Thinking about Wellbutrin hair loss? Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medication that is used in the treatment of major depressive disorders, social anxiety disorders and affective disorder associated with the seasons. It is also used, at low doses, to help the patient quit smoking by reducing anxiety and other abstinence symptoms to nicotine.
Its active ingredient is bupropion or β- Keto- chloro- butyl- amphetamine. It is a drug with psychostimulant properties belonging to the class of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Mechanism of action of Wellbutrin
The exact mechanism of action of bupropion is not yet fully understood, however, it is thought to act as follows:
- Inhibition of reuptake of norepinephrine transporter and dopamine transporter. In addition, its mechanism of action may involve the presynaptic release of noradrenaline and dopamine.
- The non-competitive antagonist of nicotinic cholinergic receptors. It is believed that this could contribute to its antidepressant effects, as well as its efficacy as a drug for smoking cessation.
Interactions of Wellbutrin with other medicines or diseases.
You should not take bupropion if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- Epilepsy or a seizure disorder.
- Eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
- If you have recently stopped using alcohol, or a medication for seizures, or a sedative (Valium, Nembutal, Seconal, Solfoton, and others).
- If you have used mono amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), in an antidepressant treatment, on the last fourteen days. The inhibitors of MAO include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
- Do not take bupropion to treat more than one condition at the same time. For example, if you take Wellbutrin for depression, do not take another medication containing bupropion to help you stop smoking.
Side effects of Wellbutrin (bupropion)
Bupropion was introduced in the United States in 1985, and in 1986 it was withdrawn from the market due to a high incidence of seizures. Finally, in the decade of the 1990s, the FDA approved its use again, setting a maximum dose of 450 mg per day.
Some important recommendations:
Seek emergency medical attention if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction:
Hives, itching or rash.
Fever, swollen glands, joint pain, shortness of breath.
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
If you have any of the following symptoms, stop taking Wellbutrin and call your doctor immediately:
Changes in temper or behavior;
feeling anxious, restless, or depressed;
impulsive or risky behavior;
confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, panic;
thinking of suicide or wanting to hurt yourself;
seizures;
manic episodes, fast thoughts, increased energy, unusual behavior of risk, extreme happiness, irritability, or to be more talkative than usual;
severe sleep problems;
blurred vision, tunnel vision, eyes pain, swelling of the eyes, or seeing halos around lights;
fast heartbeat (palpitations);
severe skin reaction, fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning sensation in your eyes, Pain in the skin followed by a red or purple rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) causing blistering and peeling.
Other common side effects may include:
dry mouth, congested nose;
nausea, vomiting, constipation;
feeling anxious, nervous, or shaky;
a headache, dizziness;
trouble for sleeping (sleeplessness);
intense sweating;
joint pain;
weight loss;
in rare cases: sexual dysfunction;
- Infrequently: temporary hair loss.
Is hair loss a side effect of Wellbutrin?
According to the manufacturer, Hair Loss is an infrequent adverse effect in patients taking Wellbutrin. Per GlaxoSmithKline statistics, only 0.1% of patients taking Wellbutrin suffer from Hair Loss.
why does wellbutrin cause hair loss?
It has been associated Wellbutrin with transitory hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, which is not alopecia.
Two mechanisms of action relate to this. Usually 10 to 20% of the hair follicles are in the resting phase. Wellbutrin increases this follicle rate at rest, producing a progressive thinning of the hair.
On the other hand, by its discreet vasoconstrictor effect, which decreases the blood flow to the hair follicle, also producing thinning hair. However, this is not well supported from the scientific point of view.
Does Wellbutrin cause hair loss?
For a long time, antidepressants have been associated with hair loss. In particular, the tricyclic components inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin and dopamine have been associated with hair loss. On the other hand, the antidepressants of the type mono amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), have not been associated with the appearance of alopecia.
There are many controversies regarding the association between hair loss and the use of tricyclic antidepressants. Some scholars associate more hair loss with stress generated himself, in the depressed patient.
That is precisely why it is being associated with Wellbutrin lately with hair growth. By decreasing the causes of stress and depression allows the hair follicles to resume their normal function from the resting phase, to the phase of active growth of hair. This effect can be helped with the simultaneous use of natural dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers.
But, please do not forget to consult your doctor before taking any natural medication or not, in association with Wellbutrin.
How to stop hair loss from Wellbutrin?
The first thing to do, if hair loss is abundant or causes for concern to the patient, is to consult your doctor. One of the obvious actions to take is to decrease the administration of the drug progressively, lowering the dose and watching if hair loss stops. Another action to take, always under medical supervision, is to administer some type of natural dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocker.
However, by achieving the right dose, and decreasing the symptoms of depression, the hair will begin to stop falling, and will even grow again.
Final Verdict
The use, under medical supervision, of Wellbutrin is indicated for the treatment of major depressions, social anxiety or disorders associated with seasonal changes, especially in fall and winter.
Also, its active ingredient, bupropion, is used at low doses in the treatment to quit smoking.
Like any medicine that acts on the nervous system, it has many adverse effects, which must be controlled, although in some cases it should be discontinued when the patient has some major complications.
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