the dosage is 75mg and i only take pill as needed... it works for me, mainly for anxiety. trying to have the least amount of symtoms... zoning out. thanks
Wellbutrin - can you safely divide a pill, take half the dosage?
Question posted by oahu41 on 11 Sep 2012
Last updated on 10 December 2018
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19 Answers Page 2
HeadStarter
11 Sep 2012
Hello oahu41 and welcome to the site. I hope you find what you are looking for in the way of supportive answers and a friendly environment. To answer your question directly and to reiterate what others have said, Wellbutrin can be split and the sustained release (SR) and XR or extended release cannot and shouldn't be taken in any other way but "swallowed" whole. You didn't mention which one you were taking... only the milligram.
Have you tried taking your med at a different time of day to see if those symptoms disappear??? Sometimes that is all that is needed to adjust to a medication. If you take it in the morning and find yourself drowsy by mid-morning or early afternoon... try taking it mid afternoon, for instance. Just a thought for you and I hope you find all of these answers helpful in one way or another.
Mary
oahu41
12 Sep 2012
thank you mary, it is very helpful to hear from others and i learned a lot at this site... also to be sure and give complete info. It has hcl which i don't know why... tho i know it's hydrocloride. i will use it often. thanks again
susan
robertski
12 July 2013
Hey, thanks, glad you are all out there! I have just gotten bupronion 150 XL, and both my doctor and two different pharmacists have said that I can cut it in half to start. I have also seen on other message boards that the manufacturer says one can do so (does affect meds performance slightly)--I have started for a week scoring it, and so far I am fine with it--doctor said I could build up to 150, or simply stay at 75 mg. But you seem to be saying something different about cutting it. There seems to be some divergent opinions--has something changed in the last 6 months? Thanks again
HeadStarter
12 July 2013
Hello robertski and welcome to DC. I wanted to acknowledge your comment as I just happened to see it. You might want to repost your comment/question so that others will see it and comment. This string is a year or so old. Your question is a good one and deserves the attention that I know it will get.
In the meantime though, you are right about about the varying opinions. What works for one... may not work for another.
Mary
robertski
13 July 2013
Thanks for such a quick reply, Mary!
tejas129
11 Sep 2012
I used to take Wellbutrin,I had to score mine,as I was on 150 mg's a day,so to save me money my pdoc told me to get a scorer and split a 100 mg.But that was under Dr. supervision,and was not the XR. Like all have said ask your Dr.And I would think that if you are zoning on 75mg's that 32 1/2 mg's may work better for you.
iHateDepression2
7 April 2015
i just got the 75mg of wellbutrin and i am sooo sensitive to meds,, i have been told both ways,, yes we can split it in half,, no we cant, i get so confused,, i want to start off with the smallest does possible because i am scared of side effects,, honestly i want to split the 75mg into 4 pieces,, i have had horrid reactions to SSRI's,, horrid,, and in just one pill too,,, so i am hyper sensitve to meds, and my doc assured me this med was not in same family as the SSRI's ,, what ya all say ?
iHateDepression2
8 April 2015
i just got the 75mg of wellbutrin and i am sooo sensitive to meds,, i have been told both ways,, yes we can split it in half,, no we cant, i get so confused,, i want to start off with the smallest does possible because i am scared of side effects,, honestly i want to split the 75mg into 4 pieces,, i have had horrid reactions to SSRI's,, horrid,, and in just one pill too,,, so i am hyper sensitve to meds, and my doc assured me this med was not in same family as the SSRI's ,, what ya all say ?
caldwell68
10 Sep 2016
I just wanted to let you know that splitting a 75 mg in 1/4's is exactly what i did and it was a life saver. I tried to take 150xl's for 2 weeks and was so awful... anxious to the 10th degree. But i worked my way up, taking 18.75 more every 3-4 days if things were going ok. I could tell that it helped me right away. Now i'm all the way on 300's and i'm doing great. Wellbutrin just works for me, but i have to be careful if i'm ever starting or upping the dose.
Inactive
11 Sep 2012
Hello oahu41. Yes you can if its the short acting Wellbutrin. Not the long acting form be it Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR. Your dose is low to begin with. If you are taking it as needed I believe you'll find its not going to be effective be it for anxiety or another diagnosis as the drug is meant to be taken on a regular, daily basis. Your doctor can confirm what I said, or get her/his opinion. Regards pledge
balbanese
11 Sep 2012
If taking less than the prescribed amount is not something instructed by your Dr it's probably not a good idea, even if it is prescribed "as needed" it's in reference to the full dosage. Best to direct this question to the prescribing Dr, possibly another solution. Hope this helps.
oahu41
11 Sep 2012
that is the practical answer but i do not have normal reactions to pills... so am always testing to what works for me. with doctor's ok. just checking to see if it will change the effectiveness of the med. some pills say not to split, haven't seen that yet for this pill. thought i would try this site rather than call dr. fyi, it is bupropion hcl, thanks
Related topics
wellbutrin, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, dosage
Further information
- Wellbutrin uses and safety info
- Wellbutrin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Wellbutrin (detailed)
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