If you have depression or are trying to quit smoking, you may have heard of a medication called bupropion, or Wellbutrin. It’s used for treating major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and helping people stop smoking tobacco [1,2]. It’s also used to help treat anxiety, ADHD, and other behavioral health conditions.
But while bupropion can be helpful in treating depression or helping you beat that nicotine addiction, you should also be aware of possible Wellbutrin withdrawal when it’s time for you to stop this medication. These symptoms range from mild to severe, so it’s a good idea to be under the care of a trained healthcare provider when coming off this medication. Here, we’ll go over Wellbutrin discontinuation, withdrawal symptoms and timeline, and ways to help prevent and cope with these issues.What is Wellbutrin Withdrawal?
Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which means it raises the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine available to your brain. This helps treat mood disorders like depression and seasonal affective disorder. Your body may adapt to this medication when you use it, which is called dependence. It’s not the same as addiction, which happens when someone has compulsive drug-seeking behaviors, loses control over use despite harmful consequences, and experiences strong cravings. While dependence and addiction can happen together, bupropion is not known to be addictive, unlike other types of medications [1,2]. With medication dependence, your body adapts to the presence of the drug. When you stop it too quickly, your body may not have time to re-adjust to its absence. This leads to withdrawal symptoms. Wellbutrin withdrawal is the collection of symptoms that happens when someone stops this medication too fast. Compared to other types of medications for depression, such as SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRI’s (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), Wellbutrin has a lower risk of withdrawal [3]. However, in general, stopping Wellbutrin cold turkey is not recommended. If you have been taking Wellbutrin for a long time or have been taking higher doses of it, then you may be at an increased risk of experiencing withdrawal [3,4]. We’ll cover this more below under Individual Variations in the Timeline.Wellbutrin Withdrawal Symptoms: Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome
Wellbutrin’s half-life, or the amount of time it takes for the medication levels to go down by 50% in your system, is about 21 hours, give or take ~9 hours [1,2]. Knowing this, you may expect to see some Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms after the first few days when stopping it too suddenly. So what symptoms can you expect with bupropion withdrawal? Here are the most common Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms [5]:- Dizziness and headache: You may feel lightheaded or dizzy if you stop bupropion too quickly. You may also experience vertigo and/or headaches.
- Nausea: Some people report nausea along with the lightheadedness and dizziness.
- Diarrhea or vomiting: Along with the nausea, some people can also have an upset stomach, including vomiting and/or diarrhea.
- Feeling nervous or more irritable: As the antidepressant leaves your system, you may start to feel more anxious. Some people report behavioral changes, too.
- Feeling depressed: This may be more due to depression coming back since bupropion is an antidepressant, instead of being a true withdrawal symptom [5].
- Difficulty sleeping: Nightmares or insomnia in the days after stopping Wellbutrin are also common.
Wellbutrin Withdrawal Timeline
So what is the bupropion withdrawal timeline? Symptoms can start within 2-4 days after your last dose. Typically, symptoms begin and are the worst during the first 1-2 weeks after decreasing or stopping Wellbutrin [5]. Sometimes the withdrawal symptoms can last days to weeks [1,2]. However, most symptoms should get better around 2 weeks after stopping.Individual Variations in the Timeline
When and for how long a person has bupropion withdrawal symptoms depends on a few different things. These include:- How long a person has been taking it: If you’ve been taking bupropion for a longer time, you may be more likely to have bupropion withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms may also be more severe compared to someone who hasn’t been taking it as long [5,6].
- The specific dosage amount: Being on a higher dose of Wellbutrin may increase the risk of having withdrawal symptoms [1,2,7].
- Any other mental or behavioral health conditions: If you have recurrent depression, anxiety, or other similar conditions, you may be at a higher risk for severe withdrawal symptoms.
How to Prevent Bupropion Withdrawal Symptoms
If you’re ready to stop taking this medication, it’s best to discuss and plan how to stop Wellbutrin with your prescribing doctor. You may need to do a Wellbutrin taper schedule to come off of it safely. What does the taper schedule look like, exactly? Keep in mind that everyone responds a little differently to the tapering process. Your provider may recommend decreasing your dosage for a certain amount of time, at least two weeks, before stopping completely. For example, if you have seasonal affective disorder and are hoping to stop this medication in the coming months, your provider may recommend decreasing Wellbutrin from 300 mg to 150 mg for some time before completely stopping [8]. Other medical conditions, like liver problems, may also affect recommended dosage and discontinuation rates. When stopping Wellbutrin, it’s essential that you work closely with your healthcare provider to come up with a plan that works best for you. During the tapering period, your provider will monitor you for bupropion withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend other supportive ways to help you cope with any uncomfortable symptoms during this time.How to Cope with Wellbutrin Discontinuation Syndrome
Withdrawal from Wellbutrin can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you should go through it alone! There are different strategies that can help you manage your withdrawal symptoms and alleviate discomfort. Non-medication supportive, talk-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can help you navigate withdrawal symptoms. They can also assist in managing any mood changes or anxiety that can come up as you taper off this medication. If you were using Wellbutrin to quit smoking, your healthcare provider may talk to you about other medications that can provide relief while you taper off Wellbutrin. These include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and another medication called varenicline, which helps people quit smoking and reduce nicotine dependence [9]. NRT includes patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays. Ultimately, each person’s story is unique, and the plan for stopping Wellbutrin should be individualized. Here at Renaissance Recovery, we take the whole person into consideration when creating our treatment plans.FAQs
What are the symptoms of Wellbutrin withdrawal?
The most common symptoms of Wellbutrin withdrawal include dizziness, nausea, vertigo, headache, feeling nervous or more irritable, diarrhea and/or vomiting, and difficulty sleeping. More severe symptoms may include suicidal ideation or worsening of other behavioral health conditions. You may also notice depression symptoms start to return.What happens if I forget to take Wellbutrin for a few days?
Wellbutrin missed dose symptoms may start to happen a few days after your last dose. If you’re supposed to be taking Wellbutrin regularly, it’s important to start taking it again as prescribed. Always consult your doctor for guidance if you’ve missed multiple doses, and never take them all at once, as this can cause overdose and severe side effects, including seizures.How to taper off of Wellbutrin?
How to wean off Wellbutrin is different for every person. Tapering off Wellbutrin should be done under the supervision of a trained healthcare provider. They may recommend decreasing the dose slowly over time to help prevent withdrawal with Wellbutrin.What do Wellbutrin brain zaps feel like?
A “brain zap” is an electrical-like sensation that some people may experience when weaning off certain antidepressants [10]. The other term used to describe this feeling is “brain shivers.” People may also feel paresthesias, or a numbness and tingling sensation, along with the brain zaps.Safely Stop Wellbutrin with Support At California Detox
If you or a loved one is misusing prescription medication or struggling to stop antidepressants like Wellbutrin safely, our team at California Detox is here to support you every step of the way. We recognize that each person’s health journey is unique, and our individualized, inpatient evidence-based treatment plans are designed to meet your specific needs and goals. Our treatment options include:- Medication management
- Counseling
- Motivational therapy
- Individual talk therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapies
- Aftercare support
