Bupropion and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• AAn...
• November 13, 2014

Bupropion for Depression "I was on Prozac and felt tired all the time, still depressed, and no sex drive. I thought maybe the dose wasn't enough and I was going through menopause, but the doc put me on Wellbutrin. I'm with the person above, I cannot believe in one day I felt better. I thought it was in my head. I made phone calls I would avoid because of anxiety, I got things done instead of sleep, and I felt so much happier next to my husband. Day two I woke up ready to start the day, completely the opposite of what I had been experiencing. Everyone is different, and you just have to see what works for you. Prozac is in a different class, and I just needed this antidepressant."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2019

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "Wellbutrin has been amazing. I have anxiety, depression, ADHD & PTSD. It was hard getting used to this one as it amped me up a lot. Take with food as early as possible. The constipation and anxiety did subside. Now I can’t believe I’ve allowed myself to be so sad when this stuff even makes air blowing on my face feel incredible. Here’s what I found - after trying everything SSRI wise, if you have bad side effects right away, it’s not the right drug. Taking this Wellbutrin, I knew right away, was totally different. I did need Xanax to be a crutch with this at first because of the anxiety...but I was also tapering off gabapentin at the time so who knows why I was that anxious. So this is how “normal” people feel w/o depression...interesting. Lucky."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2016

For Anxiety "I was having really bad panic attacks, anxiety had me feeling like I was going crazy! I went to my doctor, he put me on bupropion 75 mg 2x a day. I started taking this medication 5 days ago and I feel that I can finally get my life back! I had a little anxiety for about 3 days, nothing major, but I'm feeling so good. I sleep well, I can think without answering myself, I have energy. I'm so happy my doctor put me on this. I pray to whoever going through this, I hope that you will find comfort as I did."

• Sti...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2017

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I take this drug to help combat Major Depression (had for 1.5 years). I have also tried Paxil (made me crazier), Prozac (did nothing for me) and Effexor (worked well but the sexual side effects were worse than the depression). I started Wellbutrin at 150mg and slowly increased to 300mg after completely titrating off Effexor, had to increase to 450 because MD came back. So, here is the deal - at first this drug feels awful (realize that most antis are like this in the beginning). I had to stick with it for at least a month and the extreme anxiety has always normalized. But OMG - this is the first drug that motivates me to get out of bed and face each day. For me it helps to balance my down mood & 'urge to isolate' and sabotage my day."

• Sam...
• January 17, 2017

For Anxiety "Just finished my first week on the generic form of Wellbutrin (bupropion 150 XL) and have to say the first few days were tough: dizziness, anxiety, and muscle pains. But now those symptoms have mostly gone away. I do feel amazingly clear-headed and have lots of energy. My appetite is gone so I hope to lose about 20 lbs if possible. I don't feel the need to drink at all (used to love my wine every night!) The strange part is most people talk about insomnia and vivid dreams. I suffered from those before I started this medication! And now, I sleep a full 7 hours, have no trouble falling asleep, and don't remember any dreams when I wake up! I really like this stuff!"

• Ron...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2025

Bupropion for Depression "This medication was very hard to use, there was stomach pain and acid reflux. Sleep was poor, and I couldn't sleep more than 2 hours without waking at night. I became very agitated with anxiety and sadness that would come and go very fast. The agitation became worse, and I was looking for anything that irritated me to lash out and went into a rage and confronted others. My heart was always around 100 beats when I was at rest. I also had very strange thoughts that worried me I was losing control of my thoughts."

• Gas...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 20, 2017

Bupropion for Depression "This medication is very activating without making me anxious. I take it for depression, but I also have general anxiety disorder and OCD. I was a little worried about taking it at first because one of the side effects indicated that it could make anxiety worse, but I didn't have that problem at all. It definitely helps with depression and lifting my mood. It's not a 'happy pill,' but it is good with getting and keeping you going and not letting depression ruin you and keep you from doing what needs to be done and living your life."

• Jan...
• March 7, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "DO NOT TAKE THIS IF YOUR PRIMARY ISSUE IS ANXIETY. I got on this medication because I was having trouble with anxiety and insomnia. My NP wanted to start me on Wellbutrin 150mg XL and I kept reiterating to her that I have no depression whatsoever, I’m just anxious, but she said it would help. Within 2 weeks, I was so nauseated, in a complete brain fog, my anxiety got so much worse, my heart would race, I was having panic attacks daily, couldn’t sleep, my mind was racing non-stop, and although I’ve never felt as if I had issues with depression, I was so depressed on this medication! I went from being very high-functioning with mild to moderate anxiety to completely useless on this medication. I called into work multiple times (which I had never done before - I’m a nurse). I couldn’t focus, was so disoriented, and felt like I was just floating. I stopped and feel much better after a few days and I got on a PRN benzo for anxiety."

• Jef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2014

Bupropion for Smoking Cessation "Tried quitting cold turkey and was so grumpy had to decide between quitting or my marriage, chose marriage. Tried Zyban, quit after 10 days, been a month and have not had any sign of grumpiness, withdrawal, or anxiety. I call them my magic pills."

• Anonymous
• June 18, 2009

Bupropion for Depression "I have recently decided to start Wellbutrin after 2 years on Zoloft. Although I felt the Zoloft worked well, there were some unfortunate side effects. I asked my doctor if I could give Wellbutrin a try (I had also recently picked up smoking again so I mentioned that). Well, here's the good news... my mood has remained stable (I simultaneously tapered off the Zoloft). I have been better able to focus at work, cigarettes tasted disgusting, and I have noticed a decrease in my desire to engage in compulsive activities. The cons... food doesn't really taste all that great, I'm extremely thirsty, and I was initially a little on edge at first (this has since gone away). The other surprising effect was a marked improvement in sexual response."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 1, 2017

Bupropion for Depression "This drug has saved my life! I have struggled with methamphetamine addiction for about 4 years now. The hardest part about quitting was the extreme depression and suicidal thoughts. They always caused me to relapse. My physician prescribed Wellbutrin and it has worked like a miracle. I have been clean for over half a year and feel like I have my old life back! My relationships are healing and my family feels like they have their son/brother back. I am back in college and passing my classes! I don't attribute all that to the drug. Counseling and AA were extremely helpful but I know it was Wellbutrin that got me through the horrible depression to the other side. Only upfront side effects I had were jitteriness and dry mouth."

• hso...
• April 24, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "Probably saved my life. This is the first antidepressant I tried as I was scared of some of the nasty side effects of the SSRIs (sexual, weight gain, tiredness). I was on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for 1-2 months and then have been on 300 mg XL for 3 months now. Getting on it was a little strange, as I had some side effects of anxiety at first, but actually have not had a panic attack since starting. Just know that it doesn't really help with anxiety/OCD symptoms (but I've been going to therapy for that). Really made me motivated to get work done (never been the case for me) without that craziness feeling from Adderall. Very consistently good mood and makes me want to be alive. Also increased sex drive + motivation for exercise is a plus."

• som...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2023

Bupropion for Depression "I started bupropion 75 mg and was on it for 10 days. The first days, I was agitated and hypervigilant, had problems with driving as everything attracted my attention, and felt a bit more active. I became careless and a bit arrogant. My empathy and people-pleasing behaviors lowered. I could socialize, not feeling inferior. Slowly, the medicine lost effect. The next 10 days were bupropion ER 150 mg. It gave me grave depression, I feel like I am in a cage, extreme depression, and I feel people are all monsters. I still have empathy, but no joy, no happiness, nothing. I can study, and my brain fog is gone. I can focus if I eat something. Now I am on 300 mg bupropion ER. Still very depressed. No joy. My kidneys are starting to hurt, and I have some breathing problems and nasal dripping problems. Super aware of my surroundings, studying is easy. I have lost joy, and I sleep all the time. I have a dull headache. I feel like if I continue, I will have a mental episode."

• Lif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2025

Bupropion for Depression "Before I started taking Wellbutrin, I was very tired, stressed, had difficulty concentrating, sad, and unmotivated. Within a week of being on 150 mg a day, I felt such a tremendous positive change. I sleep better too. Now I am actually looking forward to the rest of my life instead of dreading it. I feel inspired, more disciplined, and my mood is stable. I hope this medication continues to support me as a method in my toolbox to improve the quality of my life."

• Mam...
• June 21, 2013

For Anxiety "I like the medication, I feel better but not 100% anxiety-free. What I like about it is that now my mood is stable and I am happier, and most of chocolate cravings are gone. I still worry about things here and there, but it's much better than it used to be. I can say that I feel just like my old self (happy and full of life)."

• Emo...
• October 3, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "When I started taking bupropion 2 weeks ago, I was actually already on a weight loss plan and losing weight, but I was horribly depressed and had really erratic mood swings. I have always been an emotional eater, but I was getting that under control, and then I started bupropion 150mg, and I started to gain weight. Like this medication made it much easier for me to eat more and not less. My face acne is awful, and my anxiety is really bad. I'm not sure if these side effects go away, but I find it really puzzling that most people claim that this med helps them lose weight. Does it matter if you're already obese/overweight? Does it only work for a certain weight range? I was 260 initially, and now I'm 270. My mood has gotten better though, but is it worth gaining weight and becoming even more obese? Not really."

• Dri...
• December 22, 2015

Bupropion for Depression "I am making this solely because I remember looking up reviews of antidepressants before I ever took one and being terrified of what my life might look like if I started taking one. I took Lexapro for 3 days and felt like a zombie, and swore off antidepressants. However, my depression continued. Thankfully, my roommate, who is also a 21-year-old junior in college, told me about her positive experience. I feel like a completely different person now. The first two weeks, my emotions were all over the place, and my anxiety was high. Anxiety is still a factor sometimes, but it gets less frequent every week. At 5 weeks on Wellbutrin, my life has changed for the better. I finally feel like I can live the life that I was meant to. And I've lost weight!"

• Cre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2015

Bupropion for Depression "I've been on this medication a few times now. Gone off of it for several different reasons but nothing relevant to the medication itself. I've been on it for the third time 2 or 3 months now. I love it! I always have. It manages my depression, actually manages my anxiety and panic attacks, makes me feel content, keeps me awake during the day, has increased my sex drive and is just a wonderful medication. Works different for everyone. If you're scared to start it because of the reviews, don't be. I strongly encourage you to at least give it a try."

• Con...
• January 5, 2014

Bupropion for Depression "I've been taking bupropion 75mg twice a day for the past 6 weeks and I feel like I'm finally back to the real me. I'm 18 and have been dealing with depression, but this medication helped me tremendously. I was originally on Paxil, but due to sexual side effects, I switched to this and it restored my sex drive. I also have a little bit of anxiety, but this medication cleared that up as well. The first week was hard. I experienced heart palpitations, very anxious, ridiculous energy, and I was easily agitated. After the first week, those side effects slowly diminished and now I don't have them at all. That is the only reason I didn't give this medicine a 10. It saved my life. I HIGHLY recommend this to any who doesn't want sexual side effects."

• Ang...
• March 7, 2021

For Anxiety "Bupropion is not intended for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Unlike sertraline or fluoxetine, bupropion acts on dopamine. Dopamine is not indicated in anxiety disorders. My doctor prescribed this medication off-label for anxiety, and my experience was very negative. Not only did bupropion not relieve symptoms of anxiety, it also caused severe nervousness and paranoia, high blood pressure, fast beating heart, constipation, difficulty concentrating, increased anxiety, not feeling alert, having trouble speaking, tremors, shaking, headaches, among other unpleasant side effects. Even though there are claims on the internet that bupropion is an effective treatment for anxiety, it should never be given to individuals with anxiety. Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that blocks the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is not implicated in anxiety disorders such as panic disorder. Bupropion is intended for the treatment of depression, not anxiety."

• Tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2015

Bupropion for Depression "I spent a lot of time reading reviews, and it took me a while to even start the medication, but I finally said, 'Screw it, I'll try it.' After reading the reviews, most people said they felt better almost right away. So, after 2 months when I still wasn't feeling great, I started to get nervous. Then, 3 months approached and I started crying less and less, and I actually got excited to do things again, and by 4 months, I feel great! I'm so glad I stuck with it. If your depression is bad, this really can take up to 3 months, but don't give up! I did have to take Buspar with it because I'm just naturally an anxious person, and that helped with my anxiety and to balance it out. I now take 100mg of bupropion in the morning and 100mg in the afternoon, and it's just enough!"

• JXa...
• June 22, 2017

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I was diagnosed with depression and panic disorder in 2013. The first medication I was prescribed was Zoloft, which turned me into a zombie. My doctor then switched me to Effexor, which had way too many side effects from mood and all the way to affecting my vision. I was then switched to Lexapro, which was great at masking the depression but made me gain 30+ pounds in less than a year and literally have zero motivation. 3 months ago, my doctor switched me to Wellbutrin and it's made the biggest difference in my life. In the first couple of weeks, my anxiety was a lot worse, but that went away entirely and I haven't had any other side effects. My energy is back, and I genuinely look forward to the next day."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2020

For Anxiety "This is my third time taking a type of anxiety medication due to how severe mine is, and this medication seems to do the opposite of what I was told it would do. I feel less depressed, but my already severe anxiety is even worse now."

• abc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2015

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on bupropion XL 300 for around 6 months and I'm really glad that I stuck through it. For me, it definitely got worse before it got better. Around the second and third month, my anxiety had me on edge, and I had a very short temper. The positive definitely outweighed the negative though. I'm no longer sleeping all day, I finally have the energy to work out and carry out basic activities, and no more emotional eating. As a result, I've lost 25 pounds, and it has really helped me with my confidence. Not every day is great, but that's just part of life. I'm no longer irritable, and my anxiety is not perfect, but manageable. I finally feel like I'm taking control of my life. If you can stick it out past the 3-month mark, I think it's worth a try."

• HHa...
• March 1, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "I was on Celexa for a couple of years, but I flatlined and felt like a zombie. My psychiatrist switched me over to Wellbutrin. I was nervous to take it because it works with different neurotransmitters. Celexa works with serotonin while Wellbutrin works with dopamine. It felt like my eyes were being pulled up by magnets, it was hard to look forward, and I was dizzy. This subsided after a few weeks. My anxiety became way worse. Every day, I felt like all of my nerves were exposed. I overreacted to everything and caused a lot of fights. Then came the suicidal thoughts. I've struggled with these thoughts when I was off of meds, so to be flooded with them again was scary. These thoughts were invasive and more intense than I've ever experienced. Luckily, I was able to realize that it was just the medication, so I switched to Zoloft. Please be careful if you take Wellbutrin. If you get those dark thoughts, remember it is not you, it's the meds."