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Auvelity Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Mandeep Sohal, PharmDAustin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP
Published on September 5, 2023

Key takeaways:

  • Auvelity (dextromethorphan / bupropion) is a fast-acting antidepressant for adults. It’s an oral tablet that’s available with a prescription from your healthcare provider.

  • If you’re prescribed Auvelity, you’ll start off by taking 1 tablet every day. After 3 days, you’ll likely increase your dose and take 1 tablet twice daily. This is the target dose for most people.

  • There are ways to save on Auvelity. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you obtain Auvelity for as little as $10 per fill.

Access savings on related medications

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Many resources can support you on your mental health journey, including therapy, mindfulness techniques, and more. Each tool has value, but a multi-pronged approach is the most thorough way to fight depression. Part of this puzzle may include taking an antidepressant.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), are popular, first-choice medications for treating depression. They do the trick for many people, but they aren’t helpful for everyone. For example, their side effects aren’t always ideal. And they can take a while to start working.

In cases like these, having another option is important. Auvelity is a newer antidepressant that combines two medications — dextromethorphan and bupropion — into a single tablet. Auvelity is unique because it can help relieve depression symptoms in as early as a week. Most other antidepressants take 4 to 8 weeks to see the full benefit.

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This duo of dextromethorphan and bupropion comes at a set dosage. This helps make Auvelity relatively simple to take, but there are still some tips and tricks that can help maximize its use.

What’s the typical Auvelity dosage for adults?

When you take a dose of Auvelity, you’ll receive 45 mg of dextromethorphan and 105 mg of bupropion. This is the only dosage that’s currently available.

When you’re first starting Auvelity, you’ll take 1 tablet every morning. After 3 days of taking it, your healthcare provider will likely bump up your dose to 1 tablet twice daily. Taking it twice a day is the target dose of the medication. It’s recommended to separate each dose by at least 8 hours.

Twice-daily dosing isn’t feasible for everyone. If you experience any unwanted side effects after increasing your dose, such as dizziness or nausea, let your healthcare provider know. They may lower your dose back to where it initially was.

Good to know: Because of how it's designed, you should not chew, crush, or divide Auvelity tablets. You should swallow them whole, with or without food. Do not take more than two tablets of Auvelity per day.

Is it OK to take dextromethorphan and bupropion individually instead?

No. If you have a prescription for bupropion (Wellbutrin), you should not take over-the-counter dextromethorphan in an attempt to mimic Auvelity’s effects. There isn’t enough research about this makeshift combination. 

Auvelity contains a set ratio of dextromethorphan to bupropion. It’s hard to match this ratio on your own. Taking the medications separately would likely hinder the treatment’s effectiveness. Expected side effects would also be less predictable.

What’s more, depression is a health condition that’s best managed with the help of a licensed healthcare provider. All treatments should be prescribed and used under their supervision.

Are there any Auvelity dose adjustments for medical conditions?

In some cases, yes. You may need a lower Auvelity dosage if you have kidney problems or you’re taking an interacting medication.

Kidney problems

After you take Auvelity, your kidneys are in charge of removing the medication from your body. If your kidneys aren’t working at their best, the medication could build up in your body and lead to extra side effects. 

If you have kidney problems, you may have to take a lower once-daily dose of Auvelity. In cases where your kidneys are really struggling, you may not be able to take Auvelity at all. Your provider can run labs to determine how healthy your kidneys are.

Drug interactions

Auvelity can interact with other medications, including some that change how enzymes (proteins) in your body process Auvelity

Some medications increase Auvelity levels in your blood. In turn, this can increase your odds of having side effects. Your provider may prescribe a lower dose of Auvelity if you’re taking one of these interacting medications:

  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)

  • Paroxetine (Paxil)

  • Mirabegron (Myrbetriq)

  • Clopidogrel (Plavix)

On the flip side, some medications decrease Auvelity levels in your blood. Auvelity may not work as well for treating depression in this case. Your provider may want you to take a different medication if you’re taking one of these drugs:

  • Rifampin (Rifadin)

  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)

  • Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

  • Phenobarbital

Interactions aside, some people just aren’t able to efficiently break down (metabolize) medications such as Auvelity. If you’re genetically predisposed to this, you may have to stick to one tablet daily instead of two. Your provider can tell you if this applies to you.

What happens if you miss a dose of Auvelity?

It’s normal to occasionally forget to take a dose of your medication. While this is understandable, you should try your best to take your medication as directed. Frequent missed doses can affect the effectiveness of your treatment.

If you miss a dose of Auvelity, you should skip your missed dose and take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Do not double up on your Auvelity dose or take more than prescribed. This could lead to extra side effects.

What should you do if you take too much Auvelity?

If you think you took too much Auvelity, it’s a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider. Based on how much Auvelity you took, they can walk you through the next steps. You can also call Poison Control at 1 (800) 222-1222 for guidance.

If you accidentally took one extra pill, you may not need to do anything. You may just be told to skip your next dose. But if you’re experiencing mild to moderate side effects, they can tell you how to manage them. Symptoms such as nausea, a fast heartbeat, and coordination changes have been reported.

More serious side effects are also possible. Larger overdoses of dextromethorphan are associated with seizures, coma, and difficulty breathing. Taking too much bupropion has been linked to seizures, hallucinations, and changes in the heart's conduction rhythm. If your loved one is experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

How to save on Auvelity

There are ways to save on Auvelity, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate ways to save money on your prescription.

  • Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for Auvelity using a savings card from the manufacturer called Auvelity On My Side.

  • Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 19% off the average retail price of Auvelity at certain pharmacies.

The bottom line

Auvelity (dextromethorphan / bupropion) is a fast-acting antidepressant that helps improve mood. In most cases, you’ll take 1 tablet daily for the first 3 days of treatment. From there, you’ll likely move up to 1 tablet twice daily. Each tablet contains 45 mg of dextromethorphan and 105 mg of bupropion. You may take a lower Auvelity dosage if you have kidney problems or take an interacting medication.

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Why trust our experts?

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD
Mandeep Sohal, PharmD, has more than 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is licensed in California. In his career, he’s had experience with specialty pharmacy, community pharmacy, pharmacy benefit management, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS
Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.
Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP
Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.
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