingredients: Bupropion (found in Wellbutrin Xl)

Both buPROPion and caffeine can increase blood pressure. And using them together may have additive effects. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns, particularly if you have a history of high blood pressure or heart disease. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

The following applies to the ingredients: Bupropion (found in Wellbutrin Xl)

Using buPROPion and nicotine together can cause an increase in blood pressure. This can cause dizziness, confusion, uneven heartbeats, and chest pain. If you take both medications together, tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. You may need a dose adjustment or need your blood pressure checked more often if you take both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Alprazolam (found in Xanax)

Professional Content

This drug is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and the benefit outweighs the risk, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category: C
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.

Risk Summary: Use may be associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations. There are no adequate studies of this drug in pregnant women to inform a drug-related risk.

Comments:
-The child born to a mother taking benzodiazepines may be at risk for withdrawal symptoms.
-Benzodiazepines may cause fetal harm when administered during pregnancy.
-The patient should be warned of the potential risks to the fetus and instructed to discontinue the drug prior to becoming pregnant.
-A pregnancy exposure registry is available.

Several studies have suggested an increased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of minor tranquilizers (i.e., chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, meprobamate) during the first trimester of pregnancy. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

To monitor maternal-fetal outcome of pregnant women exposed to antiepileptic drugs, the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry has been established. Healthcare providers are encouraged to prospectively register patients. For additional information: http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/

AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. "Product Information. Xanax (alprazolam)." Pharmacia and Upjohn PROD (2002):
  2. "Product Information. Niravam (alprazolam)." Schwarz Pharma (2005):
  3. "Product Information. Xanax XR (alprazolam)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group (2005):
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  5. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

The following applies to the ingredients: Bupropion (found in Wellbutrin Xl)

Professional Content

This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. Smoking cessation without the use of medications is advisable during pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category: B2
US FDA pregnancy category: C

Comments:
-A pregnancy exposure registry is available.
-Neonates exposed to this drug late in the third trimester may require respiratory support, tube feeding, and/or prolonged hospitalization.
-Exposed neonates should be monitored after delivery for direct toxic effects of this drug, drug discontinuation syndrome, and serotonin syndrome (e.g.,. respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypo/hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, constant crying).

High dose animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of specific teratogenic effects. Low dose animal studies in rabbits have reported a slightly increased incidence of fetal malformations and skeletal variations. Epidemiological studies of pregnant women exposed to bupropion in the first trimester show no increased risk of congenital malformations overall.

Data from the international bupropion pregnancy register (675 trimester exposures) and a retrospective cohort study using the United Healthcare database (1,213 first trimester exposures) and a case-control study from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (6,853 infants with cardiovascular malformations and 5,763 with non-cardiovascular malformations) did not show an increased risk for malformations overall after bupropion exposure during the first trimester. A retrospective database of infants (n=7005) whose mothers were exposed to bupropion in the first trimester and outside of the first trimester also failed to reveal an increased risk for congenital malformation, especially cardiovascular malformation. Study findings on the risk for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and ventricular septal defect after first trimester exposure to bupropion are inconclusive.

To monitor maternal-fetal outcomes of pregnant women exposed to antidepressant therapy, a National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants has been established. Healthcare providers are encouraged to prospectively register patients. For additional information: https://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants/

AU TGA pregnancy category B2: Drugs which have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals are inadequate or may be lacking, but available data show no evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage.

US FDA pregnancy category C: Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

References

  1. "Product Information. Wellbutrin (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome PROD (2001):
  2. "Product Information. Wellbutrin SR (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome PROD (2001):
  3. "Product Information. Zyban (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome PROD (2001):
  4. "Product Information. Wellbutrin XL (bupropion)." GlaxoSmithKline (2003):
  5. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  6. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  7. "Product Information. Aplenzin (bupropion)." sanofi-aventis (2009):

Drug and Breastfeeding Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Alprazolam (found in Xanax)

Professional Content

Use is not recommended.
-Some experts recommend: A decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-The American Academy of Pediatrics considers this agent a drug for which the effect on nursing infants is unknown but may be of concern.
-Chronic administration of diazepam to nursing mothers has been reported to cause their infants to become lethargic and to lose weight.

References

  1. "Product Information. Xanax (alprazolam)." Pharmacia and Upjohn PROD (2002):
  2. "Product Information. Niravam (alprazolam)." Schwarz Pharma (2005):
  3. "Product Information. Xanax XR (alprazolam)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group (2005):
  4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  5. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  6. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):
  7. Briggs GG, Freeman RK. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation." Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health (2015):

The following applies to the ingredients: Bupropion (found in Wellbutrin Xl)

Professional Content

A decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding to the infant and the importance of the drug to the mother.
-Some experts recommend: Use with caution.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comment: Another drug may be preferred, particularly when breastfeeding a newborn or preterm infant.

There is limited information that maternal bupropion at oral doses up to 300 mg daily produces low levels in breastmilk. It is not generally expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants; however, there are case reports of possible seizure in partially breastfed 6-month-olds. Alternate drugs that may be considered in place of bupropion include nortriptyline, paroxetine, and sertraline.

One case report has suggested that bupropion accumulates in human breast milk in concentrations much greater than in maternal plasma. At least two metabolites of bupropion are also detectable in human milk. However, in the plasma of one nursing infant whose mother took bupropion, neither bupropion nor its metabolites could be detected.

Data from a lactation study in 10 women showed breastmilk levels of 45.2 mcg/L for bupropion, and 104.6 mcg/mL, 72.1 mcg/mL, and 459 mcg/mL for it metabolites hydroxybupropion, erythrohydroxybupropion, and threohydroxybupropion, respectively. The authors of this study estimated that an exclusively breastfed infant would receive an average of 0.2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose of bupropion and an average of 2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage of bupropion plus metabolites.

References

  1. "Product Information. Wellbutrin (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome PROD (2001):
  2. "Product Information. Wellbutrin SR (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome PROD (2001):
  3. "Product Information. Zyban (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome PROD (2001):
  4. "Product Information. Wellbutrin XL (bupropion)." GlaxoSmithKline (2003):
  5. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  6. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  7. "Product Information. Aplenzin (bupropion)." sanofi-aventis (2009):
  8. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):

Therapeutic Duplication Warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

Switch to: Professional Interactions

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.

Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

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