Bupropion for Seasonal Affective Disorder User Reviews

• Wid...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2015

Bupropion "I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for several years for Seasonal Affective Disorder, taking 150 mg once a day to 300 mg once a day, depending on the level of my depression. Every year, it has helped me. In the fall, I feel a sadness coming over me, and find myself sleeping more, getting out and doing less. When I start taking the Wellbutrin, within a week, I am back to my normal self."

• Val...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2013

Bupropion "I started taking Wellbutrin because of a Vitamin D deficiency and Seasonal Affective Disorder. It was like night and day. It took about 2-3 weeks, but I was no longer having crying sessions or getting angry over nothing. A Vitamin D supplement had side effects, so I had to quit taking it. I now take a multiple vitamin."

• mia...
• January 26, 2017

Bupropion "Seasonal Affective Disorder really hit me hard once I turned 20. I spent 2 winters completely and utterly miserable. I was extremely lethargic, depressed, gaining weight from inactivity, and just all around hopeless. After the second winter going through that hell, I said no more. I began treatment for SAD in the fall, and it has already helped immensely (along with consistent therapy). I have more energy, much less depression and hopelessness, and have not gained any weight at all (which is a big deal for me this time of year). One thing I will say is that an interesting side effect for me has been apathy. I feel a bit numb to emotions. But not depressed - just not as emotional. It has been kind of nice actually."

• Dan...
• August 18, 2015

"My real advice is don't hesitate to see a doctor and start medication. I regret not seeking help earlier. I'm not the person to take meds - no antibiotics or Advil. I struggled from the age of 15. I was never motivated to do normal daily things, I couldn't keep up in school, I had panic attacks, and I was always more sad and emotional than my friends. I was unmotivated and insecure. I couldn't control my thoughts - sad or paranoid. I consulted with a doctor and took Lexapro, I gained weight and the sadness went away, but so did the happiness. I was numb. My doctor leaned me off and put me on Bupropion XL 150 mg. I've been on it since for 3 years straight. Since then, I have graduated college, got a full-time job, and am living on my own. Beyond grateful for this pill."

• Ale...
• October 27, 2014

"I have had seasonal affective disorder since I was 19. I will be 59 next month. A new doctor added Wellbutrin XL to Prozac, and within ten days, I felt like a different person. I feel happy, really happy, for the first time since I was a teen. My carb cravings have calmed down, my anxiety level has improved tenfold. My energy level has gone up. This has never happened to me before. I'm hopeful it will continue. Even extra light did not work this well ever. This is the closest I've felt to normal in 40 years. Really, I should be dead. Thank God I'm alive!"

• No...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2014

"I have been affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder since I was in high school. For the last 10 years, the winter would literally cause me to become a different person. Finally, I got the courage to talk to my doctor and was put on Wellbutrin XL in July, well before the winter months. It has truly been a lifesaver. This is the first winter in 10 years where my mood has not changed at all from how I was in the summer months. I would give this medicine 100 stars if I could."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2012

Bupropion "I was originally prescribed this for seasonal affective disorder. I took this for about two years. I then went off. I have noticed that seasonal issues slowly began to reappear. I also noticed that my self-diagnosed ADD issues were really beginning to get the best of me, especially the thoughts running wild when I should be sleeping. I noticed an immediate change after going back onto Bupropion XL 150 mg. This has helped to keep me focused and has given me regular sleep ability again even though I am a second shifter. I am glad to have my life back."

• LDR...
• December 21, 2016

"Female, age 27, taking Bupropion XL 150 mg/day. Started feeling the effects of this medication within a few days (been on it for a month now); I definitely don't feel depressed anymore, which is great! Here's what it's been like for me: - Depression gone (feeling very neutral) - Obsessive thoughts gone (usually related to my body/desire to lose weight) - MASSIVE increase in sex drive - MASSIVE reduction of appetite - Vivid dreams - Irritable at times/very little patience - Benign muscle twitches (usually at night in my extremities). Doctor wants to up the dosage to 300 mg, but I'm happy where I am."

• Max...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 27, 2014

"I loved it. No sexual side effects, and it worked great for about 6 months. Then I started noticing that I would get very irritable after taking it. I went off for a bit and now back on for winter, and it seems to be fine now."

• Bil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 16, 2016

"It cured my seasonal depression, which had lasted from age 21 to age 49. But it will not work for people who take too low a dosage. Everyone should work with their doctor to find a dosage level that works, and it takes a few weeks at a dosage to determine if that level is or is not effective. I take 400 per day."

• Yan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2017

"Beyond grateful for this. Since about 19 years old, I've always become horribly depressed in the fall and winter. Work performance? Down the toilet. Relationships? Down the toilet. Taking this with regular therapy & anti-anxiety Rx (have anxiety too....what fun). It works FANTASTIC. Work performance is so much better, as well as my relationships with other people."

• axo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2020

"This is my first time trying this bupropion for seasonal affective disorder, and I'm on the 5th day and have never felt better! I tried Lexapro before, which made me suicidal (have never felt that way even while being depressed). I would say 9/10!"

• Uni...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 15, 2014

"Completely cured my yearly depression caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder with minimal side effects. Previously on Effexor, which helped only partially. Would recommend for anybody suffering from SAD."

• SAD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2020

"Dreaded the gloomy Midwest winters not for the cold or snow, but for the lack of sunlight. Impacting me starting in my 20s and progressively becoming worse, the only remedy was travel. Just miserable. Googled this drug, went to my doctor, and she quickly agreed this might work for me. I'm on day 20 and, wow, this stuff bupropion really works for seasonal affective disorder. I am only taking 100 mg, and it seems good enough, it started to work on day 2."

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2020

Bupropion "I started taking Wellbutrin XL at 150 mg, and 3 nights ago, I started to severely itch all over my body, starting with the back of my neck. I took a very hot bath to try to relieve the itch, but nothing helped at all. The next morning, I tried to think of anything that would have caused this terrible itch. The only medications that I am on are birth control and (was) on Wellbutrin. I decided to look up the side effects of Wellbutrin, and one of them was itching. The itching continued throughout the day. The next morning, I broke out in hives all over my body, mostly on my arms and chest. I had to schedule an emergency appointment with my doctor and had to take a cortisone shot, along with Benadryl 6 times a day, put on hydrocortisone 3 times a day, Claritin in the morning, and a double dose of Pepcid. This is my second day off of Wellbutrin, and I'm finally not scratching my skin off. If you know that you are sensitive to medication, I would stay away from this medication."

• Aid...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 26, 2022

Bupropion "For the first 5-7 years, this Wellbutrin worked 100% for SAD; the only side effect was memory problems, but it didn't matter because I was doing so well. I was taking 300 mg/day year-round. After 6 years or so, it started to not work as well. 450 mg helped for one winter, but the next winter it only helped for around 2 weeks. I tried going off it one summer (in case I had built up a tolerance) and felt 'blah' all the time, and going back on it, it only took that away initially. For the last 2 years or so, I felt that blah-ness while on 300 mg/day; a constant low-moderate grade depression/apathy/numbness, and mental emptiness too. It completely stopped working for SAD. I hope others who benefit like I did initially don't experience this too."

• don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2019

"I've had SAD since my teens and have tried to escape to the sun every winter, which has been really expensive and impractical now that I'm a mum of teens in my early 50s. I found out about this drug on an SAD website - it's not licensed in the UK, but my doctor prescribed it anyway. It's been brilliant. I have mild side effects (mainly the constipation), but I feel so much happier than I have in the past."

• odd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

"The first time I took 150 mg XL bupropion, it felt like I had sat in the sun on a windless day for an afternoon. No joke, I felt totally blissed out! It's been about a month, and I feel really lucky. After trying probably four other antidepressants to help with my SAD, this is the only one I've been on that doesn't feel like it wipes away a part of me or keeps me vibrating; I've never been on one that I didn't think I'd chuck before summer until now. I have ADHD too, but at the rate this has been working for me, I'm considering asking for a lower dose of my stimulants because since I've been on this, I feel like I might be able to train my brain to focus for the first time in my life. I have a quit day in mind for my vaping too and am excited to see the difference between 24 hours of withdrawals on vs. off this medication. There's no such thing as a miracle drug, but in combination with therapy, this has been the closest thing I've ever found to one, and I'm incredibly grateful."

• cew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2020

"Works well. I have GAD and ADHD. I also seem to be having Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I have taken bupropion on and off. I think I will stick with it this time, Adderall is too bad for the heart. I feel more energetic the second day I started 150 mg 2x daily. I also have less pacing starts and can multitask without freaking out."

• Jam...
• January 6, 2020

Bupropion "I had used bupropion XL three years ago for SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and it helped. I started again at the end of November 2019. After 4 weeks, it started to work. I would recommend starting to take it the first week that Daylight Saving Time ends, November 1 or even before. It might be best to start taking it when you notice that the days are getting shorter and it bothers you. I intend to taper down the first week of March 8 as long as I am feeling well. I cannot say it helps with ADD. I am taking 150 mg extended release."

• BRE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2020

"Been taking 150 mg bupropion for less than a month, and like the other lady, hornier than ever. Started within a couple of days, aggressive erections during the night, then they would last longer and longer without stimulation. Has anyone heard of taking just before sex? Already taking buspirone for anxiety. Thanks."

• lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2021

"Worst experience of my life. Everyone has different experiences, but I literally had the worst experience when I was on this pill. An article said the side effects would go away after 3 weeks, so I tried to push myself to get past the symptoms, but it was just so terrible that I stopped after two weeks. My insomnia got worse, I would hear loud ringing sounds, so I would have the worst headache when I would try to fall asleep... and I usually don't have headaches. I was very nauseous and lost my appetite to the point I lost 4 pounds in two weeks. I was even more miserable than I already was and super sensitive. I don't know how many times I cried those two weeks I was on the pill. I did not want to see anyone and just wanted to lay in bed all the time."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2008

Bupropion "I live in Northern New England. This medication has been a lifesaver for my SAD."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2011

"I had previously tried Paxil and Celexa and did not feel they helped me at all. This medication is more for my problem (Seasonal Depressive Disorder)."