Norton Shopping Guarantee
1-866-456-2456
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
  • 30-Day No Hassle Returns
  • Low Price Guarantee
  • Delivery Guarantee
Toggle Nav
Shopping Cart No items
Shopping Cart
Search
Search
Contact phone
Menu
Toggle Nav

Does bupropion XL cause hair loss?

Does bupropion XL cause hair loss?

Alopecia (hair loss) can start as early as a person's teenage years and the risk increases as you get older. More than 50 percent of men over 50 years of age have some degree of hair loss or baldness. In women, hair loss is more likely to occur after menopause. There are many reasons you can start losing hair, including genetics, age, stress, haircare, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, and medications. Bupropion XL is a medication that is thought to cause hair loss.

Bupropion XL is an extended-release antidepressant medication that is FDA-approved to treat adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is a generic version of the brand-name Wellbutrin XL. The active ingredient, bupropion, is also used to treat smoking cessation and other medical conditions such as ADHD.

While it is generally well tolerated, bupropion XL can cause some side effects. The most common side effects seen with this medication are dry mouth, headache, and nausea. Compared to other antidepressants like SSRIs, bupropion XL is less likely to cause sexual dysfunction. It can, however, cause alopecia or hair thinning more often than other medications used for depression.

Is hair loss from bupropion XL permanent?

Some antidepressants such as bupropion XL can cause a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Thankfully, it is a temporary hair loss that occurs without any scarring and is typically reversible.

Once formed, hair follicles go through 3 main phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transformation), and telogen (rest). The anagen phase determines how long your hair will become and can last from 2 to 6 years. Normally, almost 90% of your hair follicles are in the anagen (growing) phase. The remaining 10% are in the telogen (resting) phase. Telogen effluvium occurs when the hair cycle is disrupted and hair follicles go into the resting phase too early. This causes you to lose hair all over your scalp. You will usually shed approximately 100 hairs a day, but this number can be increased significantly with telogen effluvium.

The good news is that the hair follicle is usually not damaged when bupropion XL is the cause of your hair loss. If you gradually come off the medication, hair growth may resume within a few weeks to a few months.

Bupropion XL FAQs

How does bupropion XL work?

Bupropion XL is considered an atypical antidepressant or a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). The exact mechanism of action of bupropion XL is not fully understood. It is, however, thought to increase the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain to help improve your mood and relieve the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

What are the side effects of bupropion XL?

The most common side effects of bupropion XL seen in clinical trials include:

  • Dry mouth

  • Nausea

  • Weight loss

  • Anxiety

  • Sore throat

  • Sweating

  • Abdominal pain

  • Dizziness

  • Muscle pain

  • Trouble sleeping

  • Skin rash

  • Tremor

  • Increased heart rate

  • Agitation

  • Increased urinary frequency

  • Ringing in your ears

Other side effects of bupropion XL

  • Blurred vision

  • Weight gain

  • Constipation

  • Inflammation of your sinuses

  • Infection

  • Chest pain

  • Joint pain

  • Migraine

  • Vomiting

What serious side effects are there with bupropion XL?

Rarely, bupropion XL may cause serious side effects, such as:

  • Increased risk of seizures

  • Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in children, adolescents, and young adults

  • Mood changes such as worsening depression, anxiety, agitation, and panic attacks

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

  • Episodes of hypomania or mania (excessive happiness or sadness, racing thoughts, and overactivity)

  • Blurred vision and eye pain

  • Serious, sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions (hives, swelling of your face, throat, tongue, or lips, chest pain, and shortness of breath)

Contact your healthcare professional for medical advice about any possible adverse effects you experience while taking bupropion XL. You can report your adverse effects to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 

Are there drug interactions with bupropion XL?

When bupropion XL is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the risk of side effects. Some drug interactions with bupropion XL may include:

  • Other medications that increase your risk of seizures such as other drugs containing bupropion, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), antipsychotics, corticosteroids, and theophylline.

  • CYP2B6 enzyme inducers such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, ritonavir, carbamazepine, lopinavir, and efavirenz.

  • Drugs metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme, including sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, nortriptyline, venlafaxine, risperidone, flecainide, desipramine, metoprolol, haloperidol, thioridazine, and propafenone.

  • MAOIs, including selegiline, isocarboxazid, and phenelzine.

  • Anticoaglulants such as clopidogrel and ticlopidine.

Are there any contraindications with bupropion XL?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to bupropion or any of the inactive ingredients in the product’s formulation. You should also avoid bupropion XL if you:

  • Have a history of seizures.

  • Have a history of eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia.

  • Are suddenly stopping alcohol use, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or medications used to treat seizures.

  • Have taken an MAOI within the last 14 days.

Bupropion XL also carries an FDA-approved boxed warning indicating there is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants. Monitoring for new or worsening suicidal thoughts and behaviors while on this medication is important.

What should you tell your healthcare provider before starting bupropion XL?

You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, such as:

  • A history of seizures or if you have a condition that increases your risk of seizures such as a brain tumor, head injury, or an eating disorder (bulimia or anorexia)

  • Pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant

  • Are breastfeeding, as bupropion XL may be present in your breast milk

  • Used an MAOI inhibitor within 14 days of starting bupropion XL

  • Drink alcohol, use illicit street drugs or sedatives such as barbiturates or benzodiazepines

  • Personal or family history of glaucoma

  • Heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), irregular heartbeat, or previous heart attack

  • History of bipolar disorder or other mental health disorder

  • Diabetes or kidney disease

  • Liver disease

  • Are taking Zyban for smoking cessation or other products that contain bupropion hydrochloride

What antidepressants cause the most hair loss?

A research review was done to compare hair loss among different antidepressants. It found that bupropion XL had a higher risk of hair loss when compared to other antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor XR (venlafaxine ER), and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine). Among these, paroxetine and fluoxetine had the lowest risk. Among the typical antidepressants, Luvox (fluvoxamine) had the highest risk of hair loss, but it was not as high as bupropion XL.

How can you stop your hair from falling out while taking bupropion XL?

Discontinuing bupropion XL is the best way to prevent any future hair loss or thinning. Do not suddenly stop taking your medication as it can increase your risk of serious side effects. Your healthcare provider can help taper you off of bupropion XL to minimize this risk. They may also suggest a different treatment option so your depression symptoms don’t return.

Other ways to help slow down or prevent further hair loss include:

  • Decrease your daily stress level with exercise, meditation, or other forms of self-care. Stress is thought to be a trigger of hair loss.

  • Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of water, protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats to address any nutritional deficiencies you may have.

  • Proper hair care can also help you avoid making your hair loss worse. Avoid heat styling treatments as well as bleach, dye, or other chemicals.

  • Try a topical medication such as minoxidil. It has been shown to help reverse hair loss and promote regrowth.

How much does bupropion XL cost?

The brand name Wellbutrin XL can be very expensive if your insurance does not cover it. The average retail cost for #30, 150 mg tablets in the US is around $2000. However, at Universal Drug Store (UDS), you can get #90 of the same Wellbutrin XL 150 mg tablets delivered to your door for less than $100. The generic is much less expensive. The prices in the US range from $80 to over $100 for #30 of the 150 mg bupropion XL tablets. At UDS, #90 of the 150 mg tablets only cost around $40.

Related medications

Sources

Share: