I just started 150 ml Bupropion 2 days ago. My doctor recommended it for depression and anxiety. While I do struggle with both as my work and home life are very hectic, I have never taken anything for it. Situations changed and I decided to give it a try to see if it improves my symptoms. However, I am concerned to read the comments about drinking. I do drink wine, everyday. 3-4 glasses and don't plan to stop. But, I see that others say it has made them very sick to drink while on this medication. I certainly don't want seizure side effects. It also says not to quit drinking while on this medication. Confusing. I have noticed though in just two days that smoking tastes terrible and for that I am happy as I do want to quit. Today I'm noticing a strange, sort of off balance (in my head) feeling that I don't like. I am very sensitive to any sort of medication. I want to give this medication a chance but am worried and don't want to wait to stop in a few weeks when my body is dependant and I have to ween myself. But I also don't want to freak my family out by having a seizure after having a glass or two of wine. Any experience with this?
Wellbutrin and drinking?
Question posted by lgoldbeck on 22 March 2013
Last updated on 13 May 2022
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
69 Answers Page 3
This post is old --- but the questions raised need solid answers. Some postings imply that combining Wellbutrin (and other meds) will kill you. Others say that mixing alcohol with meds is pretty benign.
So there IS an answer: Drinking alcohol while taking Welbutrn is NOT recommended by the FDA or the drug manufacturer. The FDA approved label is very clear to avoid alcohol. This doesn't mean mixing alcohol with Wellbutrin will affect everybody negatively. What it does mean is that a pretty high percentage of people in pre-marketing studies demonstrated negative health effects to warrant this warning. Note that when alcohol wears off, the likelihood of seizures increases. Wellbutrin can cause seizures all by itself. That's a major concern.
Another concern is that someone unwilling to abstain from alcohol while knowing using a drug that poses risks with concurrent alcohol should maybe take a long look at why alcohol is so important that it's worth using even if it could be fatal. BOTTOM LINE: Drink and don't use Wellbutrin OR use Wellbutrin and abstain from alcohol. Or risk your life and use both. Those are your three options. End id discussion.
I was on 150mg and drank about 6 beers and then I transformed in a wolf. Now I am back to normal, just make sure you are alone when you do that.
i havent had any side effects with just a glass of wine or one drink, but i would be cautious to drink much more than than. why risk it? 3-4 glasses of wine a day?? sounds like you have two issues that you need to deal with if you are insisting on drinking almost a bottle of wine a day with your depression/anxiety meds.
Why do Doctors prescribe high doses of antidepressant meds or two antidepressant meds ??? I take 75mg Bupropion..generic Wellbutrin, 1mg Clonazepam for anxiety (generic Klonopin )and 25-50mg of Trazadone for sleep . I feel ok..I've talked to people who are on 4 to 5 psych meds..strange..I was not severely depressed before I started Bupropion generic for Wellbutrin.I have sesonal depression episodes and PTSD..I used to drink heavy 2003-2008..I drink a few drinks 1 time a month with no meds day before or after to be safe..everybody's body is different..I don't put all my faith in meds..When I drank daily years ago..I couldn't sleep, the alcohol made me hyper and irritable..I'm alketgic to allot of meds..Please be honest with your Psychiatrist and Doctor of your alcohol consumption..as I said everyones body is different..tbe 150 mg. XL Wellbutrin is allot ..consult with your Psychiatrist if you are not real depressed..I have had no intamacy issues either..
Hello,
So I started taking Wellbutrin again after not taking it for 5 years. Yesterday I took my Wellbutrin and aderal at 9 am. When I started drinking at 8pm I felt like I had a head ache but that's about it I was perfectly aware of my surroundings. I had drinken a lot last night and was fine . I also remember last night ! I guess everyone reacts to things differently.
I've been on Wellbutrin/budiprion for 10 weeks now. I went to a group painting/wine night last night. I had one glass of red. Like a tsunami- I got a hot flash head to toe & felt like throwing up. I could barely get up from my seat, but was determined not to make a scene & headed towards outside. Midway- I had feeling I was going down ... I went towards nearest wall- let myself sink to floor & blacked out right there! A worker had been observing. She helped me get out to curb & again- I felt like vomiting. I never threw up. Luckily- someone drove me home. Went straight to bed. I'm up now the following morning. I feel heaviness in my gut, light headed & marginally hung over. Never drinking again on this stuff! Big NO-NO for me.
It gets better with the alcohol after a while. I had replied months ago on this tread that I couldn't drink at all. I lowered my dose a bit (was on 150mg xl to now 100mg) and now I can drink a few glasses without any trouble. I think you just need to give yourself time to adjust to the medecine and if it's too strong go down on the dose a bit.
I took WB for 2 weeks but was getting worse. I didn't give it enough time. I was on 150 SR, but I partially quit because I wanted to drink a glass or 2 of wine. What dose were you on & do you still take the WB? Thanks.
I know this question was posted long ago but in case others are looking for the same info I figured I would give my feedback. I've been on Wellbutrin for about 10 months. I have noticed a side effect when drinking alcohol. It's a weird feeling hard to describe. However, I have also notice that if I STOP DRINKING as soon as I start feeling weird it wears off after about 30 minutes. I drink occassionally and mostly in social setting. Personally, I rather stay on Wellbutrin and keep the panick attacks under control then to drink. Panick attacks feel much worse and affect my daily life a lot more. Drinking is not more important than my health and sanity.
I've been taking this medication only for 3 days. And I'm a nurse. And I started it mostly for depression, with the added benefit to try and quit smoking. I'm 38 years old, take no other meds, and have never had taken meds for depression before other than 1 week last year. I had a very bad depressive episode lately, so tried it to see it benefits me. I drink 3-4 glasses of wine 3-4 times a week. True, the med made me feel nauseous to continue this amount.. But not enough to stop (but that might be a good thing, as I've cut down on that). I smoke less already within 3 days. Anxiety is a wee bit heightened, I feel less tolerant and had to leave shopping at the mall today due to irritability (mind you it is Boxing Day as well... ). I've had no insomnia issues. I do feel generally slightly better already. I am taking only 150mg at the moment and plan to increase to 300mg next week.
I've tried ciprolex (escitalopram) last year after a bad bad break-up thinking it would cure my broken heart and had terrible side effects (SSRI syndrome) with dialated pupils, insomnia very bad, dry mouth, ect...
So I am pretty happy with the results so far.
Thank you for sharing your info and I'm so glad I found this site. I've been taking Wellbutrin since 4/15; started at 150mg, now 300mg (take one pill in morning). Must have food in my stomach before taking or don't feel well all day (just like vitamins too). Being a light-weight when it comes to handling alcohol anyway, I find effects of alcohol beyond one drink mixed w/this med to be severe for me - complete memory loss, extreme nausea. I only drink on the weekend, if that, when out with my boyfriend and will definitely try to keep limited to one drink, if that. Just not worth mixing the two. Good luck to you!
Please wait 6 weeks before initiating a dosage change. Then do so in 50 mg increments. Be aware that your libido may increase. It is an off-label use and similar to the response elicited by 'female Viagra' which, incidentally is a misnomer. Viagra has to do with improving/sustaining erectile tissue response. The other drugs affect libido. it's 'can' vs. 'wanna', lol... Good luck. 10 days isn't NEARLY long enough to reach a baseline on these kinds of meds. A 100% dosage change is asking for trouble.
I did drink 3-4 glasses after 5 days on wellbutrin and it was hell. About 5hours after consumption I began feeling really sick (not enough to puke), i was VERY dehydrated ( for the next 2 days) and I had the worst headache for the following 24 hours. I learned my lesson. No alcohol whatsoever while on this medication. It felt like I drank 1litre of tequila on my own.
I started wellbutrin a month ago, 300 MG per day. I too enjoy having a cocktail or two..sometimes three :). I started wellbutrin because the 6 week trial with lexapro didn't work out(lots of side effects). My doctor told me that moderate drinking 2-3 drinks) on lexapro was not an issue, and it turned out to be accurate. When I switched to wellbutrin I didn't ask about it and he didn't address it either. So I started on it 150mg twice a day. It came with the obligatory DO NOT USE ALCOHOL label, I was bummed. I looked it up online and read many terrible stories about people's experiences combing the two and was even more bummed. Other the last month I tried having a drink a few times and it wasn't the same, I couldn't enjoy it like usual with all the stuff I had read, it actually had the opposite effect of relaxing me. However I never had any bad reactions.
Yesterday I went in for a follow up and the doctor decided to cut my dosage back to 150mg a day due to some side effects. This time I asked him about drinking told him half kidding that the "NO beer allowed" sticker was a bit of a depressing side effect. He looked at me and said, " They put that sticker on that?" Then went on to say that moderate drinking in the evening should not be a problem if I take the dose in the morning. He used the term common sense, but also said to listen to my body take it slow but 2-3 drinks should not be a problem at all. So last night I tried it out, it was nice to be able to enjoy a drink with my wife and relax. This is MY experience I realize that we are all different and what's good for you may not be for me. My only advice is to ask your doctor and be honest with him and see what he says, he knows you better than anonymous people on the Internet do. I hope this helps.
I agree. I had a terrible experience but not everyone will have that. You should try it in a safe environment and just be aware of the potential issues. I have tried drinking non-alcoholic beer and half way through started feeling weird. I read the label and there is a small amount of alcohol in it. So I am sticking with being alcohol free
Like you, I am accustomed to drinking up to four glasses of wine each evening. I started Wellbutrin XL today. Just my two cents but I am petrified of the possible seizures as well as the reactions I've read that people get when they continue to drink while on this med. This evening has been difficult... watching my husband enjoy his wine. Tomorrow I will go out and purchase some non alcoholic wine. I miss the pleasure of the long stemmed glass and the idea of wine. Wish me luck!
Sometimes we just get the horrid stories when we ask something like this. I'm sure they happen. I don't know that it would happen to everyone. Each persons body is different. If it helps, drink your non alcoholic wine in a long stemmed glass. I do wish you luck. My doctor told me 1 to 2 drinks is ok on the meds I take, wellbutrin, zoloft. But don't over do it. And, not everyday.
I am taking pristiq. I hate it. No sex drive and very moody again after 2yrs. Iwas considering wellbutrin after reading it doesn't affect libido. But I drink wine, is there something else I should try?
I'm not really sure. I have been on alot of anti-depression meds and they all say no alcohol. If you see my prior post, I am on Wellbutrin. I have drink some on each of them. I don't seem as energetic the next morning, but get better as the morning goes to afternoon. I'm not saying it's ok to drink. We each have to decide what is best to do. I don't drink alot and have water in between. In moderation or when I go out and have a mexican lunch/dinner.
My dr had told me I could drink with moderation but from my experience, the 2 times I drank it felt like every drink hit like 10. Half a glass of wine turned me into an unhappy drunk.
If you still feel like trying, try with a VERY small dose.
Hi. I was frightened at first too about drinking wine. So, like you, I bought the non alcoholic wine. I still missed the real thing! So I started drinking a mix of half wine and half the fake stuff. Maybe two glasses of that per evening. I guess on could say that I tiptoed for a while. I have now progressed to one or two glasses of just wine... sometimes three. I don't know why, but I actually don't enjoy the wine as much any more. It doesn't matter if I enjoy it with my husband or not. Go slow is my advice. I will say too, I love a gin and tonic out on the deck in the heat of summer. That is a "no go" ... I feel like death if I drink any hard liquor. Wine is ok.
Wellbutrin was a horrific rid for me in the beginning... I think I had every side effect listed. My doctor encouraged me to try to stick it out. I am still on the med, six months now, and my ability to handle anxiety is the best it has been in years. The depression... sometimes I feel low but not in the black pit like I was. That is why I like Wellbutrin, I sill feel moods and emotions which I didn't feel on the popular medications.
I wish you luck! I hope you are feeling better
I've been on Wellbutrin XL 150mg and Zoloft 5mg. Like the other posts above, I also like to drink wine, almost daily and 3-4 glasses, depending on the day. I have no side effects that I can recall. I haven't been sick from this, and my doctor also said while I shouldn't drink with this, it was ok to keep it to a minimum.
i have a question . a friend of mine has a history of hard drinking. he says he drinks one drink a day now. thats probably not true but its nunya. he takes wellbutrin dont know the dose. he is 68 and his memory sucks. either that or he is a pathological liar. he says things to me that dont happen. its hard to plan anything with him. unless he is doing me a service. he works for me and i cant fire him yet. what i want to know is it the drinking and the wellbutrin? it could be hardening of the arteries too from the past hard drinking. could be a lot of the wonderful benefits of using alcohol. its a drug with long term side effects.
Hey there! On the smoking side of things, Wellbutrin (bupropion) is actually prescribed to help people quit smoking, it's just prescribed under the trade name Zyban. I'm not sure if you realized that connection! :)
Wellbutrin is a prescription drug used to treat depressed patients. Zyban is prescribed to patients who are trying to quit smoking. The same company manufactures both drugs, as they are the same merely used to treat different clinical problems.
Ooooook. Excuse' moi for using the word "prescribed." :) My bad, and thanks much for clarifying.
Original poster, Welbutrin and Zyban are both pharmaceutical grade bupropion, each FDA approved for its' own purpose, used off-label for others.
The point I was trying to make is, Zyban is prescribed for smoking cessation. Wellbutrin caused you to have a distaste for cigarettes. Likely, this is because they are both exactly the same medication.
thank you so much for your clarification. i didn't realize the connection... again, i learned something new :) Thanks :)
No worries at all! I'm sure the differences are many, one being insurance coverage, the other being the stigma associated with mental illness and people not wanting to take a medication that says it's for depression but they will take it if it's labeled for smoking cessation. Also, I believe that people who are trying to quit smoking are given bupropion in smaller doses than what is prescribed for people who have depression. And also, I have heard that a lot of people with depression take the extended release form, while those trying to quit smoking take the formulation that is immediate release. So, even though they are the exact same drug, they probably have different stamps on them, they're probably different colors, they might be prescribed differently, and little differences like that. :)
The army prescribed Wellbutrin to quit smoking a few years ago. Since it makes smoking taste terrible it works for quite a few. I definitely didn't enjoy weaning myself off though. It definitely wasn't called zyban.
Hi. So glad I found this forum and thread... And really hope I get some replies--- here's my dilemma:
I have been taking Wellbutrin for months. It has helped to greatly improve my mood and depression though I still have anxiety. I am a drinker, meaning I do drink a few glasses of wine or a vodka cocktail daily. That is until just recently. I have gained 20 pounds since thanksgiving (I love to eat and do NOT love to exercise!) I go through this every year where in February I go on a diet and end up losing my extra weight by the summer. Anyway, the diet I have started restricts alcohol so I stopped drinking. Again, remember I have been on Wellbutrin for 6 months
or so. I totally forgot about my doctors warning not to suddenly stop drinking while on this medication, but after a week on this diet with no alcohol (except for one cheat day) have had NO side effects that I have noticed. So am I in the clear regarding seizures? I hope so because the diet is working and I'm going to continue it till I lose my weight which means no drinking BUT here's one added wrinkle. I usually never forget to take my meds, but I have done just that a couple times in the last week whe hike on this diet. As a matter of fact, I've forgotten to take the Wellbutrin for the last two days, so I will take my regular dose today... like within the next hour... and make sure I continue to daily, as prescribed, without interuption. Hopefully I will have no issues. Do you think I'll be ok?
I hope this isn't confusing everyone!
So here's my situation in a nutshell. I'm on Wellbutrin, accidentally just missed a couple days, so will start meds again today but in the meantime, I have suddenly stopped drinking due to starting a weight loss diet. After one week- no seizures or visible side effects. Am I good???
To be honest with you I am very pleased that I'm not craving my daily drinks as I feared I would. Don't get me wrong-- I can't wait till when I can gradually start drinking again... But I never had an issue with taking the Wellbutrin and drinking. I'm fearful of having seizures because I'm on Wellbutrin and have suddenly stopped drinking.
Ok. I'm fine that was way too long, but please, if you understand what I'm asking--- PLEASE REPLY!!!
I'm on 150mg of Wellbutrion. I've been on it almost 2 years.. If I drink alcohol while on this medication it does make me sick.. I would not recommend drinking while on this medication. You will feel like you're dying. At least with me it does..
1to.2 glasses of wine is fine but on the 4th it will just get you more drunk than if you did not take the med.. just be carefull.. monitor your reaction to it.. the main reaction to mixing both is a loss of consciousness and loss of control.. consequences will become non existent under the effect of both mixed.. be especially carefull if you drink while out with friends or at a social setting... as unusual and unexpected behavior can be triggered by anything while drinkingand taking WB.. u hust have to drink lightly.
Thank you for posting this. I have been off wellbutrin for a year and a half and I still think about the alcohol incident I had when I was on it. Your description of what happens when you drink on the drug is spot on.
I drank on celexa,prozac,seroquel, the whole gammit of antidepressant. Starting out on a new medicine point blank period makes your brain feel extremely weird for the first coupe of days, on top of that drinking messes with the chemicals in your brain that the medicine is trying to fix. I like to drink, trust me, same as you lol, but it seems like it just makes the affects of my depression 10 times worse, but as well i can say maybe its because i havent found the right medicine for me. Just keep your head up and drink with caution, and the seizures happen very rarely and they happen more to people whom are known to have them. Good luck!
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wellbutrin, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, bupropion, doctor
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