How Long Does It Take for Wellbutrin to Work?

Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) is an orally administered, brand-name, and prescription antidepressant that is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for major depressive disorder (MDD, clinical depression), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and smoking cessation (quitting) in adults 18 and older.

The active ingredient in Wellbutrin, bupropion, is available in brand names, too, such as Wellbutrin SR (sustained-release) and Wellbutrin XL (extended-release). Additionally, not linked to a brand, bupropion is also available as a generic product.

Wellbutrin starts improving symptoms within one to two weeks of the initial dose. However, it usually takes around six to eight weeks to work effectively as a treatment for depression.

This article will highlight how long Wellbutrin takes to work, how it works, and other significant details regarding the safe and effective use of Wellbutrin.

How Does Wellbutrin Work?

Wellbutrin works by improving your mood and sense of well-being. Unlike other antidepressant medications, Wellbutrin is not classified as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a drug typically used to treat depression and other mental health issues.

For context, SSRIs stifle serotonin's reuptake (absorption), a neurotransmitter that affects how you experience emotions. By inhibiting serotonin reuptake, SSRIs can boost serotonin levels in the brain, improving mood.

In comparison, Wellbutrin (bupropion) blocks the receptors involved in the reuptake of neurotransmitters (chemicals used to transmit signals in the brain), norepinephrine, and dopamine. As a result, this drug extends the effect of these neurotransmitters to produce the desired effect of mood stabilization.

Dopamine and noradrenaline are neurotransmitters that play a crucial role in managing a person's attention span, the ability to experience pleasure, learning potential, and memory.

How Quickly Does Wellbutrin Work?

Within the United States, depression is a common and growing mental health condition. In fact, in 2020, 18.4% of adults reported having ever been diagnosed with depression. Therefore, effective medication that works quickly is paramount for many Americans.

Wellbutrin can take several days to show initial benefits and up to six weeks to reach full effect. Improvement in the physical symptoms can be an early sign that the medication has started working.

More specifically, a person's ability to sleep, energy, or appetite may improve within one to two weeks. However, feelings of depression or a lack of interest in day-to-day activities may require six to eight weeks to improve.

After starting Wellbutrin, symptoms gradually decrease over multiple weeks. Once symptoms are under control, though, conditions like MDD usually require long-term treatment to prevent the relapse of depressive symptoms.

If you use Wellbutrin for SAD or smoking cessation (for which only Wellbutrin SR is approved), your treatment may be shorter.

Your healthcare provider will assess the duration of your treatment and how long you need to take the medicine.

Dosing Guidelines

Wellbutrin, an orally administered medication, is typically administered in the following ways:

Wellbutrin XL tablets: 150 milligrams (mg), 300 mg:

General guidelines:

• The standard starting dose is 150 mg by mouth once daily in the morning.
• After four days, your healthcare provider might raise your dose to 300 mg once daily.
• Dosing is increased gradually to reduce the risk of seizure.
• Your healthcare provider will periodically reassess the current dosage and plan accordingly.

MDD:

• The starting dose: 150 mg once daily. Standard target dose: 300 mg once daily.
• After four days, may increase the dose to 300 mg once daily.

SAD:

• Treatment typically starts in the autumn before the beginning of seasonal depressive symptoms.
• Starting dose: 150 mg once daily. Standard target dose: 300 mg once daily.
• After one week, your healthcare provider may increase the dose to 300 mg once daily.
• Treatment with Wellbutrin typically lasts through the winter season.
  

Wellbutrin SR tablets, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg:

General guidelines:

• The standard target dose is 300 mg in two 150-mg divided doses given twice daily at intervals of eight hours.
• The initial starting dose is 150 mg, given daily and gradually increased to 300 mg. 
• The maximum daily dose should be 400 mg in two doses of 200 mg each.

MDD:

• The initial dose is 150 mg. After four days, increase the dose to 300 mg gradually.

SAD:

• The initial dose is 150 mg. After one week, increase the dose to 300 mg.

Smoking cessation:

• Days 1 to 3: Take one tablet (150 mg) daily.
• Days 3 until the end of treatment: Take two tablets (150 mg each) daily—one in the morning and one in the evening, at least eight hours apart.

If, in any case, you need to stop taking either form of Wellbutrin, talk with your healthcare provider first.

Sudden discontinuation of Wellbutrin may increase the risk of severe side effects, such as seizures.

How to Safety Take Wellbutrin

Swallow the SR and XL tablets whole and do not crush or chew them. Generally, The SR tablet is usually taken twice daily, with doses at least eight hours apart.

Comparatively, the ER tablet is usually taken once daily in the morning; doses of the ER tablet should be taken at least 24 hours apart. It may take four weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of bupropion.

Take Wellbutrin at around the same time(s) each day. Follow the directions on the label carefully and ask your healthcare provider to explain any part you need clarification on.

Side Effects & Safety

Wellbutrin comes with an FDA-marked boxed warning that describes the potential for suicidal thoughts and sudden changes in mood and behavior of children, adolescents, or young adults taking antidepressants like Wellbutrin.

Nonetheless, Wellbutrin is a generally safe and effective drug when used precisely as prescribed. Wellbutrin does carry some potential side effects, including common, severe, or long-term ones.

Some of these side effects do not need medical attention and go away slowly. Others need immediate medical treatment. The following are the side effects of Wellbutrin.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effects associated with the use of Wellbutrin include:

• Agitation
• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)
• Headache
• Hyperhidrosis (heavy sweating)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shakiness (tremor)
• Trouble sleeping

Severe Side Effects

Some side effects associated with the use of Wellbutrin can be severe. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately:

• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Irrational fears
• Muscle or joint pain
• Rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• Seizures

Furthermore, the monitoring of people taking Wellbutrin is required to avoid further adverse effects if the following symptoms appear:

• Activation of mania/hypomania 
• Psychosis or other neuropsychiatric reactions
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Keep regular appointments with your healthcare provider when taking Wellbutrin, and watch for the worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Who Shouldn't Take Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is not for use in people with certain pre-existing conditions.

Consult your healthcare provider if you have or have had the following conditions before taking Wellbutrin:

• A seizure disorder
• A history of bulimia or anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder), as a higher incidence of seizures was observed in these people treated with Wellbutrin
• In people undergoing abrupt discontinuation of alcohol consumption, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or anti-epileptic drugs
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, drugs intended to treat psychiatric disorders) used simultaneously with Wellbutrin or within 14 days of discontinuing treatment with Wellbutrin
• A preexisting hypersensitivity to bupropion or other ingredients of Wellbutrin tablets.
• Currently or very recently pregnant (use only if potential benefits outweigh the risks)
  

Wellbutrin Interactions

The drugs listed below may potentially affect Wellbutrin's effectiveness and potentially cause adverse reactions.

Therefore, dosage management is required when the following are used with Wellbutrin:

• Blood thinning medications, such as Eliquis (apixaban)
• Anti-platelet medications, such as Plavix (clopidogrel)
• Protease inhibitors (PI) are a class of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) antiviral drugs (AVRs), such as Norvir (ritonavir)
• Anti-epileptic medications, such as Epitol (carbamazepine) or Sezaby (phenobarbital)
• Other antidepressant medications, such as Effexor XR (venlafaxine) or Pamelor (nortriptyline)
• Antipsychotic medications, such as Haldol (haloperidol) or Uzedy (risperidone)
• Beta-blockers, such as Lopressor (metoprolol)
• Type 1C antiarrhythmics, such as Rythmol SR (propafenone) or generic flecainide

Some other drugs that may potentially negatively interact with Wellbutrin include:

• Medications like Dhivy (carbidopa/levodopa) and Gocovri (amantadine) may cause central nervous system (CNS) toxicity (otherwise known as CNS depression, a decreased level of alertness, indicating a state of restlessness and confusion) when taken with Wellbutrin.

Additionally, potential users should know that Wellbutrin may affect the results of various laboratory tests, as some false-positive results have been reported in people taking Wellbutrin.

Summary

Wellbutrin is an effective antidepressant drug available to treat depression-related symptoms. Additionally, the FDA has approved variations of Wellbutrin for other uses, including smoking cessation.

The time it takes to improve the symptoms depends on the condition being treated, the severity of the symptoms, and the dosage. Your healthcare provider will determine your best brand and treatment plan. 

Although it is a safe and proven treatment option, Wellbutrin carries a boxed warning describing its potential to increase or worsen suicidal thoughts in young people.

As such, family and caregivers should keep a close relationship with people taking Wellbutrin and help them to cope with these symptoms. Don't stop taking this drug suddenly, as it may cause seizures which can be life-threatening.

Correction - March 20, 2024: This article was updated to correct the doses for the maximum daily dosage of Wellbutrin SR under general guidelines