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Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Associated With Bupropion Treatment: A Case Series.
Jose Alfonso Ontiveros Y Sánchez de la Barquera1, Luis Alberto De La Garza García1, Guillermo Sánchez-Torres1
1Department of Psychiatry, "Dr Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez" University Hospital, UANL, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, uanl.mx.
Case Reports in Psychiatry
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Bupropion, a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, may trigger new-onset obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCSs) in some patients with affective disorders. Discontinuation of bupropion often leads to symptom improvement.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Bupropion is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) used for major depressive disorder (MDD) and smoking cessation.
- Limited research exists on bupropion-induced obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCSs) in depressed patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report cases of OCSs potentially associated with bupropion treatment.
- To highlight the need for clinical awareness regarding bupropion and OCSs.
Main Methods:
- Case series of four patients with affective disorders experiencing OCSs.
- Assessment using Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) and CGI-S.
- Observation of symptom changes following bupropion initiation and discontinuation.
Main Results:
- Four patients developed new-onset OCSs after starting bupropion.
- Symptoms intensified progressively during treatment.
- OCSs significantly reduced upon bupropion discontinuation, with full remission over time.
Conclusions:
- Bupropion may be associated with the emergence of OCSs in susceptible individuals.
- Clinicians should monitor for OCSs in patients prescribed bupropion.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms and confirm findings in larger cohorts.
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