Wellbutrin for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• JXano
• June 22, 2017

"I was diagnosed with depression and panic disorder in 2013. The first medication I was prescribed was Zoloft, which turned me into a zombie. My doctor then switched me to Effexor, which had way too many side effects from mood and all the way to affecting my vision. I was then switched to Lexapro, which was great at masking the depression but made me gain 30+ pounds in less than a year and literally have zero motivation. 3 months ago, my doctor switched me to Wellbutrin and it's made the biggest difference in my life. In the first couple of weeks, my anxiety was a lot worse, but that went away entirely and I haven't had any other side effects. My energy is back, and I genuinely look forward to the next day."

• orang...
• May 8, 2015

"I've had severe depression and increasing anxiety since I was 18 (23 soon going on 24 now!) but was only officially diagnosed last summer, a few months after I graduated college. I started taking Wellbutrin SR in September 2014, and eventually went up to 300 mg a day. At first, it just gave me headaches, worsened my chronic insomnia, and gave me an immediate burst of way too much energy. Now, I no longer experience any of these effects. One of my biggest issues before was a total lack of motivation, but Wellbutrin has fixed this almost entirely. I'm actually able to leave the house now and I finally have a job that I enjoy going to and am actually able to focus on. I really wish I had started taking this sooner, but I'm glad I'm on it now."

• abby
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2021

"I appreciate this space & every person's experience. I've been 10 days into this medicine and I'm sleeping better, depression is horrible, the crying , fear of death , losing my family, friend's, pets . I want to be happy. I read how many found happy I want to know that feeling. I pray that my outcome is like many of your stories. Thank You all for the encouragement in your personal stories you've graciously shared. Abby"

• Key
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2023

"I tried this after Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, zoloft, and cymbalta. Worst one. The worst. I've been on 150xl for a month and a half and I can't eat without my stomach tensing up and bile going to my stomach. My menstrual cycle is all messed up, I am tired and spacey, I have horrible diarrhea and anxiety, I feel like utter trash. I think I'm done with antidepressants."

• jay
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2014

"I have battled with bipolar depression for many years, and all my problems peaked now that I'm back from Afghanistan. I've been on many different medicines through the years. I started taking Wellbutrin approximately 3 weeks ago, and it is now starting to take effect. The only reason it didn't get a higher score from me is because the medication just started to kick in and it's not at its full effect. I work as a paramedic and have also dealt with many people with everything from bipolar to schizophrenia. Anyone that's been in this situation knows that there are initial effects, but the people who say it is working after a day or two are experiencing a placebo effect. These medicines affect chemicals in your brain; therefore, they take time to take full effect."

• TDS
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

"I had been on Prozac for a year to battle some severe depression and crying daily. It worked well for the first couple of months, but then I noticed it made me feel just "blah" and negative. I couldn't get emotional either way... angry or sad. I also didn't want to do anything and gained 25 pounds, plus horrible sexual side effects. I got sick of it finally and asked my doctor for something different. He started introduce 150mg of Wellbutrin for 2 weeks while I reduced the Prozac. The Wellbutrin started working after about a week. My mood was a lot better and had more emotions. I also feel more motivated to eat right, workout, and improve my appearance. I'm now on one 10mg Prozac in the morning and 2 separate doses of Wellbutrin (300mg total). In about a week, I'll drop Prozac and see how it goes. I've only had a slight headache sometimes and a little trouble sleeping, but overall, no side effects with Wellbutrin. Very happy so far."

• ctrou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2020

"After 1 week of taking Wellbutrin I developed severe intrusive tinnitus. I have been off the drug for almost a year and it has not faded at all. While obviously this side effect doesn't happen to everyone who takes Wellbutrin, it is frighteningly common. All of the doctors I've seen since then (psychs, ENTs, etc.) weren't surprised at all when I told them my tinnitus was from Wellbutrin. It has absolutely destroyed what was left of my life. I already had depression, anxiety, and insomnia, now all of these are 100x worse plus suicidal thoughts. Again, I don't want to say "don't take this drug" because all drugs have side effects and I was one of the unlucky ones. But I would highly suggest something else as I would not wish this on my worst enemy."

• Anne
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2020

"I started Wellbutrin after taking Zoloft for about 6 months but had to stop because I gained 30 lbs in 3 months and was retaining water like crazy. Wellbutrin definitely stopped the water retention and I’ve lost about 6 pounds since starting it about a month ago. Unfortunately I have to stop taking this one too. I was hoping this would be the one— I’ve been back and forth on a lot of meds but nothing has worked. I felt severely angry and would lash out. I’ve never been that way. I am convinced this medication has caused me to have anger problems when I never had them before. Coming off the medication hasn’t been great, super emotional, tired, lots of headaches and irritability but after day 12 I’m finally feeling better."

• Alway...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 25, 2023

"My experience with Wellbutrin is very positive! I was suffering from major depression (horrible mood, pessimistic, could not enjoy anything, really bad thoughts) with panic/stress disorder. I was in a dark place for many months. I tried multiple SSRIs, gave them time but none worked. Then, my doctor suggested 150mg of Wellbutrin daily. After 1 month, I was feeling a bit better but still in a depressive mood. Then, I went to 300mg. After 2 months, I saw a big difference. I could enjoy things, be present, focus on things I love, think a bit more clearly, become more optimistic about the future. I wake up happy to be alive most days. Of course, there are still some bad moments where things get dark, but it's quite easy to get through them and not let them affect my entire mood long term. Side effects: Buzzing in ears (went away), increased libido (can be a good thing), restlessness (went away), irregular heartbeats, and sweating. Give this drug a try together with therapy!"

• BrianAZ
• November 20, 2014

"I'm male, 54 years old and weigh about 180 lbs. The first time I tried Wellbutrin, it was 150mg twice a day. It was too much for me. Side effects: Jitters, hyperactive, constant bouncing of knee when sitting, clenching teeth, weight loss, tinnitus, insomnia, dull headache in back of head. I decided to quit Wellbutrin but recently resumed using it. I only take 75mg in the morning (5 AM) then 75mg at 11 AM. They are the 'SR' type. I will continue using this dose until my body adjusts and then I may up the dose to 150 twice a day. For me, starting at 300mg a day was far too much. I believe starting lower, I will be able to remain on this."

• Tacob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2019

"I started this a month ago, first it made me very hostile but after a few days I evened out, I am taking it having bulimia and anorexia alternating as well as major depressive disorder It has actually helped me control my eating and almost fully stopped the binge purge cycle. However it does have it's drawbacks, I have a fast heart rate not really fast but noticeable, less suicidal thoughts but when they do come they are stronger impulses and the urge to self harm has been lowered but I still have moments I lose control but it has definitely helped me a lot and I choose the side effects over wanting to commit suicide constantly. This has saved my life 100% for sure because before I had planned to end my life but this made me reconsider it and I want to live."

• Anony...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2020

"I have suffered a lot from MDD and Panic Disorder. My primary doctor prescribed Wellbutrin for me, and it did absolute wonders for my depression, BUT my panic went up by tons. I had panic attacks for no reason, every single day. I was later added to another SNRI along with a decreased dose of the Wellbutrin. After that, my anxiety became much more manageable. If you suffer from anxiety as well as depression, please talk to your doctor/psychiatrist about taking Wellbutrin with another medication."

• colle...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2022

"Though I was struggling with an intense chem imbalance (feeling incredibly hopeless/empty/anxious), I avoided meds for a long time, terrified by bad reviews until the amount I struggled through every waking moment of my day made it impossible for me to continue avoiding. Started on 100 mg of bupropion. I remember feeling very weird at first, dissociating on the first day, then sweating, heart palpitations, some anxiety, and my leg randomly shaking (nothing unmanageable). Immediately, depressive feelings were greatly alleviated. Then a month in, all initial symptoms were pretty much gone, though I still had pockets of depression so I upped my dose to 150 mg XL. Miraculous. I now feel calm, collected, and very content and thankful for my life. The only side effects I still feel are some ear ringing and loss of appetite (not complaining). This was the extra boost of dopamine my brain needed to function like a normal, healthy human brain. Absolutely incredible and so thankful this exists!!"

• Blake
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2023

"Two years ago I was pressured into taking this by doctors and my family, for depression and ADHD. I was on no other medications at the time. I was started on the lowest dose. Side effects went from 0-100 by the end of the first week. Experienced severe paranoia with psychosis (spiders all over walls, painful bug-crawling sensation under skin, auditory hallucinations). I should've gone to the hospital but I'm used to being told I'm overreacting so I stayed up till 3am with someone playing ping-pong to distract me. Cut cold turkey that night (since it was only a week in) and most of the issues were gone the next morning. Spoke to a medical professional recently who was prescribing me an SSRI and she told me this experience on Wellbutrin did not surprise her. Disappointing to see them so unfazed by my story when I was pressured so heavily for a year straight by other doctors to take Wellbutrin. I'd go into the doctors offices and there'd be posters encouraging you to ask for the drug."

• Jano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2020

"Wellbutrin worked for me, was actually pretty much a lifesaver. Tried Zoloft and buspar and effexor, all didn't work too well. However this med does have side effects like increase anxiety, but apart from that I haven't experienced much else. It calms me down and makes me feel like the old me when I was a kid. Confident and happy."

• Blueb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2019

"I have been on 300mg Wellbutrin (WB) for 6 months. I was in a deep depression and WB gave me the drive to get out of bed and out of the house. The physical symptoms of depression were greatly reduced - more awake, alert, increase sex drive, normalized cognitive function. However, it made me feel very uncomfortable - wound up, agitated, irritable. I didn’t like the person I had become. It was almost as if my ego had been amplified ten fold. I reduced to 150mg and felt immediate relief from the restless energy which was worsening my emotional state. I am considering discontinuing."

• Sandy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2019

"My psychiatrist put me on Wellbutrin 75 mg once a day to start with and after 7 days I went up to 2 times a day. Before I started to take it I couldn’t get out of bed because of my depression. My energy levels were at almost zero. The Wellbutrin has helped me tremendously. I actually have energy to get out of bed and live my life. The side effects are constipation and loss of appetite. In the past it gave me severe anxiety which is why my psychiatrist started me at a very low dose and it’s actually helped."

• Dont...
• October 4, 2014

"I've been taking 150mg for 2 weeks now. I felt the effects in just a few days. I have a lot of energy, and has increased my thirst. I've lost a few pounds. My only problem is sleep. I've been taking zolpidem for 3 years (5 mgs) and isn't helping much. I've taken a few other antidepressants in the past, and this has been the most effective."

• Plati...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 4, 2018

"Wellbutrin almost killed me and I now have Grand Mal Seizures and have been diagnosed with Epilepsy that I will have for the rest of my life. I seriously think this drug should be pulled from the shelves. I know 2 people who tried to commit suicide while taking this medication. Wellbutrin has ruined my life and I would never suggest this medication to anyone."

• Lindy...
• October 4, 2014

"I just started taking this after being almost debilitated by mirtazapine. I don't know if for sure I have energy increase because of the Wellbutrin or because I quit taking mirtazapine. At any rate, I do feel better overall."

• Suuuu...
• November 13, 2015

"I have bipolar disorder, anxiety, severe depression, PTSD and an eating disorder. I am a 25 year old female and I've been taking Wellbutrin for 3 days with Lexapro. I've tried them all, Lamictal, Abilify, I don't need to go on. My doctor put me on this after attempting suicide. I'm trying this before I go to my last option, hospitalization. I've read so many positive comments, and I feel a difference already. I have so much energy, but I'm still sleeping a lot. The migraines are horrible, but that's really nothing new with this type of medication. This will be the 7th trial of medications I've been on in a year. Not one has worked. I'm trying really hard and being very patient. I hope for a happy ending like most of you."

• Allie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 11, 2023

"I've been battling depression off and on for 25+ years. I've been prescribed Wellbutrin several times, despite my telling the doctor that it does nothing for me. Each time, I was at a therapeutic level dosage-wise (300+mg) and for long enough (6+ months) to be sure of the effects. I have never felt anything from Wellbutrin -- I may as well be taking a placebo. No side effects, no mood effects either way, just nothing. The most recent time I tried it, it wasn't really doing anything, so my psychiatrist took me off it after my ADHD diagnosis for this reason. Zero side effects, zero effects!"

• Donke...
• March 3, 2019

"Good! There are big pros and some cons. Pros: big decrease in depression and slight decrease in anxiety, slightly increased sex drive, increased curiosity/motivation, improved verbal fluency and thought process, no weight gain. Cons: more aggressive, worse sleep, far more difficult to meditate/fall asleep, struggle to live in the moment due to amplified thoughts. I’ll stick with it as it does work, although the cons could cause me to discontinue. I’ve been on 300mg XL for 2 months."

• Revere
• November 15, 2016

"I have been on Wellbutrin for a year and a half. If you do not respond to SSRIs (like me) I would definitely recommend giving Wellbutrin/Bupropion a go. At the end of the fourth week on 150mg, just before I was about to tell my doctor it was another dud - I very suddenly felt clear and not like a slug human. I would say it's such a strong feeling that you will know if it works and the day it starts. I had a horrible time falling asleep, lost my appetite, but felt super ecstatic! Maybe it's because for the first time in 8 years (I am 26) I felt what it's like to not see doing the most simplest of tasks as a stressful chore. I could have cried! I've lost a bit over ten pounds since being on it. Currently I am on the highest dose which is 600"

• Anonymous
• July 6, 2016

"Taking Wellbutrin 300XL for a while now. Previously used a SSRI which had little to no effect in that I would contemplate suicide nearly daily and had zero interest in life in general. Now I actually want to do things again, I am enjoying life and I have more energy. I can't say enough how well this drug has worked for me. Only side effect I've experienced is decreased appetite and I've lost a few pounds, which for me is a good thing."