Expanding the indications of bupropion: a brief update

Authors

  • Leonardo Caixeta Psiquiatra, Professor Titular de Neuropsiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG; Diretor do CERNE, Centro de Referência em Neuropsiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5736-9058
  • Ciro Mendes Vargas Psiquiatra, Professor de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1904-5888
  • Yanley Lucio Nogueira Psiquiatra, Pós-Graduação, Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1682-2714
  • Arthur Rabahi Psiquiatra, Pós-Graduação, Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4908-2776
  • Marcos Paulo do Carmo Assunção Graduando, Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3197-5957
  • Victor de Melo Caixeta Psiquiatra, Professor, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2025.v15.1515

Keywords:

bupropion, pharmacology, psychopathology, inflammatory depression, off-label use, inflamation, depression

Abstract

Introduction: The use of bupropion has expanded, and emerging indications have sparked interest in the molecule for depressive endophenotypes as well as conditions beyond depression. Accordingly, the aim of this work was to provide an update on the clinical pharmacology of bupropion, including emerging therapeutic indications. Methodology: We conducted a brief review and update on various aspects of bupropion, from components of its pharmacological action, its usefulness in different pharmacological combinations, to new indications in modern psychiatry. Results: Bupropion has very specific niche indications, not limited to mood disorders, such as smoking, pseudobulbar affect, and apathy. Positive therapeutic results have also been observed in bipolar depression, geriatric depression, seasonal depression, social anxiety disorder, and dysthymia. The combination of bupropion with dextromethorphan may be useful in the treatment of pseudobulbar affect and (secondary) depression and agitation in Alzheimer's disease. It should rarely be used as monotherapy, presenting value in pharmacological combinations with a well-defined rationale. Conclusion: Bupropion's mode of action has opened a new front for treating depression beyond serotonergic mechanisms. Despite being on the market for a long time, bupropion maintains its usefulness in antidepressant prescriptions and has sparked new indications in different areas of psychiatry, particularly in combination with other drugs.

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Author Biographies

Leonardo Caixeta, Psiquiatra, Professor Titular de Neuropsiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG; Diretor do CERNE, Centro de Referência em Neuropsiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

http://lattes.cnpq.br/9536747113677509

Ciro Mendes Vargas, Psiquiatra, Professor de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

http://lattes.cnpq.br/2356866259871576

 

Yanley Lucio Nogueira, Psiquiatra, Pós-Graduação, Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

http://lattes.cnpq.br/1045762578931468

Arthur Rabahi, Psiquiatra, Pós-Graduação, Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

http://lattes.cnpq.br/2842522381289079

Marcos Paulo do Carmo Assunção, Graduando, Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

http://lattes.cnpq.br/9655890112377575

 

 

Victor de Melo Caixeta, Psiquiatra, Professor, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

http://lattes.cnpq.br/9968280872364556

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2433-3128

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Published

2025-12-13

How to Cite

1.
Caixeta L, Vargas CM, Nogueira YL, Rabahi A, Assunção MP do C, Caixeta V de M. Expanding the indications of bupropion: a brief update. Debates Psiquiatr. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 13 [cited 2026 Apr. 30];15:1-12, e1515. Available from: https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/1515

Issue

Vol. 15 (2025)

Section

Update Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Leonardo Ferreira Caixeta, Ciro Mendes Vargas, Yanley Lucio Nogueira, Arthur Rabahi, Marcos Paulo do Carmo Assunção, Victor de Melo Caixeta

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