Author: Charles Frank

Wellbutrin Withdrawal: Signs, Timeline & Detox

how to stop taking wellbutrin

The majority of modern antidepressants work by affecting a neurotransmitter known as serotonin, which helps to keep a person’s mood in check. While the causes of depression are unclear, low serotonin levels are thought to play a role. Antidepressants are a unique drug class in that not every drug works for everybody. It may require many attempts for certain people to find a drug that works. You may even decide to avoid taking Wellbutrin because you’re feeling stable and happy to go without it.

  1. Wellbutrin should not be abruptly stopped since this could result in severe withdrawal symptoms.
  2. Although a symptom may appear within a few days after you quit using Wellbutrin, it is more common for them to be severe during the first week or two.
  3. In the rehab spectrum, sober living customarily supplements extended therapy, although certain people may choose to skip primary inpatient treatment and go directly to sober living.
  4. While the causes of depression are unclear, low serotonin levels are thought to play a role.

Talking to a counselor or therapist may help to provide some routine and support during the transition, and may help you feel more in control of your feelings and mood. These medications adjust the balance of brain chemicals that may be causing  depressive symptoms. Going off of Wellbutrin may be the right solution in some instances but it may lead to Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a long-term method to learn more about yourself.

Wellbutrin Withdrawal Symptoms

Plus, eating well-balanced meals and getting regular physical activity are also great ways to promote a good mood. This means the dose of the medication will gradually decrease until the medication has been stopped. Wellbutrin can be incredibly helpful for people living with depression as well as some other conditions, such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Wellbutrin and bupropion are considered to be the same medication. If you’re using Wellbutrin to help you stop smoking, make sure to have a nicotine patch or gum on hand.

Withdrawal symptoms often get better within a few days of restarting Wellbutrin. You may not notice withdrawal symptoms until a few days after stopping Wellbutrin. This may be because the medication can stay in your system for up to about 4 or 5 days after taking your last dose. With The Edge Treatment Center, you’ll have a true partner in recovery. Reach out to us today to learn more about Wellbutrin addiction, Wellbutrin withdrawal, and a life free from substance abuse. Wellbutrin, like many prescription drugs, has helped many people.

Several liver and kidney failure cases have also been attributed to long-term drug abuse. An Indian-born American scientist invented Wellbutrin, which was marketed as early as the 1980s. It was recalled quickly due to incorrect dosage values being prescribed and then reintroduced to the public in 1989. Over the years, it has gained popularity in the medical fraternity as a potent aid to controlling anxiety and depression-related disorders while also proving effective as a smoking inhibitor. While Wellbutrin is not commonly known to lead to withdrawal symptoms, serious side effects and symptoms can occur.

When to See a Doctor

The severity of the symptoms varies from mild to severe in those who do. Your symptoms could be more potent if you stop Wellbutrin and a more popular class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. 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.

Our progressive approaches complement our 12-step drug and alcohol care model, aiding patients in overcoming physical and mental imbalances and recovering through mindfulness and self-acceptance. Suicidal thoughts and actions are uncommon, although they do occur in some individuals. Before you quit taking Wellbutrin, talk to the doctor about the risks and benefits. If you wish to avoid taking your medication, a quick taper might be a better option than quitting cold turkey. When people stop taking Wellbutrin, they rarely develop side effects.

how to stop taking wellbutrin

It can also assist you with detoxing from alcohol or other illicit substances. A drug detox center is a great place to seek help for Wellbutrin withdrawal. Withdrawing by yourself, using a drug detox kit for Wellbutrin addiction, or taking the cold turkey approach can be harmful. The Edge Treatment Center will help you find a drug detox center for yourself or a loved one.

If you use Wellbutrin to quit smoking, it’s likely that after you stop taking it, your nicotine cravings will return. Fortunately, these cravings are mild in comparison to previous experiences. Since it affects the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline, Wellbutrin differs from most antidepressants. You are unlikely to develop any of the serotonin-related symptoms mentioned above unless you are already withdrawing from an SSRI.

When a patient decides to stop using Bupropion, they may have withdrawal symptoms if the dose is not reduced properly. Dopamine is released in the brain as a result of this prescription drug. This hormone is also referred to as the reward hormone, and it is linked to feelings of well-being and joy.

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

Some people use them for a couple of weeks or months, and others use them for years. Approximately one out of every four adults has been prescribed an antidepressant in their lifetime, and some use them for over 10 years or more. Many people take antidepressants permanently when they discover one that works for them. This is especially true if the antidepressant has few to no side effects. Despite the fact that bupropion withdrawal effects are rarely life-threatening, you could still benefit from a detox program. You can be monitored and tapered off Wellbutrin with the help of a medically assisted program.

Clients who live in one of our sober living homes and attend IOP can also receive intensive rehabilitation treatment as part of our comprehensive care services. Outpatient clinics have varying levels of treatment and programming. IOP clients also attend medical, holistic, and 12-step classes for at least 10 hours a week. In the United States, antidepressants are among the most widely prescribed drugs.

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. Like all antidepressants, it offers many potential benefits but doesn’t work for everyone. Unlike the others, however, it carries a much lower risk of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms of Wellbutrin may include excessive perspiration, digestive problems, insomnia, and others that are outlined in this article. If you start to experience withdrawal symptoms, let your doctor know.

It can be a huge shock to the body systems if you stop taking Wellbutrin abruptly. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, often known as antidepressant withdrawal, causes mild to severe symptoms of withdrawal in the person withdrawing from the medication. Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms can last up to several months since drug abuse itself is not the entire problem. For many, drug addiction is fueled by trauma, mental disorders, and more. The depression and suicidal tendencies sometimes caused by Wellbutrin withdrawal make the experience difficult.

Since Wellbutrin affects brain chemistry, it should not be stopped without consulting your doctor. The best way to stop Wellbutrin is to taper off usage under the care of a doctor, taking note of any side effects that may occur during the process. Do not stop taking Wellbutrin without first speaking to your doctor. If you need to stop taking Wellbutrin, follow your doctor’s instructions on how to safely stop taking it.

Over the course of a few weeks or months, Wellbutrin can help alleviate those symptoms. Wellbutrin works by helping the brain use the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Wellbutrin (Bupropion) is a frequently prescribed antidepressant medication. Granite Recovery Centers has been transforming the lives of alcohol and drug dependent adults from New England and well beyond. Certified doctors deliver evidence-based clinical psychotherapies at Granite Recovery Centers, which are tightly woven into a comprehensive 12-step curriculum led by qualified facilitators. If you use Wellbutrin for a period of time and decide you want to stop, you may experience Wellbutrin withdrawal.