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Smoking cessation - Management
What important adverse effects are associated with bupropion, and how can they be reduced?
- The most common adverse effects of bupropion include dry mouth, gastrointestinal disturbances, insomnia (which can be reduced by not giving the last dose at bedtime), headache, impaired concentration, and dizziness.
- Seizures occur rarely in people taking bupropion (incidence of seizures is approximately 0.1%):
- Do not prescribe for people at increased risk of seizures (see Contraindications to bupropion).
- To minimize the risk, do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
- Stop bupropion if an individual has a seizure while taking it.
- Reports of seizures as an adverse effect of prescribed medication do not automatically imply that such events will be considered by the DVLA as provoked. The person may, therefore, be disallowed from driving a car or motorcycle for 1 year, or an LGV or PCV for 5 years.
In depth
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