Wellbutrin for Depression User Reviews (Page 2)
Wellbutrin has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 505 reviews for the treatment of Depression. 61% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 21% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Wellbutrin
- Gsidt...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- March 20, 2014
"After starting Wellbutrin, I didn't notice any effects until week 5. I am now on week 9. I feel so much better than before. My self-image and self-confidence have skyrocketed. My libido increased. I am so much more optimistic and happy too. Honestly, can't say enough positive things about Wellbutrin."
- Shannon
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- December 18, 2012
"I am a dancer and for the past 5 years I have struggled with anorexia and bulimia. I began noticing signs of depression as early as 13. I felt hopeless, unloved, unworthy, and extremely alone. After 5 years, I decided that I needed to change. In the spring, I got a bi-weekly therapist and saw a physician and got a prescription for Wellbutrin. Within two weeks, the therapist herself determined that I would be fine and no longer needed therapy. I have not had one bulimic episode since. I went from leading a reclusive, regimented life to a fun-filled, exciting one. I made many new friends and went from feeling so low that no one could possibly love me to finding the love of my life. Get help; this medicine changed my life!"
Frequently asked questions
- Does Wellbutrin XL/SR cause weight gain or loss?
- Can I stop taking Wellbutrin suddenly or should I taper off?
- How long does it take Wellbutrin XL/SR (bupropion) to work?
- What's the difference between Wellbutrin XL and SR?
- BEX
- October 17, 2019
"I have been on so many antidepressants in the last 17 years. You name it, I've probably tried it. Yet not once was Wellbutrin recommended to me until a couple of months ago when I told my doctor I keep going off of my meds because of the awful side effects. My daughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD and her shrink told me I should be evaluated for it as well. I told my doctor about my thoughts on being evaluated for ADHD and that I was a lot like my daughter when I was younger. She told me that Wellbutrin used to treat ADHD off label. The first month I was on 150mg XL, I felt better but not amazing. I told her as much at my checkup. She upped it to 300mg. Within 4 days, I felt like myself but better! I quit vaping, started running again, started cooking and many other hobbies I haven't done in years because I have been so depressed. I feel more focused at work and have had zero sexual side effects which has never happened on any other antidepressant. I will never switch back to an SSRI again!"
- Happy...
- March 30, 2017
"I was feeling very depressed this winter. A combination of SAD and life. I was irritable, unmotivated, unsociable, negative, and sad. I could hardly recognize myself. I was nervous to try an antidepressant as I'd heard weight gain and loss of sex drive were often side effects. That would've depressed me more! But my doctor said that Wellbutrin was often referred to as the skinny sexy pill. Now that made it sound a whole lot better. I know it seems hard to believe, but day three I felt like a weight had lifted...not sure if it can work that fast but I was able to jump out of bed and feel motivated. My appetite has decreased, I'm happy, my libido is still as good as ever, and I have experienced 0 side effects. Love it!"
Are you taking this medicine?
- Happy...
- December 18, 2008
"My husband had a long (undiagnosed) history of depression. The final straw was when his brother died in December 07. Declining for the next 5 months, withdrawing more and more, not wanting to work, go anywhere, short-tempered, paranoid, until finally he attempted suicide (not the first time). Doctor prescribed Wellbutrin 75mg 2 x daily for 3 months. He's been a different person on the medicines. He says 'it makes him feel like he SHOULD feel, like he felt as a happy child, instead of what he's become over the years.' It helps with mood swings, helps him not overreact to small irritations anymore. He increased to 3 x daily after a slight slump. Don't try to stop without doctor's advice. He tried that and went back to his depression again."
- Anonymous
- August 10, 2009
"I'm 26 and have been taking this medication for about 9 months. The first few weeks it made me shaky and thirsty. It immediately got rid of my sweet tooth, and it's true food doesn't quite taste as good with it, but I'm happier with that being the case. Before I took the medication, I had been severely depressed for nearly 15 years and couldn't bring myself to take antidepressants. I finally hit an incredibly stressful period in my life last year that made me feel completely hopeless every minute of every day. Wellbutrin does not make me 'happy' and 'laughing like a kid' as some other users say, but it does make me feel like I am back to the same level that most people are on, kind of right in the middle, which is 100 times better than where I was."
More FAQ
- Female...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- April 16, 2013
"I've been on Wellbutrin for a year and a half now. I had been reluctant to admit I was depressed even though I was miserable. I was rude and snappish with everyone, unhappy with myself, and just wanted to die. Then I started Wellbutrin. Immediately, those thoughts in my head about what an awful person I was stopped. When I consciously tried to think about them again, I couldn't do it without my brain also coming up with all the reasons those negative thoughts were ridiculous and untrue. The only side effect I noticed was lack of appetite, but that went away after about three weeks. This medicine works really well for me. I feel so much more like myself."
- ddeed...
- August 28, 2014
"I started this 4 weeks ago. I was originally on Paxil but I was tired of its side effects. My doctor switched me to Wellbutrin after also trying Cipralex, Effexor, and Zoloft. It works great. I had almost no side effects when I started it (I did with every other medicine). It does increase anxiety for me though. Wellbutrin gives me more energy and makes me feel alive again. Because of the energy, I work out now which helps counteract the anxiety. It did not increase my sex drive BUT it made me normal. (Paxil made it so I wouldn't even let my husband touch me). I have lost the weight that Paxil made me gain and then some! I would recommend it to people for sure but if you have bad anxiety like I do, try being really active as well."
- garyg...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- August 6, 2023
"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."
- Sdano
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 15, 2019
"This drug is amazing. It has lifted my depression, and I have endless energy. The side effects are even better - weight loss and increased libido. It is the only antidepressant I've tried that has good side effects."
- Mrs...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- April 7, 2013
"I had trouble with anxiety and having a 'short fuse'. I thought about death constantly and had trouble remembering things. In short, I suffered from depression. I was horrible to my coworkers, family, and friends. I have never taken an antidepressant before. I have been taking Wellbutrin for 5 days, and I can say that I feel better. I have energy, although I have noticed some heart palpitations, nothing worth seeing a doctor about. I have a decreased appetite but just slight nausea. I am in a better mood and seem to be able to let things that used to bother me just slide by. I do not feel like a zombie at all. I smile more and cry less. That's exactly what I was hoping for. I am a 45-year-old woman."
- Anonymous
- August 29, 2009
"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."
- Tired...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- December 6, 2015
"2 months ago, all I wanted to do was lay in bed all day & be constantly distracted. I was always tired & very irritable. I needed energy drinks to feel 'awake'. I had constant thoughts of suicide and always overate. Now after 6 weeks on the generic Wellbutrin, I feel like a totally different person. I have energy to last me all day, I am much happier and I actually want to socialize with people. I laugh more & never cry. I am so happy this worked... I had a rough life and couldn't stop feeling like suicide was my only way out... This medicine is the best thing that ever happened to me."
- Happy...
- June 16, 2014
"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!"
- Maths...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 14, 2013
"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."
- Chief...
- December 5, 2014
"Recently I retired from public safety. I should have been happy and content to have a lot of free time. My friends all said I looked rested and better than I had in years. What they did not know is how depressed I was and how much I missed the work and my work friends. Reluctantly my doctor prescribed Bupropion HCL 150 mg for seven days then 300 mg daily in the AM. After the first day, I was already feeling better. I just finished the first two weeks and I'm feeling so much better. Occasionally I still have negative thoughts. Side effects include anxiety and an elevated BP. I'm happy with the results and believe the medication has taken me away from the edge. I will post updates periodically."
- Tabitha...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 14, 2017
"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."
- Jasey...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- November 21, 2014
"When first taking Wellbutrin, my mouth became really dry, I got a few weird headaches, and I felt some physical numbness when I touched my skin. However, after a month the symptoms were almost non-existent and my depression and anxiety improved drastically. Also, my doctor prescribed it to me to help with ADD/ADHD. I noticed that my focus was also better. This may be simply because anxiety can cause you to lack attention and it fixed the anxiety, but either way it worked great for me."
- Didi
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 17, 2019
"I have been on other meds for depression, but Wellbutrin has been the best medicine the doctor could have put me on. This med has changed my life from night to day. I did not have the side effects with this one like I did with the others. I cannot praise this med enough. Before being put on Wellbutrin, I cried all the time, could not get my apartment dark enough, and I just wanted to be alone all the time. I can't thank my doctor enough for putting me on Wellbutrin. I have also lost some weight, and my sugar cravings are gone. Love Wellbutrin."
- Marley
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 17, 2019
"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."
- darkd...
- January 7, 2015
"I've been struggling with depression and anxiety/panic attacks since I was a kid. I'm now 36. I tried every antidepressant they threw at me from Celexa to Zoloft. None of them worked and came with side effects I couldn't handle. Weight gain and loss of sexual function. When my psychiatrist suggested Wellbutrin, I was afraid of more side effects, but I was desperate. I also take Valium and Klonopin for my anxiety, so I'm not sure if those might mask any increased anxiety, but I have to say, I noticed a difference the first day. I take 200mg SR in the morning, and I've got more energy and almost no interest in smoking, which is a bonus. It's only been a week, but I feel an improvement every day. I think I finally found the right one."
- Kat
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- July 26, 2023
"At week 3 of taking Wellbutrin, I got a serious serotonin rush that lasted only 1 day (it was fabulous) and by week 4, I had superpower concentration. My work was getting done faster, and I was clearheaded. But by month 2, it all went away. I am starting month 4 and I am unable to concentrate again, I am crying, I feel 'down'. I feel exactly the same as before I started. I don't want to go on a higher dose because, where does it end? For me, I'd have to say it didn't work."
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 8, 2015
"Wellbutrin SR 150s, which initially had positive outcomes on my depression, probably the best I've tried, and I've tried a lot in the past years. It took a bit to get the optimal dose. At 300 mg, it was causing a cascade of side effects: anxiety, palpitations, sweating. Doc helped me back down to 100 mg with no side effects. The depression is just as gone as with the initial 300 mg. Wellbutrin also developed a positive outcome in mere days - a major plus."
- Faith...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- November 27, 2021
"I am on week 3 on Bupropion 150 SR, I went off Paroxetine cold turkey and started this. First week, I was tired all the time and had some weird nightmares that went away starting the 2nd week. Then the 2nd week, I felt awkward. I was not myself, I was very irritable, didn't want to be around people, had some headaches that week, and wasn't interested in doing many things. I was about to quit, but my doctor told me to please give it a try until week three when it is supposed to start working (from week 3 to 6). So I did with a lot of effort, and I am so HAPPY I DID HANG IN THERE!! I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. Today is my day 22, and I at last feel peace, joy, and motivation again to do things I didn't want to do before. I am eating less, not so hungry, stopped smoking, and do not need caffeine to function as I did before. It doesn't have side effects on libido like Paroxetine. So far, it has been worth the wait of 3 weeks of not feeling so well. IT IS WORTH IT. PLEASE HANG IN THERE!! Pray for all to feel happy."
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.
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"I started taking generic Bupropion XL 150 mg once a day 8 days ago. The anxiety and depression I was feeling were paralyzing me from moving in any direction. I tried every natural option I could research. On day 1, I felt different, motivated, and better immediately. In the days following, side effects started. Heart palpitations, anxiety, fear of everything, nightmares, a rash on my neck, eye twitching, staring into space thoughtless, unable to make decisions, fear of leaving the house. Day 8, and I’m feeling much more at peace. I’m more focused on myself than issues I have with others. No insomnia and feeling less tolerant of binge drinking to calm down. I want to exercise, clean my house, set goals, eat clean foods, and I feel everything is going to be okay. My self-confidence is improved, and orgasms unaffected. I am hopeful that Wellbutrin was exactly what I needed to be the healthy person I need to be, no matter what happens in my life. I just needed a boost and reset."