Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsUsesSide EffectsBefore TakingTime to WorkDosageHow to Take and StoreWarnings & InteractionsHow to Stop Wellbutrin
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Uses
Side Effects
Before Taking
Time to Work
Dosage
How to Take and Store
Warnings & Interactions
How to Stop Wellbutrin
Close
What is the most important information I should know about Wellbutrin (bupropion)?You should not take Wellbutrin (bupropion) if:You have an eating disorder, seizure disorder, angle-closure glaucoma, or you are allergic to bupropion.You are taking a substance that interacts with bupropion such as an antipsychotic, blood thinner, corticosteroid, MAOI, or another antidepressant.
What is the most important information I should know about Wellbutrin (bupropion)?
You should not take Wellbutrin (bupropion) if:You have an eating disorder, seizure disorder, angle-closure glaucoma, or you are allergic to bupropion.You are taking a substance that interacts with bupropion such as an antipsychotic, blood thinner, corticosteroid, MAOI, or another antidepressant.
You should not take Wellbutrin (bupropion) if:
What Is Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an antidepressant used to help treat a number of health conditions. It comes as an immediate-release, sustained-release, or extended-release tablet that is taken orally.
One factor that makes Wellbutrin especially unique among antidepressants is that it doesn’t tend to affect sexual function or reduce libido, and may even increase it.In fact, Wellbutrin is often prescribed along with other antidepressants to help counter theirsexual side effects, like loss of desire.
Learn more about what Wellbutrin is and how it is used. We also share what you should know before you take this medication, including the potential side effects of Wellbutrin and drug interactions.
Verywell / JR Bee
The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested
Wellbutrin Uses
Wellbutrin may be prescribed off-label for:
Wellbutrin is also sometimes used in the treatment of certain forms of nerve pain.
Another brand of bupropion (the active ingredient in Wellbutrin), calledZyban, is used to help peoplequit smoking. Research shows that taking bupropion can double a person’s chances of kicking their cigarette habit.
The FDA has also approved a medication called Contrave, which is a combination of bupropion and naltrexone, for weight loss. It is intended to be used alongside diet and exercise. It is only approved for people with a BMI of 30 or higher, or for people with a BMI over 27 who also have a weight-related condition such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Side Effects of Wellbutrin
Some Wellbutrin side effects are merely bothersome and likely to disappear as your body gets used to the medication. Others are more serious and should prompt a call to your healthcare provider right away. If you have been prescribed Wellbutrin, here are some side effects to watch for.
Common Side Effects
During the first week or two of taking Wellbutrin, you may experience headaches, dry mouth,nausea, dizziness, insomnia,constipation, sore throat, and a fast heartbeat. Other common side effects for Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL can include:
Severe Side Effects
Some Wellbutrin side effects can be severe or even potentially life-threatening. Get medical help right away if you experience any of the following while taking any version of Wellbutrin:
Negative Side Effects of Antidepressants
How Long Do Wellbutrin Side Effects Last?
If Wellbutrin side effects do occur, they will usually go away within a week or two of starting the medication, as your body begins to adjust.If your side effects last longer, are severe, or worsen, contact your healthcare provider right away. Your dosage may need to be changed or the medication switched to ease these effects.
Before Taking Wellbutrin
Wellbutrin is often used as afirst-line antidepressantin the treatment of MDD and SAD. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your symptoms and current health status to determine if it is right for you.
You may not be prescribed Wellbutrin if you have certain health conditions.
It’s not clear whether Wellbutrin is safe to takeduring pregnancy. In animal studies, there has been some evidence of adverse effects on the fetus, but we don’t yet have enough data about its effect on humans. The potential benefits of continuing Wellbutrin during pregnancy may outweigh the possible risks, but this should be discussed closely with your health provider.
Other NDRIs
Among antidepressants, bupropion is in a category all its own—it’s the only medication in its class, called norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs).NDRIsboost the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine.
By contrast, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) affect serotonin, while serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Effexor (venlafaxine) boost norepinephrine and serotonin.
How Long Does It Take Wellbutrin to Work?
Your condition should start to improve within the first week or two of beginning Wellbutrin.You may notice positive effects, such as that yousleep better, havemore energy, or your appetite has improved, for instance. Improvement of psychological symptoms, such as those related to mood, may take a bit longer—or up to eight weeks.
How quickly your medication works may depend on what it has been prescribed to treat. For example, bupropion may also be prescribed for weight loss. One study involving 3,362 people found that many lost 5% of their body weight within eight weeks of starting a treatment containing bupropion, with more than half keeping this weight off a year later.
Wellbutrin Dosage
Wellbutrin is offered in three different formulations, and dosing varies for each version.
Modifications
Your healthcare provider may prescribe a modified dosage of Wellbutrin due to possible side effects or another health concern.
RecapWellbutrin is available in three different formulations. Talk to your healthcare provider about which is right for you. You may require a different dosing schedule if you have certain health conditions.
Recap
Wellbutrin is available in three different formulations. Talk to your healthcare provider about which is right for you. You may require a different dosing schedule if you have certain health conditions.
How to Take and Store Wellbutrin
Always take your medications as directed. Immediate-release Wellbutrin tablets can be broken if necessary, but they are small enough that doing so is not usually needed. The drug can be taken on an empty stomach or with food and should be stored at room temperature, protected from light and moisture.
If you happen to miss a dose of bupropion, take it as soon as you remember. Any remaining doses for the day should be taken at least six hours apart.Never take two doses of Wellbutrin at once to make up for a missed dose as this can increase your risk of experiencing a seizure or anaccidental overdose.
If you want to stop taking Wellbutrin, talk to your healthcare provider about tapering off of your medication gradually. If you stop suddenly, your symptoms may worsen or you may experienceWellbutrin withdrawal.
Warnings and Interactions
Seizures and suicidal thoughts are two of the most serious potential side effects of Wellbutrin.Seizures are rare with this drug but may affect up to four out of every 1,000 people currently taking Wellbutrin.
For that reason, it’s especially important to let your health provider know if you have or had a seizure disorder; you take any other medications that contain bupropion, such as Zyban (for quitting smoking); or you have or have had aneating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, as seizures are more likely to occur with these disorders.
Antidepressant drugs like Wellbutrin may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults up to age 24—especially when first starting the medication or when there’s a change in dose. If you have a child taking Wellbutrin or another depression medication, keep a close eye out forsigns of self-harmorsuicidal thinking.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Interactions
There are a number of potential interactions that can occur when other substances are taken at the same time as Wellbutrin.Other medications may influence how bupropion works or increase the risk of side effects. These medications include:
Using Wellbutrin with alcohol may also influence the frequency and severity of side effects, including seizures and suicidal thoughts.
How to Stop Taking Wellbutrin
The most common Wellbutrin side effects tend to be the least serious and are likely to be temporary. Contact your health provider if you experience side effects that are severe, bothersome, get worse, or don’t go away. Get help immediately if you have any side effects that could be serious or life-threatening.
In either case, don’t stop taking Wellbutrin until you’ve checked with your health provider first. Going “cold-turkey” with any antidepressant can cause your symptoms to come back or get worse.
Stopping abruptly can also lead to discontinuation syndrome,an array offlu-like symptomssuch as stomach upset, headache, strange sensations, and muscle aches. If you need to stop taking Wellbutrin, your provider can guide you in gradually tapering off.
How to Wean Off Your Antidepressants
10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Borge LG, Noval Canga C, Rodíguez Andrés L, et al.Increased libido as a buproion-SR side effect: Clinical description of a case.Europ Psychiatry. 2016;33:S545. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2013Food and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.Verbeeck W, Bekkering GE, Van den Noortgate W, Kramers C.Bupropion for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD009504. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009504.pub2Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017;6(Suppl 1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4Eisenberg MJ, Grandi SM, Gervais A.Bupropion for smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61(5):524-532. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.08.1030National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).National Library of Medicine.Smoking cessation medications. MedlinePlus.Fujioka K, Plodkowski R, O’Neil PM, Gilder K, Walsh B, Greenway FL.The relationship between early weight loss and weight loss at 1 year with naltrexone ER/bupropion ER combination therapy.Int J Obesity. 2016;40:1369-1375. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.67Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin SR (bupropion hydrochloride) sustained-release tablets.Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.Additional ReadingFood and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).
10 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Borge LG, Noval Canga C, Rodíguez Andrés L, et al.Increased libido as a buproion-SR side effect: Clinical description of a case.Europ Psychiatry. 2016;33:S545. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2013Food and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.Verbeeck W, Bekkering GE, Van den Noortgate W, Kramers C.Bupropion for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD009504. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009504.pub2Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017;6(Suppl 1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4Eisenberg MJ, Grandi SM, Gervais A.Bupropion for smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61(5):524-532. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.08.1030National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).National Library of Medicine.Smoking cessation medications. MedlinePlus.Fujioka K, Plodkowski R, O’Neil PM, Gilder K, Walsh B, Greenway FL.The relationship between early weight loss and weight loss at 1 year with naltrexone ER/bupropion ER combination therapy.Int J Obesity. 2016;40:1369-1375. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.67Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin SR (bupropion hydrochloride) sustained-release tablets.Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.Additional ReadingFood and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Borge LG, Noval Canga C, Rodíguez Andrés L, et al.Increased libido as a buproion-SR side effect: Clinical description of a case.Europ Psychiatry. 2016;33:S545. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2013Food and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.Verbeeck W, Bekkering GE, Van den Noortgate W, Kramers C.Bupropion for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD009504. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009504.pub2Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017;6(Suppl 1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4Eisenberg MJ, Grandi SM, Gervais A.Bupropion for smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61(5):524-532. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.08.1030National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).National Library of Medicine.Smoking cessation medications. MedlinePlus.Fujioka K, Plodkowski R, O’Neil PM, Gilder K, Walsh B, Greenway FL.The relationship between early weight loss and weight loss at 1 year with naltrexone ER/bupropion ER combination therapy.Int J Obesity. 2016;40:1369-1375. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.67Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin SR (bupropion hydrochloride) sustained-release tablets.Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.
Borge LG, Noval Canga C, Rodíguez Andrés L, et al.Increased libido as a buproion-SR side effect: Clinical description of a case.Europ Psychiatry. 2016;33:S545. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2013
Food and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.
Verbeeck W, Bekkering GE, Van den Noortgate W, Kramers C.Bupropion for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;10:CD009504. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009504.pub2
Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017;6(Suppl 1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4
Eisenberg MJ, Grandi SM, Gervais A.Bupropion for smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61(5):524-532. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.08.1030
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).
National Library of Medicine.Smoking cessation medications. MedlinePlus.
Fujioka K, Plodkowski R, O’Neil PM, Gilder K, Walsh B, Greenway FL.The relationship between early weight loss and weight loss at 1 year with naltrexone ER/bupropion ER combination therapy.Int J Obesity. 2016;40:1369-1375. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.67
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin SR (bupropion hydrochloride) sustained-release tablets.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) extended-release tablets.
Food and Drug Administration.Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) tablets.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bupropion (Wellbutrin).
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
