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Wellbutrin SR and Alcohol

If you decide to drink alcohol while taking Wellbutrin SR, you should drink in moderation -- and only after you understand the effects that Wellbutrin SR has on your body. Moderate drinking means one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. A few examples of drinks that count as one alcoholic drink include 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits. You should talk with your healthcare provider about Wellbutrin SR and alcohol, as he or she understands your situation best.

 

Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Wellbutrin SR?

Sometimes people are warned to avoid alcohol while taking Wellbutrin SR® (bupropion SR). This is because alcohol and medicines like Wellbutrin SR act upon similar chemicals in the brain. So the concern is that Wellbutrin SR will increase the effects of alcohol -- whether this is increasing symptoms of depression or affecting motor skills.
 
Practically, when many healthcare providers are asked whether or not it is okay to drink alcohol while taking Wellbutrin SR, they recommend that if a person chooses to drink, he or she should drink only light-to-moderate amounts. In addition, a person who drinks while taking Wellbutrin SR should drink only after he or she understands the effects that Wellbutrin SR and other medicines have on his or her body.
 

Wellbutrin SR and Alcohol: What Is Moderate Drinking?

When healthcare providers recommend moderate alcohol drinking, they mean one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Because the alcohol content in drinks varies, what counts as one drink also varies. Following are some examples of drinks that count as one alcoholic drink:
 
  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.
     
(Wellbutrin SR and Alcohol Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;