What happens if you don't taper off Wellbutrin?

The authors report irritable mood, anxiety, sleeplessness, headache, and generalized aches and pains associated with the abrupt discontinuation of bupropion treatment in a 32-year-old man being treated for nicotine dependence.


What happens if you stop taking Wellbutrin without tapering?

Most people don't experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking Wellbutrin. Among those who do, symptoms vary greatly and range in severity from mild to moderate: Sweating: Redness and excessive perspiration, especially in heat. Digestive problems: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or loss of appetite.

What happens if I stop taking Wellbutrin suddenly?

Common Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms include:

Nausea and/or vomiting. Diarrhea. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Trouble sleeping.


Can I just stop taking Wellbutrin?

You should not stop taking any antidepressant suddenly. Most need to be tapered to decrease the risk of serious side effects. As you taper off of Wellbutrin, you may feel agitation or irritation. These symptoms should slowly subside as the medication works its way out of your system.

Is it OK to stop Wellbutrin cold turkey?

Cold turkey Wellbutrin withdrawal is NOT recommended, except in the case of seizures presenting while on this antidepressant drug. There are many reasons to NOT quit Wellbutrin cold turkey, or too suddenly. Some withdrawal effects may present unexpectedly, even after some time has passed since stopping the drug.


Coming off antidepressants | Animated Short Film



What is the best way to stop taking Wellbutrin?

Slowly tapering off antidepressant dosage is the best way to stop taking them. Tapering schedules for Wellbutrin usually are very short. It is best to make a plan with your doctor to reduce the dosage throughout one to two weeks gradually.

What is the downside of Wellbutrin?

Adverse reactions commonly encountered in subjects treated with WELLBUTRIN are agitation, dry mouth, insomnia, headache/migraine, nausea/vomiting, constipation, tremor, dizziness, excessive sweating, blurred vision, tachycardia, confusion, rash, hostility, cardiac arrhythmia, and auditory disturbance.

How do you wean off Wellbutrin XL 150 mg?

Your healthcare provider will usually recommend slowly tapering down your dosage of bupropion. To prevent you from experiencing withdrawal symptoms, you'll take a slightly lower dosage of bupropion as each week passes until you can safely stop using the medication.


Do I need to taper off 150 mg Wellbutrin?

The authors recommend a slow taper for antidepressant discontinuation, along with vigilance for withdrawal symptoms and educating patients to the benefits of compliance. Discontinuation symptoms following cessation of antidepressant medication therapy are widely described in the literature.

Can Wellbutrin do permanent damage?

To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of bupropion. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.

Is Wellbutrin hard on your heart?

Some side effects may take longer to resolve or require medical attention. Serious adverse effects, such as severe allergic reactions, angle-closure glaucoma, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, seizures, severe high blood pressure, and severely low blood sodium levels will require medical attention.


Why do doctors not prescribe Wellbutrin?

This drug has a boxed warning about the following risk. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Antidepressants, such as Wellbutrin, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

How long do Wellbutrin withdrawals last?

Continued increased depression can be expected, or feeling like you are out of the body. Mental fog and tense muscles can also manifest during this time. Week 2 Wellbutrin withdrawal: Physical symptoms should begin to ease and your body should feel a little better by the second week after you stop taking Wellbutrin.

What is an alternative medication for Wellbutrin?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved these atypical antidepressants to treat depression:
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, others)
  • Mirtazapine (Remeron)
  • Nefazodone.
  • Trazodone.
  • Vilazodone (Viibryd)
  • Vortioxetine (Trintellix)


Is bupropion a strong antidepressant?

Bupropion is an effective antidepressant with efficacy comparable to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants. It is well tolerated in short-and longer-term treatment.

What happens when you drink on Wellbutrin?

It should never be mixed with alcohol. Doing so may increase Wellbutrin's side effects and may cause risk of a seizure. You may also be at risk of a seizure if you regularly drink alcohol and suddenly stop before taking Wellbutrin. Before taking Wellbutrin, let your doctor know how much alcohol you typically consume.

Does Wellbutrin dull your emotions?

A 2017 internet-based survey found that only 33% of people experienced emotional blunting while on Wellbutrin, compared with 75% who reported emotional blunting while taking Cymbalta, a common SSRI.


Is Wellbutrin good for high functioning anxiety?

Wellbutrin is not FDA-approved for treating anxiety, and it can actually lead to increased risk of certain anxiety symptoms in some patients.

Does Wellbutrin damage the liver?

Bupropion therapy can be associated with transient, usually asymptomatic elevations in serum aminotransferase levels and has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Does bupropion cause brain damage?

Bupropion overdose is associated with a clinical examination demonstrating the absence of brainstem reflexes and the lack of a meaningful motor response, the combination of which can be suggestive of brain death in the proper clinical setting.


Can Wellbutrin cause long term anxiety?

Yes, Wellbutrin can cause anxiety, but the risk of developing a side effect from Wellbutrin is roughly the same as the risk posed by other antidepressants. All antidepressants can cause anxiety, with roughly 1 in 10 depressed patients experiencing this side effect.

What are the long term side effects of Wellbutrin?

The long-term effects of Wellbutrin may include:
  • Suicidality.
  • Risk of seizures.
  • Agitation, hostility, aggressiveness, unusual behavioral changes.
  • Anxiety.
  • Depressed mood.
  • Psychosis.
  • Hallucination.
  • Confusion.


Can I take bupropion every other day?

1 Alternatively, the dose may be reduced from once daily to every other day. Tapering may not be possible, depending on bupropion supply. If bupropion is abruptly discontinued or dose-reduced, patients are at risk of experiencing discontinuation syndrome.


What anxiety medication works well with Wellbutrin?

Clinical studies have shown that taking Wellbutrin and Lexapro together can produce beneficial results. Combining Wellbutrin and Lexapro together can improve symptoms in depressed patients.

Does Wellbutrin cause emotional outbursts?

Bupropion may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies, or to become more depressed.