Posted by Sunnely on November 22, 2000, at 21:10:44
In reply to Wellbutrin Allergy???Help, posted by Lynne on November 22, 2000, at 9:57:42
> I have been on Wellbutrin 300 Sr for 2 weeks now. When I first started taking it I started having a sore thoart. I thought it was maybe just a virus. Well, three times now I have awakened to a swollen face. My eyes are almost sollwen shut and the sore thoart keeps coming and going. Does anyone think it could be the Wellbutrin. I have never had a reaction to any meds before. I am trying to figure out what is causing this,
>
> Thanks,
> Lynne
++++++++++++++++++++++++Hi Lynne,
Virtually any medicine can cause an allergic reaction, sometimes serious and life-threatening. Recently, 2 Canadian doctors reported a serious allergic reaction (serum sickness) to bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban).
A 21-year-old man was started on bupropion 300 mg/day to help him quit smoking. After 10 days, he complained of aching in shoulders and hips, followed the next day by swelling in extremities (hands and feet) and eyelids. The patient discontinued bupropion and went to an emergency department the following day when his symptoms increased. He denied using any other medication and had no infection or other medical problems.
Doctors noted swelling of hands and feet, joint pain on motion, and urticaria (hives) over his trunk, arms, and abdomen. They diagnosed an allergic reaction to bupropion and prescribed corticosteroids with a tapering dosage schedule over 14 days. His symptoms and signs resolved over this time course.
The authors cite an incidence (rate of occurence) of anaphylactoid reactions - characterized by pruritus (itchiness), urticaria (hives), angioedema (mucosal swelling), and dyspnea (respiratory difficulty) - in 0.1% to 0.3% of patients taking bupropion in clinical trials. Arthralgias (joint pains) and myalgias (muscle ache/pains) occurred in 4% to 5% of patients taking bupropion (versus 2% to 3% of those receving placebo).
You should stop bupropion and contact your doctor immediately. If your doctor is not available, go to the emergency department to have your condition medically evaluated. If indeed this is an allergic reaction to bupropion, you may need a course of corticosteroid treatment, and should not take bupropion (Wellbutrin or Zyban) again.
BTW, a severe allergic reaction described in the case above (serum sickness like reaction) has also been reported with fluoxetine (Prozac).
Reference: Severe Allergy to Bupropion. In: Biological Therapies in Psychiatry Newsletter, Gelenberg AJ, MD (editor), March 2000.
poster:Sunnely
thread:49227
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001115/msgs/49270.html