Author: Charles Frank

Can I stop taking Wellbutrin suddenly or should I taper off?

Bupropion antidepressant is less likely to cause sexual side effects and weight gain. Its efficacy in managing depressive symptoms, coupled with these favorable side effect profiles, makes it a valuable option for individuals with specific concerns or sensitivities to other antidepressant classes. After your Wellbutrin taper, any long-term treatment will be directed toward treating the condition that led you to take Wellbutrin in the first place.

1. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
2. Consequently, the withdrawal symptoms are typically mild, or, more often, nonexistent.
3. Since Wellbutrin affects brain chemistry, it should not be stopped without consulting your doctor.
4. Not every antidepressant works for every person, however, and many people try several before hitting the right drug or combination thereof.
5. Wellbutrin can be incredibly helpful for people living with depression as well as some other conditions, such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. Your prescribing physician may be able to guide you on how to cut the dosage which may involve actually cutting the pills. The tablets can be cut in half when needed providing a 37.5mg option, but it will lose the extended-release attribute, which reduces the half-life elimination of the drug.

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AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. This syndrome arises due to the adjustments the body and brain undergo when the medication is removed, leading to a temporary state of imbalance. Withdrawal can occur when individuals discontinue the medication, either as part of a prescribed treatment plan or after the abuse of the drug. Wellbutrin, an atypical antidepressant, primarily inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

In the process, many experience antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, also known as withdrawal. This is a particular risk with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which affect a brain neurotransmitter called serotonin. Yes, it is generally recommended to taper off 150 mg Wellbutrin gradually under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Overview of Wellbutrin Withdrawal

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Feb 2024), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2024) and others. Your plan to work your way off of Wellbutrin may need to be adjusted if you experience withdrawal symptoms. Follow any instructions from your healthcare provider regarding slowly decreasing the medication dose. If Wellbutrin didn’t help, work with your doctor to find a different medication or combination of medications that might be more effective.

ADHD, a common neurobiological condition, features behavioral and cognitive symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and/or excessive activity. It often comes with psychiatric comorbidities and links to educational and occupational underachievement.

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If yes, we’ll connect you right to a clinician who can prescribe medication and have it shipped right to your door. This means the dose of the medication will gradually decrease until the medication has been stopped. Over the course of a few weeks or months, Wellbutrin can help alleviate those symptoms.

He was not taking any prescription medications but took an occasional ibuprofen for minor aches and pains. Antidepressants are among the top three most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Not every antidepressant works for every person, however, and many people try several before hitting the right drug or combination thereof. People who use antidepressants for a long time are at greater risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. In this article, I’ll discuss Wellbutrin, antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, potential symptoms, and helpful ways to cope with Wellbutrin withdrawal. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a long-term process in which you explore the reasons for your feelings and actions. Together with a qualified therapist, you will learn how to work toward the life you want by reforming the unhealthy patterns standing in your way. According to Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., author of The Antidepressant Solution, irritability is a common symptom. In Glenmullen’s experience, patients quitting Wellbutrin often feel symptoms like those quitting nicotine do, such as extreme agitation and uncharacteristically hostile, rude, or aggressive behavior. A-Clinics offer, among other things, outpatient clinic services, substitution treatment and detoxification. Nena Luster is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 14 years of experience including emergency medicine, urgent care, and family practice.

Abruptly stopping is NOT recommended, as it can intensify and even prolong these reactions. Never change or discontinue medications without consulting your healthcare provider. They can advise you on the right way to make the transition (such as tapering off your dose gradually) and help you cope with symptoms you might experience. Bupropion is approved as an antidepressant, offering an alternative for individuals with MDD. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

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See your healthcare provider if you want to talk about changing antidepressant medications, reducing your dosage, or if you have concerns about your tapering or withdrawal process of Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin-induced anxiety is usually transient and may last a few days to a couple of weeks after starting the medication. If anxiety persists or worsens, consult your healthcare provider for guidance on managing side effects or adjusting your treatment plan. Marketed as Zyban, Bupropion is a significant pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in the Western world over the past decade. Unlike other smoking cessation pharmacotherapies, it constitutes a non-nicotine treatment. By reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings, it assists individuals in overcoming nicotine dependence.

Wellbutrin, cocaine, and amphetamines are all DRI drugs (dopamine reuptake inhibitors). To compare effects, cocaine is a DRI, meaning it enhances the stimulating effects by Inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine. Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms aren’t common, but those who experience them may become agitated and irritable. If you recently quit smoking, your nicotine cravings may return, although they’re likely to be milder than if you hadn’t taken Wellbutrin.

How to Deal With Wellbutrin Withdrawal

Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center.

These medications adjust the balance of brain chemicals that may be causing  depressive symptoms. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. These symptoms arise within two to four days after discontinuing the drug and generally persist for one to two weeks, with occasional persistence for up to one year. Initiating the same or similar drug results in the resolution of symptoms within one to three days.