Bupropion and Insomnia: What Users Say

• ali...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 20, 2021

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "Like others on this site, I have tried so many antidepressants. SSRIs take away any sexual feeling for me, and I tend to put on weight and not have the best self-image with them. Bupropion is the only medication that really allows me to feel my feelings, and talk more easily in social settings. After your adjustment (some insomnia for a few weeks) it actually helped me to sleep better. It took me a few times of trying this medication to really get it to work for me. It helped with my anxiety rather than making it worse, but depression was my biggest problem: hopelessness, fatigue, etc. This medication makes jokes funny, trees prettier, and makes me feel emotionally stronger. Remember that it takes courage and patience to get help and to stick with it until it works."

• And...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2020

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "Give this medication a fighting chance! I almost quit a month in, but I am SO glad I didn’t and toughed out the negative side effects. When I started, I felt dazed and sedated but wired and jittery at the same time. My insomnia was horrible. Other side effects I experienced included tinnitus, horrible anxiety, hand tremors, heart palpitations, and a really short temper. I desired nothing, but had the energy to do everything - weird combo. OKAY, now for the GOOD, and things I think people should know before giving up this medication - the side effects last a LONG time (two and a half months for me) but they DO all go away. I was now able to get up early to work out, got into cooking, lost weight, and felt hopeful about life. Sex also got WAY better now that I could stop living in my head, which was a huge plus. For the first time in a long time, I can really say I feel happy. So give it time!"

• F21...
• June 14, 2020

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "This drug Wellbutrin has been life-changing for me. After trying SSRIs and SNRIs that didn’t work, it did the trick. Yes, it sucks at first; the side effects are horrible, but you have to give it time. And on these meds at first, I got the head zaps, anxiety like I had never felt before, heart palpitations, lack of appetite and weight loss, headaches, nausea, severe insomnia - the whole nine yards. But after about 5 months on 300 mg, I turned a corner and feel better than ever. I can focus, I’m not tired but can sleep if I need to, my anxiety largely went away, I’m happy and can orgasm too. All the side effects pretty much subsided, save for the appetite one... I still don’t have to eat if I don’t want to, but I’m not repulsed by the idea of food anymore. So seriously, it isn’t a conventional drug and it’s bad initially, but PLEASE stick with it. Don’t expect it to work overnight... these things take time. I promise you will get results. You got this. Hang in there!"

• Can...
• September 5, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "I was a 250-pound, fat, and happy married man until I was diagnosed with stage 3B cancer. My wife and kids convinced me to see a psychiatrist and get treated. Anyway, he started me on Wellbutrin (Bupropion generic) at 200mg per day. He said this med has been around a long time, and it's very safe and effective. Note that I don't have anxiety. After a week on Bupropion, I would sing on the way to work and was unable to wipe the smile off my face. After about 6 months, these feelings wore off, but I was still better than before. My psychiatrist upped the dosage to 300mg per day. I take two 100mg pills at 9 am and then one 100mg pill at 2:30 pm. Overall, I'm happy. It worked for me. The only side effects are a little insomnia twice per month and ringing in my ears four times per month, which lasts for hours each time. The ringing is very low. I get my generic meds for a 90-day supply each time, and my insurance charges me $24 for that 90-day supply (300mg/day)."

• ras...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "After a break up with my girlfriend and one true love of my life, I went to a really dark place and had serious suicidal thoughts. I was first put on Brintellix, then Valdoxan, and three weeks ago on Wellbutrin. It's been six months since the break up, and after using this med for 3 weeks, I'm finally able to enjoy life again and have energy to get through the days with pleasure. This med has so far been a life saver for me. The first two weeks were hard, and I had serious insomnia, but now for the first time in 6 months, I don't need Ambien to sleep anymore. I seriously recommend this med, at least for me it's working perfectly so far. Just give it time to start working, and you will feel better."

• Boo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2020

Bupropion for Depression "I've been on Wellbutrin XL 150mg for about a year now and I've gotta say it's worked wonders for me. I was on Lexapro a few years ago and stopped taking it because the weight gain and zero sex drive were bringing me down. I wasn't taking any antidepressants for a year and a half and still couldn't lose the weight. My doctor put me on Wellbutrin, which I was nervous about at first because I also have generalized anxiety disorder and I read that it could exaggerate it. The first month I had splitting headaches and was only sleeping maybe 4-5 hours a night. Since then, things have obviously evened out, but it did take a few weeks. I feel great now, I'm energetic and passionate about things I haven't been in years. I started at 168 lbs and have lost 30 pounds; I'm officially down to my pre-lexapro weight. I'm so glad that this medicine works for me, it's made such a huge difference in my day to day!"

• Mar...
• August 22, 2020

For Anxiety "I finally went on Wellbutrin after telling myself “I’ll try next year if it gets bad again.” This medication has eliminated my anxiety, encouraged more healthy habits, and brought me back into my body & stopped self-medicating for the first time in my life. This is NOT a cure-all! I have found that this medication must be paired with healthy habits (healthy diet of whole foods with plenty of fruits & veggies, ample hydration & sleep, etc.). Side effects I experienced in the first week included insomnia, mild constipation, and thirst. All managed by previously stated healthy habits. After a couple of weeks, I stopped noticing any side effects at all. I’m about two months in and the drug is so effective I have been forgetting to take it. What anxiety?! If I could wave a magic wand, I would make it so that this drug was effective for and available to every person with anxiety because it has changed my life."

• Lei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2021

Bupropion for Depression "When I tried an SSRI I ended up lying on the floor almost unresponsive. I won't take one again. In the last year my depression and anxiety got really bad. Horrible panic attacks, slamming doors, screaming, irritability... then came the suicidal thoughts. My doctor suggested Wellbutrin. I have a very sensitive body so I started on 75 mg once a day. Man. I noticed a difference within the first day or two. The third day I woke up with tons of energy and unpacked my suitcase that had been sitting in my closet for a week, before I even started working! Unheard of for me. My outlook on life has improved, I don't snap at my husband, I don't get annoyed. Plus I've lost 4 lbs and my sex drive has increased slightly. The only side effects I've had were the brain 'zingers' people talk about (they have subsided) and pretty bad insomnia. I'm hoping the insomnia goes away, but right now the positives definitely outweigh the negatives! A world of difference!"

• Nat...
• June 6, 2021

Bupropion for Depression "Just starting this med. The first couple days, I didn’t think it was doing much, but I noticed I couldn’t sleep for very long. I wasn’t as hopelessly sad as I had been the week prior, but I was experiencing an array of stomach-related side effects (constipated until I was very much no longer constipated, bloating, stomach aches, and VERY nauseous the first night). Fast forward a few days, I still can’t sleep very much. I’m artificially active is the best way to describe it. I’ve been pretty inactive throughout the pandemic, but I walked to get iced coffee in 90-degree heat, cleaned my apartment, had people over, then went to the gym later because I was so jittery and couldn’t sit still. It also has given me quite a bit of anxiety and some irritability alongside the constant need to be active. I hope that over the next few days, the anxious thoughts, stomach issues, and insomnia calm down."

• dep...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 10, 2014

Bupropion for Depression "I have been on bupropion for about a year, 150mg taken every morning. I noticed a difference on day 2. Everything was just normal. Not bad normal, but good normal, like you woke up after having a really good sleep - and like a weight or pressure has been lifted. It's really hard to describe. Everything seems better. I kid you not. Music sounds clearer, looking around outside, it looks clearer... like I am out of a fog. So... I tried an experiment while I went on vacation. Didn't take anything for 2 weeks. My mood slowly returned to negative. Little things ticked me off, that shouldn't have. I decided to go back on. Same effect on the next day, mood lifted. It gives me slight insomnia, but also takes away some appetite. Great."

• Hyp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2014

For ADHD "I tried Wellbutrin XL 300mg per day because I was worried about long-term side effects of Adderall. It's been 2 months and so far so good. I'm not as focused but still pretty close. Only downfall is I can't fall asleep as well as I did with Adderall and I urinate like crazy. But I say the risks and side effects are less than with Adderall. I am happy this worked. After years of amphetamine-type medicines, I thought I was stuck. But this medicine is great. I hope it continues to work. Some background, I have had ADHD since childhood and now am in my thirties. I work full time as an NP, wife, and mother of 3. As a medical provider, I am greatly appreciative of this medicine, with less long-term adverse side effects."

• Wif...
• February 7, 2017

Bupropion for Depression "I have been on Wellbutrin for about four months. I can definitely say that it works very well. My symptoms before taking it were mood swings, constant fatigue, irritability, very low to nonexistent sex drive & not able to finish anything I started. My first two weeks on Wellbutrin, I had a rough go with side effects. Side effects were: couldn't sleep. Heavy/tight chest which resulted in a panic attack. Itchy palms & feet. I wanted so bad to stop taking it but very glad I didn't. I feel great now and have lost 15 lbs. The sex drive has come back full force. Advice: take Benadryl those first few weeks to help you sleep. Best choice I have made was asking my doctor for help."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2009

Bupropion for Depression "I was set on trying Wellbutrin. I have tried Paxil and one other I can't even recall the name of. They made me feel like a zombie and my husband wasn't fond of them due to the sexual side effects. Wellbutrin was the hardest drug to get accustomed to. I went for a month having one side effect after the other. One week would be sleepless nights, the next would be general irritation at everything and everyone and perhaps the worst was nausea. I stuck it out and I am extremely glad I did. It has been amazing for me. I am much more motivated and excited about life. It increased my sex drive 100%! I also tend to be a social smoker and it obliterated that for me. I love this medicine. I take 400 mg daily."

• Hap...
• June 16, 2014

Bupropion for Depression "I started taking Wellbutrin 150mg one week ago. I suffer from mild depression, but I feel like I am going through a rough patch in my marriage/life and needed something to change. I exercise regularly, own a business, and sleep well, but just didn't have that 'get up and go' that I felt others had. So, my doctor had given me a prescription for Lexapro that had horrible side effects right off the bat: heartburn, insomnia, and this kind of stressed-out feeling that made me VERY uncomfortable. My doc gave me a new prescription for Wellbutrin, and I take it the moment I wake up each morning. I feel happy, energetic, and ready to tackle the day. No insomnia, but I do have a reduced appetite. This may be just the ticket!"

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2013

Bupropion for Depression "I started taking 150mg Wellbutrin SR about a month ago to treat severe atypical depression, and it has been nothing short of miraculous for me. The first two weeks were rough. I had some heart palpitations brought on by a combination of the meds and caffeine, so I had to stop the caffeine. I also had to work through a bit of insomnia early on, but that side effect has subsided, and now I actually sleep and wake well rested. For the first time in a decade, I'm hopeful. My negative thoughts are still there, but unlike before, I have control over them. I can manage them in a non-destructive way. Words cannot express what it feels like to know that you can, for the first time in so long you can't remember, function as a normal person."

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 26, 2020

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Wellbutrin 300 XL for about 3 years. It helps my depression a lot. I am able to function daily and not overreact. Started at 150 mg and went to 300 mg. Before Wellbutrin, I was very depressed, and working, parenting, and everything was causing me grief, sadness, and fear. I was overweight and I overreacted to small things. I felt hopeless and on edge every day. I have a low-functioning thyroid as well that may have been making my depression worse. So now I am on track. It took me about 2 weeks to feel a difference. Now I do have several of the side effects. I lost about 30 lbs. I have a low appetite, I have ringing in my right ear. I also have dry mouth, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and blurred vision. I can handle the side effects but not the depression. So I have stayed on the medicine. Also, I suddenly stopped taking the meds one time and it caused suicidal thoughts and flu-like symptoms."

• Tab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2017

Bupropion for Depression "I am a 57-year-old breast cancer survivor who has been in excellent shape, trim, and happily married. After menopause, I developed insomnia, weight gain, and depression. I can no longer take estrogen due to breast cancer, which made me feel tired all the time. Thyroid medicine helped but not enough. No energy and lost interest in doing things. My doctor insisted I try SSRIs such as Lexapro and Zoloft, but I had bad side effects. I tried many supplements but not much help. I tried Bupropion HCL SR 150 mg. It worked right away. I take it early in the morning and have energy all day. I did not have side effects except for losing 2 pounds and experiencing insomnia if taken after 10 am. It changed my life! I've been on it for 4 months."

• Jel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2016

For ADHD "Bupropion, the generic version, makes me feel more on top of things. I do feel the medicine kick in after about an hour, and I get a bit 'high' if you will. It's a feeling of motivation to go do things and be productive. The first time I was on Wellbutrin (one month), it only lasted about 2 hours (at least what I could feel) and ended up not caring about anything for the rest of the day. Then recently I started Wellbutrin XL 150MG, and it lasts much longer. I made the mistake of taking it at night when I should have taken it in the morning. Bad insomnia because of it, but I learned my lesson. I'd say it is the only antidepressant that has worked on both depression and ADHD by helping me concentrate, remember, stay on track, and also motivation."

• gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2023

Bupropion for Depression "I’m on day 5 of Wellbutrin. I’ve had severe anxiety and depression for the past 10 years, and I’m 26 now. I’ve been hospitalized twice for suicidal feelings. Tried all different kinds of medications for the past 8 years. I had no hope anymore. I switched doctors this week after getting fed up with my old psychiatrist, who I felt didn’t understand me and couldn’t give me the care I needed. My new doctor understands me, and she started me on Wellbutrin this week. The first day of taking Wellbutrin, I felt relief. The fog of hopelessness was lifted, and although my situation is still bad, I now feel like I have the ability to overcome it. Now on day 5, I’m feeling much better, like I can actually focus more on the present moment rather than being stuck in my head. Side effects have included dry mouth, some stomach issues, anxiety, and insomnia. My doctor gave me trazodone to sleep better, which has helped. Please do not lose hope or be scared to try medications. They can help."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

Bupropion for Depression "I have been on antidepressants for decades. My P.A. put me on Zoloft, and I took it for months with no effect. I asked to try Wellbutrin, as it helped me back in my 30s. Been on it three weeks. I CANNOT explain how bad the anxiety is. I cannot sleep. I cannot speak well, nor can I remember words or their spellings. Let us not mention that sudden feeling of rage and anger. Decided to do some research and find other people's experiences, and here they are. Many with the same issues. Perhaps all of this would dissipate over time, but I can't live like this. I will discontinue using it, and I hope that this helps someone. Please keep fighting, NEVER give up. I'm going to keep searching for the right cure for me."

• ess...
• July 13, 2013

For Anxiety "Was on Celexa for anxiety and stayed sleepy all the time. Switched to bupropion (300 mg) and am very pleased with the results: much less anxiety, improved libido, sleep well at night, lost some weight, and have more energy. For me, it's a good choice for anxiety without side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2016

Bupropion for Depression "26-year-old male. Been on it for 31 days. 1st week 150mg XL: high-speed energy. Mild insomnia (up till 3 am most nights). Waking early and generally good mood. 2nd week 300mg XL. Very high constant anxiety. Emotional swings. Broke down in tears one day. 3rd week: Things were smoothing out. Still slightly anxious. Less emotional. 4th week: Feeling completely normal, almost like I'm not on any medication. More level-headed and better mood with fewer swings. Anxiety disappearing and confidence growing. No side effects. This is in combination with seeking help from a counselor, and confiding with a close friend of mine about how depressed I have been over the years. I am happy I took it. It has got me back on my feet and allowed me to seek help."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2009

Bupropion for Panic Disorder "I started taking Wellbutrin after gaining 10 to 15 pounds on Paxil. I'd already tried Prozac. Wellbutrin did give me some uncomfortable side effects like ringing in the ears, sleepless nights, and I did have a lot of panic attacks while I was getting started. So I had to take Zoloft with it for a while, which canceled out my sex life. Now that I'm only on the Wellbutrin, I've lost 10 lbs and my sex life is better than ever. No one drug works for everybody, keep trying till you find the right one, don't suffer! My doctor chose this one so I could shed a few lbs. I gained on the other. 45-year-old female married 18 years, 4 kids... nice to know sometimes so you can relate."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2024

Bupropion "Female, 27, 150 mg XL for overeating disorder, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. After 10 days, insomnia improved by switching to taking it at night right as I'm falling asleep. It increased focus, energy, and contentment while reducing hunger. Initial agitation subsided quickly. Previous meds like Adderall, Vyvanse, and SSRIs had unwanted side effects, but Wellbutrin combines the best of both, allowing creativity and emotional connection. It's improved disordered eating, social interactions, and focus on work and creativity. Lost 3 lbs, feel more accountable, and have a better schedule. Glad I gave it a chance after being hesitant due to online reviews. It's nice to have my life back and feel like myself. I will update if anything changes, but for now I'm so grateful for this medicine."

• Hel...
• September 19, 2019

Bupropion for Major Depressive Disorder "I used to have 0 motivation. I could not get out of bed for weeks at a time. I ate whatever food I had and peed in bottles because I couldn’t make the effort to go to the bathroom, even though the bathroom is across from my room! On the second day of taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg, I found myself washing my dishes! It surprised me! And it continued to get better from there. Now, after about 6 weeks, I’m back in school, working, eating, exercising, meditating, my room is spotless, my car is clean, I shower every day, and I’m more motivated than I have ever been. A few tips: 1. As helpful as this med is, you can’t just rely on this to help you. You must create a healthy lifestyle (eat, exercise, sleep, etc). After all, health comes from healthy living. 2. You might get insomnia and nightmares. To help with insomnia, I take 300mg magnesium glycinate and melatonin. It helps but it’s not 100% effective. 3. You won’t get hungry, but remember to eat at least 2,000 calories."