What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Bupropion and carbamazepine
Bupropion's FDA label of June 21, 2024 names carbamazepine in its drug interactions section, and carbamazepine's label names bupropion too. The bupropion label: “CYP2B6 inducers: Dose increase may be necessary if coadministered with CYP2B6 inducers based on clinical exposure, but should not exceed the maximum dose.”
Check it at the source: the bupropion FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 21, 2024); the carbamazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 20, 2026, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation).
What does the bupropion label say about carbamazepine?
Bupropion label, drug interactionsCYP2B6 inducers: Dose increase may be necessary if coadministered with CYP2B6 inducers (e.g., ritonavir, lopinavir, efavirenz, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin) based on clinical response, but should not exceed the maximum recommended dose.
Aplenzin label (Bausch Health US, LLC, March 4, 2026), drug interactionsCYP2B6 inducers: Dose increase may be necessary if coadministered with CYP2B6 inducers (e.g., ritonavir, lopinavir, efavirenz, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin) based on clinical exposure, but should not exceed the maximum dose.
Source: FDA drug label (Aplenzin, NDA022108), Bausch Health US, LLC, effective March 4, 2026 (SPL set 6494d2d9-0ce4-4126-b1c7-49684395942b), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Wellbutrin Xl, NDA021515), Bausch Health US LLC, effective February 10, 2026 (SPL set a435da9d-f6e8-4ddc-897d-8cd2bf777b21), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Bupropion Hcl Er (Xl), NDA022497), Lifestar Pharma LLC, effective February 4, 2026 (SPL set df959e1b-3f6d-42cf-8521-fe03b5a4ceb8), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (BUPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE), Epic Pharma LLC, effective June 21, 2024 (SPL set 9fb44e96-6160-4a4a-90cb-91764c0dcd89), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the carbamazepine label say about bupropion?
Carbamazepine label, drug interactionsIn addition, Tegretol causes, or would be expected to cause, decreased levels of the following drugs, for which monitoring of concentrations or dosage adjustment may be necessary: acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphone, bupropion, citalopram, clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone, dexamethasone), cyclosporine, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, eslicarbazepine, ethosuximide, everolimus, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam, olanzapine, oral and other hormonal contraceptives, oxcarbazepine, paliperidone, phensuximide …
Carbatrol label (Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., August 17, 2026), drug interactionsAcetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphine, apixaban (6), bupropion, buspirone, citalopram, clobazam, clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone, dexamethasone), cyclosporin, dabigatran (6), delavirdine, desipramine, diazepam, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, edoxaban (6), eslicarbazepine, ethosuximide, everolimus, felbamate, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, lorazepam, methadone, methsuximide, midazolam, mirtazapine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, olanzapine, oral and other hormonal contraceptives (2), oxcarbazepine, paliperidone, phenytoin (3), praziquantel, protease …
Equetro label (Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC, August 19, 2025), drug interactionsDrugs metabolized by CYP3A4 or CYP1A2 include the following: Acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphone, bupropion, buspirone, citalopram, clobazam, clonazepam, clozapine, cyclosporin, delavirdine, desipramine, diazepam, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, ethosuximide, everolimus, felbamate, glucocorticoids, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, lorazepam, methadone, methsuxamide, mianserin, midazolam, mirtazapine, nefazodone, olanzapine, oral and other hormonal contraceptives, oxcarbazepine, paliperidone, phenytoin, praziquantel, quetiapine, risperidone, sertraline, sirolimus, tadalafil …
Source: FDA drug label (Carbatrol, NDA020712), Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., effective August 17, 2026 (SPL set bc03e499-5bac-4293-bff4-6864153a624d), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Equetro, NDA021710), Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC, effective August 19, 2025 (SPL set be478f3c-40f6-47cc-8ab9-f420a9372b1c), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Tegretol), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective August 20, 2026 (SPL set 8d409411-aa9f-4f3a-a52c-fbcb0c3ec053), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Bupropion | Carbamazepine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression, Quitting smoking | Bipolar disorder, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0785 per tablet 150 mg tablet | $0.119 per tablet 200 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once