Bupropion for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• BEX...
• October 17, 2019

"I have been on so many antidepressants in the last 17 years. You name it, I've probably tried it. Yet not once was Wellbutrin recommended to me until a couple of months ago when I told my doctor I keep going off of my meds because of the awful side effects. My daughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD and her shrink told me I should be evaluated for it as well. I told my doctor about my thoughts on being evaluated for ADHD and that I was a lot like my daughter when I was younger. She told me that Wellbutrin used to treat ADHD off label. The first month I was on 150mg XL, I felt better but not amazing. I told her as much at my checkup. She upped it to 300mg. Within 4 days, I felt like myself but better! I quit vaping, started running again, started cooking and many other hobbies I haven't done in years because I have been so depressed. I feel more focused at work and have had zero sexual side effects which has never happened on any other antidepressant. I will never switch back to an SSRI again!"

• Wif...
• February 7, 2017

"I have been on Wellbutrin for about four months. I can definitely say that it works very well. My symptoms before taking it were mood swings, constant fatigue, irritability, very low to nonexistent sex drive & not able to finish anything I started. My first two weeks on Wellbutrin, I had a rough go with side effects. Side effects were: couldn't sleep. Heavy/tight chest which resulted in a panic attack. Itchy palms & feet. I wanted so bad to stop taking it but very glad I didn't. I feel great now and have lost 15 lbs. The sex drive has come back full force. Advice: take Benadryl those first few weeks to help you sleep. Best choice I have made was asking my doctor for help."

• Hap...
• March 30, 2017

"I was feeling very depressed this winter. A combination of SAD and life. I was irritable, unmotivated, unsociable, negative, and sad. I could hardly recognize myself. I was nervous to try an antidepressant as I'd heard weight gain and loss of sex drive were often side effects. That would've depressed me more! But my doctor said that Wellbutrin was often referred to as the skinny sexy pill. Now that made it sound a whole lot better. I know it seems hard to believe, but day three I felt like a weight had lifted...not sure if it can work that fast but I was able to jump out of bed and feel motivated. My appetite has decreased, I'm happy, my libido is still as good as ever, and I have experienced 0 side effects. Love it!"

• Ale...
• February 26, 2017

"This medicine has worked wonders for me. I started for 2 months on 150mg and then transitioned into 300mg. At first, I had anxiety a little but it went away. I am much happier, energized, I enjoy life more, and I finally started to love myself. This medicine has given me my confidence back, and I started to dress better, put makeup on in the morning, and care about myself. I don't know how long I will be on it, but it really gave me a huge boost to start living again and be around family and friends. I also lost 20 pounds so far. I am on a diet, and it's very easy to follow. I think this medicine is helping since I have no cravings at all."

• am4...
• September 19, 2014

"This medication has worked miracles for me. It has very few side effects and WORKS. One of the best things about it is no weight gain - it can actually cause you to lose weight! If you've got depression, I would definitely recommend Wellbutrin XL."

• dde...
• August 28, 2014

"I started this 4 weeks ago. I was originally on Paxil but I was tired of its side effects. My doctor switched me to Wellbutrin after also trying Cipralex, Effexor, and Zoloft. It works great. I had almost no side effects when I started it (I did with every other medicine). It does increase anxiety for me though. Wellbutrin gives me more energy and makes me feel alive again. Because of the energy, I work out now which helps counteract the anxiety. It did not increase my sex drive BUT it made me normal. (Paxil made it so I wouldn't even let my husband touch me). I have lost the weight that Paxil made me gain and then some! I would recommend it to people for sure but if you have bad anxiety like I do, try being really active as well."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2013

"I had trouble with anxiety and having a 'short fuse'. I thought about death constantly and had trouble remembering things. In short, I suffered from depression. I was horrible to my coworkers, family, and friends. I have never taken an antidepressant before. I have been taking Wellbutrin for 5 days, and I can say that I feel better. I have energy, although I have noticed some heart palpitations, nothing worth seeing a doctor about. I have a decreased appetite but just slight nausea. I am in a better mood and seem to be able to let things that used to bother me just slide by. I do not feel like a zombie at all. I smile more and cry less. That's exactly what I was hoping for. I am a 45-year-old woman."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2009

"I was set on trying Wellbutrin. I have tried Paxil and one other I can't even recall the name of. They made me feel like a zombie and my husband wasn't fond of them due to the sexual side effects. Wellbutrin was the hardest drug to get accustomed to. I went for a month having one side effect after the other. One week would be sleepless nights, the next would be general irritation at everything and everyone and perhaps the worst was nausea. I stuck it out and I am extremely glad I did. It has been amazing for me. I am much more motivated and excited about life. It increased my sex drive 100%! I also tend to be a social smoker and it obliterated that for me. I love this medicine. I take 400 mg daily."

• Fem...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 16, 2013

"I've been on Wellbutrin for a year and a half now. I had been reluctant to admit I was depressed even though I was miserable. I was rude and snappish with everyone, unhappy with myself, and just wanted to die. Then I started Wellbutrin. Immediately, those thoughts in my head about what an awful person I was stopped. When I consciously tried to think about them again, I couldn't do it without my brain also coming up with all the reasons those negative thoughts were ridiculous and untrue. The only side effect I noticed was lack of appetite, but that went away after about three weeks. This medicine works really well for me. I feel so much more like myself."

• Tir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2015

"2 months ago, all I wanted to do was lay in bed all day & be constantly distracted. I was always tired & very irritable. I needed energy drinks to feel 'awake'. I had constant thoughts of suicide and always overate. Now after 6 weeks on the generic Wellbutrin, I feel like a totally different person. I have energy to last me all day, I am much happier and I actually want to socialize with people. I laugh more & never cry. I am so happy this worked... I had a rough life and couldn't stop feeling like suicide was my only way out... This medicine is the best thing that ever happened to me."

• Sda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2019

"This drug is amazing. It has lifted my depression, and I have endless energy. The side effects are even better - weight loss and increased libido. It is the only antidepressant I've tried that has good side effects."

• ste...
• January 26, 2018

"I started taking this when I felt like I was at the end of my rope and was frantic to find something to help me feel better. I had previously tried Cipralex and Effexor. I started at 150 mg XL and moved to 300 after 2 weeks. I noticed a marked improvement in my mood and energy within the first couple of days! I did errands that I hadn't done in months, cooked, and wasn't sleeping all day! The drastic change in energy subsided, but still I feel like it helps me wake up in the morning. It slightly elevated my anxiety at first, but that subsided as well. This medication worked really well for me."

• Hap...
• June 16, 2014

"I started taking Wellbutrin 150mg one week ago. I suffer from mild depression, but I feel like I am going through a rough patch in my marriage/life and needed something to change. I exercise regularly, own a business, and sleep well, but just didn't have that 'get up and go' that I felt others had. So, my doctor had given me a prescription for Lexapro that had horrible side effects right off the bat: heartburn, insomnia, and this kind of stressed-out feeling that made me VERY uncomfortable. My doc gave me a new prescription for Wellbutrin, and I take it the moment I wake up each morning. I feel happy, energetic, and ready to tackle the day. No insomnia, but I do have a reduced appetite. This may be just the ticket!"

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2013

"I started taking 150mg Wellbutrin SR about a month ago to treat severe atypical depression, and it has been nothing short of miraculous for me. The first two weeks were rough. I had some heart palpitations brought on by a combination of the meds and caffeine, so I had to stop the caffeine. I also had to work through a bit of insomnia early on, but that side effect has subsided, and now I actually sleep and wake well rested. For the first time in a decade, I'm hopeful. My negative thoughts are still there, but unlike before, I have control over them. I can manage them in a non-destructive way. Words cannot express what it feels like to know that you can, for the first time in so long you can't remember, function as a normal person."

• Opt...
• February 17, 2016

"I have anxiety and depression. I tried SSRIs, and they just masked the depression and caused sexual side effects. Wellbutrin XL helped me feel much better, and I didn't have negative sexual side effects. Best sex I've ever had on Wellbutrin XL. Now with the future I think about, feel optimistic about, and am planning for it. I don't have anxiety like I had. I am more philosophical, 'Tomorrow will be a better day.' I'm motivated to accomplish things. I wish I had found this med years ago."

• Chi...
• December 5, 2014

"Recently I retired from public safety. I should have been happy and content to have a lot of free time. My friends all said I looked rested and better than I had in years. What they did not know is how depressed I was and how much I missed the work and my work friends. Reluctantly my doctor prescribed Bupropion HCL 150 mg for seven days then 300 mg daily in the AM. After the first day, I was already feeling better. I just finished the first two weeks and I'm feeling so much better. Occasionally I still have negative thoughts. Side effects include anxiety and an elevated BP. I'm happy with the results and believe the medication has taken me away from the edge. I will post updates periodically."

• Tab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2017

"I am a 57-year-old breast cancer survivor who has been in excellent shape, trim, and happily married. After menopause, I developed insomnia, weight gain, and depression. I can no longer take estrogen due to breast cancer, which made me feel tired all the time. Thyroid medicine helped but not enough. No energy and lost interest in doing things. My doctor insisted I try SSRIs such as Lexapro and Zoloft, but I had bad side effects. I tried many supplements but not much help. I tried Bupropion HCL SR 150 mg. It worked right away. I take it early in the morning and have energy all day. I did not have side effects except for losing 2 pounds and experiencing insomnia if taken after 10 am. It changed my life! I've been on it for 4 months."

• Did...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2019

"I have been on other meds for depression, but Wellbutrin has been the best medicine the doctor could have put me on. This med has changed my life from night to day. I did not have the side effects with this one like I did with the others. I cannot praise this med enough. Before being put on Wellbutrin, I cried all the time, could not get my apartment dark enough, and I just wanted to be alone all the time. I can't thank my doctor enough for putting me on Wellbutrin. I have also lost some weight, and my sugar cravings are gone. Love Wellbutrin."

• dar...
• January 7, 2015

"I've been struggling with depression and anxiety/panic attacks since I was a kid. I'm now 36. I tried every antidepressant they threw at me from Celexa to Zoloft. None of them worked and came with side effects I couldn't handle. Weight gain and loss of sexual function. When my psychiatrist suggested Wellbutrin, I was afraid of more side effects, but I was desperate. I also take Valium and Klonopin for my anxiety, so I'm not sure if those might mask any increased anxiety, but I have to say, I noticed a difference the first day. I take 200mg SR in the morning, and I've got more energy and almost no interest in smoking, which is a bonus. It's only been a week, but I feel an improvement every day. I think I finally found the right one."

• Jas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2014

"When first taking Wellbutrin, my mouth became really dry, I got a few weird headaches, and I felt some physical numbness when I touched my skin. However, after a month the symptoms were almost non-existent and my depression and anxiety improved drastically. Also, my doctor prescribed it to me to help with ADD/ADHD. I noticed that my focus was also better. This may be simply because anxiety can cause you to lack attention and it fixed the anxiety, but either way it worked great for me."

• Ins...
• June 22, 2018

"After being on several medications and therapy for over a year and experiencing numerous suicidal thoughts, I had given up on life. I read reviews on here of people saying: 'Be patient and your life will change.' My life never changed and I was stuck in the same lifeless routine every day. I now take 187.5mg of Effexor XR with 150 Wellbutrin XL, and trust me, it took months for things to improve, but everything changed. Suddenly, life didn’t seem so awful. I began making goals for myself, and I wanted to get up and be active instead of sleeping my depression away. I do get slightly depressed here and there, but nothing so bad that I would want to end my life. Please don’t give up hope... reach out to someone you love and trust, they will help you get through this difficult time. And be patient even if it takes two years. It took me almost two years of suffering to get to where I am now. There is light at the end of the tunnel :) feel free to ask any questions you might have."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2013

"I have ADD, anxiety, and depression. I began 100mg once a day for a week then went to 100mg twice a day. You have to give this medicine time to work. The first week I was thinking of not taking it anymore because it made me feel so tired. But I'm so happy I stuck it out! My overall mood, attitude, and outlook have improved tremendously. My mood and attention are consistent, unlike when I took Adderall and would experience crashes. This medication has made a world of difference. I'm less anxious and happier."

• gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2023

"I’m on day 5 of Wellbutrin. I’ve had severe anxiety and depression for the past 10 years, and I’m 26 now. I’ve been hospitalized twice for suicidal feelings. Tried all different kinds of medications for the past 8 years. I had no hope anymore. I switched doctors this week after getting fed up with my old psychiatrist, who I felt didn’t understand me and couldn’t give me the care I needed. My new doctor understands me, and she started me on Wellbutrin this week. The first day of taking Wellbutrin, I felt relief. The fog of hopelessness was lifted, and although my situation is still bad, I now feel like I have the ability to overcome it. Now on day 5, I’m feeling much better, like I can actually focus more on the present moment rather than being stuck in my head. Side effects have included dry mouth, some stomach issues, anxiety, and insomnia. My doctor gave me trazodone to sleep better, which has helped. Please do not lose hope or be scared to try medications. They can help."

• Aut...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 12, 2014

"I relied on these reviews when I first started meds, so wanted to share my experience. I have been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg for about 2.5 years with extremely positive results. This is the first antidepressant I have ever taken, and I have been much better on it. No more falling through emotional thin ice 20+ times a day, no more crying, and hardly any negative thinking. Started on 150XL for about 1.5-2 months then up to 300XL. Experienced almost no side effects -- only a few occasional strange headaches in the beginning. Only side effect is constipation, which can mostly be mitigated with fiber and good eating. Exercise is still a must for me to feel okay. Before, post-gym I would go from -6 to 1 or 2. Now with Meds I go from 3/4 to a 9/10."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

"I have been on antidepressants for decades. My P.A. put me on Zoloft, and I took it for months with no effect. I asked to try Wellbutrin, as it helped me back in my 30s. Been on it three weeks. I CANNOT explain how bad the anxiety is. I cannot sleep. I cannot speak well, nor can I remember words or their spellings. Let us not mention that sudden feeling of rage and anger. Decided to do some research and find other people's experiences, and here they are. Many with the same issues. Perhaps all of this would dissipate over time, but I can't live like this. I will discontinue using it, and I hope that this helps someone. Please keep fighting, NEVER give up. I'm going to keep searching for the right cure for me."