Joint symptoms in patients on bupropion therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe joint symptoms related to bupropion therapy.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed adverse events in bupropion-treated patients reported to the Bourgogne Drug Surveillance Center, France, between October 2001 and December 2002. Joint symptoms classified by the causality assessment as related to bupropion were identified and examined.


RESULTS
Four cases were found. Three patients had semi-delayed hypersensitivity reactions resembling serum sickness, manifesting as urticaria and arthralgia with or without a fever. The remaining patient had an unusual presentation consisting in acute monoarthritis of the wrist that started a few days after bupropion initiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypersensitivity reactions to bupropion are fairly common and include rare cases of serum sickness-like reaction. Urticaria and incapacitating arthralgia are at the forefront of the clinical picture and may require a brief period of inpatient care. Antihistamines are the treatment of choice. Other manifestations such as acute monoarthritis might occur, although this awaits confirmation as we identified a single case.
Ornetti
Paul
P
Rheumatology Department, General Hospital, Dijon Teaching Hospitals, 3, rue du Faubourg Raines, 21000 Dijon, France.
Disson-Dautriche
Anne
A
Muller
Géraldine
G
Cherasse
Anne
A
Tavernier
Christian
C
Besancenot
Jean-François
JF
Sgro
Catherine
C
Maillefert
Jean-Francis
JF
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012713:Serum Sickness / Q000139:chemically induced
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion