Wellbutrin SR and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Wif...
• February 7, 2017

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."

• qlw...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 13, 2014

For Depression "Wonderful for me! I have increased energy, able to work and generally FEEL better. Downside-occasional insomnia. Drink lots of water, you will feel very thirsty. I highly recommend this antidepressant."

• ril...
• July 27, 2016

For Depression "I'm not usually one to publicly review medications, but I really feel the need to with this one. I have been clinically depressed for about 6 years. I have tried Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, and Effexor. Trial and error is really a bummer when you want to get well and you have little to no relief. I am now on a mix of 300 mg of Wellbutrin SR and 100 mg of Zoloft and love it! The first week or two I experienced some nausea (the traditional side effect) that had me down for the count for a few days, but I stuck with it. My only complaint after about 4 months of use is the insomnia, but that's nothing melatonin can't fix. So, if you've tried every SSRI/SNRI under the sun, I totally recommend trying Wellbutrin."

• Zap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2013

For Depression "I just was put back onto Wellbutrin after attempting 3 other antidepressants. It was only after being off it that I realized how good it worked for me. I was taken off of it because it caused me to have some issues with irritability and, according to my family, short-tempered. I was put on Cymbalta, but I enjoy a drink or 2 a day with my wife (Cymbalta and alcohol will damage your liver, well-documented). Zoloft made me feel completely despondent, and I felt life was no longer worth living, not to mention made me not even remotely think of sex. When I was put back on Wellbutrin, I felt like life was worth living, and I feel happier and euphoric. Now I take Lamictal with Wellbutrin 150 mg in the morning. Avoid the XR, causes insomnia."

• Hap...
• September 2, 2010

For Panic Disorder "I started taking Wellbutrin SR about 2 weeks ago and I am already noticing a difference. I had a lot of anger, frustration, stress, and small panic attacks with uncontrollable crying. Now, since I have been taking it, I am much calmer and I am able to determine what is worth worrying about and what is not. I could not do that before. The crying has stopped, and I no longer feel stressed or angry. The only side effect I have is a mild headache, a little insomnia, and extreme thirst. Those I can deal with versus what I was dealing with. I am definitely going to keep taking it."

• Joh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 14, 2013

For Depression "I had tried four or five different SSRIs over 10 years and they didn't work for me. Also, I was put on Serzone some years ago by my GP and that medication just wasn't for me - it was finally taken off the market due to its horrible side effects. Finally, my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin SR and it worked wonders for me. I had only one side effect, which was waking up at night. I'll take that over depression any day."

• Big...
• September 15, 2011

For Depression "2 and 1/2 months on Wellbutrin. Quality of life improved significantly. I am more emotionally resilient, have an increase in daily energy, and I feel more motivated to do the things that were languishing on the back burner before. I have been on other ADs, and this one is different, it didn't numb me, it lifted me up. The range of emotions is still there, but the difference is I can come back from sadness without being a total mess. It hasn't made me a better person, it's just made life less of an uphill battle. I've lost 20 of the 30 lbs I needed to lose so far too. Cons: lengthy start-up phase (7 weeks for me) requires lots of patience, plus I couldn't sleep properly on Wellbutrin without my trazodone at night."

• Itl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 1, 2015

For Depression "I've been on Wellbutrin SR 150 mg for depression and anxiety. I was very hesitant to try another medication after negative experiences with other meds. I knew, however, that I needed more help than therapy alone, so I decided to give WB a try. Initially, I had some insomnia, nausea, headaches, and severe light sensitivity. However, these effects passed and were mild compared to how much better I felt. Within 4 weeks, I had more energy, felt less anxious, and the depression started to lift. I felt focused, peaceful, and content. All was well until about two months ago when some anxiety resurfaced (exams). The doctor tried to increase the dosage, but the side effects were terrible. So I remain on 150 mg, but still feel much better than my pre-WB days."

• Nic...
• January 25, 2021

For Depression "I don't find this an antidepressant rather than a demeanor stimulant/energy enhancer. Goes well with SSRIs, SNRIs, and many others as add-ons. Personally, on 150 mg daily, I found myself more energetic, needing less sleep, more able to focus for seriously long days, more outspoken, and also more irritable. Some restlessness or a stupor-kind of feeling for a couple of hours in the afternoon. All of this subsided as the months passed. 1-2 years led to some kind of tolerance. 300 mg doses seemed to give me some more focus but also made me feel a bit off. Enhances the focus a little more, and likely possible overt wakefulness, irritability, or confusion would subside over time. I still couldn't estimate needing such a dose myself. Initially, a combination of Sertraline made me hypermanic for a month or two: showed up at parties drinking and talking to everyone, making new acquaintances, life choices ultimately leading to major changes, etc. My psychiatrist didn't think it was a problem, though."

• Asc...
• August 23, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I hated this medication. It gave me insomnia, I was agitated and fidgety all the time. I was on it for three days and noticed I couldn't handle it. I was on 200 mg per day. In order for me to sleep, I had to take 10 mg of melatonin. I was good prior to being on antidepressants. I was also shuddering and had tremors."

• Cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

For Depression "I started taking Wellbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day for my depression and to quit smoking. Everything was getting better. I had a great night's sleep. By day 2, I felt a little lighter with my mood. Then, on day 4, I felt wrong, and by my nighttime dose, I ended up having a seizure, which I have no history of. Again, no sleep, and tremors, and horrible sweating. I was really hoping this was going to help me, but I have never been so scared in my life as I was when I lost control of all my muscles, and it took 2 days to start to feel better from it. My muscles hurt, extreme anxiety, and insomnia. Be very careful with this drug!"

• Cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

For Depression "I started taking Wellbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day for my depression and to quit smoking. Everything was getting better. I had a great night's sleep. By day 2, I felt a little lighter with my mood. Then, on day 4, I felt wrong, and by my nighttime dose, I ended up having a seizure, which I have no history of. Again, no sleep, and tremors, and horrible sweating. I was really hoping this was going to help me, but I have never been so scared in my life as I was when I lost control of all my muscles, and it took 2 days to start to feel better from it. My muscles hurt, extreme anxiety, and insomnia. Be very careful with this drug!"

• Ske...
• March 10, 2009

For Depression "Good for depression, not for anxiety/depression. I had a history of General Anxiety, it got worse after menopause. I was on different SSRIs, the side effects were awful. When my depression returned, my doctor had me try Wellbutrin SR. It caused agitation, loss of appetite, muscle tremors, and sleep disturbances, which were the worst. It does not help my anxiety, but it did help my depression. I am off it now to try something else in a week."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2009

For Depression "Started taking this with Lexapro - I would wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back to sleep. I hated that, so I stopped taking it."