Wellbutrin and Nausea: What Users Say

• F21...
• June 14, 2020

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!"

• Nat...
• June 6, 2021

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."

• ABa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2020

For Depression "I had bipolar disorder with depression and psychotic symptoms. I was put on Abilify 15mg, but I got tardive dyskinesia. The dosage was lowered to 10mg and then 5mg. I stopped with the psychotic symptoms immediately. But I was still depressed and not enjoying my life. So they added 150 mg extended-release Wellbutrin, and I got much better. I felt a little nauseous when I first started taking it, but that stopped a few months into treatment. I still was requiring daily 1 to 2-hour naps to get through my day. Then my medicine was increased to Wellbutrin 150mg SR two times a day. Finally, I felt like myself again. I had energy and felt like I could take on all my responsibilities again. It worked beautifully with Abilify for me. Hope it works for you!"

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Hardly any side effects. Had a little nausea for the first few nights but that’s all. I’ve noticed a HUGE difference in my anxiety and depression. I’m better at work. I don’t get worked up when I’m overloaded with work. I take 150mg XL at 8:30 am and there’s no weird coming down feeling at night. It’s a beautiful medication. I couldn’t stop watching TV and now I can turn it off and do dishes, laundry, take my dog on a hike. I don’t have that gut-wrenching anxiety knot in my stomach anymore."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2013

For Depression "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

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."

• Jan...
• March 7, 2020

For Depression "DO NOT TAKE THIS IF YOUR PRIMARY ISSUE IS ANXIETY. I got on this medication because I was having trouble with anxiety and insomnia. My NP wanted to start me on Wellbutrin 150mg XL and I kept reiterating to her that I have no depression whatsoever, I’m just anxious, but she said it would help. Within 2 weeks, I was so nauseated, in a complete brain fog, my anxiety got so much worse, my heart would race, I was having panic attacks daily, couldn’t sleep, my mind was racing non-stop, and although I’ve never felt as if I had issues with depression, I was so depressed on this medication! I went from being very high-functioning with mild to moderate anxiety to completely useless on this medication. I called into work multiple times (which I had never done before - I’m a nurse). I couldn’t focus, was so disoriented, and felt like I was just floating. I stopped and feel much better after a few days and I got on a PRN benzo for anxiety."

• Ddd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 29, 2020

"Aside from the minor headaches and nausea, my experience has been better than most of the recent reviews. I started on Lexapro several years ago, but the sexual side effects were just too much for me compared to the minor effect it had on my well-being. I've had none of that with Wellbutrin, and I feel much better. I've lost approximately 35 lbs since starting, though I've also changed my diet and exercise patterns. My brain is no longer a swirl of indistinguishable thoughts, and I'm able to focus for more than a second at a time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 16, 2012

For Depression "I have taken this medication for approximately 10 years. I have discontinued use 3 times, and my depression resumed each time. I believe many side effects and negative experiences could be avoided if doctors would start patients out with a smaller dose. It has been my experience that when I start with 300 mg I have migraines, nausea, dizziness, and itching. I do not have this issue if I start off at 50 mg and gradually increase over 3 months to 300 mg. This medication helps me more than any other and does not make me gain weight. It also seems to slightly help with my adult ADHD, anxiety, OCD, PMS, and chronic pain."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2012

For Depression "I was first prescribed Pristiq and found it to seriously affect my interest in sex. I was then switched to Wellbutrin. I have been on this medication for 2 months now. At first, I had severe headaches and almost gave up. I'm glad I didn't because I am feeling much better. I do find it hard to sleep some nights, but hopefully that too will pass. I also feel nausea occasionally. My moods seem much better, negative thoughts creep up but quickly go away, and I feel more content. I am currently on 150 mg."

• Rae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

For Depression "I had very high hopes for this medication. My brother takes it, and it’s magic in a bottle for him. He does very well, no side effects at all. So I have GAD, PTSD, panic disorder, and depression. I take Xanax to help control the anxiety and panic, and I’ve been taking it for 15 years. I’ve had no side effects with that. I lost my mother a few months ago and noticed that my depression was getting worse, and so I decided to try Wellbutrin. I have been on this for a little over 17 days now, and I decided today was the stopping point. I know this is just my experience, and maybe due to my particular medical problems, this medicine just was horrible for me. I could not eat, I can’t hold water down, the nausea is crazy, dry throat, dry eyes, headache, constipation, thoughts of death like OCD fixated on death. My stomach hurts so bad, I’m getting the chills, then hot flashes. I have GERD and hypothyroidism, and maybe this isn’t something that works well with those conditions. Not for me."

• Anonymous
• December 28, 2009

For Depression "I'm a 21-year-old male and I started taking Wellbutrin 3 weeks ago for seasonal affective disorder. The first few times I took Wellbutrin, I felt AMAZING. This is because Wellbutrin is a mild stimulant. This effect goes away. After about a week, the depression started to get better, and I increased to 300mg/day. As I'm now approaching the 3-week mark, I can honestly say I have never felt this good in my life. I had severe insomnia for the first 3 nights. I also experience occasional dry mouth. I had mild, intermittent nausea for the first week. I highly, highly recommend this. Don't use it if you have anxiety problems."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2017

For Depression "I've been on Wellbutrin for about 6 weeks now. At first, everything was great. I felt good, slept well, and seemed content. That is until a couple of weeks ago. I noticed that things I used to just brush off have really started to bother me. I am crying a lot, and the latest has been nausea and acid stomach. I hardly want to eat. I can't think of anything else but the medication that is causing all of this to happen. I'm calling the doctor tomorrow to get off this and go back to what I was on before. The reason I switched is because of weight gain. Sure, Wellbutrin has caused me to lose some weight, but that's because I can hardly eat! I'm glad it's working for some, just not for me."

• bik...
• October 13, 2011

For Depression "I'm 29 years old, male on Wellbutrin 150mg SR. Initially, had nausea, but it went away after 2 days. I've noticed my sleep has vastly improved. I used to sleep 10 hours, sometimes more, and I still felt like I needed more rest. With Wellbutrin, I sleep 7-8 hours and wake up well-rested. Additionally, when 2-3 pm rolls around, I'm not begging for a nap. Concentration is much improved, mood is generally good, and I've lost 10 lbs. One warning I can give though is to NOT drink alcohol with Wellbutrin. It's not obvious at first, but the next 3 days it's back to depression, bad depression. Seems like alcohol blocks this medicine out. I can confirm this 2 times. Not sure if 3 hours of drinking is worth the 3 days of depression that follows after."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2012

For Depression "I have been on it for less than a week. The first week is supposedly the hardest. I've had a lot of lightheaded effects and a bit of nausea and muscle twitching. The more I give it a chance, the better I feel. I changed it up the last couple days and started doing the 150mg pill in increments, half a pill twice a day. It makes me feel much more balanced. I don't ever remember me having this much self-control. It's amazing."

• Mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2022

For Depression "I'm finishing my fourth day on Wellbutrin. Never tried it before. I shared with my GP that I've been having feelings of impending doom-and my sales have decreased significantly with the current economy-worrying a lot. Since self-employment and impending doom are a bad combination, she suggested I try it. I'm 64, but my husband and I enjoy an amazing sex life, and I didn't want to mess that up. And I'm fit, so I didn't want to risk gaining weight. Since starting it (150 mg), I've had a few headaches and a few short periods of nausea. Sleeping is so much fun because the dreams are so vivid. So today, I've had amazing energy-no need for coffee-didn't even think about it. I've been really happy today. Has to be the drug. I can be very difficult and blow my top over little things sometimes, and I always feel so bad afterward. I'm praying this will help me keep things in perspective and not blow things out of proportion. My poor husband has suffered. So far, I would recommend it."

• Sab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2019

For Depression "I’ve been on this medication for about a month now, and I got really lucky with my side effects. No nausea when I started (I always took it with food). I did feel a slight pressure in my head the first two weeks, but that subsided. My depression has only improved a little bit, which I’m hoping over more time that’ll improve. I still have a lack of energy and some trouble getting out of bed, which is a downfall. The biggest downfall of this medication is the NIGHTMARES. I’ve never been a person who had nightmares often before this, and now I suffer from sleep paralysis and very vivid nightmares almost every night, which is scary. On top of that, I can only sleep for maybe 5 hours before I naturally wake up, but I’m still tired."

• JKL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2013

For Depression "I started on 150 mg for the first month and was raised to 300 mg after that. I began having weird side effects such as uncontrollable jaw clenching so hard it would give awful headaches. I also would violently twitch while relaxing before going to sleep. I experienced insomnia. Last, my sense of smell was very heightened and the smells would make me feel nauseous. I had suicidal thoughts even though I didn't ever want to do that. I continued to feel depressed, and in my opinion, it intensified my anxiety."

• tsn...
• January 11, 2011

For Depression "I have suffered from anxiety in the past. Since moving to a new town and hating it (we are military), I had fallen into an awful depression. Just not myself, no energy, and no ambition. I went on Wellbutrin (150 mg) 2 weeks ago. The first week was a bear! I was mean, had migraines, I was crying a lot, nausea, and I ate anything I could! I read on here to take it in the morning, and it made a big difference! Now, nausea is gone, no more migraines, my mind is clear, I have energy, and my appetite is way down! My doctor gave me no warnings about any of this. (I love this site!) I am hoping I am out of the woods with the side effects, but I will keep at it. Finding the right one is hard and may take time. Don't give up!"

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2010

For Depression "I've been on Wellbutrin for 3 weeks. For the first 2 weeks, I had a few side effects: grogginess, kind of spacey, nausea, and weight loss because I wasn't hungry. I did notice some changes in my mood. I was less anxious and less depressed, but it wasn't the miracle that took effect immediately like I had read in some reviews. I read a review that was helpful, it said to stick it out for the first 4 weeks of side effects, and you'll be happy with the results, so I am. The side effects have worn off for me by the end of week 2. There is one unexpected side effect-irritability. I'd say it's comparable to PMS. Little mishaps can get my blood boiling, like spilling something, and it's hard to cool down. I never was like that before, but it seems to be subsiding as well. So we'll see!"

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2009

For Depression "I have been taking Wellbutrin for 16 months now. I started taking it when I was 7 months pregnant with my second child. I suffer from severe postpartum depression, so my doctor decided to start me on the Wellbutrin before I gave birth. It made an incredible difference! After giving birth the second time, I felt about 80% better than I did the first time. I have been taking it ever since. I had minor side effects of nausea and mood swings. I am so happy I continued with this medicine! Wellbutrin is an amazing medication, I recommend putting up with the side effects because the results are life-changing!"

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2009

For Depression "I was on Wellbutrin years ago, and it helped. In the last couple of weeks, I have been suicidal and VERY depressed. My doctor put me back on the Wellbutrin, and 2 days later I'm ridiculously happy! I think it's worth the side effects, but some may not. I've experienced: insomnia, lack of appetite, horrible nausea, and incessant twitching (every 8 seconds or so). The insomnia is horrible. I've gotten about 2 hours of sleep in the last 3 days. Lack of appetite is okay with me, I needed to lose weight anyway! Ringing in the ears is something I'll deal with, but the nausea and twitching are the WORST by far. I look like I'm having a small seizure sometimes, and the nausea is just...ugh..."

• Anonymous
• April 29, 2012

For Depression "I started off on the Wellbutrin 150 mg XL twice a day, and I was exhausted every day, not to mention the nausea was so bad I had to stop taking it. Just started on Wellbutrin immediate release at 100 mg once a day, and it is a complete difference. I have so much more energy and focus, so far I love it. I do get a little headache by the end of the day, but it's not a big deal."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2011

For Anxiety "Have only been taking for three days. Have some headaches, nausea, no big deal. I don't like the feeling after my second dose at night. I have gotten panicky and felt like I was going to have a panic attack, but have not so far. I am mainly using this to quit smoking, and I see that it is triggering my anxiety somewhat, but I have already lost the urge to smoke and will quit on my quit date. I would rather deal with side effects for a couple of weeks than die of lung cancer and leave my children with no mother. Especially after losing my mother at a young age and my grandfather. I am hoping this will help my depression and anxiety after I am used to it. I can't wait to be smoke-free soon."

• dpr...
• April 21, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve suffered from pretty severe major depressive disorder and anxiety since I can remember, diagnosed since I was 18 (now 25). Tried Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Lexapro, and none really helped me escape the deep hurt I felt 24/7. About 16 months ago, I started taking this drug, building up to 300 mg XL over a 2-week time span. That was a pretty horrific time if I’m being honest - manic, crawling out of my own skin, couldn’t sleep at all. But then my doctor added 100 mg of Seroquel at night for my sleep. Over the next 3 months, I felt myself lift out of the darkness a little. She also added an anti-anxiety (Klonopin). Wellbutrin didn’t solve my depression, but it definitely did help save my life. If you’re just trying it out for the first time, try to get past the bad side effects in the beginning if you can. It’s been worth it for me anyways. Long-term side effects have been anxiety, reduced appetite, memory loss, restlessness, nausea, and some confusion/disorientation."