Theophylline and Bupropion Interaction

Drug interaction information between Theophylline and Bupropion.

Theophylline and Bupropion have a documented moderate interaction in FDA labeling.

FDA drug labeling documents a moderate-severity interaction between Theophylline and Bupropion. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.

Drug A

Theophylline

Methylxanthine Bronchodilator

Drug B

Bupropion

Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI)

How They Interact

Both of these medicines can increase the risk of having a seizure. Taking them at the same time makes this risk even higher.

FDA Label Information

7.3 Drugs That Lower Seizure Threshold Use extreme caution when coadministering bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) with other drugs that lower the seizure threshold (e.g., other bupropion products, antipsychotics, antidepressants, theophylline, or systemic corticosteroids).

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPL severity band is on file for Theophylline + Bupropion?

Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair moderate. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.

Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?

Theophylline has 86 labeled pairs on file vs Bupropion's 35. In the moderate band specifically: Theophylline has 5 (also Clarithromycin, Febuxostat, Levofloxacin, Rifampin); Bupropion has 2 (also Isavuconazonium).

What mechanism field is on file for Theophylline and Bupropion?

Both of these medicines can increase the risk of having a seizure. Taking them at the same time makes this risk even higher.

Theophylline carries more major-labeled pairs than Bupropion

SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is moderate · classes on file: Theophylline (Methylxanthine Bronchodilator); Bupropion (Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor (NDRI)).

Theophylline has 27 major-labeled pairs vs Bupropion's 1. This page itself is in the moderate band, not the major band.

Theophylline

27 major · 5 moderate · 54 minor · 86 total

Bupropion

1 major · 2 moderate · 32 minor · 35 total

Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.