Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Extended-release bupropion: an antidepressant with a broad spectrum of therapeutic activity?

Clayton AH

Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Sciences, University of Virginia, 2955 Ivy Road, Northridge Suite 210, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. ahc8v@virginia.edu

Bupropion, a noradrenaline and dopamine re-uptake inhibitor, has long been indicated for the treatment of depression. Recent studies have demonstrated additional benefits in depression, including: prevention of the recurrence of seasonal affective disorder in depressive subtypes with decreased energy, pleasure and interest; in major depression with concomitant anxiety; in elderly depressed patients; for non-response to initial serotonin re-uptake inhibitor therapy or augmentation of partial efficacy with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors; and in bipolar depression. Efficacy in other conditions has also been shown in studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nicotine dependence, obesity and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Thus, bupropion has proven effective across a broad spectrum of depressive conditions, subtypes and comorbidities.

Published 20 February 2007 in Expert Opin Pharmacother, 8(4): 457-66.
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