Bupropion / dextromethorphan and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Lif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve been on many SSRIs, SNRIs, Wellbutrin, Lithium, Lamictal, Latuda, tried TMS, had 20 IV ketamine treatments. Ketamine worked the first round but not as well the second. Auvelity was a miracle drug for me. I cross-tapered off Wellbutrin while dosing up on Auvelity and felt “high” for 10 days. Cut back to 1 Auvelity at night (off all other Wellbutrin at that point) and that did the trick. No side effects, appetite back, no anxiety, no depression. I haven’t felt this good in 20 years. Only taking 1 Auvelity, nothing else. Insurance covered after submitting a request. I’ve been taking it now for 3 months."

• aek...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Unfortunately, this medication made me really sick. The side effects described came on after 10-12 days on the full dose: severe anxiety, loss of appetite, headaches. All came together with severity, so be careful with this drug. I had never experienced this before, and it was awful."

• fal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "This antidepressant has caused severe dizzy spells for hours on end, even after having taken it for a week. It also has increased my anxiety and seems to be making my tinnitus significantly louder. Not impressed."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have had some success with Wellbutrin (Bupropion), but after a number of years, I seemed to have developed a tolerance. An increase in dosage caused me to have anxiety. I was hopeful Auvelity would help as it has similar properties. Sadly, the smallest dose created overwhelming anxiety that felt like I had taken a high dose of Wellbutrin. Although one should not expect half a sustained release, I was hoping it would reduce the anxiety. Auvelity, I felt, gave me more energy and even curbed hunger, which was a positive. Though, sadly, I still had severe anxiety, was jittery, and my heart was pounding. I couldn’t continue and went back to regular bupropion while searching for something else."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have had some success with Wellbutrin (Bupropion), but after a number of years, I seemed to have developed a tolerance. An increase in dosage caused me to have anxiety. I was hopeful Auvelity would help as it has similar properties. Sadly, the smallest dose created overwhelming anxiety that felt like I had taken a high dose of Wellbutrin. Although one should not expect half a sustained release, I was hoping it would reduce the anxiety. Auvelity, I felt, gave me more energy and even curbed hunger, which was a positive. Though, sadly, I still had severe anxiety, was jittery, and my heart was pounding. I couldn’t continue and went back to regular bupropion while searching for something else."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "At first, I thought I had found a winner. For the first few days, I was getting out for daily walks, more motivated with work, laughing more, and drinking a lot less - and no side effects! But then the benefits gradually disappeared, replaced by crippling insomnia and anxiety about a week after going up to two doses a day. I didn't sleep for four days straight; I was falling down walking to the bathroom and had double vision. It was really scary. I had to ask for a short course of Ativan or else end up in the ER. The insomnia resolved by dropping back to one dose, then the anxiety resolved immediately after discontinuation. Please be advised that there is no safe way to taper down from the starter dose (it's timed release), and most compounding pharmacies don't take insurance. So I got off cold turkey. I had only been on it a month, but after three days, I got brain zaps (manageable) for a couple of days, and anxiety and disorientation for several that have only just resolved. Good luck."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was very hopeful Auvelity would work for me, but unfortunately, I experienced the very rare serious side effects. The first day I took it, I felt dizzy and drunk with a small increase of anxiety. The next day I took it, I felt the same experience with added paranoia. I was in the middle of a busy Costco, so it was not fun (thankfully I didn't drive myself there). It made me feel so intoxicated that I could barely form sentences. I thought my body would be getting used to it, so I took it on day 3 after work. Holy hell, it took me on a ride. I was dizzy, felt drunk/high, anxious, paranoid, and now delusional. I thought my bf was mad and breaking up with me, but later confirmed that it wasn't remotely true. It takes a few hours to wear off, and after, I have poor memory of things that happened during. I had real mental clarity the next day that I haven't felt in years, so it's a shame I had to stop taking it. It's 100% worth a try, but don't drive until you know how it affects you! Good luck!"

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was very hopeful Auvelity would work for me, but unfortunately, I experienced the very rare serious side effects. The first day I took it, I felt dizzy and drunk with a small increase of anxiety. The next day I took it, I felt the same experience with added paranoia. I was in the middle of a busy Costco, so it was not fun (thankfully I didn't drive myself there). It made me feel so intoxicated that I could barely form sentences. I thought my body would be getting used to it, so I took it on day 3 after work. Holy hell, it took me on a ride. I was dizzy, felt drunk/high, anxious, paranoid, and now delusional. I thought my bf was mad and breaking up with me, but later confirmed that it wasn't remotely true. It takes a few hours to wear off, and after, I have poor memory of things that happened during. I had real mental clarity the next day that I haven't felt in years, so it's a shame I had to stop taking it. It's 100% worth a try, but don't drive until you know how it affects you! Good luck!"

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was very hopeful Auvelity would work for me, but unfortunately, I experienced the very rare serious side effects. The first day I took it, I felt dizzy and drunk with a small increase of anxiety. The next day I took it, I felt the same experience with added paranoia. I was in the middle of a busy Costco, so it was not fun (thankfully I didn't drive myself there). It made me feel so intoxicated that I could barely form sentences. I thought my body would be getting used to it, so I took it on day 3 after work. Holy hell, it took me on a ride. I was dizzy, felt drunk/high, anxious, paranoid, and now delusional. I thought my bf was mad and breaking up with me, but later confirmed that it wasn't remotely true. It takes a few hours to wear off, and after, I have poor memory of things that happened during. I had real mental clarity the next day that I haven't felt in years, so it's a shame I had to stop taking it. It's 100% worth a try, but don't drive until you know how it affects you! Good luck!"

• Dai...
• April 16, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on antidepressants all my life. I have taken all medications available in the market. I started Auvelity 3 days ago. I was told to stop my two other antidepressants the day I started Auvelity. I have an enormous feeling of anxiety and despair. I am extremely depressed, unmotivated, flat affect. I don't want to do anything except hide under the covers. The only problem is that my body won't allow me to relax because I have anxiety and restlessness. It's Sunday. I will stick with the medication, but I think I feel worse."

• Cal...
• February 6, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I just started taking this medication a few days ago and woke up every morning with severe anxiety, and my blood pressure skyrocketed. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, I wouldn’t recommend you take this. Wellbutrin alone had worked for me in the past as far as my energy levels and depression but gave me bad anxiety and made me sweat more than usual, which increased my body odor, so I stopped taking it. The only reason I started Auvelity was to help with my fatigue, which seemed to help in the past, but I can’t deal with the anxiety it gives me in the mornings. Will have to stop. One of the major benefits is my sexual desire has improved. My doctor added this medication along with Viibryd, which I was already on, which has sexual dysfunction. Altogether, I would give it a 6 out of 10. Would recommend it if you don’t have hypertension or anxiety."