Bupropion and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2012

Bupropion for Depression "This drug was not for me. It's very stimulating. It made me aggressive, angry, and irritable. It had several unpleasant side effects, like headache, heavy head, agitation, and fatigue. Strange shock sensations in the brain, loss of appetite, unwanted weight loss, insomnia, broken sleep, nightmares, trembling, and dehydration. And with all that, it never lifted my mood at all. It made me completely dysphoric. I cried daily, screamed at my husband and kids, and hated myself and my body so much I had thoughts of self-harm. In the past, I have taken SSRIs and never experienced anything as negative as this. Although the sexual side effects on others were atrocious! That is one thing Wellbutrin didn't cause, sexual dysfunction. I am a 31-year-old female."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2012

Bupropion for Depression "This drug was not for me. It's very stimulating. It made me aggressive, angry, and irritable. It had several unpleasant side effects, like headache, heavy head, agitation, and fatigue. Strange shock sensations in the brain, loss of appetite, unwanted weight loss, insomnia, broken sleep, nightmares, trembling, and dehydration. And with all that, it never lifted my mood at all. It made me completely dysphoric. I cried daily, screamed at my husband and kids, and hated myself and my body so much I had thoughts of self-harm. In the past, I have taken SSRIs and never experienced anything as negative as this. Although the sexual side effects on others were atrocious! That is one thing Wellbutrin didn't cause, sexual dysfunction. I am a 31-year-old female."

• Jim...
• December 26, 2017

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD at 31 years of age, and I was prescribed 300 mg XL. It took about a week or two to really kick in, and at first, the medication was life-changing. I had motivation to get off the couch (maybe due to depression?), and more importantly, I could focus for the first time in my life. I was reading books - something I never could do before! My wife noticed a huge difference. My boss and co-workers noticed a huge difference. Six months after first being diagnosed and taking the medication - I still have motivation to get off the couch, but my ability to focus has reverted back to pre-medication days. Noticed side effects: vivid dreams, dry mouth, insomnia (although that has tapered off)."

• Don...
• October 4, 2014

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been taking 150 mg for 2 weeks now. I felt the effects in just a few days. I have a lot of energy, and it has increased my thirst. I've lost a few pounds. My only problem is sleep. I've been taking zolpidem for 3 years (5 mg) and it isn't helping much. I've taken a few other antidepressants in the past, and this has been the most effective."

• Anonymous
• December 28, 2009

Bupropion for Depression "I'm a 21-year-old male and I started taking Wellbutrin 3 weeks ago for seasonal affective disorder. The first few times I took Wellbutrin, I felt AMAZING. This is because Wellbutrin is a mild stimulant. This effect goes away. After about a week, the depression started to get better, and I increased to 300mg/day. As I'm now approaching the 3-week mark, I can honestly say I have never felt this good in my life. I had severe insomnia for the first 3 nights. I also experience occasional dry mouth. I had mild, intermittent nausea for the first week. I highly, highly recommend this. Don't use it if you have anxiety problems."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2013

For Smoking Cessation "I was prescribed Wellbutrin SR for the cessation of smoking. I had been smoking for 12 years. My doctor put me on 150mg 2x a day. Within the first 2 days, the satisfaction and enjoyment of smoking was gone. I would light up and take a couple of drags, but end up putting it out. It was no longer enjoyable. This works!! It also helps with decreasing my appetite. I am just now trying to find something to get that satisfied feeling that I had from smoking. I did notice some sleep disturbances for the first week of taking the meds, but now it's better. I also noticed some weird thoughts in the first week. But I feel much better now and have no desire to smoke."

• Me1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2018

Bupropion for Depression "I went on this medication for some low motivation. Within a few days, I had more energy and felt like I had a lot more motivation. It took me a very long time to adjust. Honestly, I was on it for 3 months and I'm not sure I ever did adjust. I got the shakes, twitched a lot (while awake and in my sleep), and constantly felt full of nervous energy. I had trouble sleeping and couldn't reach orgasm (I'm a woman). I know this drug is used to treat sexual side effects of SSRIs, but that's what it did to me. It actually made me more depressed to be on this medication. I also got awful brain fog where I'd forget what I was saying in the middle of a conversation. I felt like an idiot! Everyone is different, and I know people who have benefitted from Wellbutrin. This is just my experience. I went off of it and already feel much better."

• Ma9...
• May 13, 2016

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Heart palpitations, dizziness, night sweating, headaches, back pain, depressed and wanting to kill just about anybody was taking over my life at 50 (menopause apparently)... Wellbutrin saved my life - or somebody else's (-; No side effects other than difficulty sleeping, but that passed in about a month. No weird 'high as a kite' feeling. Just my normal self again. Taking one (150 mg) pill only in the morning."

• bik...
• October 13, 2011

Bupropion for Depression "I'm 29 years old, male on Wellbutrin 150mg SR. Initially, had nausea, but it went away after 2 days. I've noticed my sleep has vastly improved. I used to sleep 10 hours, sometimes more, and I still felt like I needed more rest. With Wellbutrin, I sleep 7-8 hours and wake up well-rested. Additionally, when 2-3 pm rolls around, I'm not begging for a nap. Concentration is much improved, mood is generally good, and I've lost 10 lbs. One warning I can give though is to NOT drink alcohol with Wellbutrin. It's not obvious at first, but the next 3 days it's back to depression, bad depression. Seems like alcohol blocks this medicine out. I can confirm this 2 times. Not sure if 3 hours of drinking is worth the 3 days of depression that follows after."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "I’m very pleased with the results after only two weeks. I have a lot more energy, I feel more social, and I don’t feel sad. There are side effects, however. I’m having trouble sleeping, I’m sweating more, and I feel a little irritable and kind of wound up. I’m having some trouble doing one thing and finishing it before starting something else. Also, I’ve lost about 4 pounds in two weeks and I don’t feel hungry. I am a little concerned that I’m looking too thin. But the overall positive effects outweigh the negatives for me so far."

• Itl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 1, 2015

Bupropion for Depression "I've been on Wellbutrin SR 150 mg for depression and anxiety. I was very hesitant to try another medication after negative experiences with other meds. I knew, however, that I needed more help than therapy alone, so I decided to give WB a try. Initially, I had some insomnia, nausea, headaches, and severe light sensitivity. However, these effects passed and were mild compared to how much better I felt. Within 4 weeks, I had more energy, felt less anxious, and the depression started to lift. I felt focused, peaceful, and content. All was well until about two months ago when some anxiety resurfaced (exams). The doctor tried to increase the dosage, but the side effects were terrible. So I remain on 150 mg, but still feel much better than my pre-WB days."

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

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "Coming from a very problematic childhood, I've been labeled everything from A to Z by psychiatrists and given a slew of meds. Wellbutrin, in my experience, has been beyond beneficial. At first, for the first week or two, I had slight tremors, irregular heartbeat, major insomnia, and headaches, but I dismissed them. I still have slight insomnia, which is why I take them when I wake up. But reading comprehension, multitasking, thought focus, and moods overall have dramatically improved! I'm one of those people that may have to take them for the rest of my life, but I'm not complaining =). One thing that does bother me, though, is dry mouth from Wellbutrin, but I take Biotene, which helps a bit. Enough to make it worth it anyways lol."

• Wel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

Bupropion "I am having a hard time focusing. I’m taking bachelor's, got full-time work, and I have a side business. I was struggling. I keep forgetting things. When I talk, I can’t remember if I already mentioned something or what I was talking about. I do a lot of self-talk as well, so weird. Sometimes I’ll find myself murmuring. I will be in a meeting physically, but my mind is somewhere else, they call it MADD, but I don't know. I have OCD too, and it worsens if I’m really stressed. My doctor had me try Wellbutrin... My mind is no longer like a computer with so many pop-ups due to malware, lol. It’s more quiet, no more random self-talk, and for once I am “here.” My coworkers noticed it because I was quiet and super focused. I was able to read books, which I never could. My OCD seemed to lessen. I can think clearly. My husband is grateful I don't randomly talk about anything when we work together at home. Symptoms I have, though, are insomnia and upset stomach sometimes."

• MsE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "I've been on a long list of medications for depression for many years, some worked for a while, some not at all. I reached my lowest point 6 months ago and haven't really recovered. I finally took matters into my own hands and asked the doctor for Wellbutrin, as the ratings looked overall pretty good. I'm on day 3 now and seem to feel uplifted already. I'm actually making plans for the day, which I haven't done in months. I'm still apprehensive to give a 10 rating, but I'm keeping hope. I had trouble sleeping, but no other side effects have shown up yet."

• Don...
• March 3, 2019

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "Good! There are big pros and some cons. Pros: big decrease in depression and slight decrease in anxiety, slightly increased sex drive, increased curiosity/motivation, improved verbal fluency and thought process, no weight gain. Cons: more aggressive, worse sleep, far more difficult to meditate/fall asleep, struggle to live in the moment due to amplified thoughts. I’ll stick with it as it does work, although the cons could cause me to discontinue. I’ve been on 300 mg XL for 2 months."

• Nao...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "Started taking Wellbutrin for depression and anxiety, and it has been awful! Started on 150 mg for the first three days, then went up to 300 mg. This was the worst thing to take if you have anxiety associated with your depression. I've always had anxiety, but not this bad! It made it so much worse, and I was paranoid, having panic attacks, and couldn't sleep. I will never take this again and do NOT recommend this at all."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "I was prescribed 75 mg Wellbutrin 2x per day. I've only been on this for about 2 weeks, and the side effects are awful. Insomnia, total brain fog, can't remember mid-sentence what I was even talking about, killed my ability to climax (I also take Lexapro 20 mg, which killed my libido), massive panic attacks, severe agitation and mood swings, and irrational thinking. I'm so sad because I really wanted this med to work, but the cons outweigh the pros 100%. Good luck to everyone!"

• Ree...
• August 31, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "Made me very irritable and gave me deeper depression whenever I took the medicine. Also kept me up late at night and didn’t help my depression at all. Quit cold turkey and am doing much better now. Best to stay away unless you seriously need treatment."

• Anonymous
• January 13, 2010

Bupropion for Depression "I've been taking 300 mg of Wellbutrin for two months now, and I am really impressed with how great it has been. I am way more motivated, feel happier, and quit smoking too. I find it much easier to go to work, and going to the gym is actually wonderful, instead of the incredibly difficult task it was before. I think that Wellbutrin works particularly well when combined with exercise. I have had a little bit of dry mouth and some trouble sleeping, but when compared to the benefits, the side effects are very minor."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2019

For Smoking Cessation "I didn’t start smoking as young as most do. I started in 2015 at the age of 25. I’m 29 now. I tried everything to quit smoking: patches, gum, hypnosis, even acupuncture. I felt like taking this medication is my last shot at ever quitting. Tomorrow, April 15, 2019, will be 2 weeks on bupropion (Wellbutrin or Zyban). I have now been 6 days smoke-free. And I feel great. No cravings, no withdrawal, no irritability. It actually feels pretty great. My clothes don’t stink anymore, my car doesn’t stink, and my girlfriend even said she thought I lost a few pounds (can’t drink while taking these meds, and I LOVE beer). The downsides to these meds are I do have trouble sleeping and have had some weird dreams. This makes me feel tired as well as constipated. Lots of coffee seems to help. I opted for this over Chantix, though, as the doctor said it has less negative psychological side effects. So I’d still recommend this if you want to quit."

• JKL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "I started on 150 mg for the first month and was raised to 300 mg after that. I began having weird side effects such as uncontrollable jaw clenching so hard it would give awful headaches. I also would violently twitch while relaxing before going to sleep. I experienced insomnia. Last, my sense of smell was very heightened and the smells would make me feel nauseous. I had suicidal thoughts even though I didn't ever want to do that. I continued to feel depressed, and in my opinion, it intensified my anxiety."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "Sadly, this drug didn't work so well for my anxiety/depression. I have been on Prozac for the past two years with fantastic results but some sexual side effects. I requested a script for Wellbutrin XL. I added this to 10 mg of Prozac. The first couple of days, I was full of energy and got a lot of cleaning done. I had extreme difficulty falling asleep the next few nights and had to resort to taking Zopiclone. Wellbutrin helped me to lose about 5 lbs in a week (with diet and exercise), and I had no desire to drink alcohol and made it very easy to diet. Ultimately, it was making me agitated, anxious, and angry. I was losing sleep, tinnitus was acting up, and I was experiencing eye pain. I may have continued to stick with it, but it made my sexual dysfunction worse to the point where it was difficult to orgasm even on my own."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "Sadly, this drug didn't work so well for my anxiety/depression. I have been on Prozac for the past two years with fantastic results but some sexual side effects. I requested a script for Wellbutrin XL. I added this to 10 mg of Prozac. The first couple of days, I was full of energy and got a lot of cleaning done. I had extreme difficulty falling asleep the next few nights and had to resort to taking Zopiclone. Wellbutrin helped me to lose about 5 lbs in a week (with diet and exercise), and I had no desire to drink alcohol and made it very easy to diet. Ultimately, it was making me agitated, anxious, and angry. I was losing sleep, tinnitus was acting up, and I was experiencing eye pain. I may have continued to stick with it, but it made my sexual dysfunction worse to the point where it was difficult to orgasm even on my own."

• lil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 5, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "I've been on generic Wellbutrin XL 300 for 12 years. I was trying to quit smoking, and this was recommended as it was also being marketed as Zyban at the time. For me, it helped with cravings and depression, and I've never picked up another cigarette. There are 2 things that bother me. I cannot sleep without also taking Trazodone. I just drift in and out of a light sleep otherwise. The other thing that may or may not be related to WB is that I have chronic constipation. I say may or may not because I'm scared to get off of WB to see if that's what's causing it. Different drugs work differently on different people, of course, but, like another person suggested, it also kept me from gaining weight until menopause. Hope this helps."

• cis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2017

Bupropion for Depression "I switched to Wellbutrin after a year of Zoloft, mostly due to weight gain (I'd gained about 20 lbs. in a year). I started taking Wellbutrin 2x a day with a plan to eventually increase to extended release, but the meds kept me up all night. I got maybe 4 hours of sleep a night, even with Zzzquil. My sleep was extremely restless, and I woke up about every hour. I called my doctor and asked if I could switch to the extended release version, but she said it would probably be the same situation. I did like how the meds made me feel. Very little depression, and I felt super energized and productive. Honestly, I was almost too wired; I was very jittery and almost a bit manic."