Bupropion and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2021

For Depression "I started taking 150 mg about 5 months ago because I've heard it does wonders for people who are so depressed they can't get out of bed/do basic self-care. Immediately, I noticed the boost in energy it gave me, which was really nice. The first two weeks or so were really hard as it made me question my own sanity a couple of times until the medication would kick in after about 2 hours. It slowly started to mellow out and eventually I was bumped to 300 mg. It was fine for the most part, and the only difference I noticed is that I was able to do more in the day, SOMETIMES. Some days I would feel the benefits of it, and some days I would be absolutely drained and exhausted. It also made me lose a good 25 lbs. from not having any appetite. Recently, though it's gotten too much and made me extremely agitated all the time and almost manic, so now I am back to 150 to see if it works any better because I refuse to go on something that will make me gain weight like Prozac did. We'll see."

• Anonymous
• May 20, 2008

For Smoking Cessation "I have attempted to quit several times over the years but always started again. Chantix made me nauseous, this medication seemed much more effective in reducing the urge to smoke. Experienced a little insomnia, but recommend taking well before bedtime."

• geo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2016

For Depression "I started taking 150 mg Bupropion SR twice a day for severe depression in January 2016 after being on 150 mg Sertraline once a day for almost a year and having very little success with it. The first two weeks of taking Bupropion, I was constantly dizzy and nauseous, but I waited it out and after two weeks, I was fine. My depression didn't suddenly disappear like I hoped it would, but I found myself genuinely laughing and crying, which felt so good. Now I've been on it for around 5 months, and I'm slowly but surely getting better. I can function like a normal human and live my life now, and it's fantastic. This medication isn't widely used for depression in NZ (which is where I live), but it's definitely worth talking to your doctor about."

• LML...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2023

For Anxiety "I have been taking bupropion for about 3 months for anxiety, and it has worked very well. I had a rough couple of years due to the pandemic and an adolescent child who developed serious mental health issues. I found myself overreacting to every slightly stressful situation, even though my child, thankfully, improved dramatically over the last year. My doctor didn't want to prescribe something that had weight gain as a side effect, as I recently lost 20 pounds, and she didn't want to see my efforts reversed. I have, however, noticed some side effects; the first couple of nights, I didn't sleep well, and I also noticed a drop in appetite and a faster heart rate in those first few days, but these side effects disappeared quickly. The one side effect that has continued to bother me is really bad gas, along with occasional nausea/heartburn. I have IBS, so this might be a deal-breaker, but I haven't found much on when I might be able to wean off and still continue to reap the benefits of lower anxiety."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2022

For ADHD "Doesn't completely knock it out, but makes it possible to concentrate, as opposed to Ritalin which forced me to concentrate. I still jump from thought to thought, and task to task, but far less so, and am able to do a single task for longer periods of time. I'm also much better able to manage my daily activities, and things that need to be done (basic chores around the house, etc.). The executive dysfunction is pretty much gone (or at least greatly reduced). Had some stomach pains and nausea during the first week or two, but those seem to have pretty much subsided. I am eating substantially less, but I needed to lose weight anyway."

• Mes...
• September 12, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "I was started on WB XL 150 mg 8 weeks ago. The first couple of weeks, I had nausea, fogginess, and had trouble sleeping. This started to taper off at about the four-week mark. Last week, my doctor increased it to 300 mg, and I have had fogginess/dizziness. Since I've been on it, I've had some abdominal discomfort. Is this normal, and will it go away? Do you get the side effects again when it has been increased?"

• Dmu...
• March 17, 2019

Bupropion "I’m a 57-year-old male. I started Zoloft 4 1/2 months ago for anxiety disorder, 50 mg per day. During the first week, I experienced anorgasm, which I had never experienced before, but I had some other side effects, like a little nausea and a little anxiety. I had never taken these types of drugs before, so I only knew what I read in these forums. I think a lot of side effects were in my head because I was hypersensitive and hyperaware, because I had nothing to reference the feeling, both physical and mental sensations I had. After 4 weeks, the side effects had gone away, after 6 weeks, I felt good, and after 8 weeks on the Zoloft, I felt normal again, like my feet were in the ground. At week 6, I decided to try and tackle my anorgasm problem, and my doctor recommended trying Wellbutrin (Bupropion) along with the Zoloft. I started off at 150 mg, then moved to 300 mg. After just a couple of days, I had my first orgasm in a month and a half."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2022

For ADHD "I started using bupropion ZL 150 mg, and I didn’t even last two weeks. I was using it for more focus, but I believe if you have an anxiety disorder, it might be overstimulating for you. I had decreased appetite, nausea, headaches, and anxiety that turned into panic attacks 9 out of the 10 days I was on it. I was able to complete tasks, but being on edge from the anxiety, if I didn’t have a task, I would not be able to relax easily. It was almost like I would need to do something to keep the anxiety at bay. I was able to get in with a psychiatrist rather than my previous prescriber, and she stated that the medication is too strong for me. I am currently on a withdrawal plan for a week since I wasn’t on the medication long enough. If I wasn’t so anxious, I would have stayed longer on it, but it was unbearable."

• Blu...
• September 22, 2016

For Depression "I've been on bupropion SR 100 mg once per day for about 6 months now. I lost 30 lbs, but at what cost? The thought of food makes me feel ill. I'll be hungry, but when I see food, my body gets tense and I feel like I might vomit. The first few weeks, I felt slightly uplifted. I was more inclined to go for walks and socialize with friends and family again. I hit a plateau around week 5 and felt awful. I felt tired but unable to sleep, and I spent hours in bed every day. By week 8, I was seriously considering ending my life because I couldn't stand how I felt. Constant anxiety and tension, tinnitus, nausea, lethargy. I tapered down to one pill every other day, with the hope of quitting. Withdrawal was too much, so still taking it for now."

• 108...
• September 21, 2015

For Smoking Cessation "The nicotine cravings subsided significantly in just a few days. However, I experienced extreme side effects. Nausea, confusion, blurred vision, anxiety attacks, excitability, forgetting what I'm saying mid-sentence, constant overall discomfort, shaking, and trouble communicating with people. I'm on day 7 and I'm still in my 2-month treatment. The fact that it is affecting my brain chemistry this much does not sit well with me. They say eventually the side effects will go away, but if it's affecting me this negatively now, I'm scared to find out what would happen after 2 months."

• new...
• December 17, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "I was prescribed Budeprion SR for SSRI-induced weight gain, focus, situational depression, many types of anxiety, and PMDD. I have a severe medication side effect fear due to having a fear of nausea/vomiting. Since my research showed that SR had worse side effects, especially for nausea, I was scared to take it. I asked for XL, but my psych wanted me on 100 mg SR. I found it amazing. I did have some nausea at the start, but nothing I couldn't handle and took a Gravol as needed. I had some energy back again, laser-like focus, motivation, it didn't worsen my anxiety. I felt good. My PMDD disappeared. It did cause constipation, though. My doctor wanted to increase me up to 150 mg before she left town for a month and gave me XL. I hated it. I felt so exhausted and lost my focus. I felt down. No motivation. I had insomnia. My PMDD came back, and along with that came suicidal thoughts. Back on SR again now (100 mg bid) and feel so much better."

• Cow...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am a 23-year-old female. I did not notice a valuable difference in my depression while taking this drug, bupropion. Adjusting to the med was awful—my face was numb, I was dizzy and nauseated, my head felt so bad. That went away within a few weeks. My doctor bumped my dosage up to 300 mg, and I still did not feel anything significantly change. The one side effect that I experienced non-stop was sweating. I was just constantly sweaty and hot and flushed. Not that everyone will go through exactly what I did, and I am certain it is worth a shot for a lot of people."

• ser...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 21, 2021

For Depression "I was prescribed Wellbutrin (Bupropion) about 6 years ago for depression, anxiety, and lack of focus. I tried many SSRIs before this and had terrible side effects with them. The first 2-3 weeks on the medication for the first time left me with intermittent bouts of nausea and feeling like my nerves and stomach were on edge, almost like when you are super anxious just before a job interview, for example, almost like you are slightly shivering, where you feel all your muscles and stomach tensed up to the point they're shaking. That's where the nausea comes in. After the 2-3 weeks for the first time taking it, I felt totally fine. 6 years later, I'm taking 300 mg and found the perfect balance when combined with 10 mg of Buspirone to counteract any anxiety side effects Bupropion causes. Bupropion seems to have made me feel more focused and removed my depression without making me not feel like myself. This drug has been a miracle for me."

• Bac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started gradually but now at the max dose 450 mg XL. Didn’t have side effects until I got the highest dose: two weeks of nausea and dizziness, and I slept 15 hours on the weekend. No side effects after two weeks. It worked for me. I was prescribed it to treat my major depressive disorder and ADHD. These are the first drugs I’ve tried for both conditions. All emotional eating stopped. I still occasionally get sad, but it lasts hours instead of weeks. Improves focus. Helps me get out of bed in the morning. Every day. I got back to my favorite activities and am trying new things. Clear-headed."

• tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2021

For ADHD "An absolute NIGHTMARE drug. I've been on it for two months, and every waking hour has me contemplating suicide. I can't eat because my appetite is gone, and I have constant nausea. I can't experience an orgasm at all, and I can't go more than an hour without sobbing. My life has been a living nightmare since I started it."

• ibe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2017

For Depression "I began a 150 mg dosage once a day of bupropion 4 months ago. The first week was a bit rough with the side effects, but nothing I couldn't push through. On day 3, I felt a little dizzy and nauseous, no energy, but it only lasted 1 day. The rest of the first week, I experienced insomnia, couldn't shut off my brain at night, and increased ringing in my ears. The only remaining side effects after 4 months are ringing in my ears and very slight insomnia, which I take an OTC sleep aid for. The benefits far outweigh the side effects for me, but everyone's chemistry is different. Positive side effects are weight loss, feeling less irritated, a positive outlook, and easier management of my sadness."

• chl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2013

For Depression "I just started bupropion hydrochloride XL 300 mg today. I was diagnosed with depression about 5 years ago and prescribed Zoloft. I took it for about a week. Zoloft made me feel awful (created anxiety attacks), so I stopped taking it, thinking, 'I can handle this.' Well, it came back and worse. I started crying uncontrollably with ruminating thoughts as well as aggression. But I still refused to admit that I was depressed. Well, I finally discussed my thoughts and feelings with my doctor and was prescribed Wellbutrin, however, I was given bupropion with my insurance plan. Some constipation and nausea, but I can control my emotions a little better. Thanks for your comments. They were helpful."

• Pas...
• May 4, 2015

Bupropion for Depression "Was prescribed a Paxil and Wellbutrin combo twelve years ago, and the effects fell away over time. Dr. kept Wellbutrin, dropped Paxil, and replaced Paxil with a series of meds that increased anxiety, made concentration super hard, and I felt constantly nauseous. Starting tomorrow on only Wellbutrin XR. I'll report back. I really need to feel better."

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2015

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I started taking Wellbutrin 300 (150x2). Benefit: speed, biting nails. Calm mind, no racing thoughts. Well rested. Pain managed much better. Great focus versus lots of racing thoughts and too much happening at once. Stabilized mood. Generally calmer. Negative: felt like I was going to have a stroke (I've had a few before, unrelated). Hard to think, have full thoughts, twitchy, nausea, vomiting, headaches, irritated easily, out of body, always hard to swallow, vertigo, hard to swallow/speak, flushed warm feeling. Didn't feel like myself, though that could be because despite the negatives, so many things were much better. Going to try something else. Side effects were too much to justify and had a 'bad feeling' from taking it. Great drug if minimal SE's."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Wellbutrin for 6 weeks now. The side effects are absolutely debilitating. I still get the vivid dreams, insomnia, nausea, and headache. I need to know if it has taken longer for anyone for it to start working. I started at a 150 mg SR dose for a week then bumped to 300 mg XL. Please, I need answers."

• And...
• May 11, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Was on Paxil for 2 years and felt it wasn't working anymore, and I was becoming depressed again and having obsessive-compulsive thoughts. Switched to the generic brand called Mylan-bupropion and lasted 4 days. Was extremely suicidal and couldn't stop crying. My throat closed up, and I was so nauseous. Stopped taking it immediately, the feeling of wanting to kill myself went away. Throat is still hurting, and it feels like I have the flu. This was definitely not the right meds for my system."

• BPD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2022

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I was having a very bad experience with venlafaxine, previously to bupropion, meaning extremely irritable, suicidal ideation, and self-harm compulsions, etc. So I tapered off it and switched to Zyban 150 mg. I have been through a lot of antidepressants and a lot of subsequent activation syndromes, but this is definitely the worst. About 6 days in, I felt extremely ill: drenching night sweats, low blood pressure manifesting as constant dizziness, and the inability to regulate my body temperature. I had a lot of nausea, which could only be offset by lying down in a dark room all day. I just wanted to sleep to prevent these side effects. As for mood, just extremely tearful (mainly about the ongoing 3 months of bad experiences with medication and then why now I felt like what I can only imagine chemo side effects to feel like, and I am not saying that lightly). Fast forward to day 11, I am still getting bad dizziness and fatigue, etc., with little change to mood. My appetite has also increased."

• Meg...
• September 13, 2009

Bupropion for Depression "A 57 y/o highly skilled mental health executive, usually patient and steady. I'd become increasingly fatigued, short-fused at work/home. Started Budeprion a month ago. First 3 days 150 mg, then 150 2x/day. Side effect - nausea. Cut back for a week to 150 once p/day. Up to 300 a week later. No nausea. Still moderately fatigued but enjoying exercise again. I'm no longer dismissing my stressors as part of life. I'm laying boundaries, which in itself is a stressor. I had an outburst this week at work due to disgust with the unacceptable volume of work. But I vented in a safe place. I have confidence in myself, employer, and family (whose expectations have been unreasonable) that the adjustment will have a positive outcome."

• jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2017

For Depression "I find Bupropion to be helpful in getting me out of bed in the morning and helping with everyday mood, however, I do experience intense anxiety (often at night), insomnia, and occasional nausea. I started on 100 mg and, one month ago, increased to 150. My gene test results showed that the medication was a good match for me, but I am struggling with these side effects. The nausea may not be related to Bupropion, but I have noticed a pattern with the anxiety and sleeplessness. If anyone has any suggestions on managing these side effects, I would really appreciate any help."

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

For Seasonal Affective Disorder "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."