bupropion vs nortriptyline
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Side-by-side comparison of bupropion and nortriptyline. 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
( 7.1 ) Drugs metabolized by CYP2D6: Bupropion inhibits CYP2D6 and can increase concentrations of: antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), and Type 1C antiarrhythmics (e.g., propafenone, flecainide). Such drugs include certain antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, and thioridazine), beta-blockers...
Wellbutrin, Zyban
Pamelor
Bupropion is a medicine used to treat depression and prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It can help improve your mood and energy levels.
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a medicine used to treat depression. It can help improve your mood.
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.
Nortriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression. It may work better for some types of depression than others. Talk to your doctor to see if nortriptyline is right for you.
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.
Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). It works by increasing the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood.
- • Dry mouth
- • Nausea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Dizziness
- • Sore throat
- • Dry mouth
- • Blurred vision
- • Constipation
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- Completed Suicide 4,408
- Toxicity To Various Agents 3,113
- Fatigue 2,665
- Nausea 2,309
- Headache 2,218
- Pain 695
- Headache 679
- Fatigue 593
- Nausea 513
- Hyperhidrosis 485
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.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Nortriptyline may not be safe for your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This bupropion vs nortriptyline Comparison
bupropion is classified in the Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI) drug class, while nortriptyline sits within the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) 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 nortriptyline has 2,965. 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 blocks the enzyme that clears nortriptyline from your body, which can cause nortriptyline levels to rise.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for bupropion or nortriptyline.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.