Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Inform patients, their families, and their caregivers about the benefits and risks associated with treatment with bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) and counsel them in its appropriate use.

A patient Medication Guide about “Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and Other Serious Mental Illnesses, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions,” “Quitting Smoking, Quit-Smoking Medications, Changes in Thinking and Behavior, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions,” and “What Other Important Information Should I Know About Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets (XL)?” is available for bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL). Instruct patients, their families, and their caregivers to read the Medication Guide and assist them in understanding its contents. Patients should be given the opportunity to discuss the contents of the Medication Guide and to obtain answers to any questions they may have. The complete text of the Medication Guide is reprinted at the end of this document.

Advise patients regarding the following issues and to alert their prescriber if these occur while taking bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL).

Suicidal Thoughts and BehaviorsInstruct patients, their families, and/or their caregivers to be alert to the emergence of anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, mania, other unusual changes in behavior, worsening of depression, and suicidal ideation, especially early during antidepressant treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Advise families and caregivers of patients to observe for the emergence of such symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or health professional, especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Symptoms such as these may be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior and indicate a need for very close monitoring and possibly changes in the medication. 

NeuropsychiatricAdverse Eventsand Suicide Risk in Smoking Cessation TreatmentAlthough bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) are not indicated for smoking cessation treatment, it contains the same active ingredient as ZYBAN ®which is approved for this use. Inform patients that some patients have experienced changes in mood (including depression and mania), psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, aggression, hostility, agitation, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide when attempting to quit smoking while taking bupropion. Instruct patients to discontinue bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) and contact a healthcare professional if they experience such symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2) and Adverse Reactions ( 6.2)] . 

Severe Allergic ReactionsEducate patients on the symptoms of hypersensitivity and to discontinue bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) if they have a severe allergic reaction. 

SeizureInstruct patients to discontinue and not restart bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) if they experience a seizure while on treatment. Advise patients that the excessive use or the abrupt discontinuation of alcohol, benzodiazepines, antiepileptic drugs, or sedatives/hypnotics can increase the risk of seizure. Advise patients to minimize or avoid the use of alcohol. 

Angle-Closure GlaucomaPatients should be advised that taking bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) can cause mild pupillary dilation, which in susceptible individuals, can lead to an episode of angle-closure glaucoma. Pre-existing glaucoma is almost always open-angle glaucoma because angle-closure glaucoma, when diagnosed, can be treated definitively with iridectomy. Open-angle glaucoma is not a risk factor for angle-closure glaucoma. Patients may wish to be examined to determine whether they are susceptible to angle-closure, and have a prophylactic procedure (e.g., iridectomy), if they are susceptible [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7)]. 

Bupropion-Containing ProductsEducate patients that bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) contain the same active ingredient (bupropion) found in ZYBAN ®, which is used as an aid to smoking cessation treatment, and that bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) should not be used in combination with ZYBAN ®or any other medications that contain bupropion hydrochloride (such as WELLBUTRIN SR ®, the sustained-release formulation, WELLBUTRIN ®, the immediate-release formulation, and APLENZIN ®, a bupropion hydrobromide formulation). In addition, there are a number of generic bupropion HCl products for the immediate, sustained, and extended-release formulations. 

Potentialfor Cognitive and Motor ImpairmentAdvise patients that any CNS-active drug like bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) may impair their ability to perform tasks requiring judgment or motor and cognitive skills. Advise patients that until they are reasonably certain that bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) do not adversely affect their performance, they should refrain from driving an automobile or operating complex, hazardous machinery. Bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) treatment may lead to decreased alcohol tolerance. 

ConcomitantMedicationsCounsel patients to notify their healthcare provider if they are taking or plan to take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, because bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) and other drugs may affect each other’s metabolism. 

PregnancyAdvise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy with bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL). Advise patients that there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) during pregnancy [seeUse in Specific Populations ( 8.1)] . 

AdministrationInformationInstruct patients to swallow bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) whole so that the release rate is not altered. Instruct patients if they miss a dose, not to take an extra tablet to make up for the missed dose and to take the next tablet at the regular time because of the dose-related risk of seizure. Instruct patients that bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) should be swallowed whole and not crushed, divided, or chewed. Bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) should be administered in the morning and may be taken with or without food. 

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Dispense with Medication Guide available at: www.tevausa.com/medguides

Relabeled and Repackaged by:

Enovachem PHARMACEUTICALS

Torrance, CA 90501