Medical Review by Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DABOM
Summary:
- Wellbutrin® is commonly prescribed to treat depression and SAD, but it isn’t right for everyone. You and your healthcare provider may decide to stop taking this medication or switch to something else.
- Withdrawal symptoms after stopping Wellbutrin® are possible, especially if you stop taking it abruptly. These may include irritability, headaches, and general discomfort.
- Gradually tapering off with medical supervision is often recommended for people who have decided to stop taking Wellbutrin®. Tracking your mood, adjusting your diet, and making other lifestyle changes may also help with the process.
- Alternative options include SSRIs such as Lexapro®, Zoloft®, and Prozac®, or non-medication therapies like CBT.
Wellbutrin® is an effective antidepressant for many—but it isn’t right for everyone
Wellbutrin® (a branded form of the medication bupropion) is commonly prescribed as a treatment for depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It’s also sometimes used to help people stop smoking.
Like other mental health medications, Wellbutrin works by adjusting your brain chemistry to improve your mood and overall well-being. But medication that works for one person may not always work for another—so if you need to stop taking Wellbutrin® for any reason, it’s important that you know how to come off of it safely.
Below, we explain potential reasons for stopping Wellbutrin® treatment, list the most common withdrawal symptoms, and provide tips on how to make your experience smoother and easier. Keep reading and learn how to discontinue this medication with support from your healthcare provider.
Reasons for stopping Wellbutrin®
There are a few common reasons why you might consider stopping Wellbutrin®. Maybe you’ve experienced one or more of the following:
- Your side effects that aren’t worth the trade-off: Only about 7% of all people taking bupropion experience side effects that cause them to stop taking the medication—but it can still happen. The most common ones are rash, nausea, agitation, and migraine.
- You’re taking Wellbutrin® for SAD: If you use Wellbutrin® as a treatment for SAD, your healthcare provider may recommend that you stop taking it or reduce your dosage in the springtime—once the world becomes a bit brighter and warmer again.
- You’ve had a severe negative reaction to the medication: Wellbutrin® can cause negative changes in mood and behavior—including an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors for people under 24 years old. Your healthcare provider will want to monitor you closely after you start taking this medication to keep an eye out for these problems and may recommend stopping or switching your medication if they occur.
In any case, stopping Wellbutrin® is a decision that’s best made with your healthcare provider—they can help you weigh the pros and cons, and if needed, create a plan to come off the medication safely.
Common withdrawal symptoms
Like many medications, Wellbutrin® can cause withdrawal symptoms in some people who stop taking it, especially if they stop abruptly. According to case reports, some people who have discontinued the use of bupropion experience the following:
- Irritability and anxiety
- Headaches
- General aches and pains
- A feeling of being uncomfortable in their own body
Resuming bupropion treatment caused these symptoms to resolve within a day. But your healthcare provider may also recommend tapering off your medication more slowly if you want to stop taking it while reducing your risk of these effects.
A note on discontinuing antidepressants
Approximately 20% of people develop a condition called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome when they significantly reduce or stop taking an antidepressant they’ve been using continuously for at least a month. This condition is not specific to bupropion, and can be more or less likely depending on the drug you have been using.
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome usually has mild symptoms that appear a few days after stopping the medication, and which tend to last for a week or two—although they can persist for as long as a year in some cases. They include:
- Flu-like symptoms: lethargy, fatigue, headache, achiness, or sweating
- Insomnia: with vivid dreams or nightmares
- Nausea: which may include vomiting
- Balance issues: dizziness, vertigo, light-headedness
- Sensory disturbances: burning, tingling, or a feeling like an electric shock
- A heightened sense of arousal: anxiety, irritability, agitation, aggression, mania, or jerkiness
Because there is still not a great deal of specific treatment data available for this condition—and because experiences can vary widely—it requires a case-by-case approach to treatment and management.
For this reason, it’s important that you work with a healthcare provider when planning to stop taking any antidepressant medication and contact them for help if you are having withdrawal symptoms that interfere with your daily life.
Managing Wellbutrin® withdrawal symptoms
The best way to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms is to take it slow. Gradually stopping Wellbutrin® gives your body the chance to adjust little by little as the amount of medication in your system slowly decreases. The patient information for Wellbutrin® XL (an extended-release form of the drug) recommends reducing the standard daily dose of 300mg to 150mg per day before you stop taking it completely.
Your healthcare provider will create a schedule for you when you’re discontinuing Wellbutrin® that’s designed to help you make this adjustment. Do not adjust your dosage by yourself. They may also recommend that you try some of the following strategies to make tapering off the medication easier and prevent relapse:
- Keeping a mood calendar where you record how you’re feeling on a 10-point scale while coming off the drug.
- Making lifestyle modifications like improving your diet, sleep, and exercise habits.
- Checking in with your healthcare provider regularly during the process so that they can quickly address any challenges you experience.
Alternative treatments & support
Wellbutrin® is just one of several approaches to treating depression and SAD. If this medication isn’t the right fit for you, there are still plenty of options to explore.
Other medications
Other popular medications used to treat depression and SAD include the following SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors):
These medications prevent a neurotransmitter called serotonin from being absorbed too fast after your brain produces it, which leaves more serotonin in your system. Since serotonin influences your mood, memory, and behavior, this can help with many depression symptoms.
Non-medication treatments
A comprehensive plan to improve your mental health may also include non-medication options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or lifestyle modifications. CBT encourages awareness of the relationship between your thoughts and behavior so that you can identify the root causes of depression and reduce their effects, while regular physical activity and nutrition have both been linked to improved mental health outcomes. Your provider will help you figure out the right combination of treatments, so you have a plan that truly supports your long-term wellness.
Make informed decisions about your Wellbutrin® use with Lemonaid Health
Choosing to stop Wellbutrin is a big decision that you and your healthcare provider will need to make together. Only a qualified medical professional can help you weigh the potential benefits and risks based on your unique situation and decide on an appropriate way to move forward.
Lemonaid Health can help. We offer private online consultations with US-based medical professionals who can tell you more about Wellbutrin®, answer your questions about discontinuing this medication, and provide recommendations on switching to a different treatment.
Remember, coming off Wellbutrin® doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right support, you can make the process significantly smoother and easier on yourself. Take it one step at a time, and remember that you’re not alone in this—experts and resources are available to help you along the way.
Wellbutrin® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline LLC. Lexapro® is a registered trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S. Zoloft® is a registered trademark of Viatris Specialty LLC. Prozac® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company.
