Unexpected aggressive behaviour: Interaction of bupropion and alcohol

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Chandler, Percy | Herxheimer, Andrew

Affiliations: Emeritus fellow, UK Cochrane Centre

Note: [] Percy Chandler is a pseudonym.

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Andrew Herxheimer, 9 Park Crescent, London N3 2NL, UK. E-mail: a.herxheimer@ntlworld.com

Abstract: A healthy policeman was prescribed bupropion in 2002 to help him stop smoking. It worked but after 18 months he relapsed. Though it had given him headaches and insomnia he tried using it again in 2009, taking 8 at end: 150 mg/day. Three days after starting the tablets he took his wife out for dinner. They shared a bottle of wine and he also had other drinks. After walking home they quarrelled, he slapped her, she slapped him. He threw the phone at her saying ‘call the police!’. They came and charged him with assault; he was suspended. An expert report attributed the aggressive outburst to an interaction between bupropion and alcohol; the accused was a social drinker and had never been violent. An expert advising the police agreed, and 14 months after the event the court dismissed the case.

Keywords: Bupropion, alcohol, interaction, additive effect, aggression, domestic violence

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-2011-0533

Journal: International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 133-137, 2011