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Drug Interactions between Ginkgo Biloba and Wellbutrin

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

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Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

buPROPion ginkgo

Applies to: Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Ginkgo Biloba (ginkgo)

GENERALLY AVOID: Certain preparations of ginkgo biloba have been reported to induce seizures. There may be a theoretical risk of increased seizure potential when used with other agents that can lower the seizure threshold such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants or anorectics), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, neuroleptic agents, central nervous system stimulants, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, other tricyclic compounds (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, phenothiazines), carbapenems, cholinergic agents, fluoroquinolones, interferons, chloroquine, mefloquine, lindane, and theophylline. Ginkgo products may contain varying amounts of 4'-O-methylpyridoxine (ginkgotoxin), a known neurotoxin found primarily in ginkgo biloba seeds but also detected in lesser amounts in the leaves. In vivo, 4'-O-methylpyridoxine competes with vitamin B6, which causes an indirect inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase and subsequent decrease in the formation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. There have been published case reports of generalized convulsions and vomiting within several hours after ingestion of large amounts of ginkgo nuts/seeds, including in young children and healthy individuals with no known personal or family history of epilepsy. Many more cases, including fatalities, occurred in Japan in the 1930s to the 1960s during a food shortage when ginkgo nuts served as an important source of food. Some investigators have suggested that the amounts of ginkgotoxin in commercial extracts are too low to exert a detrimental effect. Nevertheless, a case report describes two elderly, previously well controlled epileptic patients who presented with recurrent seizures within two weeks of initiating treatment with a ginkgo extract. Both patients remained seizure-free several months after discontinuing the extract, with no alteration to their anticonvulsant medications.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should consult a healthcare provider before taking any herbal or alternative medicine. Because of inconsistencies in formulation and potency of commercial herbal preparations, there is no way to verify without laboratory testing if and in what quantity 4'-O-methylpyridoxine may be present in a given ginkgo preparation. Patients treated with agents that can lower the seizure threshold should preferably avoid the use of products containing ginkgo biloba.

References

  1. Miller LG (1998) "Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions." Arch Intern Med, 158, p. 2200-11
  2. Gregory PJ (2001) "Seizure associated with Ginkgo biloba?." Ann Intern Med, 134, p. 344
  3. Miwa H, Iijima M, Tanaka S, Mizuno Y (2001) "Generalized convulsions after consuming a large amount of Gingko nuts." Epilepsia, 42, p. 280-1
  4. Kajiyama Y, Fujii K, Takeuchi H, Manabe Y (2002) "Ginkgo seed poisoning." Pediatrics, 109, p. 325-7
  5. Kupiec T, Raj V (2005) "Fatal seizures due to potential herb-drug interactions with Ginkgo biloba." J Anal Toxicol, 29, p. 755-8
  6. Harms SL, Garrard J, Schwinghammer P, Eberly LE, Chang Y, Leppik IE (2006) "Ginkgo biloba use in nursing home elderly with epilepsy or seizure disorder." Epilepsia, 47, p. 323-9
  7. Granger AS (2001) "Ginkgo biloba precipitating epileptic seizures." Age Ageing, 30, p. 523-5
  8. Spinella M (2001) "Herbal medicines and epilepsy: the potential for benefit and adverse effects." Epilepsy Behav, 2, p. 524-32
View all 8 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

buPROPion food

Applies to: Wellbutrin (bupropion)

GENERALLY AVOID: Excessive use or abrupt discontinuation of alcohol after chronic ingestion may precipitate seizures in patients receiving bupropion. Additionally, there have been rare postmarketing reports of adverse neuropsychiatric events or reduced alcohol tolerance in patients who drank alcohol during treatment with bupropion. According to one forensic report, a patient died after taking large doses of both bupropion and alcohol. It is uncertain whether a drug interaction was involved. Single-dose studies in healthy volunteers given bupropion and alcohol failed to demonstrate either a significant pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interaction.

MANAGEMENT: The manufacturer recommends that alcohol consumption be minimized or avoided during bupropion treatment. The use of bupropion is contraindicated in patients undergoing abrupt discontinuation of alcohol.

References

  1. Posner J, Bye A, Jeal S, Peck AW, Whiteman P (1984) "Alcohol and bupropion pharmacokinetics in healthy male volunteers." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 26, p. 627-30
  2. Ramcharitar V, Levine BS, Goldberger BA, Caplan YH (1992) "Bupropion and alcohol fatal intoxication: case report." Forensic Sci Int, 56, p. 151-6
  3. Hamilton MJ, Bush MS, Peck AW (1984) "The effect of bupropion, a new antidepressant drug, and alcohol and their interaction in man." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 27, p. 75-80
  4. (2001) "Product Information. Wellbutrin (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome
View all 4 references

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Moderate

buPROPion food

Applies to: Wellbutrin (bupropion)

MONITOR: Additive or synergistic effects on blood pressure may occur when bupropion is combined with sympathomimetic agents such as nasal decongestants, adrenergic bronchodilators, ophthalmic vasoconstrictors, and systemic vasopressors. Treatment with bupropion can result in elevated blood pressure and hypertension. In clinical practice, hypertension, in some cases severe and requiring acute treatment, has been observed in patients receiving bupropion alone and in combination with nicotine replacement therapy. These events have occurred in both patients with and without evidence of preexisting hypertension. Furthermore, postmarketing cases of hypertensive crisis have been reported during the initial titration phase with bupropion-naltrexone treatment.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised when bupropion is used with other drugs that increase dopaminergic or noradrenergic activity due to an increased risk of hypertension. Blood pressure and heart rate should be measured prior to initiating bupropion therapy and monitored at regular intervals consistent with usual clinical practice, particularly in patients with preexisting hypertension. Dose reduction or discontinuation of bupropion should be considered in patients who experience clinically significant and sustained increases in blood pressure or heart rate.

References

  1. (2022) "Product Information. Auvelity (bupropion-dextromethorphan)." Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., 1
  2. (2022) "Product Information. Zyban (bupropion)." GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd
  3. (2022) "Product Information. Wellbutrin XL (bupropion)." Bausch Health, Canada Inc.
  4. (2021) "Product Information. Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone)." Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
View all 4 references

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Moderate

buPROPion food

Applies to: Wellbutrin (bupropion)

MONITOR: The concomitant use of bupropion and nicotine replacement for smoking cessation may increase the risk of hypertension. In a clinical study (n=250), 6.1% of patients who used sustained-release bupropion with nicotine transdermal system developed treatment-emergent hypertension, compared to 2.5% of patients treated with bupropion alone, 1.6% treated with nicotine alone, and 3.1% treated with placebo. Three patients in the bupropion plus nicotine group and one patient in the nicotine-only group discontinued treatment due to hypertension. The majority had evidence of preexisting hypertension.

MANAGEMENT: Blood pressure monitoring is recommended for patients concomitantly using bupropion and nicotine replacement for smoking cessation.

References

  1. (2001) "Product Information. Zyban (bupropion)." Glaxo Wellcome

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Therapeutic duplication warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

See also

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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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