Bupropion and Depression: What Users Say

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I took Wellbutrin to help me stop vaping. A lot of reviewers quit within the first 2 weeks. For me, it was after 1 month. I was a heavy vaper after 2 years of quitting cigarettes. It was hard for me to find reviews on bupropion and vaping. The first week, I was anxious and had some irregular thoughts. The second week, the anxiety went away but I had horrible headaches. The third week, I had days where I felt completely down, and every day I felt sick and slept a lot. Just as I was about to give up and try another avenue, I woke up one morning 28 days in and didn't want to vape, and all of the side effects went away (except for the vivid dreams, but I'm okay with that). A few days later, I gave up vaping completely. 15 days today and it is as if I'd never smoked, and I did for 15+ years. I was nervous about being on an antidepressant at first because I didn't need it, but I feel 100% normal. Also, I do not snack to replace nicotine cravings because of this miracle medicine! Hang on!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Pin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2014

Bupropion for Depression "I started Wellbutrin SR just last week. I feel 90% better already. Previously I was taking Zoloft and after a year and a half, I felt sluggish, tired, hopeless, and just plain blah. I now don't have constant worrying, it helps with my OCD, and the things that bothered me before have just become basically no big deal to me. I'm happier, I focus much better. And my spirits are brighter than they have been in months!"

• 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."

• tah...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2014

Bupropion for Depression "I was taking this for depression for about 3 years, and it was a miracle for me. I stopped taking it when I lost my insurance for about a year. The result was a weight gain of 20 lbs and severe depression again. I've been taking it now for about a year, and the result is that I'm happy again. I lost 30 lbs and experienced an increased libido. I've never taken any other antidepressant besides Wellbutrin SR."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2008

Bupropion for Depression "I have been taking Wellbutrin for almost a month now and I have already noticed a change. I used to be this really upbeat, happy, positive person, and all of a sudden, I was tired all the time, couldn't sleep, was really sad all the time, agitated really easily, and also got snippy with people at the drop of a hat. My mom was the one who said I needed to go see the doctor and find out what was going on with me. I've tried other antidepressants, this is the only one that works for me."

• 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."

• JIC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "I tried for 2 years after a major life change to get my life back. All the SNRIs and SSRIs gave me the worst side effects, and I became more depressed, dizzy, had migraines, and felt suicidal. This wasn't me, and every doctor wrote me off as being a bad patient. I was ready to throw in the towel and tried a low dose of Wellbutrin, and OMG. 2 months later, I was completely myself, and 6 months later, I'm medication-free. Don't give up, keep trying. I thought my life was over, and I was a difficult patient. Don't let message boards or doctors rule your life. If something isn't working, don't stay on it!"

• Emi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "I am only on my 3rd day with Wellbutrin SR (150mg once a day for now) but I really feel good about this medicine already! I'm brand new to antidepressants but had been on Lexapro for 2 weeks prior to getting the Wellbutrin prescription, and I really did not like the Lexapro. With it, I had been having a headache every day, tense muscles, felt emotionally numb, was tired all the time, couldn't focus, and absolutely could not reach orgasm even having sex every day (which was extremely frustrating). Since switching 3 days ago, I have had more energy, more ability to focus, I feel happier about life as a whole, and I have been really productive with school work (I'm a college student). I also have noticed that I'm not feeling as hungry. Good feels."

• lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Wellbutrin about a month ago due to my extreme depression. My doctor and I talked about keeping me on my anxiety/depression medication (Lexapro) as well as starting Wellbutrin. I was eating excessively before starting Wellbutrin, and that was one of my concerns I shared with my doctor. I am on the 12-hour slow release, and it somewhat helps with my low energy levels/motivation, just depending on the day. I was about 215 lbs when I started, and I’m currently down to 201. I lost 40 lbs in 2017 and was 145 lbs, and then my anxiety and depression hit, and that’s when I had a real increase in my weight gain."

• 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."

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "Taking 300mg Wellbutrin XR, and it is already working after only one week. I have good energy, and do not feel like hiding in my room anymore. It gives me a floating feeling a little bit, but absolutely tolerable compared to the horrible depression I was experiencing. I am bipolar, and have experienced no mania at all. I am grateful for this med!"

• abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2021

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I appreciate this space and every person's experience. I've been 10 days into this medicine, and I'm sleeping better. Depression is horrible, the crying, fear of death, losing my family, friends, pets. I want to be happy. I read how many found happy. I want to know that feeling. I pray that my outcome is like many of your stories. Thank you all for the encouragement in your personal stories you've graciously shared. Abby."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2010

Bupropion for Depression "I use Wellbutrin XL and it helps my bipolar disorder and adult ADD! It gives me better focus, eases anxiety, keeps me from becoming enraged for no reason and helps me from getting depressed! I no longer scream at my family (very important) and I don't sit and cry for no reason anymore! This is a miracle medicine for me."

• Ger...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 16, 2018

Bupropion for Depression "I have had depression for as long as I can remember. My depression tends to be more physical: tired, trouble staying asleep, physically exhausted, and no interest in doing anything physical (e.g., I was an avid runner and weight lifter before). Wellbutrin XL 150 mg has completely helped me in every way possible. I’ve been taking it for over 2 years and I have more energy than ever. Although I still have depressive and anxiety cognitive patterns, Wellbutrin has helped me with my depression and increased my quality of life significantly."

• Len...
• February 18, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My doctor prescribed bupropion in combination with a few other medications as a means to help my obesity. It helped curb my appetite. However, I became increasingly irritable and depressed. I have a stressful life anyway, so I chalked it up to that for a while. The change was gradual at first. Then it suddenly seemed to get increasingly worse. It felt like I was on a timer counting down, and I was going to put myself out of misery. It quickly escalated beyond my control. It was like I was a bystander and something else took over my body, mind, and spirit. I was somehow able to break through to get help. I called the suicide hotline and was able to reach an understanding that it was the medication. I immediately stopped taking the medication and felt gradually normalized over about a week. After 1 day, the suicidal thoughts were gone."

• Raq...
• September 24, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "This medicine, Wellbutrin, just made me sleepy and irritable/depressed. Didn’t have any side effects like dry mouth or excessive energy. It kinda made my depression worse. Keep looking for the right med. It works for some, but unfortunately didn’t work for me."

• ctr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2020

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "After 1 week of taking Wellbutrin, I developed severe intrusive tinnitus. I have been off the drug for almost a year, and it has not faded at all. While obviously this side effect doesn't happen to everyone who takes Wellbutrin, it is frighteningly common. All of the doctors I've seen since then (psychs, ENTs, etc.) weren't surprised at all when I told them my tinnitus was from Wellbutrin. It has absolutely destroyed what was left of my life. I already had depression, anxiety, and insomnia, now all of these are 100x worse, plus suicidal thoughts. Again, I don't want to say 'don't take this drug' because all drugs have side effects, and I was one of the unlucky ones. But I would highly suggest something else as I would not wish this on my worst enemy."

• Fox...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was a full-blown alcoholic and drank rum and whiskey every night with thoughts of an abusive childhood for me and my brother. Then my brother passed at the age of 42 and left me alone with all the darkness we went through together. I felt I was alone in there now, and no one was with me. I had a few mental breakdowns, and I was sober for over a year, but I was in a dark place, and I feared my wife would soon leave me. Then the doc put me on these at 150 mg, I didn’t want higher. I told him I was in them for about 3 weeks or a little more, then I had another bad episode. Then they started to work, it just took a while. I see things differently now. I see the way the leaves blow in the wind on the trees, I hear the beauty and see the beauty of everything. My eyes are open now, and I crawled out of that dark hole and thinking about a better career change, financially, in which I was always too scared to do in the past. These pills saved my life and my family."

• Ive...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I have been on this medication for two months now, and I see a big improvement in myself. I was having minor panic attacks from time to time, and I was also depressed and lethargic. I was doing absolutely nothing around my home, just going to work and doing nothing else. Now, I have been working harder at fixing things around the home, and I even started watching TV with my wife, even the TV shows that I think suck."

• Its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2025

Bupropion "I am a woman in my 30s. I was all over the place. Couldn't focus, scattered thoughts, irritable, anxious, and impulsive until I got diagnosed with ADHD last year. I tried a few meds, went from a non-stimulant (Clonidine). I like Clonidine, but the problem with it is it really lowers your blood pressure, and I have high blood pressure. But if I ever missed a dose, my BP would come out higher than before I took the med, so that turned me off of that. To a stimulant (Vyvanse). I didn't like Vyvanse; it made me feel crazy and depressed. And then my doctor put me on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I noticed a difference in my mood within a couple of weeks. I was even able to get into a vocational school to do my prerequisites, and now I'm in a nursing program. My dose has upped to 300 mg, and I love it. I feel my moods are steady, I'm focused, and it really changed my life for the better. Just a real godsend! I highly recommend this medication to manage ADHD and depression."

• ano...
• April 7, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "I have struggled with depression and anxiety for some time now. I was initially worried that the stimulating effects would exacerbate my anxiety, and it did-but only temporarily. Wellbutrin XL 300 mg has been the ONLY antidepressant that has worked. I take it in combination with Effexor XR 75 mg. I was taken off Wellbutrin in an attempt to switch to Effexor only, but it became quickly apparent that Wellbutrin controlled most of the depressive symptoms. I stopped it for 2 months-both of which were awful. Within a week of resuming Wellbutrin, my depression began to lift. I still have bad days, of course, but the effects of Wellbutrin make me more energized and ready to take on the world."

• can...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2015

Bupropion for Depression "The doctor put me on Wellbutrin two years ago while in an oxy detox program. I also suffer from depression and general mood swings, as well as chronic lower back pain (thus the oxy history). I take 150 mg XL once a day before going to bed. I never had any side effects, I consider myself lucky to have found something that really works for me. It helps me stay stable, focused, and generally in a good mood. A few months ago, while on vacation, I lost it and went three days without it. No adverse effects other than less energy, and when I told my doctor, he said I might as well go without it then. I just took my first pill again last night. Going without really started to show... lack of energy, wow! Depression, etc. The first morning back on, and I feel much better!"