Wellbutrin and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2011

For Anxiety "I was put on a 150 mg dose about 4 weeks ago for mild depression/anxiety. I had dry mouth, headaches, spacey feeling, and nervousness, all of which added to my anxiety. I switched to 300 mg for 1 week, but the jitters increased, and I could have climbed the walls! Rarely felt like eating. It did not negatively affect my ability to orgasm (like Lexapro did), which was nice, but couldn't handle the side effects. Trying Cymbalta."

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2021

For Depression "I had to stop Prozac, which worked very well on me, but unfortunately started causing neutropenia and related skin problems. The doctor recommended Wellbutrin 75 mg for a week then to increase to 150 mg. Straight after the first dose, I developed hand twitching/tremors and felt, in general, very jittery. I could never increase it to 150 mg. I felt weird, one minute hyper, the next minute tired. Did not sleep or feel very well. I’ve been on it for 4 weeks and am really struggling. Prozac worked very well on me, Wellbutrin affects dopamine and noradrenaline, so completely different neurotransmitters than Prozac. I am starting now Vortioxetine, which is a newer generation SSRI with less side effects, etc. Hoping for better days."

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on a lot of different antidepressants for my anxiety/MDD. I was on a whole handful of different prescriptions for a while, trying to figure out what worked best, and no matter what pill I've been on, I've noticed I feel a little high, like I'm more outgoing and more talkative, but I can feel a buzz in my head, and I've also struggled with migraines/headaches on other pills (including this one which happens almost daily now). I have trouble focusing, I have severe panic attacks, I feel extremely anxious most of the time. My fiancé felt like it was ruining our relationship because the side effects are too much to handle. We went out to dinner recently, and I literally broke down crying, and we left the restaurant because of my uncontrollable mood swings. I don't know how I fully feel yet because it's been such a short period of time since I started this pill, but I know I don't like the side effects I'm experiencing so far. I'm not looking forward to weaning off these pills."

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

For Depression "I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 2 months. I take 200 mg a day. I’ve noticed it’s really helped with my moods, and I've cut back on cigarettes a lot, but I went from wishing I was dead to having a fear of dying. This medication has made my anxiety so much worse to where it’s impossible to fall asleep. I can’t stop having panic attacks. I never cared about death until I started taking this. I go to my doctors in a few days, and I honestly think I’m just going to go back to my 20 mg Lexapro! It’s really made me a better person personality-wise, and it’s my thoughts, but I’d rather be a real cow than have panic attacks and new fears."

• Nam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Even after 8 months of taking Wellbutrin 300 mg daily, Wellbutrin increased my anxiety from a 7 to a 9. Even though I'm not bipolar, I felt mean and irritable on it. It helped reduce physical symptoms of depression, such as sleep and body weakness problems, but it gave me way too much energy during the day. Now, the drug company is researching adding a cough suppressant to it. No thanks."

• Edg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed 150 mg of Wellbutrin after I had attempted suicide twice. It really didn't help me. For a while, I kind of just felt empty, and it didn't really help my mood. To be honest, it made me worse. My anxiety was at its worst, and I was still self-harming and thinking about suicide. This was definitely not for me."

• Iwa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 5, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been on Wellbutrin 75 mg x 2 a day for a week. I have CFS and MDD, SAD, as well as mild OSA. My sleep doctor suggested Wellbutrin because of its stimulating effects after I asked about Provigil or Nuvigil for my extreme fatigue and depression. The first four days, I felt like I drank 20 cups of coffee. Jittery, gnashing my teeth, tensed-up muscles, hard time sleeping, while still depressed. Not a good combination. After four days, the stimulant effect suddenly went away and was replaced by the worst sleepiness I've ever felt. An hour after taking the pills, I practically fall asleep. Drowsy and sleepy all day to the point of not being able to function at my job. Not sure if I can continue Wellbutrin for much longer."

• Hel...
• August 31, 2015

For Depression "I started Wellbutrin about 2 and a half weeks ago, and my anxiety and depression are worse. I am crying all the time, super anxious, and can't relax. Has anyone else had this problem? I take 30 mg Prozac and 150-225 mg Wellbutrin. I am scared to continue."

• gig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2012

For Depression "I was on this about a month and titrated my dose slowly. It might've started to improve my depression at first, but that didn't seem to last. It also probably increased my anxiety. It caused constipation and upper GI slowness as well that took three weeks to improve. It also caused a pungent feminine odor that lasted the entire time I took it, not just before my period."

• Moc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2012

For Depression "I started Wellbutrin after taking Zoloft for several years. The Zoloft was not effective anymore, though it had worked perfectly for a long time. Wellbutrin nearly killed me. I was more upset, anxious, and suicidal than I had been in years. For some reason, it just did not agree with me chemically. Afterward, I went on Remeron. That was an experience to read about!"

• Wel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2025

For Depression "Felt great but made me jittery and raised my blood pressure, so doctor took me off it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 4, 2022

For Depression "It’s worth a try. Easy to come off of. I’ve cold turkey quit many antidepressants. Insomnia will probably be your worst side effect. Sweating, agitation, restlessness, trouble focusing, and even increased depression and anxiety are common too. It’s an NDRI like Ritalin but much weaker and less selective. I think jogging, drinking lots of water, and an energy drink or coffee or two is more effective. Don’t expect much, but it’s definitely better than SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics, etc."

• btz...
• July 6, 2019

For Depression "Ugh, Wellbutrin. I’ve taken it off and on for three years, and let me tell you, if you have binge-eating disorder (BED), this is one of the WORST drugs to take. I don’t think it helps me depression-wise at all, and my anxiety just gets heightened to an 11. I’m constantly paranoid, like to the point where I’m a raging hypochondriac who is afraid of being poisoned and can’t leave the house. I had anxiety pre-Wellbutrin, but NEVER this extreme. The reason I don’t recommend this to anyone with BED (or people who fear weight gain) is because every time I try to come off it, I’ll go into a binge-eating frenzy. Like, I’m ravenous 24/7, and I can’t seem to get control of my appetite no matter how hard I try. Sure, it’s nice to go back on it and lose 10 pounds without much effort, but those appetite suppressant effects wear off quickly and it’s not worth the levels of paranoia (and in no way does it counteract the 20+ pounds I gain when I attempt to stop taking it)."

• Sqy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2017

For Depression "The first few days while taking Wellbutrin, which is not really recommended for anxiety, but the doc recommended giving it a try, were not too bad. Around week 2, I began to notice I was miserable, angry all the time, and just not feeling like myself! I am usually a happy person that laughs a lot and enjoys making others laugh! Wellbutrin changed all that! I was now a bitter and angry person that found fault with everything! I wasn't sleeping well, had slight headaches every day, and my head felt cloudy and foggy all the time! I wasn't able to concentrate, which made it difficult for me to function properly at work. I was no longer the happy, silly person I used to be! This drug totally changed my personality!"

• rog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2017

For Depression "I felt better on a lower dose of this drug. Once the 'minimum effective dose' was reached, I felt really jittery and panicky. Once I did my gene testing, I saw that for Wellbutrin, if I take it at all, a lower dose is required."

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

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."

• rob...
• December 10, 2016

For Depression "I just started taking Wellbutrin. Before, I was on Lexapro but became tolerant of it. So, the doctor prescribed Wellbutrin. The first time I took the medication, I woke up thinking I was in another state. And now I live in Florida... must have been a dream. Anyway, I'm not sure about Wellbutrin, and yes, I know it takes time to tell if it's going to work. I just wish I was not so anxious and had a scared feeling inside me. I don't like being alone, but I don't have a girlfriend, just friends that are too busy to stop by. But we are all around 57, 58, 59, and 60... so I guess that figures... Has anyone had good results with Wellbutrin?"

• Fif...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2016

For Depression "So my journey has been two years with depression/anxiety. Had two bouts prior... the first coming out of nowhere around age 40. The two times I went on Paxil and in 30 days I was normal. You can only imagine my disbelief when this third bout trying Lexapro, Effexor, and Paxil led to horrible fatigue within a week of each. I just couldn't tolerate the fatigue, and there was no relief. Incredible. Went on 100 mg of Wellbutrin despite it increasing my anxiety... requiring Lorazepam. For the past year, I couldn't tolerate more than 100 mg of Wellbutrin without terrible fatigue. A year later, I just got up to 150 mg without fatigue... no relief of depression yet. Also in therapy. Wellbutrin is better than nothing, I guess. Not sure what's next."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2016

For Depression "I took bupropion for about two weeks, and I didn't like the side effects. I can't sleep, and with kids, it's a big no! It's been about two weeks since I stopped, and I wish I didn't. I get anxiety attacks, I want to cry! And dizziness. I will visit my doctor soon."

• Sun...
• February 11, 2012

For Depression "I have incurable cancer and fell into deep depression. My doctor prescribed the smallest dose of Wellbutrin. I took it, and one hour later I was happy as a clam. I had been taking it for two months when I suddenly lost connection to the world. I assumed that the medicine had quit working, and the doctor upped the dosage. I am now jittery and unable to sit still, can't concentrate, and have no appetite. Not a good thing for someone in my condition, as I'm not supposed to lose weight. It worked at first, but now I'm thinking I need to get off it."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2011

For Anxiety "Have only been taking for three days. Have some headaches, nausea, no big deal. I don't like the feeling after my second dose at night. I have gotten panicky and felt like I was going to have a panic attack, but have not so far. I am mainly using this to quit smoking, and I see that it is triggering my anxiety somewhat, but I have already lost the urge to smoke and will quit on my quit date. I would rather deal with side effects for a couple of weeks than die of lung cancer and leave my children with no mother. Especially after losing my mother at a young age and my grandfather. I am hoping this will help my depression and anxiety after I am used to it. I can't wait to be smoke-free soon."

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2023

For Depression "I started to take it. I can cook, exercise, but I feel worried all the time."

• Cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2021

For Depression "I’m that patient that smokes, you know what... My doctor knows. This time around, being 20 now and taking this pill again, I’m on day 4 or 5, and my appetite is absolutely gone, even when elevated. But I think I’m feeling more balanced out overall, but when I have my anxiety moments, they are very intense. Too soon to tell if I could recommend it, but it has interacted fine with Mary J the past 4-ish days:"

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2020

For Depression "I had Wellbutrin for depression, it did help me extremely with my mood. It did cause me to become more forgetful and kind of empty-headed, but I felt alive again. It made me lose weight and stop with food obsessions. It did increase anxiety, but I weighed the pros and cons and was on it for a while because while the pros were weight loss and a better mood, the cons being forgetful and anxious weren't worth it. So I will be trying Prozac now. I was on 150 mg SR 2x a day."

• Jan...
• April 9, 2016

For Depression "I have had episodes of depression throughout my life. I have been on SSRI meds off and on. They never seemed to help, and side effects were horrible, tired, lack of energy, sexual side effects, increased anxiety. After my son was born, I experienced the worst depression and anxiety. After over 3 years, I finally went to seek help and refused to take SSRI meds. They first put me on Buspar for anxiety, which is a great alternative to other addictive meds. Then they added 150 mg of Wellbutrin once in the morning. The first day, I felt like I actually woke up for the first time in 3 years, had energy, but after a week, felt like it wore off too quickly. I am being upped to 300 mg XL and hoping I'll get better results. Still, best med I've ever tried!"