Bupropion for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2024

"Most of my patients with difficult-to-treat bipolar depression responded to second-generation antipsychotic plus lamotrigine with bupropion as an adjunct. Later on, I usually discontinue lamotrigine as the depressive symptoms remit, and from this point on, I keep maintenance bupropion only when significant subsyndromic symptoms persist."

• Anony...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2018

"I started taking Wellbutrin after taking SSRI's which had so many side effects I literally started shaking. This medication had side effects in the beginning (sweating, restlessness) for the first could of weeks. I currently take this medication 300mg XL along with Lamictal. I have no side effects from this medication. I am Bipolar II"

• Well-...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 10, 2016

"This drug has been a life saver more than once. I intend to stay on it forever. I have taken it for several extended periods 6-18 months at times at doses up to 450 mg per day. I've stopped and started but eventually my depression returns. On 150 mg per day, I feel horrible. I have the worst agitation inside where I feel like I could crawl out of my skin. I have a tightness in my chest that will not go away. I'm unable to sit and concentrate at work. On 300mg/day - it's like night and day from 150 mg. This is when I feel perfectly fine. The agitation disappears, and in fact, I almost feel sleepy. The chest tightness goes away and I'm able to sit and do my work for a full 8 hour day. I sleep amazing. On 450mg/day is when I feel "normal"."

• Saral...
• October 11, 2009

Wellbutrin (bupropion) "Wellbutrin relieved my internal feelings of turmoil but turned me very edgy, rude, and angry at inappropriate times. Not a fun person to be around. And while it helped me emotionally alittle, it did nothing spectatular."

• troyz
• March 6, 2010

Wellbutrin XL (bupropion) "Tons better than medicines like Paxil and Depakote (sleep your life away)...even-keel pretty much...sometimes I have coffee with friends (10a.m.) and I can feel a slight rush but if that's the down side of this for me, then I'll take it until they tell me that I can't anymore."

• Deco
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2019

"I've been on this for almost 4 weeks. I am overweight as a result of other meds & emotional eating, which I do when depressed- for some reason especially when someone else is eating-- it's almost an impulse. I have lost five pounds now and find myself able to turn down sweets, be satisfied on normal portions, and generally able to control saying "No" to mindless and emotional eating. I can see why this would help smokers- I was becoming addicted to food. This alone has made me feel optimistic, but it was only after a couple of days that I began to notice certain other behaviors changing toward my self but more importantly others who deserved better from me. I hope that this proves to be what I need, I'm tired from trying so many other meds that haven't worked!"

• BlueM...
• July 21, 2009

Wellbutrin SR (bupropion) "Been on Wellbutrin and Clonezapam since 1994 to treat my bipolar. I was put on Wellbutrin SR in 2000. Works very well for my condition. Feel very even keeled and all my troubles evaporates in thin air. I don't feel irritable or obsessed over things like I used to. Side effects I have experienced. I have to be careful during the summer months when its extremely hot. I get dehydrated very quickly. Drink lots of water and drinks with electrolytes. Decrease in sex drive due to vaginal dryness. "

• Joyce...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2016

"Wellbutrin 150mg; Within 36 hours I suffered from psychotic symptoms, ended that day with full blown mania and delusions. I barely remember something from that day. I remained extremely sound sensitive for another 10 days. An antipsychotic and benzo were needed to get me symptom free again. Never was psychotic before, diagnosed with BP 2"

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2010

Wellbutrin (bupropion) "I've been through 10 medications trying to find what worked, because I was so miserable. Wellbutrin along with Seroquel and Effexor were the only thing that have worked for me and I haven't dared to meddle with the wonderful combination I take."

• Riley
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

"My doctor put me on bupropion XL 150mg and it was awful! Two weeks in I started having terrible anger and irritability spells to where I would just scream. After 17 days I had to stop taking it. The worst side effect I’m actually STILL having though since stopping is actually weight GAIN !?! I have even decreased my calories and increased my exercise to bring my weight back to normal but nothing is working! I’ve become so frustrated and my doctors are no help. Has anyone else experienced weight gain from this medication not related to overeating ? I am so desperate for answers :("

• human...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 20, 2020

"I was moving off Remeron about 6 years ago, having gained 30 pounds, and started taking bupropion at 75 mg to supplement my lamotrigine 200 mg. No real side effects, but also no real change. Then I got moved up to 150mg of bupropion. Sort of helped, but not quite. Moving up to 300 was a bit of a problem. I felt electric for the first two weeks, like I couldn't sit still and wanted to scream, and I was constantly uncomfortable in my own skin. I also kept having crazy vivid dreams and didn't sleep much. However, after those two weeks, I felt so much better. I was much better able to get up and on with my days, be productive, and generally get my life back. I will warn you: not usually suggested for bipolar, but my doctor and I discussed the risks. (I have since added other medications, though, due to life stressors and comorbid anxiety issues.)"

• Manuel
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 15, 2016

"Buproprion XL was helpful for a season when depression was hitting very hard with Bipolar. When I initially started taking it, I saw effects right away. I didn't notice any false happiness like many associate with "anti-depressants" but it lightened my mood which had been pretty depressed for some time. Over time I did notice the effect of the drug lessened and I did quit taking it, but it was helpful during the time I needed it. I had previously tried Zoloft and I found Buproprion superior to Zoloft in my personal experience."

• Ohmeo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 28, 2014

"When I had a dlifficult time getting a refill due to insurance issues, I missed a few days and talked to my doctor about trying to go without. I take Xanax ER 2mg and Lamictal 200mg both twice daily. I was fine for about 2 weeks. When I spiraled downward, it was bad. I ate, slept, and cried. I never missed a day of work, but I sure felt like running out of there. Finally, things worked out with insurance. I am actually glad to take a 3rd medication realizing how it helped me. It has been about 6 weeks since I took my last dose. I begin again tomorrow. So, my story can be summarized as depression and frustration levels returned within 2 weeks of stopping bupropion XL 300mg. Don't just stop!"

• chefh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2017

"I am a 47 year old man and have been on several medications for my schizoaffective disorder and depression. My last antidepressant was Efexxor XR which killed my sex drive for several years. I suggested my Pdoc to try Wellbutrin XL and I shall say that that my sexual life increased from 1 to 10. I am very pleased with this medication and would recommend it to anyone."

• Mary
• May 28, 2014

"Started taking in 2007, weaned down to approximately 60 mg. per day (average). Has been the best antidepressant thus far, way better than Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac. Fewer side effects, and manages my mood disorder."

• soup
• August 10, 2020

"The first 2-3 weeks on this med bupropion were kind of horrible. I barely slept because I didn't feel like I needed to and then I ended up being sleep deprived and I wasn't sure if I could handle being on it. However, ever since I got used to it I have felt that Bupropion has been more helpful than the other 2 meds I had previously taken. It doesn't cover everything and I don't think any med could, but like I said this has been the most helpful med so far. I didn't give 10 stars though because in addition to the rough start if for some reason I don't have access to Bupropion for 3-4 days I start to feel very unstable."

• nickn...
• December 22, 2015

"I'm 37 and have depression, usually seasonal, - sleeplessness, and occasional anxiety. I took 100 mg of Wellbutrin (and nothing else, it replaced zoloft at the time) for around 3-5 days. Within 2-3 days I was quite agitated, anxious and easily annoyed. By day five I stopped taking because I felt hostile and again annoyed. Cannot speak for others, but this one really made me a monster and I have never, not once, felt like that from any of these: zoloft celexa trazadone"

• brugb...
• March 7, 2009

Budeprion XL (bupropion) "When this generic was added to my large list of drugs (including one other anti depressant) I became the most mellow person in the world. Nothing upsets me. Everything moves along nicely. Feel a little disassociated with the world actually. BUT I QUIT SMOKING! So now I won't let them take it away."

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2009

Wellbutrin (bupropion) "I had tried Zoloft in the past, went off because I was feeling better. Many years later, needed something again. Went back on Zoloft - it did nothing. Tried it in combo with Wellbutrin - nothing. Tried just the wellbutrin - nothing... except a 25 pound weight gain. Everyone says you lose weight on Wellbutrin... uh.. not so much! I gained 25 lbs in spite of barely eating and taking up running...AND.. it made me sweat ALL THE TIME. It did nothing for my mood, but the side effects were completely depressing. P.S. the weight did NOT come off after I quit taking it. My guess is it damaged my already slow metabolism."

• Bipol...
• July 15, 2021

"The first week was awful. Then I felt pretty happy, weird but I didn't feel miserable and I still was going to the gym even on my bad days. I didn't feel the need to help my feelings with food. I was sleeping better. This week I can’t get myself to eat. I am having horrible on and off constipation. Now a month in and I am so depressed this week I’ve been to exhausted and hopeless to leave the house. I feel EMPTY, with no motivation or care. Instead of feeling depressed, I just feel nothing. I don't know if it is because I’m not eating, a bipolar low. I just don't know. Nothing matters to me right now. I hope this gets better. It has been about a month and I just really want this to get better. On a good note I’m losing weight, the bad news is I feel like I’m fading away. I’ll try to keep updating."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2012

"It was actually pretty good. It gave me energy, suppressed appetite. Improved my ability to complete tasks and helped improve my mood. Did make my PMS worse. My pdoc took me off it because it was making my hair fall out."

• Anybody
• November 7, 2013

"I was put on Wellbutrin for smoking cessation, I had zero personal or family history of any mental health issues. The Wellbutrin did not work for smoking cessation, so my doctor took me off it abruptly. I suffered from the common on the Internet, but completely unheard of by doctors, Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms of "brain zaps" or "brain shivers," odd sexual side effects, and powerful dreams. These adverse withdrawal effects from Wellbutrin were then misdiagnosed (according to the DSM) as bipolar. So in my case, Wellbutrin withdrawal effects were the etiology of a bipolar misdiagnosis."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2009

Wellbutrin SR (bupropion) "I started taking Wellbutrin SR 4 days ago. I took it in addition to Seroquel XR. It helped for a couple of days. During those days I only experienced some dizziness, and decreased appetite and sex drive. Although yesterday evening I was hospitalized with a 5 minute long grand-mal seizure. I don't have a history of seizure disorders, and the Doctors believe that this seizure was caused by Wellbutrin SR. If you take Wellbutrin SR and antipsychotics together, I suggest that you speak with your pharmacist or health provider."

• Zig
• February 20, 2017

"I take 300mg in the morning. At night I take trazadone 50mg. Like any drug I had many side effects at first. But this is definitely my favourite. My sex drive has increased significantly. My quality of life has improved in the sense that this medication has helped me to become higher functioning."

• Tony
• March 6, 2015

"My doctor put me on this medication because I told him I get tired and moody throughout the day.. I had no plans to quit smoking cigarettes. I have been smoking for 5 years, 1/2 pack a day. After the 4th day, the cigarette kept on tasting worse and I couldn't even smoke a whole cigarette. Hopefully I just quit, it's best for me and my health. The cravings for cigarettes aren't there anymore. On the 3rd day, I felt really weak and light at work. Felt like I was going to throw up."