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Budeprion XL Dosing

The Budeprion XL dosing guidelines that your healthcare provider will follow depend on your age, existing medical conditions, and other medications you are taking. The recommended starting dose for treating depression is 150 mg a day. This dose can be increased slowly, but should not exceed 450 mg a day. When treating seasonal affective disorder, Budeprion XL dosing guidelines recommend 150 mg a day, beginning in autumn and ending in spring.

 

Budeprion XL Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of Budeprion XL® (Wellbutrin XL®) that your healthcare provider prescribes will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may currently be taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your Budeprion XL dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Budeprion XL Dosing for Depression

The recommended starting dose of Budeprion XL for depression is 150 mg, taken once daily in the morning. As soon as the fourth day, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to 300 mg a day. To help avoid seizures, the maximum recommended Budeprion XL dose is 450 mg a day. Also, your healthcare provider should increase your dose slowly.
 
For people with liver problems (such as liver failure or cirrhosis), the maximum Budeprion XL dosage is 100 mg, taken once daily, or 150 mg, taken every other day.
 

Budeprion XL Dosing for Seasonal Affective Disorder

When treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), Budeprion XL is taken only during the autumn and winter.
 You will likely start with Budeprion XL 150 mg, taken once daily in the morning in the autumn, before your symptoms of depression start. After one week, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to Budeprion XL 300 mg, taken once daily.
 
Budeprion XL is usually stopped in early spring. Your healthcare provider should taper your dose when stopping Budeprion XL. The dose should be reduced to 150 mg, taken once daily for two weeks, before stopping the medication altogether (see Stopping Wellbutrin XL).
 
(Budeprion XL Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;