Does Wellbutrin expire?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Does Wellbutrin expire?
Yes, Wellbutrin does expire and that’s exactly why it has an expiration date printed on its packaging. It is generally considered okay to use Wellbutrin if it has recently expired.
However, if your antidepressant expired over a year ago, no one would recommend taking it. This is because expired Wellbutrin starts to lose its potency and there’s no way to tell when the process begins. This is why you should avoid it (1).
It is also important to note that some medications can affect Wellbutrin’s metabolism or the drug’s mechanism, including other antidepressants (Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, etc), some other psychotropics, and even some OTC cold medications.
Taking expired Wellbutrin along with such medications can cause unexpected side effects.
It is also important to note that the active drug in Wellbutrin, bupropion, is also available in generic forms which work almost the same as Wellbutrin. You should always check for expiry dates when taking generic tablets as well to ensure the safety and efficacy of your treatment regimen.
What are the dangers associated with the use of expired Wellbutrin?
Expired Wellbutrin can be a little problematic. The following outcomes are expected:
- Therapeutic failure
- Worsening mental health condition
- Possible damage to the liver and kidneys
Therapeutic failure
The most important concern when it comes to using expired Wellbutrin is a therapeutic failure, as the drug will not work the way it should. No matter what reason you’re taking this antidepressant, you will not see a positive change in your condition.
People who took it for depression claimed to see no change in their mental health. Similarly, if you opt for expired Wellbutrin to stop smoking, you will not achieve promising smoking cessation.
Depression is a nerve-racking condition which affects your emotions and personality. Medications like Wellbutrin can help with depression, emotions, mood swings, low self-esteem and several other symptoms. It may also be used for anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety, and panic episodes.
However, other antidepressants like SSRIs are considered more effective for such disorders.
Wellbutrin may also help with symptoms associated with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline personality disorder, narcolepsy, etc. However, it should not be used in people younger than 18 years of age (teenagers and children).
Wellbutrin is a prescription medication and it’s not just taken when needed. You need to take this medication for months to see your desired therapeutic outcome, which you can not achieve by taking expired Wellbutrin.
Worsening mental health condition
Another possible consequence of taking expired Wellbutrin is the worsening of your mental health condition. Depression is no joke and it slowly progresses if not treated properly.
Expired Wellbutrin will most likely fail to treat and manage your mental health condition and it will start to deteriorate even more. It will also not help you with smoking cessation, as Wellbutrin can help people quit smoking – unlike other commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Celexa, etc.
Possible damage to the liver and kidneys
Expired Wellbutrin may start to damage your liver and kidneys, the organs which are primarily involved in the metabolism and excretion of Wellbutrin. If you continue to harm your organs like that, who knows what could happen in the long run? It’s better to be safe than sorry.
It is also important to note that expired Wellbutrin could be contaminated, which can increase the risk of bacterial and fungal infections.
What to do if you have taken expired Wellbutrin?
A dose or two of expired Wellbutrin will not harm you. However, continuous use can cause complications. This is why it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider.
Having expired Wellbutrin indicates that you might not be taking your treatment seriously or else you would not have expired Wellbutrin at home. If the meds do not belong to you, you should not take them, whether they are expired or not.
Wellbutrin is a prescription antidepressant and you should only take it if prescribed by your healthcare provider. If you’re concerned about your mental health, talk to your doctor.
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References
1.-
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Don’t Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 2021 [cited 2022 Oct 19]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines.
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