Bupropion and Irritability: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "I have been taking 300 mg for a few weeks now, and I have to say this medication has definitely improved my quality of life. Such a big change from when I was trying Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, etc. Wellbutrin XL helps control my gloominess, anxiety, and even my appetite. I am more motivated to do things during the day. The biggest side effect for me right now is that I am more snappy and aggressive when I get angry, hopefully that will subside."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2020

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I started Wellbutrin after taking Zoloft for about 6 months but had to stop because I gained 30 lbs in 3 months and was retaining water like crazy. Wellbutrin definitely stopped the water retention, and I’ve lost about 6 pounds since starting it about a month ago. Unfortunately, I have to stop taking this one too. I was hoping this would be the one— I’ve been back and forth on a lot of meds, but nothing has worked. I felt severely angry and would lash out. I’ve never been that way. I am convinced this medication has caused me to have anger problems when I never had them before. Coming off the medication hasn’t been great, super emotional, tired, lots of headaches, and irritability, but after day 12, I’m finally feeling better."

• LCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "I had every bad side effect, and it crept up over time. Insane migraine headaches, stomach pain, nausea, ear pain, ringing in the ears, vision problems, vertigo, suicidal thoughts. I also had very frequent urination. The agitation and angry outbursts were really frightening. I was completely fine for 3 months, so I didn’t make the connection between the drug and the symptoms at all. I went to doctors for headaches and my bladder, and even for allergies, until I figured it out myself. I finally thought to myself, what did I start doing differently in my life? It was the Wellbutrin. I called my psychiatrist and told him my symptoms, and he told me to stop taking it immediately. I’m glad I figured it out. I really don’t think anybody else other than myself would have. It has been a really rough few weeks with this pain. I felt almost immediately better when I stopped the medication."

• Wha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 23, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I LOVE THIS MEDICATION!! After trying Lexapro, which ended up not working at all (I found out I genetically don’t respond to SSRIs), my psychiatrist prescribed 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion HCL). This is the only thing that was able to pull me out of a deep depression! Before this medication, I had constant suicidal ideation and would always be upset, having crying episodes. I would hate everyone and everything. Even though I still experience a little irritability from time to time, I’ll take it over the symptoms I was experiencing before. I did have to bump up my dose to 300 mg, though, eventually, because I was still experiencing breakthrough symptoms on 150 mg. This medication combined with Lamictal changed my life!!! Currently, this is the best I’ve ever felt."

• Blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2019

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on 300 mg Wellbutrin (WB) for 6 months. I was in a deep depression, and WB gave me the drive to get out of bed and out of the house. The physical symptoms of depression were greatly reduced - more awake, alert, increased sex drive, normalized cognitive function. However, it made me feel very uncomfortable - wound up, agitated, irritable. I didn’t like the person I had become. It was almost as if my ego had been amplified tenfold. I reduced to 150 mg and felt immediate relief from the restless energy, which was worsening my emotional state. I am considering discontinuing."

• Blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2019

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on 300 mg Wellbutrin (WB) for 6 months. I was in a deep depression, and WB gave me the drive to get out of bed and out of the house. The physical symptoms of depression were greatly reduced - more awake, alert, increased sex drive, normalized cognitive function. However, it made me feel very uncomfortable - wound up, agitated, irritable. I didn’t like the person I had become. It was almost as if my ego had been amplified tenfold. I reduced to 150 mg and felt immediate relief from the restless energy, which was worsening my emotional state. I am considering discontinuing."

• 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."

• dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "I'm nasty with Wellbutrin, irritability is a side effect, so my dosage was cut in half. Seemed okay for a short time, not back to the nasties. Seems occasionally some days I'm okay for a short time, about 1-2 hours, then back to being irritable. Can't even stand myself. Such a hard day trying to suppress the anger for the sake of others. This alone is causing depression symptoms."

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "I started on Wellbutrin XR 150 mg on June 20th. Was doing okay, nothing great, but maybe a slight change in my mood. Started the 300 mg on July 20th. Yep, I know I've only taken 4, but I am terribly irritable, frustrated, almost looking for an argument. I don't think I'm being too dramatic about the way I'm feeling and don't know if I need to see my doctor. Something just isn't right since starting on 300 mg."

• Miz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 10, 2016

For ADHD "I've been on 200 mg bupropion (regular release, not SR/XR) total for over 5 years, along with an SSRI. I have depression and ADD. The bupropion helps the focus, though it can make me feel impatient and irritable when it 'peaks.' I like it because it helps with the depression, ADHD, and restless legs and helps offset the negative effect of SSRIs on libido. It does make intrusive images/thoughts worse. I will have sudden mental images of violence (for instance, suddenly getting slammed into by another car while driving), but I'm used to my brain being a pest, so I let it roll off me. Helps with motivation, planning, and organization. Can cause dry mouth and slight ringing in the ears."

• 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."

• Stv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "I tried Bupropion SR generic first. It worked well for depression and rid me of my feelings of despair and hopelessness, but it made me very irritable, and I was up and down all day. I switched to genuine Wellbutrin XL, and what a difference! I can only assume the coating on these is superior, as my irritation is completely gone, and I feel leveled out all day. I was given Citalopram first and lasted four days on it. I felt spaced out mentally, but the sexual side effects were too much to deal with, none of those with Wellbutrin, in fact, the opposite. I was at the end of my tether, this medicine makes me feel normal."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2022

For Borderline Personality Disorder "End-of-life experience with a borderline personality mother, with narcissistic tendencies. She developed dementia, heavily colored by her BPD. Her reasoning and logic abilities diminished greatly, along with certain memory issues. But her powers of communication and manipulation remained Oscar-worthy, even though she’d forget what lies she told to whom. If her inconsistency was pointed out, she’d rage. She truly loved being as cruel as possible to people when angry. Anger was frequent, tantrums embarrassing and infantile but terrifying. Then diagnosed with terminal cancer. The meds to calm elderly agitated patients made her more agitated. Several meds tried. Her mood swings were so frequent and extreme, it was like having four different patients. Finally requested Wellbutrin/Bupropion out of desperation. It made a big difference, helped other meds to work better, bringing relief to her anxiety, anger, tantrums, and sanity back to us. Her swings were less dramatic and frequent."

• 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."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2022

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I've been on Wellbutrin for over a year now. I stopped taking it at first because of the side effects (I was on 200mg), and I had gone through a pretty big life-changing period. I left my dead-end job and left my deadbeat boyfriend. I started to get very unstable again, going through very self-destructive bouts of depression and anger. I started again on 200mg, I basically became a zoned-out blob and went back down to 100mg SL. For the first week, I didn't eat, I had migraines, I was very irritable and twitchy. I was nauseous, constipated, restless, and had constant heart palpitations and dizziness. The bad side effects go away, I promise, it's so worth it. After a few weeks, one by one the side effects went away. I can now keep a regular sleeping schedule, my previous fear of food contamination is no more, and I can eat. I feel hopeful, I got myself a full-time job, I got into university, I feel I finally have a future. Unfortunately, though, I am super underweight, and it is not helping."

• 17 ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 16, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "So, I'm 18, and I was prescribed this medication about a year ago, but it was the generic brand of Wellbutrin 100 mg. Now I am on Wellbutrin 150 mg. Ever since I have been on this medication, I have become so irritable with everything. I'm not sure why. But it seems like every little thing sets me off, and I can't stand anyone. It's to the point that I'm starting to get in trouble with my parents, my boss at work, and even sometimes at school... I get so aggravated with everyone and everything. It has caused me very bad anxiety. I have an appointment scheduled with my psychiatrist in 3 days, and I am going to be lowered off of this medication. It has been the worst experience with medications I've had. It's made me miserable!"

• 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."

• Rob...
• September 1, 2022

Bupropion "By far the best antidepressant I've ever tried. The other two were Lexapro and Zoloft. Both left me foggy, and I always felt a bit disconnected from the flow of things, especially socially. Started Wellbutrin, and literally within a couple of days, felt amazing. The first thing I noticed was this excited feeling of wanting to jump out of bed to start the morning. Super motivated to get stuff done, following through on projects. Dancing to music while cleaning the house type of stuff. And it lasted all day. Life changing. Find the right dose for you. It works pretty quickly once dialed in. Note: Before starting Wellbutrin, I had what I would call moderate depression (of the unproductive and slow-moving kind) and a bit of social anxiety. I did have panic attacks, and sometimes I was agitated for no reason. I give Wellbutrin an A+ with gold stars. 10/10."

• chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "Third day on Wellbutrin and so far so good, except for the side effects. I get headaches, angry and snappy over silly things, ringing in my ears. Those are the main side effects, and they're inconsistent, up and down all along. I feel mentally alert and creative. And actually look forward to doing things. I haven't felt like that since I was a kid! Oh, and my sex drive has increased. I found I have been eating more food, probably because I've been more creative cooking in the kitchen. Just not sure if I'm into being angry/snappy with my toddler around. Hopefully that side effect subsides."

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2010

Bupropion for Depression "I've been on Wellbutrin for 3 weeks. For the first 2 weeks, I had a few side effects: grogginess, kind of spacey, nausea, and weight loss because I wasn't hungry. I did notice some changes in my mood. I was less anxious and less depressed, but it wasn't the miracle that took effect immediately like I had read in some reviews. I read a review that was helpful, it said to stick it out for the first 4 weeks of side effects, and you'll be happy with the results, so I am. The side effects have worn off for me by the end of week 2. There is one unexpected side effect-irritability. I'd say it's comparable to PMS. Little mishaps can get my blood boiling, like spilling something, and it's hard to cool down. I never was like that before, but it seems to be subsiding as well. So we'll see!"

• cat...
• June 8, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "I just started taking Wellbutrin XL 300 mg recently after being off of it for almost a year. During that year, I found myself dropping my kids off at school and coming home and sleeping all day. I stopped taking it because my insurance would no longer cover the brand name. After being on and off of this drug for many years, I can tell you there is a HUGE difference between generic and brand. When I took bupropion, I was very short-tempered, irritable, and my hair started to fall out! This is not listed as a side effect, and my doctor and pharmacist also assured me this is not a known side effect. After some research, I found many women have hair loss on bupropion. For me, it's worth the $ to pay for brand name."

• LDR...
• December 21, 2016

For Seasonal Affective Disorder "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."

• Pin...
• November 19, 2014

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and have also suffered the loss of my family. I had 5 major surgeries in one year and have attempted suicide several times. I've been on a variety of meds and have watched my weight balloon from 140 to 240 lbs because of these medicines. Am I better because of Wellbutrin? Maybe at first, and it is easier to move my life along. Side effects: itching that drives me nuts, no sex drive, I've only been able to drop 40 lbs, can't sleep, agitated really easily over stupid stuff, crying at the smallest thing. Yes, I still have days I don't want to get out of bed, but after a while, I finally do. No suicide thoughts right now, which is good."