What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Bupropion and venlafaxine
Bupropion's FDA label of June 21, 2024 names venlafaxine in its drug interactions section; the venlafaxine labels PlainMeds reads (3) do not name bupropion. The bupropion label: “Drugs metabolized by CYP2D6: Bupropion inhibits CYP2D6 and can increase concentrations of: antidepressants, antipsychotics, beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), and Type 1C antiarrhythmics.”
Check it at the source: the bupropion FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 21, 2024); the venlafaxine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 15, 2023, Viatris Specialty LLC).
What does the bupropion label say about venlafaxine?
Bupropion label, drug interactionsDrugs 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).
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 venlafaxine label say about bupropion?
Venlafaxine's label (effective August 15, 2023) and its 2 other brand-application labels do not name bupropion in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Effexor XR), NDA020699 (Upjohn), as published by Viatris Specialty LLC, effective August 15, 2023 (SPL set c848a5d8-ba94-4c84-80e3-0bf35fb8e32e), 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 | Venlafaxine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression, Quitting smoking | Depression, Anxiety |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0785 per tablet 150 mg tablet | $0.0799 per capsule 75 mg capsule |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
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