Bupropion Hcl
Brand names: Bupropion Hcl, Bupropion Xl, Wellbutrin Sr, Wellbutrin Xl, Bupropion Hcl Sr, Forfivo Xl
Part of: Antidepressants
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 8,041,943
- Medicare drug cost
- $208.6M
- Average cost per prescription
- $25.93
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 166,784
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Bupropion hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). The efficacy of bupropion hydrochloride tablets in the treatment of a major depressive episode was established in two 4-week controlled inpatient trials and one 6-week controlled outpatient trial of adult subjects with MDD.
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated January 2025). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS SUICIDALITY AND ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term trials. These trials did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in subjects over age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressant use in subjects aged 65 and older. In patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy, monitor closely for worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Advise families and caregivers of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber.
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Family Medicine 26.5%
- Psychiatry 18.8%
- Internal Medicine 17.8%
- Nurse Practitioners 13.5%
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners 12.2%
- Physician Assistants 5.8%
- Geriatric Medicine 1.0%
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 0.8%
- General Practice 0.6%
- Neurology 0.6%
- Hospitalist 0.2%
- Pulmonology 0.2%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions rose 24% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Nebraska +39%
- Montana +37%
- Arkansas +37%
- Wisconsin +36%
- Kansas +36%
- Puerto Rico (smallest change) +5%
- Massachusetts (smallest change) +11%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 4 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Actavis Pharma, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 150 mg | white round tablet, 8 mm | WPI 3331 |
Direct_rx
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 100 mg | purple round tablet, 9 mm | APO BUP 100 |
Driectrx
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 100 mg | red round tablet, 9 mm | V148 |
Lifestar Pharma LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 450 mg | white oval tablet, 19 mm | LS 830 |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
No industry payments to clinicians named this drug in 2025.
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
2 recalls since 2020
- Dec 2022 · Amerisource Health Services LLC · Class II
Failed Impurities/Degradation Specifications - Mar 2021 · Cardinal Health Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations: Intermittent exposure to temperature excursion during storage.
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.