If you are experiencing Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms after stopping this antidepressant, make sure you alert your therapist or doctor so they can support you during this uncomfortable time. You may need extra therapy sessions to help you manage for a while. Therapy can help you process trauma, shift patterns, learn coping skills, and even improve your odds of getting off medication successfully. It isn’t a replacement for medication (just like medication isn’t a replacement for therapy). But “it can potentially help you get off antidepressants a little bit easier,” Dr. DeYoung says.

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At Recovery Guide, our mission is to connect as many individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders to reputable treatment facilities. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services. If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately.

How to Prevent Bupropion Withdrawal Symptoms

Consult your physician if you’re unsure what to do or experience any symptoms. Keeping a consistent medication routine can help minimize these symptoms and maintain your mental health balance. If you start to experience withdrawal symptoms, let your doctor know. Withdrawal symptoms often get better within a few days of restarting Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin is thought to treat depression by changing chemicals in the brain. As a result, it can sometimes cause uncomfortable symptoms for a while when you stop taking it.

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If symptoms become uncomfortable, reach out to a healthcare provider for support. The duration of Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms depends on how long the medication stays in your body, known as its half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for the amount of medication in your body to decrease by half. After five half-lives, almost all of the drug will be eliminated from the body. If you take Wellbutrin occasionally, the half-life is about three to four hours.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a long-term process in which you explore the reasons for your feelings and actions. Together with a qualified therapist, you will learn how to work toward the life you want by reforming the unhealthy patterns standing in your way. Like some other antidepressants, Wellbutrin carries an FDA warning about the risk of suicidal ideation in children, teens, and young adults. According to Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., author of The Antidepressant Solution, irritability is a common symptom. In Glenmullen’s experience, patients quitting Wellbutrin often feel symptoms like those quitting nicotine do, such as extreme agitation and uncharacteristically hostile, rude, or aggressive behavior. Recognizing when you need help can prevent symptoms from becoming overwhelming.

Latest Antidepressant Auvelity: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Cost

Detox for Wellbutrin may be recommended for certain people who wish to stop use of the medication. Addiction Resource team has compiled an extensive list of the top drug rehabilitation facilities around the country. Click on the state you are interested in, and you’ll get a list of the best centers in the area, along with their levels of care, working hours, and contact information. Bupropion withdrawal syndrome refers to the collection of symptoms that individuals may experience when discontinuing or reducing the dosage.

You reside at home and attend detox sessions for a few hours each week. This is not typically recommended for a severe addiction or someone who has a co-occurring medical or psychological condition. Although Wellbutrin is most commonly used to treat depressive disorders, some people may misuse it in order to get high. They may abuse bupropion by crushing the pills and snorting the powder, although some people also inject this antidepressant too 5.

When it doesn’t, and you need to taper by smaller steps (as described on the Tapering Antidepressants page), here’s some information that might help. We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. You can ask questions about our program, the admissions process, and more.

On that note, having a doc you trust and feel comfortable talking to is key here, whether that’s your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. Wellbutrin-induced anxiety is usually transient and may last a few days to a couple of weeks after starting the medication. If anxiety persists or worsens, consult your healthcare provider for guidance on managing side effects or adjusting your treatment plan. Discontinuing this medication may lead to Wellbutrin withdrawal manifestations, including mood changes, fatigue, and irritability. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance on tapering off the medication to ensure a smoother recovery.

Wellbutrin is a branded form of bupropion, a popular antidepressant that can also help with other conditions like anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. You live at the detox facility during Wellbutrin withdrawal but there is limited access to medical care. People refer to Wellbutrin as “poor man’s cocaine” due to its stimulant-like effects and high.6 And chronic Wellbutrin abuse can lead to more severe physiological dependence and subsequent withdrawal. How many months of recovery from depression you should have under your belt before even considering weaning off isn’t clear-cut. The studies are a little all over the place, Dr. DeYoung says, and docs have different takes.

All Addiction Resource content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible. Moreover, a history of misusing Wellbutrin for its amphetamine-like effects can also affect the process of getting off Wellbutrin. While we receive compensation in the form of paid advertisements, these advertisements have absolutely no impact on our content due to our editorial independence policy. From recreational ingestion, nasal insufflation of crushed tablets, and, more recently, intravenous injection. Individuals abusing Bupropion report experiencing a “high” reminiscent of cocaine abuse, albeit of lesser intensity.

Abruptly stopping is NOT recommended, as it can intensify and even prolong these reactions. Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms aren’t common, but those who experience them may become agitated and irritable. If you recently quit smoking, your nicotine cravings may return, although they’re likely to be milder than if you hadn’t taken Wellbutrin. Antidepressants are among the top three most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Not every antidepressant works for every person, however, and many people try several before hitting the right drug or combination thereof. By using these coping strategies, you can manage withdrawal symptoms more effectively.

• If you or someone you care about need help dealing with drug addiction, reach out to Gratitude Lodge.
• His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
• They will likely suggest a tapering schedule that gradually lowers your dose over a few weeks.

Unlike most antidepressants (which affect sertraline levels), bupoprion affects the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline. If you were using Wellbutrin to quit smoking, your nicotine cravings might return when you stop taking the drug, but they’re likely to be milder than what you’d experience without having taken the drug. At Renaissance Recovery our goal is to provide evidence-based treatment to as many individuals as possible. Give us a call today to verify your insurance coverage or to learn more about paying for addiction treatment. Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient care, having professional help during detox can make the experience more manageable and improve your chances of a successful recovery.

• Most people won’t have too much trouble with withdrawal either, so most people can simply lower their dose by one-pill steps to zero.
• Either way, it’s a valid question that’s worth discussing—and probably doesn’t come up enough.
• Consult your physician if you’re unsure what to do or experience any symptoms.
• At Renaissance Recovery our goal is to provide evidence-based treatment to as many individuals as possible.
• Stopping antidepressants may lead to several different setbacks, both short-term and long-term.

Most studies report that withdrawal reactions with bupropion are uncommon. To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by how do i wean myself off of wellbutrin visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. AddictionResource.net, and its parent company Recovery Guide LLC, is not a provider of substance use disorder treatment services and receives compensation from Treatment X LLC in the form of paid advertising.

By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology. If you have health insurance, another way to find a therapist is to search your insurance plan’s website. Typically, insurance companies have a list of local providers who accept your insurance. As studies consistently show, a combination of psychotherapy and medication works better for depression and anxiety than medication alone. Sobriety—whether from substances, bad relationships, or unnecessary medications—isn’t just about removing things from your life.