Reviewed by the HeyPsych Medical Review Board
Board-certified psychiatrists and mental health professionals
Clinical summary for Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban): Bupropion helps with depression and seasonal low mood, and it can make it easier to quit smoking. Many people feel more energy and fewer sexual side effects than with SSRIs. The main things to watch for are trouble sleeping, feeling more wired or anxious, and seizures at high doses or in people with risk factors.
Everyone’s experience is different, but people often describe bupropion like this:
Energy & Motivation
"I felt less stuck on the couch and more able to start my day."
Bupropion doesn’t work overnight, but people typically notice changes in energy and thinking before full mood improvement.
Bupropion is used to treat major depression, prevent seasonal depression (SAD), and help people quit smoking (Zyban). Doctors also sometimes use it off-label for ADHD or to offset sexual side effects from SSRIs.
Some people notice more energy or clearer thinking within 1–2 weeks, but full mood effects usually take 4–6 weeks. For quitting smoking, it’s usually started 1 week before your quit date so it’s working when you stop.
Weight gain is less common with bupropion than with many SSRIs. Some people actually lose a small amount of weight because their appetite drops. That said, everybody’s body is different, so your experience may not match the average.
Compared with SSRIs, bupropion has a much lower chance of causing sexual side effects, and it sometimes improves libido or orgasm for people who had problems on other antidepressants. It’s often chosen for that reason.
Because it’s activating, some people feel more wired, jittery, or anxious at first—especially if they start at a higher dose or already have strong anxiety. This often gets better with time, morning dosing, or a slower titration. For people whose main problem is severe anxiety or panic, other meds are usually tried first.
It works on brain chemicals linked to reward and on nicotine receptors. Cigarettes usually feel less satisfying, cravings are less intense, and withdrawal symptoms are easier to manage. It works best when combined with coaching or counseling and sometimes nicotine patches or gum.
Yes, that’s common. Many people stay on an SSRI for mood and add bupropion to help with energy, focus, and sexual side effects. Because bupropion affects how some drugs are broken down, your prescriber may adjust your SSRI dose and watch for side effects.
For people without risk factors and staying within max doses, the seizure risk is low (well under 1%). The risk rises if you go over the dose limits, have a seizure history, have an eating disorder, drink heavily, or take other seizure-threshold–lowering meds. That’s why dosing rules are strict and honest history is important.
Light drinking may be okay for some people, but heavy drinking or binge drinking is dangerous with bupropion and raises the seizure risk. Suddenly stopping heavy alcohol use while taking bupropion is also risky. Talk realistically with your prescriber about your alcohol use before starting.
It’s not usually the first choice if you’re starting an antidepressant while pregnant, but many people who are already stable on bupropion continue it if the risk of relapse is high. Studies so far don’t show a big overall increase in birth defects, but there are some mixed data about heart defects. It’s a nuanced risk-versus-benefit conversation with your OB and mental health prescriber.
SR (sustained-release) is usually taken twice a day; XL (extended-release) is once a day in the morning. They contain the same active drug but release it at different speeds. Many people prefer XL for convenience and more even levels throughout the day.
If you miss a dose, just skip it and take your next dose at the normal time. Don’t double up. Taking two doses too close together can raise seizure risk.
This medication information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. Never take medication without a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
This information is for educational purposes. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.