[Manic Shift Due to the Use of Bupropion in Bipolar Depression:Two Case Reports].

Abstract

Bupropion is a selective norepinephrine and dopamine reuptakeinhibitor. It is used in the treatment of depression and nicotineaddiction. When compared to the other antidepressants, bupropion hasa relatively lower risk of triggering shift to hypomania or mania in bipolardepression treatment. Here we report two cases of bipolar depressionpatients with manic shift when bupropion was used as an adjunct tomood stabilizer treatment. The first was a 43-year old female patient.Manic symptoms occurred after bupropion was added to lithium andquetiapine treatment for bipolar disorder (BD) depressive episode.Her manic symptoms regressed rapidly after discontinuing bupropiontreatment. The second patient was a 26-year old male on lithium andvalproate therapy with a BD diagnosis. After bupropion was added tohis treatment for depressive symptoms, psychotic mania ensued and hehad to be admitted to the hospital. Significant improvement was notedshortly after bupropion was discontinued and antipsychotic treatmentwas initiated.