Wellbutrin and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Fee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2016

For Depression "My daughter suffered from depression and anxiety and had tried SSRIs. We thought this might help give her more energy and feel better since it affects dopamine. However, over the summer, her anxiety got worse. At college, her anxiety got even worse. She became paranoid and even started hearing voices. She ate very little and slept very little. She stopped going to classes and had suicidal thoughts. She called me and said she felt constantly 'jittery,' so I told her to get off the drug. Basically, it increased her energy and made her mood much worse. I don't recommend this for someone who suffers from anxiety since it affects norepinephrine - the fight or flight response."

• Fee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2016

For Depression "My daughter suffered from depression and anxiety and had tried SSRIs. We thought this might help give her more energy and feel better since it affects dopamine. However, over the summer, her anxiety got worse. At college, her anxiety got even worse. She became paranoid and even started hearing voices. She ate very little and slept very little. She stopped going to classes and had suicidal thoughts. She called me and said she felt constantly 'jittery,' so I told her to get off the drug. Basically, it increased her energy and made her mood much worse. I don't recommend this for someone who suffers from anxiety since it affects norepinephrine - the fight or flight response."

• 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)."

• Stu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2022

For Depression "This drug made me nuts. I took it for anxiety and depression, and it multiplied the anxiety by a factor of 10. It was like a hand reached down from the sky, grabbed me by the throat, and scared me witless. I could not calm myself down. I felt doomed. I was so scared I became jumpy and angry. Like, furious. The literature all says these symptoms may fade, so I kept taking the pills for 2 weeks until my husband was exhausted by this frantic woman I had become. I stopped cold and felt normal again almost immediately. So don't feel you have to stay with it!"

• Stu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2022

For Depression "This drug made me nuts. I took it for anxiety and depression, and it multiplied the anxiety by a factor of 10. It was like a hand reached down from the sky, grabbed me by the throat, and scared me witless. I could not calm myself down. I felt doomed. I was so scared I became jumpy and angry. Like, furious. The literature all says these symptoms may fade, so I kept taking the pills for 2 weeks until my husband was exhausted by this frantic woman I had become. I stopped cold and felt normal again almost immediately. So don't feel you have to stay with it!"

• oka...
• June 14, 2010

For Depression "I went on the 300 XL version for about 1.5 years when I was in college. It improved my motivation, concentration, energy, and mood, but I had hallucinations. Also, I did have a few severe major depressive episodes while taking it, but my rebound back to 'normal' was quick. I stopped taking the medicine for about a year - turned into the most severe episode of depression. When I went back on it, started at 150 mg SR - no problems, then back on the 300 XL and had terrible anxiety and agitation. Switched to 200 SR - it's perfect. I'm not as moody, mopey, or feeling sorry for myself. I don't spend hours on the couch. The fog is gone, but I think I will ask my doctor if I can take 2 times a day - my fatigue and concentration are getting worse. Overall, great medication."

• wel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2023

For Depression "Do not take this medication! Caused severe anxiety, panic attacks, bad dreams, racing thoughts. Should be illegal to prescribe this drug."

• 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?"

• 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."

• Huc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

For Depression "Started this med 3 weeks ago for anxiety. Have had bad constipation and bowels are black in color. My stomach is bloated, pains in my stomach, anxiety is worse, hair is falling out, memory problems, nasty, agitation, get upset and scream, feels like I have a lump in my throat. Just worse now since taking this med. I stopped it today and feel much better. Don't want to take this med any longer, it's not for me. It's really bad for my body."

• Wel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2021

"My husband went to our doctor for anxiety, and the doctor told us that my 35-year-old husband was bipolar and put him on Wellbutrin XL. After 6 days, he was being another person! Raging, paranoid, delusional, not the man I married and share a child with. We called the doctor and complained of the side effects, including the scary delusions he was having, and I reminded the doctor of my husband's family history of suicide. The doctor said that the Wellbutrin XL protocol was to double the dosage, and he would see us again in 12 days! The next day, my husband shot himself on our couch!!! My first cousin, raised as sisters, was committed against her will for suicidal thoughts while on Wellbutrin XL!! PLEASE BE SAFE!! IF YOU HAVE ANY ODD SYMPTOMS, STOP TAKING AND GO TO THE ER!"

• Jad...
• December 14, 2017

For Depression "I am a 21-year-old female. I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and addiction (food, substances). These issues came to fruition when I went into my first year of college. I left HS as an honor student and went into college failing classes and unable to stay on track. I had lots of self-pity, mood swings, and slept all the time. I took sertraline for years, but it didn't give me that motivation I needed. It reduced my anxiety but really didn't help the depression. I started Bupropion XL, and things have changed immensely. I'm doing well in nursing school, and I feel much steadier. I have my bad days, but they aren't controlling my life anymore. I do get anxious, but the pros outweigh the cons for me. I also can't drink much (which is a good thing)."

• 000...
• December 23, 2015

For Depression "I started taking this a week ago, I think. I never wanted to use meds, but I'm in the middle of a major depressive episode that began around mid-late October. I'm a single mom of a 4-year-old. I feel like she takes more care of me than I can of her sometimes, and that makes me feel awful. I decided to ask my doctor to do something because I figured nothing could feel worse. Day 1, I had a lot of energy, days 2-4, I was very anxious and irritable over nothing. That has now passed, but I still don't feel better, not really. I don't feel overwhelmed with the feeling of wanting to die, so I guess that's good, but I still feel it. I'm not suicidal, though I have been in years. I just don't want to move out of my bed, clean the house, or do anything really."

• col...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "Though I was struggling with an intense chemical imbalance (feeling incredibly hopeless/empty/anxious), I avoided meds for a long time, terrified by bad reviews until the amount I struggled through every waking moment of my day made it impossible for me to continue avoiding. Started on 100 mg of bupropion. I remember feeling very weird at first, dissociating on the first day, then sweating, heart palpitations, some anxiety, and my leg randomly shaking (nothing unmanageable). Immediately, depressive feelings were greatly alleviated. Then a month in, all initial symptoms were pretty much gone, though I still had pockets of depression, so I upped my dose to 150 mg XL. Miraculous. I now feel calm, collected, and very content and thankful for my life. The only side effects I still feel are some ear ringing and loss of appetite (not complaining). This was the extra boost of dopamine my brain needed to function like a normal, healthy human brain. Absolutely incredible and so thankful this exists!!"

• 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!"

• Sca...
• November 3, 2014

For Depression "Didn't work. Hit my anxiety to the max in just 4 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."

• InA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2018

For Depression "If you suffer from anxiety, racing uncontrollable thoughts, high anxious states, and basically need a med to calm you down and get your thoughts under control, I would really talk to my doctor before starting this med. It is very clear that this is an energy-producing medication, so for those of us with anxiety - that can be really bad. A common listed side effect is 'anxiety' & 'anxiousness.' Everyone is different and will have different results to some extent. This is primarily a med for depression - NOT anxiety. So again, be clear to your doctor if you have anxiety with your depression that other choices may be better."

• InA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2018

For Depression "If you suffer from anxiety, racing uncontrollable thoughts, high anxious states, and basically need a med to calm you down and get your thoughts under control, I would really talk to my doctor before starting this med. It is very clear that this is an energy-producing medication, so for those of us with anxiety - that can be really bad. A common listed side effect is 'anxiety' & 'anxiousness.' Everyone is different and will have different results to some extent. This is primarily a med for depression - NOT anxiety. So again, be clear to your doctor if you have anxiety with your depression that other choices may be better."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2011

For Depression "I have been on over 15 different antidepressants across every category. I have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Ensam), tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs (several - Effexor, Pristiq, etc.), and nothing worked. I'm taking Wellbutrin 150 mg once a day (along with the Effexor XR still at 300 mg), and it is incredible. I feel amazing. Unfortunately, after 3 weeks, I developed hives all over my body that were itchy. While the itchiness went away after 3 days and the hives only come out at night now, my blood work shows I'm having a bad reaction to it. I also lost 14 lbs in 4 weeks (a good thing). I do feel extremely anxious and agitated at times and can't stop wiggling my foot, for example. Combined with the Effexor (which causes too much sleep), my sleep is at the right length now."

• 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."

• BP ...
• August 25, 2017

For Depression "I have bipolar 2 and was on Wellbutrin for about 7 years. It dug me out of a deep depression in the beginning. It caused a lot of anxiety, but I didn't want to get off of it, so Lexapro was added to my regimen. Lexapro helped with some of the anxiety caused by Wellbutrin, but I'm pretty sure now that Wellbutrin has made me more susceptible to manic episodes. Recently, I started seeing a new psychiatrist, and I was ready for a change. He convinced me to finally get off Wellbutrin, and I have never felt better. I feel so much more relaxed. I'm currently on Lamictal, Vyvanse, and Lexapro. I'm sure Wellbutrin works well for others, but it wasn't a great fit for BP for me personally. It dug me out of a big hole at one time, so it works well with depression. Doesn't hurt to try it."

• JDa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 8, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am an (older) teenage girl who has struggled with mental illness my whole life, and I’ve been on many medications, and my least favorite is Wellbutrin. It caused my anxiety to worsen, made me constantly dizzy and shaky. I would lose control of my eyes, and they would roll into my head several times every hour, and it actually made my eyesight worse (sounds unlikely, but it’s true). I wouldn’t recommend this drug to anyone."

• bub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

For Depression "Once I started this medicine, I would be woken up by my stomach pains. This medicine made me queasy and sick for hours on end. This is a little TMI, but it gave me terrible diarrhea ALL DAY LONG. I had little to no appetite, which was kinda exciting but not when I literally needed food in my stomach to calm the pain. Did not make my depression any better; honestly, it worsened my anxiety and made me much less social. All I can say is - I will be going back to my good ole Cymbalta!"

• 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!"