Expert: William J. Walker, Pharm.D. - 1/14/2004

Question
CAN YOU TAKE ALLEGRA-D WHILE TAKING WELLBUTRIN?
IS WELLBUTRIN CONSIDERED MOA-INHIBITOR?
WILL THIS CAUSE ANY SIDE EFFECTS WHILE TAKING BOTH MEDICATIONS?
THANK YOU
TRISHA

Answer
Bupropion is NOT an MAO inhibitor.    Bupropion IS an activating anti-depressant that is chemically similar to another agent called diethylpropion.   Diethypropion is also know as Tenuate.    A common dieting stimulant.    While bupropion is itself rather void in direct catecholamine properties it still has this chemical structure.    That is how it so activating as an anti-depressant.   Many people who take it actually get too wired.    

While it is NOT directly contra-indicated to take these two together I would advise against it for these reasons:

1.   Fexofenadine as Allegra-D is seldom a drug that a person cannot live without taking and it is available alone as Allegra without the D component.

2.   Bupropion (Wellbutrin) can create over stimulation in many people alone,  without any other drugs so avoiding other stimulants reduces the irritability.

3.   Bupropion carries a significant risk of inducing seizures and this is exacerbated by other stimulants.

4.   Cardiovascular health needs to be considered on a patient by patient basis whenever combining certain drugs that can lead to elevated heart rates and/or elevated blood pressures.

5.   Since bupropion treats disease that can be debilitating if the drug is abruptly stopped it is not a drug to take chances with.

My feeling is that there is no need for Allegra-D that can't still be served by Allegra alone.    If you find that you simply must have the Allegra then just eliminate the decongestant.   On the other hand if it has been determined that both of these drugs are absolutely necessary and the relative risks have been considered and measured then there is reason to recommend using sustained release versions of both agents which will reduce the impact considerably.