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Contraindications and side effects of Bupropion

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bupropion contraindications

Discover the contraindications and side effects of Bupropion.

This psychotropic drug is used both to treat depressive symptoms and in tobacco addiction.

A drug belonging to the IRND.

Tobacco is one of the substances with psychoactive effects that have been used the most legally since its discovery.

Even though today smoking is prohibited in establishments and closed public spaces and its price has risen based on taxes, millions of people still have the habit of smoking.

But many of these people, at some point, need to stop. Although it is possible to do it voluntarily, in some cases they may require psychological and even pharmacological help.

In the latter case, one of the existing drugs used to quit smoking is bupropion, a drug that originated as an antidepressant.

What is bupropion?

Bupropion is a well-known antidepressant drug, although more than in its application for depression it is more common and distinctive due to its efficacy in the treatment of tobacco addiction.

In this sense, it is a treatment that does not include nicotine and that is recommended together with some type of therapy or psychological treatment.

This shows that psychotropic drugs are not designed following a plan from scratch, but rather that there is a certain process of trial and error in their development, and that sometimes there are benefits for the drug that were not even taken into account at first.

Bupropion is a specific dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or NRDI , that works by increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain.

Compared with other drugs in the group of antidepressants, bupropion has the advantage of not causing sexual dysfunctions, although, on the other hand, its effectiveness alone seems less compared to other drugs on the market.

Thus, bupropion is an example that molecules related to other substances used for a certain class of disorder may be more useful in different health conditions, no matter how similar their structure is.

Mechanism of action

The function of bupropion and its mechanism of action is based on its role as a selective inhibitor of dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake.

This implies that bupropion works by preventing these two transmitters (associated with gratification and energy) from being re-uploaded by the presynaptic neuron, in such a way that they are available to postsynaptic neurons for a longer time.

Furthermore, it appears to stimulate the secretion of these neurotransmitters.

Thus, dopamine and norepinephrine levels and their transport increase at the brain level, something that can alter the mood.

Likewise, it has also been observed that it has an effect at the level of acetylcholine, binding to nicotinic receptors and exerting a non-competitive antagonistic effect.

Although there is no total security for this, this element is one of the possible explanations for its role in smoking cessation.

However, it must be taken into account that the exact way in which the mechanism of action of bupropion and psychotropic drugs in general works is still unknown.

Its use does not guarantee that it will work to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder to be treated, and its efficacy is only slightly better than that of a placebo.

That does not mean that in many cases it is very useful, simply that the percentage of patients who try this treatment and do not obtain any benefit is relatively high.

Indications: uses in disorders

Bupropion is a drug that has had various uses throughout its history. Although it was born as an antidepressant and today it is still used to treat this condition both as monotherapy (single therapy) and combined therapy (more common, to enhance some specific antidepressants when first-line drugs are not effective), the truth is is that by itself it is generally considered less effective than other antidepressants.

Where this drug stands out and has the greatest use is in smoking cessation, being effective in reducing the consumption habit and the urge to smoke.

In this sense, its mechanism of action seems to contribute to stopping craving (possibly due, on the one hand, to its antagonism of nicotinic receptors and its interaction with brain dopamine, although the exact mechanism is not fully known).

Another disorder in which it is used is seasonal affective disorder, in which depressive episodes appear associated with certain times of the year.

In addition to the above, it has sometimes been used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, especially during the depressive episodes that can occur in this disorder (although this use requires caution since there is a risk of turning the disorder into a manic crisis).

Also in ADHD. But in any case, further research is required and possible risks must be taken into account.

Side effects of Bupropion

Bupropion is a drug that is very useful in smoking cessation and is used in cases of depression, but as with other drugs, its clinical utility is not free of risks and possible side effects.

This occurs because the active substance in bupropion affects many areas of the body, not just the areas that could produce an improvement in symptoms.

This unwanted interaction generates a chain reaction of consequences to some extent unpredictable, which can lead to new health disorders (although they tend to disappear as the substance leaves the body). Therefore, its use should always be supervised and indicated by doctors.

In this sense, among the main side effects of bupropion, we can find the cause of insomnia (being one of the most frequent), dry mouth and dizziness, headaches, nausea, constipation, rapid heartbeat, tremors, skin rashes, agitation, and nervousness. It can also cause a decrease in appetite.

In more serious cases it can generate seizures (this being one of the most well-known serious risks), arrhythmias, hallucinations, panic or difficulties in breathing or feeding, or inflammations being necessary to see a doctor. In some cases, it can cause irritability, hostility, depression, suicidal thoughts.

Contraindications of Bupropion

In addition to these side effects, this drug is contraindicated in some sections of the population.

People who are allergic to it or any of its components (something obvious on the other hand), those who consume certain medications (especially MAOS), dependence on substances other than tobacco (such as alcohol, drugs, and pharmaceuticals), and those who suffer from epilepsy, brain tumors and anorexia nervosa or bulimia (since it reduces the appetite).

It is also not recommended, although it can sometimes be used if the benefits are considered greater than the risks, in cases of people with kidney or liver failure, head trauma, insomnia, or the use of other medications that may interact with bupropion.

Diabetics, alcoholics, hypertensive or people with psychiatric disorders (since it can contribute to the appearance of mania in bipolar or psychotic crisis in schizophrenia, among others) also have it contraindicated (or at least the treatment should be done with a high level of control of the patient’s condition and the doses administered) due to the risk of seizures and other side effects.

Finally, it is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women either

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10 Benefits of long bell peppers

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Discover the 10 health benefits of long bell peppers.

The long peppers may sound unfamiliar to some, but not in the ears of the Javanese. In Java, it is also known as Javanese pepper, with the scientific name of Piper Retrofractum Vahl.

It is considered as a spice and is commonly used for jamu, which is an Indonesian traditional herbal drink, hence its nickname is “cabe jamu” or jamu pepper.

If you want to learn more about long peppers, you are absolutely on the right track! For your information, long peppers grow at a maximum altitude of 600 m with 1,259 mm/year of rain. Anyway, what exactly is a long pepper?

Long peppers are also known as Balinese pepper or Indian pepper, following their original roots in South Asia, particularly India and Sri Lanka.

In India, long peppers are called ‘pippali’. Long peppers have four main functions, especially as a home remedy, cooking ingredient, medicinal herb, and catalyst to enhance the effects of other herbs.

The benefits of Javanese long peppers are somewhat similar to the health benefits of Indian long peppers.

Just as their scientific name suggests, long peppers contain piperine. Piperine is an alkaloid that works as a stimulant for poor blood circulation. Piperine is also found in black pepper and is also responsible for making both of them spicy.

Now here is the main question; Do long peppers have other uses besides being spices and a cooking ingredient? Yes, it does, and here are the health benefits of long pepper.

10 health benefits of long bell peppers

1.- Good for liver ailments

• Liver disease arises from our habit of indulging in unhealthy junk foods.

• At the end of the day, the liver becomes overworked.

• Long bell peppers balance the liver’s workload by removing toxins that have built up in the liver and that have been produced by digesting these types of foods.

• Here are also the best quick way to detox the liver after several years of drinking.

2.- Helps to lose weight

• The long pepper can burn fatty acids similar to other types of pepper without any side effects.

• In fact, it is considered a safer and healthier alternative compared to its clinical counterparts.

3.- Reduces the risk of diabetes

• Like the health benefits of red rice for diabetics, long bell peppers help alleviate diabetes by regulating the rate of glucose released into the blood system.

• Long peppers also stimulate insulin production.

• That is the main reason why long pepper is highly recommended for diabetic patients.

4.- Decreases bacterial infection

• The risk of bacterial infection may incline as the daily temperature increases.

• Unhygienic food, as well as unsterile water, can be prone to bacterial infection, causing an upset stomach.

• Long peppers can be used to counter these occurrences.

5.- Serves as a cough treatment

Long peppers treat a cough by making it a simple remedy. This is how you do it:

Step 1: Take 1 to 2 grams of the spice and fry it with a little ghee. Ghee is a kind of Indian butter.

Step 2: Bring it in while it cools.

If ghee is not available, you can use honey instead.

6.- Relieves indigestion

• The content of long peppers is capable of curing digestive problems.

7.- Decrease fever

• The antiseptic and antiseptic properties of long pepper can reduce fever or relax the throat.

• You can easily reduce a fever by mixing long pepper with a hot bowl of soup.

8.- Relieves toothache

• You can also cure a toothache by making a paste with pepper, salt, and water.

9.- Cure diarrhea

• Diarrhea can be cured by consuming a long pepper soup.

10.- Relieves asthma

• Long peppers are an alternative to relieve occasional asthma attacks and other asthma symptoms.

• However, you should not use it as a substitute for respiratory medicine.

How to use long peppers for traditional cures

About the previous pointers on the health benefits of long pepper, here are the simple recipes to make your long pepper remedy.

1.- To lower the fever

• Step 1 – Prepare 3g of dried long peppers

• Step 2 – Smooth until it reaches its softest state.

• Step 3: Infuse with hot water and consume.

• Despite its hot taste, it is suitable for both children and adults.

2.- It is a cure for toothache

• Step 1 – Prepare 3 long pepper leaves

• Step 2: squash them, but not to their smoothest shape.

• Step 3: prepare it in warm water

• Step 4: Use the gargle formula. Do it regularly until the toothache is completely gone.

3.- To overcome «Masuk Angin»

Masuk angin is an Indonesian term to describe the uneven distribution of gases within the body characterized by cold-like symptoms.

It has no direct translation into English, and no specific knowledge of this ‘disease’, therefore making ‘masuk angin’ is a large loose term. Long peppers can be treated ‘masuk angin’ by following this simple formula:

• Step 1 – Prepare 3g of long peppers, some brown sugar, ginger, and “temulawak” (Curcuma Zanthorrhiza).

• Step 2 – Boil until everything is softened and add warm water.

• Step 3 – Drink that formula while it’s still hot.

4.- Prevents abdominal spasm

• Step 1: Take 3 long pepper leaves and add a glass of water.

• Step 2: Boil both of them fully and let them cool for a while.

• Step 3: consume completely.

5.- Clean the postpartum ovary

• Step 1: Prepare 3 grams of long pepper roots.

• Step 2: Add warm water and bring to a full boil.

• Step 3 – Filter the water when you are done.

• Step 4: Consume the boiled water until done. It is suggested to consume it while it is still hot.

Those are just the healthy creations you can make with long bell peppers. The recipes are not proprietary so you can easily adjust them to better suit your preferences or requirements.

However, it is still highly recommended that you follow exactly what is written above. In addition to the long bell pepper uses listed above, there will be more below, however, the ones below are not specifically categorized by disease.

Generic long pepper recipe

Step 1 – Boil 150cc of water.

• Step 2 – Make it with 4 grams of pepper powder.

• Step 3: Consume while hot to get your maximum benefit.

If there are still long pepper powders left, you can also use them like this:

• Fill it inside the capsules for consumption at any time.

• Apply the powders directly to the affected area for toothache.

• Use it to treat swollen gums.

• In addition to health, long peppers are equally useful for planting and soil fertility.

• Thirty-eight uses of long peppers can be obtained by using them in a “jamu” or a traditional herbal drink, which has the potential to cure practically everything but the insecticide.

• Long pepper does not work with insecticide because it kills the reaction of the insecticide inside the plants.

Those are just the top long pepper health benefits that may sound unfamiliar to you, especially among the youngest these days. Either way, hope it helps!

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