Bupropion is used in the treatment of depression, as well as for seasonal affective disorder and smoking cessation. Bupropion is an antidepressant; it increases certain types of activity in the brain. Bupropion is available as a tablet and a sustained-release or extended-release tablet to take by mouth. Bupropion has been examined for effectiveness in the management of cancer-related fatigue and hot flashes.
Cullum, J. L., Wojciechowski, A. E., Pelletier, G., & Simpson, J. S. (2004). Bupropion sustained release treatment reduces fatigue in cancer patients. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 49, 139–144.
Bupropion sustained release was initiated at 100 or 150 mg daily, and the dose was adjusted according to the patient’s response. The final bupropion dose ranged from 100 to 300 mg daily. The modal bupropion dose was 150 mg, and patients were treated and observed for as long as two years.
The study was a single-arm, open-label, case series.
Fatigue was evaluated on the Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) Scale by a clinician not directly involved in the trial.
Cost is incurred to acquire the drug.
Moss, E. L., Simpson, J. S., Pelletier, G., & Forsyth, P. (2006). An open-label study of the effects of bupropion SR on fatigue, depression and quality of life of mixed-site cancer patients and their partners. Psycho-Oncology, 15, 259–267.
Bupropion sustained release (SR) was administered for four weeks at the maximum tolerated dose. Dosing was initiated at 100 mg in the morning and adjusted in increments of 50 mg, based on tolerability and effects, to a maximum of 300 mg daily. It was given in divided doses of either 100 or 150 mg. The dose was not increased if the maximum tolerable dose had been identified. The dose was 300 mg per day until the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) score had dropped to less than 50% of the initial value. Following dose escalation, a four-week, fixed-dose phase occurred at the maximum tolerated dose, during which efficacy and safety measures were assessed every two weeks. The average dose for bupropion SR was 214 mg per day (standard deviation = 80 mg).
The study used a prospective, variable dose, open-label trial design.