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bupropion vs deutetrabenazine

Side-by-side comparison of bupropion and deutetrabenazine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Concomitant use of strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, quinidine, bupropion) has been shown to increase the systemic exposure to the active dihydro-metabolites of deutetrabenazine by approximately 3-fold.

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to reduce your dose of deutetrabenazine to prevent it from reaching unsafe levels.

Drug Class
bupropion Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI)
deutetrabenazine VMAT2 Inhibitor
Type
bupropion Prescription
deutetrabenazine Prescription
Summary
bupropion

Bupropion is a medicine used to treat depression and prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It can help improve your mood and energy levels.

deutetrabenazine

Austedo and Austedo XR help control movements in adults with Huntington's disease or tardive dyskinesia. It works by changing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain.

What It Treats
bupropion

Bupropion is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), which can cause you to feel sad, lose interest in activities, and have trouble sleeping or eating. It is also used to prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the fall and winter.

deutetrabenazine

Austedo and Austedo XR are used to treat chorea (uncontrollable movements) caused by Huntington's disease. They also treat tardive dyskinesia, which causes repetitive, involuntary movements. These medicines can help you control these movements.

How It Works
bupropion

Bupropion works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain called norepinephrine and dopamine. It helps to increase the levels of these chemicals, which can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

deutetrabenazine

Austedo and Austedo XR affect a protein in the brain called VMAT2. This protein helps move certain chemicals like dopamine. By blocking VMAT2, Austedo and Austedo XR help regulate these chemicals, which reduces unwanted movements.

Common Side Effects
bupropion
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Dizziness
  • Sore throat
deutetrabenazine
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry mouth
  • Feeling tired
  • Runny nose
FAERS Reports
bupropion
  • Suicide 4,408
  • Poisoning 3,113
  • Tiredness 2,665
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,309
  • Headache 2,218
deutetrabenazine
  • Feeling sad or hopeless 463
  • Involuntary movements 403
  • Death 402
  • Shaking 330
  • Sleepiness 305
Serious Warnings
bupropion

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior.

deutetrabenazine

Austedo and Austedo XR can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts in people with Huntington's disease. If you have Huntington's disease, your doctor will monitor you closely for any changes in your mood or behavior. Tell your doctor right away if you feel depressed or have thoughts of harming yourself. You should not take Austedo or Austedo XR if you are suicidal or have untreated depression.

Pregnancy
bupropion

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is important to consider the risks of untreated depression during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.

deutetrabenazine

It is not known if Austedo or Austedo XR will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Austedo or Austedo XR passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This bupropion vs deutetrabenazine Comparison

bupropion is classified in the Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI) drug class, while deutetrabenazine sits within the VMAT2 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bupropion has 14,713 submissions while deutetrabenazine has 1,903. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to bupropion slows down the liver enzyme that clears deutetrabenazine from your body, causing the drug to build up.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between bupropion and deutetrabenazine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.