Aplenzin

What is Aplenzin?

Aplenzin is an antidepressant used for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Aplenzin is not a treatment for quitting smoking, but it does contain the same active ingredient (bupropion) as other drugs that are.

What is the most important information I should know about Aplenzin?

Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and Other Serious Mental Illnesses, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions

This section of the Medication Guide is only about the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions with antidepressant medicines.

What is the most important information I should know about antidepressant medicines, depression and other serious mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts or actions?

1. Antidepressant medicines may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment.

2. Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. Some people may have a particularly high risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions. These include people who have (or have a family history of) bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions.

3. How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions in myself or a family member?

4. Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed.

5. Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings.

6. Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled. Call the healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns about symptoms.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

• thoughts about suicide or dying
• attempts to commit suicide
• new or worse depression
• new or worse anxiety
• feeling very agitated or restless
• panic attacks
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• new or worse irritability
• acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
• acting on dangerous impulses
• an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
• other unusual changes in behavior or mood

What else do I need to know about antidepressant medicines?

• Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.
• Antidepressants are medicines used to treat depression and other illnesses. It is important to discuss all the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. Patients and their families or other caregivers should discuss all treatment choices with the healthcare provider, not just the use of antidepressants.
• Antidepressant medicines have other side effects. Talk to the healthcare provider about the side effects of the medicine prescribed for you or your family member.
• Antidepressant medicines can interact with other medicines. Know all of the medicines that you or your family member takes. Keep a list of all medicines to show the healthcare provider. Do not start new medicines without first checking with your healthcare provider.

It is not known if Aplenzin is safe and effective in children under the age of 18.

Quitting Smoking, Quit-Smoking Medications, Changes in Thinking and Behavior, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions

This section of the Medication Guide is only about the risk of changes in thinking and behavior, depression and suicidal thoughts or actions with drugs used to quit smoking. Although Aplenzin is not a treatment for quitting smoking, it contains the same active ingredient (bupropion) as Zyban which is used to help patients quit smoking.

Talk to your healthcare provider or your family member’s healthcare provider about:

• all risks and benefits of quit-smoking medicines.
• all treatment choices for quitting smoking.

When you try to quit smoking, with or without bupropion you may have symptoms that may be due to nicotine withdrawal, including:

• urge to smoke
• depressed mood
• trouble sleeping
• irritability
• frustration
• anger
• feeling anxious
• difficulty concentrating
• restlessness
• decreased heart rate
• increased appetite
• weight gain

Some people have even experienced suicidal thoughts when trying to quit smoking without medication. Sometimes quitting smoking can lead to worsening of mental health problems that you already have, such as depression.

Some people have had serious side effects while taking bupropion to help them quit smoking, including:

New or worse mental health problems, such as changes in behavior or thinking, aggression, hostility, agitation, depression, or suicidal thoughts or actions. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking bupropion, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment, or after stopping bupropion. These symptoms happened more often in people who had a history of mental health problems before taking bupropion than in people without a history of mental health problems.

Stop taking Aplenzin and call your healthcare provider right away if you, your family, or caregiver notice any of these symptoms. Work with your healthcare provider to decide whether you should continue to take Aplenzin. In many people, these symptoms went away after stopping Aplenzin, but in some people symptoms continued after stopping Aplenzin. It is important for you to follow up with your healthcare provider until your symptoms go away. Before taking Aplenzin, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had depression or other mental health problems. You should also tell your healthcare provider about any symptoms you had during other times you tried to quit smoking, with or without bupropion.

What Other Important Information Should I Know About Aplenzin?

• Seizures: There is a chance of having a seizure (convulsion, fit) with Aplenzin, especially in people:
  • with certain medical problems
  • who take certain medicines.

The chance of having seizures increases with higher doses of Aplenzin. For more information, see the sections “Who should not take Aplenzin?” and “What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Aplenzin?” Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions and all the medicines you take. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking Aplenzin unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them.

If you have a seizure while taking Aplenzin, stop taking the tablets and call your healthcare provider right away. Do not take Aplenzin again if you have a seizure.

• High blood pressure (hypertension). Some people get high blood pressure that can be severe, while taking Aplenzin. The chance of high blood pressure may be higher if you also use nicotine replacement therapy (such as a nicotine patch) to help you stop smoking (see the section of this Medication Guide called “How should I take Aplenzin?”).
• Manic episodes. Some people may have periods of mania while taking Aplenzin, including:
  • Greatly increased energy
  • Severe trouble sleeping
  • Racing thoughts
  • Reckless behavior
  • Unusually grand ideas
  • Excessive happiness or irritability
  • Talking more or faster than usual

If you have any of the above symptoms of mania, call your healthcare provider.

• Unusual thoughts or behaviors. Some patients have unusual thoughts or behaviors while taking Aplenzin, including delusions (believe you are someone else), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), paranoia (feeling that people are against you), or feeling confused. If this happens to you, call your healthcare provider.
• Visual problems.
  • eye pain
  • changes in vision
  • swelling or redness in or around the eye
    
    Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are.
• Severe allergic reactions. Some people can have severe allergic reactions to Aplenzin. Stop taking Aplenzin and call your healthcare provider right away if you get a rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around the eyes, swelling of the lips or tongue, chest pain, or have trouble breathing. These could be signs of a serious allergic reaction.

Who should not take Aplenzin?

Do not take Aplenzin if you:

• have or had a seizure disorder or epilepsy.
• have or had an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
• are taking any other medicines that contain bupropion, including Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban, or Forfivo XL. Bupropion is the same active ingredient that is in Aplenzin.
• drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or take medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti-seizure medicines, and you stop taking them all of a sudden.
• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
  • do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Aplenzin unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • do not start Aplenzin if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
• are allergic to the active ingredient in Aplenzin, bupropion, or to any of the inactive ingredients. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Aplenzin.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Aplenzin?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or other mental health problems. You should also tell your healthcare provider about any symptoms you had during other times you tried to quit smoking, with or without Aplenzin. See “Quitting Smoking, Quit-Smoking Medications, Changes in Thinking and Behavior, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions.”

• Tell your healthcare provider about your other medical conditions, including if you:
  • have liver problems, especially cirrhosis of the liver.
  • have kidney problems.
  • have, or have had, an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
  • have had a head injury.
  • have had a seizure (convulsion, fit).
  • have a tumor in your nervous system (brain or spine).
  • have had a heart attack, heart problems, or high blood pressure.
  • are a diabetic taking insulin or other medicines to control your blood sugar.
  • drink alcohol.
  • abuse prescription medicines or street drugs.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risk to your unborn baby if you take Aplenzin during pregnancy.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with Aplenzin.

If you become pregnant during treatment with Aplenzin, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed during treatment with Aplenzin. Aplenzin passes into your milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Aplenzin.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Many medicines increase your chances of having seizures or other serious side effects if you take them while you are taking Aplenzin.

How should I take Aplenzin?

• Take Aplenzin exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not change your dose or stop taking Aplenzin without talking with your healthcare provider first.
• Aplenzin is usually taken for 7 to 12 weeks. Your healthcare provider may decide to prescribe Aplenzin for longer than 12 weeks to help you stop smoking. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
• Swallow Aplenzin tablets whole. Do not chew, cut, or crush Aplenzin tablets. If you do, the medicine will be released into your body too quickly. If this happens you may be more likely to get side effects including seizures. Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow tablets.
• Aplenzin tablets may have an odor. This is normal.
• Take your doses of Aplenzin at least 8 hours apart.
• You may take Aplenzin with or without food.
• If you miss a dose, do not take an extra dose to make up for the dose you missed. Wait and take your next dose at the regular time. This is very important. Too much Aplenzin can increase your chance of having a seizure.
• If you take too much Aplenzin, or overdose, call your local emergency room or poison control center right away.
• Do not take any other medicines while taking Aplenzin unless your healthcare provider has told you it is okay.

What should I avoid while taking Aplenzin?

• Limit or avoid using alcohol during treatment with Aplenzin. If you usually drink a lot of alcohol, talk with your healthcare provider before suddenly stopping. If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, you may increase your chance of having seizures.
• Do not drive a car or use heavy machinery until you know how Aplenzin affects you. Aplenzin can affect your ability to do these things safely.

What are the possible side effects of Aplenzin?

Aplenzin can cause serious side effects. See the sections at the beginning of this Medication Guide for information about serious side effects of Aplenzin.

The most common side effects of Aplenzin include:

• trouble sleeping
• stuffy nose
• dry mouth
• dizziness
• feeling anxious
• nausea
• constipation
• joint aches

If you have trouble sleeping, do not take Aplenzin too close to bedtime.

Tell your healthcare provider right away about any side effects that bother you.

These are not all the possible side effects of Aplenzin. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

You may also report side effects to Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576.

General information about the safe and effective use of Aplenzin

• Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use Aplenzin for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Aplenzin to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
• If you take a urine drug screening test, Aplenzin may make the test result positive for amphetamines. If you tell the person giving you the drug screening test that you are taking Aplenzin, they can do a more specific drug screening test that should not have this problem.

This Medication Guide summarizes important information about Aplenzin. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about Aplenzin that is written for health professionals.

For more information about Aplenzin, go to www.APLENZIN.com or call 1-800-321-4576.

How should I store Aplenzin?

• Store Aplenzin at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C).

Keep Aplenzin and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Aplenzin?

Active ingredient: bupropion hydrobromide

Inactive ingredients: ethylcellulose, glyceryl behenate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, povidone, and dibutyl sebacate. Carnauba wax is included in the 174 mg and 348 mg strengths. The tablets are printed with edible black ink.