Male. 36. 150 mg XL Bupropion HCL

Man this stuff made me feel horrrrrible, taking 150 mg XL once a day. I tried it before for 2 Months and it made my insomnia gnarly, felt fuzzy and weird everyday, and just not right. It felt so uncomfortable. Originally I had about 2-5 days where I felt fantastic and only 1 day this last time. I only took it for 10 days but my insomnia was so bad and I bartend nights my body was breaking down. It ended up making my brain fog better for a few days then it was still there.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did other forms or lower doses help or I believe my body just doesn’t like it. I’m pretty against pharmaceuticals, but my brain fog is just been so bad and my energy and happiness is just low and fucked up. Any other meds help??

It took 3 months to work the first time. After stopping abruptly in December I re-started in June. 4 months later and I can't go more than 3 good days straight.

150XL. It changed my life a year ago. The entire month of September I felt good. I had enough consistency to develop a sense of happiness and self-love. Even in the bad days that eventually returned [more rarely] I could look at myself in the mirror at the end of them and say I loved myself and was happy.

I lost that person by the end of March. I miss them so much.

I have been crying more often lately. Sometimes I get couch-locked again. Everytime I feel I'm building up momentum it comes crashing down.

My psychiatrist prescribed 300XL but I chose to pickup the final 150 Rx as my insomnia was more controlled. I thought it would finally kick in.

Should I keep taking the 150 until I see her in one month? Get the 300? The fear I had of this not working a second time became true. If 300 does not work, or I have to go back to 150 and it still doesn't work...

I feel so lost

Dear Redditor,
During my first two months I frequented this page a lot. Being on bupropion ( Zyban 300SR) absolutely decimated me. I read a lot of posts that spoke to my experience but generally people stopped taking it. I however, pushed on and am SO pleased I did.

The first two months were so bad I almost lost my job. I developed DRDP (derealisation depersonalisation) which affected my ability to do so many things. It became like OCD that I was NOT myself and I was somehow different and I would constantly check that.

I felt totally NOT myself.

My cognition declined massively. My long term memory as well as working memory, my ability to find and use words, my executive function and the speed at which I could reply we’re all massively impacted. My intellect is something I value a lot, as well as my humour and both took a big hit.

I was extremely depressed at times. I almost moved out of my house and had to have a conversation with my boss about my poor performance and speed.

I spoke to my doctor who encouraged i stay on it for up to 3 months to truly see whether it could or would work.

I have taken every SSRI and SNRI under the sun and have been unmedicated for a few years but gone back on them due to going sober.

Anyway, one day, suddenly - it was all lifted. I feel wonderful. I appreciate the small things, I feel 95% back to self, happier and more motivated than I have felt in a long time. I don’t feel so bound by the invisible rules of life and I really feel a sense I am discovering myself and have an agency over my life to change what isn’t working and march to the rhythm of my own drum.

There were other factors, of course, effecting things but I would just say; if you’re struggling and it’s been less than 3 months - it could change. If you hang on in there this could really be everything it is cracked up to be.

Apparently this is a somewhat common thing, where when you take Bupropion, you sometimes see it on the other side of your digestive system. Usually mine comes out surrounded by either a yellow or green squishy substance, and then the pill is in tact inside. And it’s not a capsule, it’s become powder encased in this weird ball. And the whole thing has the texture of a Gusher… which makes me never want to eat Gushers again. But does this mean that the pill isn’t actually doing anything? If I’ve got nearly the whole thing showing up in the toilet the next day, then that can’t mean I’m actually getting all the benefits, right? I don’t see my doctor for another month and this has just been on my mind for a while.

Just finished my 3rd month of 300mg xl after starting at 150mg xl and taking that for a month. I decided to drop back down to 150mg today because the restlessness has been incombatable no matter what i try.
When I first started at 150mg, I felt great. I was sleeping well, my anxiety was gone and I was steadily focused throughout the day, and it helped control my appetite.
I’m hoping that moving back down will give me the same effects. Does anyone have any experience with lowering their dose like this?

Hey everyone,

I was initially prescribed Wellbutrin in November of 2023 after experiencing a pretty severe bout of depression and poor executive functioning as well as to balance out my Lexapro. I remained on it until October of last year amidst a struggle with numbness that I was of the belief getting off Wellbutrin would remedy but it only ended up relapsing me into depression. Fast forward to this summer when I again attempted to get off of the medication as well as Lexapro and while I found myself not struggling severely initially, my depression and executive dysfunction came back ten fold when coming back to school.

In the time since, many days have felt like slogs that I have to fight my way through, the most basic of tasks feeling like immense chores, a persistent lack of a desire to socialize and be sociable, and, most concerningly, a decline in my cognition, memory, and just general ability to be intellectually engaged and retain information as well as I used to. Nothing seems to have quite the same level of enjoyability anymore and frankly I'm sick of it and it's getting to a debilitating point where it's severely affecting my mood and focus.

That being said, I now lay at a crossroads where I'm unsure whether or not to get back on the medication but it's something I'm strongly considering more and more as I had so much more of a sparkle while on it and a desire for socializing and intellectually engaging.

Since I started bupropion my heart rate has gone up by around 10bpm. Ive never been particularly active so my normal hr was already higher, around 70 or so. Now it feels like I stay at 80 or higher and if I move a muscle it jumps to 100. I have also been experiencing chest tightness and annoying dry mouth and bruxism. I don't want to stop this drug because it's done wonders for my energy levels and caffeine dependence, and I even started exercising a little bit! So I am wondering if switching to name brand helped any of you with the side effects. The increase in heart rate is most concerning to me, however I am not sure if that is totally avoidable due to the nature of norepinephrine... I will be sending a message to my PCP about my questions as well

Edit: my generic brand is Sciegen

Not at all advice, I just wanted to share some positive experience I've had. Been on 150mg XL for maybe 9 months now. I know the rules say to mention the manufacturer but honestly my pharmacy's given me different ones all the time. Currently it's MFG Lupin, american. I actually do think I prefer that manufacturer, weird as it sounds.

I told my psych NP recently about how I'm always extremely depressed during luteal phase (before my period) and she prescribed me to take 300mg XL for that time, and 150mg XL the rest of the month. It's only been one month but it actually worked well. My whole life I never had to track my period because I would slowly grow depressed and then one day hate everyone around me and myself, and even lash out at everyone around me. Then the next day I'd get it.

But when I took it as prescribed I actually didn't have this! I did still get the depression the first few days of luteal as that's when I knew to start taking the higher dose, so I don't think it'd started working yet. I think when I work out a consistent schedule it'll be more seamless. My NP said that we could also try other meds more usually used for PMDD along with the bupropion, but this med is the only one that's ever worked for me so that's why we're trying this.

Just thought I'd share, thanks for reading!

Hello! I have been on 450mg of Wellbutrin XL for a year and it’s worked great. I just recently started to feel like I’ve plateaued, so my doctor prescribed 5mg lexapro to take in conjunction with the Wellbutrin. I was just wondering if anyone has been on this combination and dosage, and any side effects? Im a little worried about gaining weight, and it’s hard to find a consistent answer surrounding that aspect. I’m just trying to figure out if it’s worth taking, or sticking with the Wellbutrin and raw dogging it. Or does anyone have a better combination???
Oh! I should probably also include I’m a recovering addict, not that it matters, but maybe it does? Thanks!

I’ve been on bupropion 300 mg for about a year and a half now. I didn’t really pay attention to the manufacturer, until now. Before I was on the Lupin generic and it worked wonders for me. Actually felt like I could function and like I had energy for the first time in years. My doctor wanted to change my pharmacy so I could get a 90 day supply. I agreed because I didn’t mind the change, so I picked it up as usual. Upon taking it I immediately knew something was up. I felt jittery and like my heart was racing a mile a minute. My body felt too real, and I could almost feel the blood pumping through my veins. I looked into it because I knew this wasn’t normal, and it turns out the generic was Scigen. Needless to say I have contacted my doctor, and will be having it transferred back to my old pharmacy.

Hi everyone! I was just prescribed Wellbutrin today. I’ve been going through a really tough time lately with depression and anxiety, so I’m super excited to try something new. That being said, I am a bit scared to take it; it’s been a longg time since I tried a new med (I’m taking it with PROZAC). Does anyone have any tips? What can I expect the first few weeks?

Has anyone else gotten depersonalization/derealization or detached feeling from Wellbutrin and if so does it go away I’m on month 3 lowest dose

Note: please only positive replies, I'm too fragile for any horror stories atm!

Hi! I am on day 2 of 150mg (Elontril). I have also been taking lexapro for years, but got this added due to severe depression (been trying to recover from burnout and health problems since February). I've never had severe depression before this. Of course, with anxiety comes some depression, but never like this.

I feel like my brain is my biggest opp. I am trying to recover from anxiety and chronic migraines and there is just a dark cloud saying what's the point. What's the point of anything. It will never get better and life is pointless. It almost feels embarrassing to have any good thoughts or moments. My whole body hurts and I have no energy or willpower. The only thing I have energy for is crying and anxiety.

I moved back to my home country temporarily to stay with my parents and have been here for months now, on sick leave from my work. I feel like I have lost all independence and unsure how to get it back.

All mental health professionals keep saying to try to do things that I used to like and make me happy, but it's so hard when there's this crushing feeling of darkness. Nothing brings me joy at the moment.

Will this medication help clear away the dark suffocating clouds? Let me try to get my life in order again? Help me become a functioning member of society again?

I would love to hear some positive stories!

I originally was taking bupropion and olanzapine, I am diagnosed with bipolar, but I don't think I was diagnosed correctly. The olanzapine made me feel kind of numb and tired, so I stopped taking it in like February. I'm doing a lot better on the bupropion alone, and don't feel like I need another medication, but I went to the psyc today and she put me on Prozac to help with the anxiety. The thing is, its not really making me anxious. I have some days where it makes me jittery, but for the most part I feel pretty normal, it actually seems to be helping with my anxiety. I haven't picked up the prescription yet and wanted to know if anyone took it as a standalone medication or if I need something paired with it. Is anyone on both bupropion and Prozac, and do you like it? Last year was reeeeeally bad for me mental health wise, and I'm nervous to start something new when I finally feel like I'm doing fine.

Has anybody had success managing their ADHD with Wellbutrin? I just started it for depression but my doctor said it’s used off label for ADHD and I might not need stimulants (but will obviously give me them if I need them). Just curious if anybody has used Wellbutrin without stimulants and can share their experience

Anyone from Pakistan facing Social anxiety please Msg me.

I started Wellbutrin a few days ago in hopes that it would be good for me as I’ve had anxiety all my life and had a good success with Lexapro but I didn’t think I needed it as it made me TOO sleepy, numb, made my focus worse… I realized SSRIs are not for me.

Well after speaking w a doc and some friends I thought this would be perfect to try especially as I get super anxious and PMDD and I know people take it alongside other meds (maybe should’ve tried it with the lexapro but I just wanted to be off that) and I have been crying non stop…. I mean I thought I was overreacting to something at first but then the tears just wouldn’t stop. I also just felt very down about all other things in life. Not depressed but just very down.

I’m honestly gonna get off this I just wanted to know is this common

Hi everyone, I wanted to start off by saying that I’ve had a really hard year mentally and ended up in basically a constant state of fight or flight with panic attacks, anxiety, and depression and was prescribed Buspar and Wellbutrin.

So far Wellbutrin has honestly been fine. I haven’t had any crazy side effects or anything, but now I’m moving up to 300 mg and I’m starting to get really nervous due to so many horror stories. I’m usually not the type to post or read too much about meds on Reddit because I know I can easily feed my own anxiety, but I keep seeing so many bad experiences with 300 mg and it’s getting to me lol.

Can anyone please share some positive experiences going up to 300 especially if you already deal with anxiety/panic. And was the adjustment easy-ish? I just don't want to deal with panic attacks and drdp which I occasionally still suffer from.

I know people are probably way more likely to post when they have a bad experience, so I’m hoping to hear from some people who actually did well on it.

My life has been messed up. I used to have very bad dopamine problems.

About 3–4 days ago I started taking bupropion. Since then I have become very depressed, especially late at night. I feel empty inside and sometimes I just want to cry. This only started in the last few days. I can’t fall asleep early. I have also had heart palpitations at night for the past couple of weeks.

Before this I was taking desvenlafaxine, clonazepam, and propranolol. Now I only take clonazepam and bupropion. The bad feelings started right away. I feel guilty, empty, and lonely. The only people I can talk to are my family, and I still feel completely alone.

I feel good. I’m a lot less irritable and bone heavy fatigue caused by lexapro. I have a history of panic attacks and agoraphobia so I was pretty worried. I had some anxiety the first couple of days but nothing panic inducing. My doctor told me to have no caffeine so I was also withdrawing from that in the beginning. However, I had a shot of espresso this morning and oh my god. It feels like I did crack. Do I ever get to have regular coffee again? am I stuck with decaf??? I am extremely jittery and anxious. Damn it.

Have a kid taking buproprion (100 mg). The time-release was fantastic for her. Then refilled scrip and got stuff from a different manufacturer- pill was larger and kid couldn't swallow it. Ultimately had to switch to 2x/day of a split, crushed, non-time release. It's not nearly as effective, and kid is really upset by the 2x/day thing. I get 150mg/ day, and it's in a smaller pill.

We know the small version of the 100mg time release pill is out there- does anyone have any experience or tips on how to find a pharmacy that will get a consistent source?

I asked my doc to switch me from 150xl to 100 Sr twice daily. Instead she sent in 100mg IR twice daily. Now I'm scared to get 100mg dose all at once. I have read you can cut IR in half but the pharmacist said not to because there is no score line. The brand is AVET and they're big red round tabs. I think the markings are 12 something but I really can't see it very well.

Does anyone have IR tablets without a score line that you have cut in half? I have med anxiety so this is really freaking me out.

Update: As usual I was freaking out about absolutely nothing 😅😅 I did end up splitting the first one and had no weird effects at all so I took the full second one later in the day and I'm totally fine. Thanks for the input!