Wellbutrin XL for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• But...
• January 24, 2017

"I've only been on this medication since the 18th of this month, but one thing that I have noticed with this medication is that it is helping me to not have a constant appetite. I was not only needing help with depression, but I was also needing help with weight loss, and at this point, I don't know how the weight loss will/will not work with med, but I do know that I do not have an appetite like before taking this. And for that, I am very grateful. I also understand that it could take 3 to 4 weeks before I notice the effects for the depression. I am hopeful!"

• hac...
• September 13, 2017

"In the last 6 years, I have taken a few meds for my depression. Started with Lexapro, which helped but caused very quick weight gain. Switched to Cymbalta, which caused a rash. Switched quickly to Prozac, which caused horrible dreams and sexual issues! Was then put on Wellbutrin by a psych NPR because of my issues with weight gain and sexual side effects. The drug was a miracle for me! Lost 45 lbs in 2 years after starting it, and sexual side effects disappeared! Started out on 150 mg a day but upped to 300 mg a day when I had a depressive episode! Since upping the dose, I have had no issues other than unusual dreams, but can live with that! Nothing's perfect!"

• Ins...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 22, 2015

"I was on generic for about a year. Didn't really do anything. I recently (a little over a month ago) went back to get a different prescription. Doctor decided to put me on name brand, at 300 mg. Night and day difference. I can't remember the last time I didn't hate everything about life. It's been at least 6 years I've had major depression. I've been suicidal for about 4. It sucked. But this drug really has helped me. I actually enjoy things now, my life has color again, and I have more energy and a less difficult time focusing. It's really great."

• Gue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2017

"I have been quite depressed with extreme anxiety, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, extremely hard addiction to nicotine, and some dissociative-psychotic features since 2016 and tried a whole different variety of SSRIs, SNRIs, mood stabilizers, but this one at 225 mg XL 7 day is like a custom-made pill for me! 0 desire to smoke, 100 desire to live, socialize, feel empathy, and have healthy relationships. The anxiety I can't say for sure it's completely away, but I can say for sure that it has lowered at least 65%. I feel like I had gone to sleep in 2015 and woke up in December 2017, no side effects so far."

• Col...
• February 17, 2021

"I’m on day 3 of Wellbutrin XL 150 mg prescribed for ADHD. I was really nervous to start it because I don’t take any medications and live a very natural lifestyle. And I was worried about side effects. I had a very mild hint of a headache on day one (I also didn’t drink much water that day), and I feel that my head rage during exercise is a bit more excitable and fast, but my resting heart rate remains 58-62. I’ll get my blood pressure checked later today. I never have much of an appetite, so that hasn’t changed. I’m more focused, my intrusive rapid random thoughts seem to be getting caught by my internal filter instead of me just saying them. I’m more at ease, not as anxious or irritable. I’m able to slow down to go fast, feel happier, and just overall like I’m crushing life (no, not in a manic way). I take it at 7-8 am and find that I am more awake in the daytime and into the evening. I’ve been using a CBD gummy to help me sleep."

• KAR...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 13, 2023

"Been on Wellbutrin XL 450 mg (300 mg am, 150 mg pm) for years, and it seems to work better than all the others I’ve tried. It’s not a miracle drug by any means. Every day, I tell myself, “Get up, get going.” Depression is a horrible disease, but it’s also a teacher, and it has taught me that I have a lot of strength and courage. Never ignore depression or underestimate it because, unless I am vigilant, it will run me down. I think this drug affects my sleep, but I have always had insomnia, so at least I am less depressed. It has not caused weight gain, but I have not lost weight on it. Other antidepressants caused so much weight gain that I couldn’t tolerate the extra 20-plus and more pounds. My weight shot up to 162 lbs, and that was unacceptable. I am 5’4”. Try Wellbutrin. It helps me stay motivated, and I can do my artwork, keep my house reasonably clean, stay sexually active, and have emotions."

• Sus...
• September 8, 2018

"I have major depression disorder and panic moments (that’s what I prefer to call them). I take 10 mg of Escitalopram and 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL spaced out by 2 hours. Wellbutrin was added as Escitalopram does not last 12 hours. I’ve been taking Wellbutrin for 2 weeks now, no side effects the first week, however, this week I’ve had: headache, nausea, my big toe gets a numbness or tingle. (I’m a runner, so this bugs me) frequent urination, a slight loss in appetite. I also get nauseous and gassy after I eat or drink coffee, and I seem to have more bowel movements but not diarrhea. Not sleeping through the night has happened twice. I can still have a panic moment if I think about things too much, so I use Clonazepam or Lorazepam when needed. I do not “feel” any different (in a bad way) since I’ve started taking it. I did try Zoloft, and it was a nightmare, so I know the difference. I would recommend trying it, but stopping if any wild side effects begin."

• Chr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2023

"Chronic, major depression throughout my adult life, and it is a ceaseless battle to try and juggle meds to get me in a place where I am more than okay. At the moment, I'm not so okay, but this is after many years of taking bupropion (Wellbutrin) 300XL. Disclaimer: this is always the #1 antidepressant I recommend to others. Out of all I've tried, this, by far, is the most successful and hasn't left me lethargic. In fact, when I first took it, I was more eager to wake up, more energetic, and actually happier. Over time or perhaps circumstance, it has worked less effectively. Admittedly, I am over 5 years on this med, and it is not being accompanied by therapy-that is essential. I do not have time for therapy because I'm a caregiver, but I will say-no side effects for this one, no weight gain, and initially much happier. Worked well for years. Should have been in therapy at the same time, but telehealth wasn't a thing then, and insurance only covered psychiatry and not psychotherapy."

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 4, 2019

"I take 450 mg Wellbutrin for MDD and other meds for bipolar 2, and no other antidepressants worked for me. Some of my other meds made me tired on top of depression, making me exhausted, and this gave me the energy I needed and pulled me back up out of it. It kills my appetite, which is good because I’m guilty of stress eating. It’s known not to change your libido, but my other meds do that, so idk. But overall, this medication has been great for me."

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2023

"I have been on several antidepressants since 2004. I have slowly moved up the ladder of medications. I’ve taken single doses and combination doses, but Wellbutrin XL has done wonders for me. I have not had the low days like I once had on the other medications. That’s awesome! I haven’t felt useless or had a lack of motivation. When I first began taking Wellbutrin XL, I did experience a little dizziness if I overexerted myself. I also would experience a slight disorientation when I would take it in the morning, for a little, but it passed within several minutes. I still am not sleeping well. I do have to take a sleeping pill in order to sleep for at least 4 hours, but my insomnia has been an issue for a long time. I have noticed I am actually eating more on Wellbutrin XL (I’m only on 150 mg). I have gained weight on this and I do not like it. However, I will gladly take the extra pounds over feeling like I’m useless and depressed 5/7 days in the week."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 26, 2022

"This medication, Wellbutrin XL, has been my saving grace after a decade of trying different meds, from Lexapro, Luvox, Prozac, Lithium, Abilify, and many others I cannot remember. They either had no effect or made me worse. I attempted suicide many times. Therapy made me feel worse. After a week on Bupropion XL, I felt something I hadn’t felt for years: happy. I went from antisocial and scared of the outside world to having a large group of friends and going on outings. I suddenly enjoyed going to work every day. My life became a DREAM! I still felt negative emotions, but they were easier to work through and they were always situationally appropriate feelings. This medication gave me my life that had been gone for so long. My only regret is not finding this medication sooner because it truly changed everything for me. I haven’t had a single suicidal thought since starting this medication."

• Rem...
• September 19, 2018

"I am a 25-year-old female. I started taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg after being diagnosed with MDD in April. I have done CBT in conjunction with taking medication. On Wellbutrin, I feel more energetic, focused, and present. The black haze I saw my life in cleared, and I feel normal. The main side effects I feel are: increased energy soon after I take it, insomnia, appetite suppression, some impulsivity, some forgetfulness, irritability sometimes, and during high-stress events I felt a buildup of nervous energy and a 'drunk' feeling. I did try other doses: 75 mg once daily did nothing for me, 100 mg of an instant release once daily for a month. I felt an instant energy and focus in the mornings, but by the evenings, my mood would fall very deeply, and I found evenings difficult to get through. At 100 mg, I didn't experience appetite suppression, insomnia, irritability, or impulsivity. I plan to continue 150 mg Wellbutrin XL and may elect to take an SSRI to help with anxiety."

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2020

"Seven years ago, the antidepressant I was on stopped working, and I crashed into horrible major depressive disorder. My new doctor, guessing (wrong) that I had bipolar depression (I didn't), took me off antidepressants and put me on Latuda, an 'atypical antipsychotic' often used to control bipolar depression. Not only didn't it help the depression, but it also made me pace uncontrollably. I switched doctors, and the new one put me on Wellbutrin XL (long-acting). Eventually, my depression cleared, and I've been relatively depression-free (there are bad patches with any drug) for the past 7 years. I've had no noticeable side effects, and I take it with breakfast first thing in the morning, so it doesn't interfere with my sleep. I highly recommend it. (Full disclosure: I also take imipramine, an old 'tricyclic' antidepressant, a couple of hours before bedtime. Helps me sleep well, but the dry mouth side effect is annoying and bad for my teeth.)"

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2024

"I was diagnosed at age 64 with bipolar after having a severe depression that put me in bed for a year. As a nurse, I thought I knew what depression was. I had no idea. My mainstay meds are lamotrigine for mood stabilization, the lowest dose of lithium, which at that level treats depression, and I was on 150 XL bupropion. My pharmacy was out of bupropion so they gave me 3 months of Wellbutrin 150 XL. Didn't sleep well for a couple of nights. I've been trying to get back into a regular fitness routine for 5-6 years since that awful depression. Since starting the Wellbutrin XL, I'm now swimming twice a week with plans to add going to the gym. I don't know why doctors prescribe SSRIs so much. They cause weight gain and I felt dead down below. SSRIs are sometimes used to treat MAPs (Minor Attracted Persons) to reduce their libido. I consider all 3 meds I take for depression to be excellent."

• Lo...
• June 12, 2017

"I am currently using Wellbutrin XL (150 mg) a day as an add-on to Trintellix. I have been on every medication under the sun and always seem to have negative side effects. My biggest struggle with my depression is fatigue and no energy. I've only been on Wellbutrin for 5 days, and I feel a tremendous difference. I am awake in the morning and don't feel like I am going to fall asleep at random times during the day. I also haven't taken a nap in 5 days either, which is huge considering I always nap. I am a little anxious sometimes and am also dealing with sleeping issues, so I may talk to my doctor about switching to the SR. I am also dealing with a lot of muscle spasms, but this always happens when I adjust a dose or try a new medication. Wish I had tried this sooner!"

• Kot...
• December 16, 2015

"I started taking bupropion XL 150mg a day. I took that for a month, the first 3 weeks, I felt kind of cloudy/lost, had a little bit of anxiety, and had some pretty bad ups and downs with my depression. But by the end of the month, I felt a lot better and didn't even feel like I was on a medication at all. I just started my second month and was upped to a 300mg dose. I'm on my 5th day, and so far have had really bad anxiety attacks, feeling like I'm losing control/stuck in my own head most of the time and sleeping a lot. I'm hoping I can stick it out like with the 150 and start feeling normal again. I almost quit in the first 3 weeks of 150, but I stuck it out after reading positive reviews, and it got better. I'm hoping that happens with the 300mg."

• Luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 21, 2020

"Wellbutrin has done wonders for me. I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in high school and was on a few different meds before being put on this one in college. It's helped me so much-if I ever feel myself getting into a 'slump,' I'm able to fight it off so much easier since starting this med."

• Man...
• May 9, 2017

"I live with depression and anxiety. Generic Wellbutrin has given me none of the sexual side effects I experienced with SSRIs like Zoloft. Seems to help me get out of the house. I'm on 150 mg every morning, and I'm trying 200 mg soon. 300 mg was too much for me."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2019

"I started Wellbutrin 150 XL, and I've been sick ever since. I vomit each time I eat, and I feel really withdrawn. Now, almost 3 weeks in, today is the only day I haven't vomited after eating, and I still feel good. I think I'm getting better each day. I gave it a 3 because I've never felt more sick in my life than I did when I started Wellbutrin."

• nir...
• February 25, 2015

"I was diagnosed with chronic depression and anxiety in 7th grade. Now a junior in HS, I have been through trial and error with many medications, including Pristiq, Prozac, Effexor, Latuda, and Zoloft for depression. For anxiety, I have been on Abilify, which made me gain about 65 pounds in 8-9 months. Since 7th grade, I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which my depression worsened with, and I have very bad anger issues. I now take 30 mg of propranolol (anxiety) and 150 mg of Wellbutrin, and the two medications work very well together. It took about a month or two for me to notice any changes after starting Wellbutrin, but this has been the most effective medication by far, and I have lost about 30 pounds in the past 3 months!"

• Ens...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 10, 2019

"I've been on Wellbutrin for years, along with Celexa and Abilify. It seems like now I'm not even taking it. I think it worked pretty well at the beginning, but for me it has just lost most of its effectiveness. I have been having really low functionality with my depression for a couple of years now, and my doctors keep saying that my energy and motivation should be fine because of the Wellbutrin (I take the highest dose too), but I think the depression is just stubborn now after so many years. Additionally, I have stopped taking it a number of times, and I didn't have withdrawal, and I didn't get more depressed. So it's like I'm taking nothing."

• Lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2020

"I did not have a great experience with this medication overall. It ended up being the cause of my vivid dreams, not being able to tell what was reality or not. I was feeling more physically and emotionally drained. It might help some, it was just most definitely not for me."

• Bun...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2022

"I am prescribed 150 XL for severe depression for 8 months now. I can say it truly turned my life around within days! I have tried so many different kinds of medications, and this one saved me. I used to be so depressed I physically was unable to work or get out of bed. Now I am awake at 6:30 AM and having productive days. I am so glad I tried Wellbutrin. I did have side effects for a few months, like muscle twitching, but the pros outweighed the cons so much it didn’t bother me. I am normal for the first time in my life!"

• MzC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2017

"I’m hypersensitive to everything, so I was very nervous to start this medication, knowing that it would probably cause anxiety symptoms, and I already have an anxiety and panic disorder. But I was very happy to find out that it did not affect me that way at all. I have not felt the jitters that I heard about or anxiety. I have not been on it long; I just started it within the last few days. I’m on 150 mg/1X a day for now. I’m just very happy to find out that I am not suffering from a bunch of side effects (knock on wood)."

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

"Wellbutrin was a terrible medication for me. It gave me a lot of anger, my mood worsened much more, and loss of libido. But the worst side effect was a major and total loss of memory. Never taking anymore."