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What Is Budeprion XL Used For?

What is Budeprion XL used for? Although the drug is approved for treating depression and seasonal affective disorder, it can also be used in an off-label fashion to treat ADHD and help people quit smoking. The medication blocks the reuptake of certain chemicals in the brain, which alleviates symptoms of depression and similar conditions. Budeprion XL is used for adults only and has not been approved for children.

 

What Is Budeprion XL Used For? -- An Overview

Budeprion XL® (Wellbutrin XL®) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression). It is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
 

Budeprion XL Uses for Depression

Depression is more than just "feeling sad.
 " Common symptoms of depression include:
 
  • Changes in sleep (sleeping too much or not enough)
  • Eating too much or too little (and weight gain or weight loss)
  • Having little interest in things that you used to enjoy
  • Physical pain
  • Feeling hopeless or worthless
  • Suicidal thoughts.
     
Budeprion XL has been proven in large clinical trials to help adults with depression. However, keep in mind that many antidepressants (including Budeprion XL) can take several weeks to begin working. Sometimes, other people will notice an improvement in your symptoms before you do. Often, the physical symptoms of depression (such as pain or changes in sleep) will improve first -- sometimes within the first few weeks of treatment. It can take several weeks before significant changes in mood occur, so it is important to give Budeprion XL a chance to work before becoming discouraged.
 
Counseling and therapy (see Psychotherapy for Depression) are often used along with antidepressant medication to treat depression. Ask your healthcare provider if either of these would be good options for you (see Depression Treatment).
 
(What Is Budeprion XL Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;