Wellbutrin Withdrawal: Overview, Symptoms & Coping

We cannot guarantee payment or verification eligibility as conveyed by your health insurance provider will be accurate and complete. Payment of benefits are subject to all terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the member’s contract at time of service. Although Wellbutrin is not generally considered addictive, cases of Bupropion abuse have been reported. When individuals misuse or abuse Wellbutrin, they may develop a dependence on the drug, leading to Bupropion withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. Wellbutrin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In 2021, over 29 million prescriptions for Wellbutrin were issued in the United States.

The safest way to stop taking Wellbutrin is to slowly reduce your dose 7, a process called tapering. Tapering helps your body adjust to having less of the medication and can prevent withdrawal symptoms. Wellbutrin tapering schedules are usually short, often lasting one to two weeks. You should seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, intense mood swings, persistent insomnia, or significant physical discomfort.

• The half-life of a medication refers to how long it takes half of the drug to leave your body.
• Marketed as Zyban, Bupropion is a significant pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in the Western world over the past decade.
• We offer detox services and inpatient treatment programs at our luxury facilities in Long Beach and Newport Beach, CA.
• Whether NDRI drugs were non-prescribed or prescribed, we strongly recommend seeking guidance to mitigate these risks.
• Always consult healthcare professionals before tapering off prescription medications.

After you stop taking Wellbutrin, if you have withdrawal symptoms at all, they could last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You live at the detox facility during Wellbutrin withdrawal but there is limited access to medical care. How long will you have symptoms from Wellbutrin withdrawal, if you have them at all?

• You may also call our helpline to speak with one of our staff about whether Wellbutrin detox is right for you.
• While not a first-line treatment, Bupropion is sometimes considered in the management of ADHD, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other medications.
• These symptoms usually present within the first few days after stopping Wellbutrin and can last 2 weeks.
• Discontinuing this medication may lead to Wellbutrin withdrawal manifestations, including mood changes, fatigue, and irritability.
• Never change or discontinue medications without consulting your healthcare provider.

Health Conditions

Finding the right medication or combination of medications can take several tries. Antidepressants such as Wellbutrin affect certain neurotransmitters in your brain, the chemical messengers that help with complex functions such as eating, sleeping, and emotional regulation. 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.

Wellbutrin Withdrawal: Overview, Symptoms & Coping

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.

Several guidelines say that for somebody’s first episode of depression, four to nine months of remission is long enough to consider weaning off medication. But in practice, many doctors look for at least six if not 12 months of full recovery before stopping “maintenance” antidepressants, Dr. DeYoung says. Days 15 to 28- During the third week of withdrawal, the symptoms should improve dramatically. If you experience any lingering anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, or other symptoms, they should be much less severe than previously. As mentioned, the withdrawal symptoms may last up to several months for some people, although all symptoms should gradually decrease until they disappear completely.

Do not stop taking your antidepressant all of a sudden, and discuss safe tapering options with your doctor. If your withdrawal symptoms are severely affecting your quality of life, they can prescribe medications to reduce them and help you feel better. Managing withdrawal symptoms involves self-care, professional support, and possibly medication.

In the case of bupropion, this will work out okay much of the time. To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. The helpline at AddictionResource.net is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one. This helpline is answered by Treatment X LLC, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. Doctors often recommend tapering off Wellbutrin gradually, especially for those who have been taking a high dose of Wellbutrin for a long time. Medical detox is a medically supervised detox program that typically takes place in a detox facility or other inpatient treatment setting.

When to Seek Medical Help

This is important whether the drug was prescribed for depression, or under a different name for quitting smoking, weight-loss, ADHD, or for any other reason. Whether NDRI drugs were non-prescribed or prescribed, we strongly recommend seeking guidance to mitigate these risks. Wellbutrin, cocaine, and amphetamines are all DRI drugs (dopamine reuptake inhibitors). To compare effects, cocaine is a DRI, meaning it enhances the stimulating effects by Inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine. Please note that all the above estimated times can vary according to an individual’s general health, dosage, and other factors.

Medical Antidepressant Withdrawal

If you are stopping multiple drugs, not just Wellbutrin, additional risks and dangers may apply. Stopping Wellbutrin may cause certain side effects, also known as withdrawal symptoms. This is the body’s reaction to the lack of Wellbutrin in your system. If you or someone you how to taper off welbutrin know has been abusing Wellbutrin—also known as “poor man’s cocaine”—drug detox and substance abuse treatment may be recommended.

Remember to talk to your doctor first, though, as some herbal supplements can interact poorly with certain medications or health conditions. There is much more to learn about the programs delivered at Alternative to Meds Center and what they entail in terms of treatments and therapies that are available to our clients. All information provided in featured rehab listings is verified by the facility officials. The details are kept up to date to help people with addiction treatment needs get the most full and precise facts about the rehabilitation facility. By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology.

Call us today to learn more about Wellbutrin detox and to find detox options at a treatment center that’s right for you. ✔️ Stopping any drug, including Wellbutrin, all at once isn’t recommended. Consider talking to a doctor before making any adjustments to the amount of Wellbutrin you’re taking. Find answers to frequently asked questions about Wellbutrin detox, withdrawal, and treatment options for Wellbutrin abuse.

Drug & Alcohol Detox

So in general, the more severe or debilitating past bouts of depression have been, the riskier it is to go off medication, Dr. Siegel explains. If you have a longer and/or more severe history of depression, the goal is typically to wait for a longer period of remission before considering tapering. But in practice, Dr. DeYoung says, everyone’s symptoms are unique to them—and therefore, so is what their recovery looks like. To gauge whether you’ve been in remission or not, think about if the specific symptoms that drove you to seek treatment have resolved, Dr. DeYoung says. Say you came to your doctor with sleep problems, a loss of interest in your usual hobbies, and feelings of hopelessness.

You can achieve sobriety and find relief from the withdrawal symptoms with time, patience, determination, grit, and a supportive network of family and friends. Our staff at Avenues Recovery are experts in the field of addiction and can help you turn your life around. Reach out today to Avenues Recovery rehab center, where our professional team of addiction specialists will guide you to full recovery. Experience premier care, support and guidance at Avenues, and begin your journey to sobriety today.