Wellbutrin how long

Bupropion (Wellbutrin): Everything You Need to Know

Bupropion, sold under the brand names Wellbutrin®, Wellbutrin SR®, Wellbutrin XL® and Aplenzin®, is a prescription medication that’s used in the treatment of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

It’s also sold as a smoking cessation medication under the brand name Zyban® and for major depressive disorder under the brand name Forfivo® XL. If you’ve heard people talk about Wellbutrin for smoking, these medications are what they were talking about.

If you’ve been diagnosed with depression or seasonal affective disorder, or if you’re a smoker looking to quit, your healthcare provider may have recommended Wellbutrin (bupropion) as a treatment option.

Below, we’ve explained exactly what Wellbutrin (bupropion) is, how it works, how long it takes to work and why it’s prescribed, and answered some common questions like:

Can I drink on Wellbutrin?
Do bupropion or Wellbutrin and alcohol mix?
What is Wellbutrin Extended Release?
Are bupropion and Wellbutrin addictive?
Is there a difference between Wellbutrin 100mg and Wellbutrin 300mg?

We’ve also looked at how Wellbutrin (bupropion) compares to other antidepressants, as well as the potential adverse effects and interactions that you should be aware of before using this medication.

What Is Wellbutrin (Bupropion)?

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is what’s known as an atypical antidepressant. It works by modifying the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. It’s sold in tablet form and is commonly prescribed as a treatment for conditions such as depression and seasonal affective disorder.

It’s also prescribed as a medication for smoking cessation. Research shows that Wellbutrin (bupropion) can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in ex-smokers, making it easier to give up cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Compared to many other antidepressants, Wellbutrin (bupropion) is less likely to cause some adverse effects, such as drowsiness, weight loss or gain and sexual dysfunction.

How Long Does it Take for Wellbutrin (Buproprion) to Work?

When used as a treatment for depression, Wellbutrin (buproprion) usually takes around six to eight weeks before it starts fully working as a treatment for depression. However, you may begin to experience improvements in your sleep habits, appetite and energy levels as early as one to two weeks of treatment.

It may take four to six weeks to experience a significant improvement in your mood and level of interest in activities after starting bupropion.

When used as a smoking cessation aid, typically under the name brand name Zyban, it can take several weeks for bupropion to start working, as well. Most people are advised to set a target “quit date” and start bupropion while they’re still smoking to give time for the medication to become effective.

Depending on your symptoms, general health and other factors, your healthcare provider may recommend that you take bupropion for seven to 12 weeks after you stop smoking.

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How Does Wellbutrin (Bupropion) Work?

Wellbutrin (bupropion) belongs to a class of medications referred to as aminoketones. It works by affecting the way your body produces neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, which are crucial to our moods.

Neurotransmitters are a type of chemical messenger used by your body. Their job is to transport signals between neurons. You can think of them as an internal messaging system for your body, delivering instructions between neurons and from neurons to other tissue.

Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter responsible for keeping your body alert and ready to act. It helps to increase your heart rate, pump blood throughout your body, keep you awake, alert and able to focus and recall important information.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating learning, pleasure, motivation, sleep, mood and a variety of other important functions.

For Depression

People with depression may have low levels of norepinephrine and dopamine. By blocking your brain from reabsorbing norepinephrine and dopamine, aminoketone medications such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) can increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels and treat the symptoms of depression.

For Smoking Cessation

Currently, experts aren’t sure exactly why bupropion is effective as a treatment for people that want to quit smoking.

However, they believe that its effects on dopamine might be responsible for at least some of its effectiveness as a smoking cessation aid.

Unlike many other smoking cessation treatments, bupropion doesn’t contain nicotine. Instead, it may work by mimicking some of the effects of the nicotine in cigarettes, which also causes your brain to release extra dopamine.

Although this doesn’t necessarily make you less addicted to nicotine, it can help you more easily deal with the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and cravings for nicotine that often develop when you quit smoking.

Bupropion Dosages

Bupropion is available in several dosages. Immediate-release bupropion tablets are available in strengths of 75mg and 100mg, while extended/sustained-release versions of bupropion typically contain 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg or 450mg of bupropion per tablet.

Certain brands of bupropion may contain a different dosage per tablet. If you’re prescribed any medication containing bupropion, check the packaging that came with the medication to make sure you take the correct amount.

Typical dosages for bupropion can vary based on the type of medication (immediate-release or extended-release) and condition it’s prescribed to treat.

For depression, a typical starting dosage of bupropion is 150mg to 200mg per day, taken either as 100mg tablets taken twice per day or a single 150mg extended-release bupropion tablet taken in the morning. The maximum dosage of bupropion for depression is 300mg to 450mg per day.

After three to four days, you may need to adjust your dosage of bupropion. Follow the dosage instructions provided by your healthcare provider to make sure you take the right amount of bupropion.

For smoking cessation, a typical starting dosage is one 150mg extended-release tablet per day for the first three days, followed by a dosage of 300mg per day, taken as two tablets taken at least eight hours apart, from day four.

Based on your symptoms, health history, response to the medication and several other factors, your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage of bupropion over time.

Bupropion Side Effects and Interactions

Like all antidepressants, bupropion can cause certain side effects. Most of the bupropion or Wellbutrin side effects that can occur are minor and temporary. However, there are also several potentially severe bupropion side effects that you should be aware of before using this medication.

Some of the common Wellbutrin side effects include:

Many of these bupropion and Wellbutrin side effects may be mild and often disappear over the course of several days or weeks. If you experience persistent side effects from bupropion, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider.

In general, bupropion is less likely to cause sexual dysfunction than other commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants.

Like other antidepressants, bupropion may cause serious side effects. These side effects occur in a small percentage of bupropion users. Serious side effects of bupropion include:

Mental health issues, such as panic attacks, changes in mood, impulsive behavior and worsened depression or anxiety.
Hypertension. Bupropion may contribute to hypertension (high blood pressure). If you have high blood pressure or a history of cardiovascular issues, make sure you inform your healthcare provider before using bupropion.
Vision issues, such as eye pain or swelling/redness of the eyes or surrounding area.
Seizures. Though rare, depending on dosage, anywhere from .1 percent to .4 percent of people who use bupropion experience seizures or an increased risk of seizures.

If you have a health condition that may contribute to seizures, increase your risk of seizures or a seizure disorder in general, it’s important that you disclose this to your healthcare provider before using bupropion or similar medications. Conditions that may increase your seizure risk include:

Head injuries, such as head trauma
Active brain tumors
A history of epilepsy or other conditions that cause seizures
Withdrawal from or addiction to alcohol, benzodiazepines or illicit drugs
Use of other drugs that may affect your seizure susceptibility, such as other antidepressants, antipsychotics, systemic corticosteroids or theophylline

Bupropion may affect your weight and/or appetite. Before considering bupropion, make sure you inform your healthcare provider if you’ve previously had an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia.

Bupropion may also not be a suitable treatment for people with liver or kidney issues, diabetes or certain psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder.

You can learn about how bupropion works compared to another common antidepressant, Zoloft, in our guide to Wellbutrin vs Zoloft.

FDA “Black Box” Warning for Wellbutrin (Bupropion)

As is common with antidepressants, bupropion has a “black box” safety warning from the FDA — the most serious type of FDA warning. This warning is found on bupropion medications used for treating depression — bupropion smoking cessation aids do not carry the same warning.

This warning informs users that antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal ideation and/or behavior in children, adolescents and young adults. Studies do not show that this risk of suicidal ideation and/or behavior occurs in people aged 24 and older.

If you’re prescribed bupropion to treat depression or seasonal affective disorder and experience any sudden changes in behavior, thoughts, mood or feelings, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Interactions Between Bupropion and Other Medications

Bupropion can interact with other medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbal products and health supplements.

These drug interactions may increase the amount of bupropion in your body or make the medication less effective. In some cases, the use of bupropion can cause dangerous drug interactions with other medications.

Dangerous interactions can occur when bupropion is used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) — another type of antidepressant medication.

These interactions can occur if you’ve taken an MAOI within the last 14 days. If you have used an MAOI medication, such as phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, selegiline or others, you must inform your healthcare provider before being prescribed bupropion.

Bupropion can interact with other antidepressant medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and other medications used to treat major depression. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider if you currently use or have recently used any other medications to treat depression.

Other medications that can interact with bupropion include antipsychotics, beta-blockers, blood thinners, corticosteroids, antiarrhythmics, theophylline, amantadine, dopamine precursors (such as levodopa) and transdermal nicotine patches.

To avoid interactions, inform your healthcare provider of all medications you currently use or have recently used, as well as any relevant health conditions, before using bupropion.

Other Frequently Asked Questions about Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

How And When Should You Take Bupropion?

Take bupropion as directed by your healthcare provider. Depending on whether you’re prescribed a sustained or extended release version of bupropion, you may need to take this medication once per day in the morning or multiple times throughout the day.

You can take bupropion with or without food. If you feel nauseous after using bupropion, it’s best to take this medication with a small- to medium-sized meal.

If you’re prescribed bupropion as a smoking cessation aid, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions and use the medication as recommended. They may recommend starting bupropion several days before you plan to quit smoking.

If you’re struggling to quit smoking after using bupropion for seven weeks or longer, talk to your healthcare provider. Do not suddenly stop using bupropion, adjust your dosage or start using additional smoking cessation aids without first talking to your healthcare provider.

If you forget to take bupropion, skip the missed dose and continue using the medication as you normally would. You should not take a double dose of bupropion to make up for a missed dose.

Can You Drink Alcohol With Bupropion?

Drinking alcohol with bupropion is not recommended. If you drink alcohol while using bupropion for depression or smoking cessation, you may be more likely to experience side effects from the alcohol and the bupropion.

If you drink beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages frequently, talk to your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol while using bupropion before you start taking this medication.

Can You Stop Taking Bupropion?

Like other widely used antidepressants, bupropion has the potential to cause certain withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using it without tapering your dosage.

Common bupropion withdrawal symptoms of bupropion include difficulty sleeping, balance issues, anxiety, depression, mood changes, flu-like symptoms, sweating and more.

If you’re prescribed bupropion and no longer want to use it, do not suddenly adjust your dosage or stop taking your medication. If you’re prescribed other medications to take at the same time as bupropion, including other antidepressants, continue taking these medications as normal.

Instead, talk to your healthcare provider about adjusting your dosage, safely tapering your bupropion dosage over time or changing to a different antidepressant or smoking cessation aid.

Does Bupropion Contain Nicotine?

Bupropion does not contain nicotine.

As a smoking cessation aid, its exact mechanism of action is not known, but scientists believe it may work by reducing cravings for nicotine by changing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain.

This can make the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting easier to deal with.

Because bupropion doesn’t contain nicotine, it may be safe to use it with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products.

However, you should talk to your healthcare provider before you use bupropion with nicotine gum, lozenges, patches or other products containing nicotine.

Does Bupropion Cause Weight Gain?

Although antidepressants are typically associated with weight gain, several studies of bupropion have found that it may cause weight loss.

Bupropion is one of two active ingredients in the FDA-approved weight loss drug Contrave®. In several studies, use of bupropion sustained release (SR) tablets has been associated with mild long-term weight loss.

Not all people who use bupropion lose weight. Depending on your food intake and activity level, you may gain weight, lose weight or maintain your current weight after using bupropion.

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Learn More About Treating Depression

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with depression, your healthcare provider may have suggested a range of different medications to treat your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Bupropion is one of several medications used to treat depression. Others include SSRIs, SNRIs and a variety of other antidepressants. Our complete guide to medications for depression goes into more detail on the options that are available, how they work and more.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

How Long Does it Take for Bupropion to Work?

Bupropion, sold under brand names such as Wellbutrin, and Aplenzin, is an antidepressant medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and nicotine addiction. It’s also used off-label to treat conditions such as anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and neuropathic pain.

Bupropion is considered unique to other antidepressants as it’s a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). NDRI is a new formulation of antidepressants that rarely produce the side effects of its former counterparts, such as weight gain and sexual dysfunction. Hence, bupropion is considered relatively safe when used as prescribed.

Bupropion is available in three main forms, such as:

Immediate-release tablet
Sustained-release tablet
Extended-release tablet

How Does Bupropion Work?

Bupropion works by affecting the way the body produces neurotransmitters responsible for transporting messages between the nerve cells. Bupropion blocks the brain from absorbing neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine to increase their levels and make them available longer. This function helps improve mood, attention, and focus and thus, treat symptoms of depression and ADHD.

However, the exact mechanism of bupropion as a smoking cessation aid remains unclear. But it’s believed that the increase in dopamine production mimics the effects of nicotine in the brain and minimizes nicotine withdrawal and cravings. Although bupropion for nicotine addiction does not work the same way as nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine patches, gum, or inhaler, it is still considered effective, especially when combined with intensive behavioral therapy.

How Long Does it Take for Bupropion to Work?

Bupropion may take several weeks to begin functioning as a treatment for MDD, SAD, and nicotine addiction. Individuals may experience significant improvements to physical symptoms such as sleep patterns, appetite, and energy levels during the first couple of weeks of treatment. However, it may take around four to six weeks to experience any noteworthy improvements in mood and interest in activities. Bupropion for MDD treatment may be required long after the symptoms are under control to prevent the depressive symptoms from re-emerging. In contrast, bupropion for SAD and smoking cessation is only required for a shorter period.

Since bupropion for nicotine addiction treatment takes several weeks to start working, most people are advised to establish a target “quit date” and start bupropion treatment while still smoking to give the medication enough time to take effect. Bupropion for smoking cessation is generally recommended seven to twelve weeks after quitting smoking to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Side Effects of Bupropion

Bupropion can cause side effects ranging from mildly uncomfortable to severe. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), side effects occur in more than 10% of those taking bupropion for medical purposes. Most of such side effects dissipate with continued use. However, if any of the symptoms persist or worsen, call a healthcare provider right away.

Some of the common side effects of bupropion are:

Weight loss
Skin rash
Excessive sweating
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Shakiness
Stomach pain
Dizziness
Muscle pain
Rapid heartbeat
Sore throat
Frequent urination
Agitation
Dry mouth
Insomnia
Headache
Nausea
Constipation
Tremors

Some of the less common side effects of bupropion are:

Chest pain
Fever
Flushing
Hot flashes
Migraine
Problems with swallowing
Twitching
Arthritis
Myalgia
Nervousness
Sinusitis
Hives
Urinary tract infections

Risks Associated with Bupropion

One of the risks of using bupropion is the possibility of seizures. Although seizures are rare with bupropion, the risk is still four times greater than with other antidepressants. The risk is even higher when the doses exceed 450mg per day. Some of the risk factors for seizures while on bupropion include:

A history of seizures
Past injury to the head
Tumor on the brain
Severe liver disease
An eating disorder
Taking another medication that also lowers the seizure threshold
Heavy drinking while on the medication

Bupropion comes with a black box warning to alert users of the medication’s ability to cause changes in behaviors, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors is even higher in children, teens, and young adults up to 24 years of age, especially when the medication is taken for the first time or in higher doses. Hence, it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of self-harm or suicidal ideations in children taking bupropion for depression.

People on bupropion for medical purposes are highly unlikely to form an addiction or dependence on it. However, the risk is not non-existent as the medication can cause stimulating effects like cocaine when taken in high doses. In addition, bupropion in high doses can also cause an overdose.

Some of the symptoms of a bupropion overdose include:

Muscle stiffness
Hallucinations
Fast or uneven heartbeat
Shallow breathing
Fainting

Bupropion overdose is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms.

Interactions With Other Medications

Bupropion may interact with certain medications when taken together. Although some interactions do not trigger any considerable reaction, others can influence how either medication works or increase their side effects. For example, bupropion’s interaction with antipsychotic medications of the phenothiazine class can reduce an individual’s seizure threshold. In contrast, bupropion’s interaction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine and selegiline can cause severe side effects.

Interactions between medications such as ritonavir can also increase the breakdown of bupropion and eliminate the medication from the body sooner, making them less effective. Lastly, the opposite can occur with bupropion reducing other medications levels in the body. An example of this is bupropion decreasing tamoxifen, a medication used to keep certain cancers in remission. Hence, it’s vital to inform your doctor of any other medications being taken before starting bupropion treatment.

While bupropion is a highly effective medication, it’s imperative to first talk to a healthcare professional to weigh the pros and cons of bupropion before taking it.

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Happy aging. Neuroscientist's advice on how to live long and well (Daniel Levitin)

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To what extent do we control the end of our life and how predetermined it is? What can be done to reverse the cognitive and physical decline that accompanies aging?
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Book “Happy Aging. Neuroscientist's recommendations on how to live long and well" is available in the online store "Chitai-gorod" at an attractive price. If you are in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don or any another region of Russia, you can place an order for a book Daniel Levitin Happy aging. Neuroscientist's recommendations on how to live long and well" and choose a convenient way to get it: pickup, courier delivery or shipping mail. To make buying books even more pleasant for you, we regularly hold promotions and contests.

Aspirin - to drink or not to drink in order to live well and long?

More than once at the reception I came across a situation when a patient without any obvious cardiovascular pathology prescribed cardiomagnyl (or thromboASS, aspirin cardio, etc. ) to himself, being sure that absolutely everyone at his age (that is, "after 45 –50 years”), such prevention of cardiovascular diseases is needed. After all, the neighbor also drinks, on TV they say what they need, and so on ...

Is it really necessary?

The fact is that current recommendations for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) speak of the need for lifelong aspirin intake by those people who have already suffered any cardiovascular events. These include heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attacks. As for the use of aspirin by people who have no history of any cardiovascular diseases at all, including those listed above, today the routine administration of aspirin (or other antithrombotic drugs) to such patients is not recommended due to the lack of an evidence base confirming First of all, the safety of such prophylaxis in this category of patients.

The most common side effect when taking aspirin is a negative effect on the gastric mucosa. Also, with its long-term use, the risk of bleeding of various localizations (gastrointestinal, hemorrhoidal, nasal, etc.) increases, and this fact cannot be neglected, because in certain situations such bleeding can become life-threatening.

In this regard, before prescribing aspirin to a patient, the doctor must evaluate the benefits and risks of taking it. In patients who have had a heart attack or stroke, the benefits of aspirin prophylaxis have been proven to outweigh the possible risk of bleeding, therefore, its use is recommended. And the role of aspirin in persons who do not have a history of either of these has not been fully studied. The scientific data that we have today indicate that there is no clear benefit from such prevention and, at the same time, that there is an increased risk of bleeding of various localizations. However, the issue still remains poorly understood, large-scale studies are ongoing, and we are waiting for their results.

As for patients of older age groups who have any risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases (arterial hypertension, elevated blood cholesterol, etc. ), patients with diabetes, the situation is approximately the same: so far it has not been found that the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh the risk of bleeding in such patients, and therefore its use also cannot be recommended routinely.

When else should I take aspirin?

- For high blood pressure.

Because taking it can increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke in this case. In the presence of hypertension, aspirin should only be taken when adequate blood pressure control is achieved.

- If a stroke is suspected.

If we are dealing with a suspected stroke (a person suddenly develops severe weakness in an arm or leg, speech, motor disorders, the corner of his mouth is down, he cannot smile, etc.), in no case should aspirin be given in this situation. There are no objective signs that make it possible to unambiguously differentiate between hemorrhagic (associated with cerebral hemorrhage) and ischemic (associated with blockage of the cerebral artery by an atherosclerotic plaque) type of stroke. And if the stroke is hemorrhagic, and we give such a person aspirin, then it’s scary to imagine how this could end ...

All you need to do if you suspect a person has a stroke is to lay him in a horizontal position, try to calm him down and call an ambulance as soon as possible.

When should I take aspirin?

Only when it was prescribed by a doctor who assessed the benefits and risks of taking it and who knows the indications for his appointment. Platelet levels, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), kidney function should also always be considered before prescribing this drug.

As a rule, aspirin is always indicated for coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, noncardioembolic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, arterial atherosclerosis, arterial stenting.

And the last.

If you decide to seriously take care of your health, find out what measures you need to take to prevent cardiovascular diseases, it is better to contact a general practitioner or a cardiologist.

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