Benefits of Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin is the brand name version of the drug bupropion, which doctors use to treat major depressive disorder or clinical depression.

Bupropion is an antidepressant that doctors also prescribe to help people quit smoking and treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Bupropion can help improve mood and emotion among people with depression.

Doctors may also prescribe Wellbutrin to treat other conditions. But keep in mind its side effects as well as its benefits.

What is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is the brand name for the antidepressant medication with the active ingredient bupropion. 

Bupropion is an antidepressant. Antidepressants usually work by increasing the brain chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline. These are also known as neurotransmitters. By increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters, antidepressants can improve emotions and mood. They can also interrupt pain signals to relieve pain. 

Antidepressants belong to different drug classes, such as:

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like escitalopram (Lexapro)
• tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• dopamine reuptake inhibitors like bupropion (Wellbutrin) 

Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), which is known as an atypical antidepressant. NDRIs help increase the levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. This can gradually help relieve symptoms of depression, such as:

• feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness
• difficulty sleeping
• changes in appetite
• loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• difficulty concentrating
• fatigue 
• feelings of anxiety and stress

Major depressive disorder affects about 21 million adults in the United States, or about 8.3%, according to 2021 figures from the National Institute of Mental Health. A 2023 survey from Gallup points at a higher figure, reporting that 29% of adults in the U.S. have had depression at some time.

————–

Need a refill for bupropion HCl (Wellbutrin XL)? You may be able to get an online prescription through Optum Perks in as little as 15 minutes. Learn more here.

Benefits of Wellbutrin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wellbutrin for the treatment of major depressive disorder, SAD, and smoking cessation.

But doctors also prescribe the medication off-label to treat other conditions, including

• bipolar disorder
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• sexual dysfunction 
• obesity

If you’re considering Wellbutrin as a treatment, talking with a healthcare professional will help determine whether it may work for you.

A 2016 research review found that Wellbutrin is at least as effective as other antidepressants in treating depression symptoms. It also found that Wellbutrin is less likely than sertraline to cause sexual dysfunction, a common side effect of antidepressants, and it might even improve sexual functioning in people taking SSRIs.

The review found that bupropion was no more likely than any other antidepressant to cause side effects, and the side effects noted were usually mild to moderate.

Another benefit of Wellbutrin is that it’s quite fast-acting. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that you might see an improvement in some symptoms of depression within 2 weeks, although it can take up to 8 weeks to see the full effects on your mood.

Possible risks and side effects

Although Wellbutrin doesn’t cause some of the common side effects of other antidepressants, it can lead to adverse effects such as:

• dry mouth
• drowsiness
• anxious feelings
• trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• nausea and vomiting
• headache
• stomach pain
• constipation
• weight loss
• sexual dysfunction

Wellbutrin can cause serious side effects in some people. If you experience any of the following, call your healthcare professional right away or visit your nearest emergency care center:

• confusion
• hallucinations
• seizures
• irregular heartbeat
• muscle and joint pain
• fever
• itchiness, rash, and hives
• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• swelling in your face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

Wellbutrin alternatives

Wellbutrin (bupropion) may not be suitable for some people in the treatment of the condition it’s approved for or for its off-label use. Some alternatives to Wellbutrin for the treatment of depression include:

• 5-HT2 receptor antagonists: nefazodone (Serzone)
• SSRIs: citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), vortioxetine (Trintellix), and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• TCAs: amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil)
• atypical antidepressants: mirtazapine (Remeron) and a new rapid-acting form of bupropion called Auvelity.

Along with medications, the treatment of depression is likely to include forms of talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Treatment can also include lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, journaling, and reducing stress with yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises. 

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.

Summary

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that works by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. It’s the branded form of the medication bupropion.

Wellbutrin is approved to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder, and can help you quit smoking. Doctors also prescribe it off-label to treat other conditions like bipolar disorder and ADHD. 

Wellbutrin doesn’t cause certain side effects that other antidepressants do, such as sexual dysfunction and weight gain. However, it does lead to some adverse effects in some people, such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, chest pain, and confusion. If you experience these side effects, talk with a healthcare professional. 

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.