Is Wellbutrin Addictive? Side Effects and Misuse

Is Wellbutrin addictive? Wellbutrin (bupropion) is not considered addictive when it’s taken as prescribed, and it isn’t a controlled substance in the United States². It can be misused, though. Some people crush and snort or inject it for a stimulant-like effect, which can lead to seizures and overdose³.

Knowing the difference between normal use, misuse and dependence can help you spot a problem early, in yourself or someone you care about.

What is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is a brand name for bupropion, a prescription antidepressant. It’s approved to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder, and, under the brand name Zyban, to help people stop smoking¹. Doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label, for example for ADHD or for sexual side effects caused by other antidepressants².

Bupropion works differently from most antidepressants. Rather than acting mainly on serotonin, it increases the activity of two brain chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine. That’s why it’s called a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI)².

Other brand names for bupropion include Aplenzin, Forfivo XL and Zyban. It comes in immediate-release, sustained-release (SR) and extended-release (XL) tablets. Only your prescriber should decide which form and dose is right for you. It can take 4 weeks or longer to feel the full benefit, so keep taking it as directed even if you don’t notice a change right away¹.

Is Wellbutrin addictive? Is bupropion?

For most people, no. When it’s swallowed as prescribed, bupropion acts slowly and doesn’t usually produce a high, so the risk of addiction is low². Because it affects dopamine, though, it can cause a stimulant-like effect when it’s taken in large amounts or in ways that get it into the brain quickly³.

It helps to separate three ideas that are often confused:

Misuse sits between the two: taking bupropion in a way that wasn’t prescribed. Misuse can grow into addiction, especially in people who already have a substance use disorder.

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Can you misuse Wellbutrin?

Yes. Medical case reports describe people crushing bupropion tablets and snorting or injecting them, and users describe a high similar to cocaine but weaker³. Reports of recreational misuse include teenagers as well as adults⁶.

Misuse appears more common in people with a history of stimulant or other substance use, and in settings where other drugs are hard to get, such as correctional facilities³.

Signs of Wellbutrin misuse

Changes you might notice in someone misusing bupropion include unusual energy or restlessness, poor sleep, weight loss, irritability or mood swings, pulling away from people, and unexplained money problems.

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Wellbutrin side effects

Most people who take Wellbutrin as prescribed have mild side effects or none. The most common include^1,4:

• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Nausea
• Trouble sleeping
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Feeling anxious or jittery
• Loss of appetite and weight loss

Serious side effects

Some side effects need prompt medical attention¹:

• Seizures. This is the most important risk. It goes up with higher doses and in people with certain conditions (see below).
• Mood changes and suicidal thoughts. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a boxed warning about suicidal thoughts in children, teens and young adults, especially in the first few months or after a dose change.
• Raised blood pressure.
• Agitation, confusion or hallucinations.
• Allergic reactions, such as rash, hives, or swelling of the face or throat.

Who needs extra caution

Bupropion isn’t right for everyone. Tell your prescriber if you have, or have had^1,2:

• Seizures, a head injury or a brain tumor
• An eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia
• Heavy drinking, or use of sedatives or benzodiazepines (stopping them suddenly while on bupropion raises seizure risk)
• Bipolar disorder or psychosis
• Liver or kidney disease
• High blood pressure or heart problems

Wellbutrin interactions and safety tips

Bupropion can interact with other medicines and substances. Some interactions raise the risk of seizures or other serious side effects¹.

• MAO inhibitors. Tell your doctor if you take an MAOI, such as phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, linezolid or methylene blue, or if you have stopped one in the past 2 weeks¹.
• Alcohol. Ask your doctor whether it’s safe to drink while on bupropion. Alcohol can make side effects worse, and suddenly stopping heavy drinking while taking it raises seizure risk¹.
• Sedatives and benzodiazepines. Stopping these suddenly while on bupropion also raises seizure risk^1,2.
• Missed doses. If you miss a dose, skip it and take the next one at the usual time. Never take a double dose to catch up¹.

Keep a current list of every prescription, over-the-counter medicine and supplement you take, and share it with your prescriber and pharmacist.

Wellbutrin overdose

Taking too much bupropion can be dangerous. Overdose can cause seizures, a fast heartbeat, hallucinations and heart rhythm problems, and it can be fatal^5,3. Snorting or injecting it increases the risk, because the drug reaches the brain faster.

Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal-type symptoms seem less common with bupropion than with many other antidepressants, but they do happen. Case reports describe⁷:

• Irritability and anxiety
• Restlessness, in one case described as wanting to “crawl out of her skin”
• Trouble sleeping
• Headaches and body aches
• Tiredness and low mood

Having these symptoms doesn’t mean someone is addicted. They’re a sign the body had adjusted to the medication. Stopping can also let depression come back. That’s why you should talk to your prescriber before you stop, so they can plan how to do it.

Wellbutrin for addiction treatment

Bupropion has a real role in addiction treatment, but a narrow one. It’s FDA-approved, as Zyban, to help people quit smoking¹. Researchers have also studied it for other substance use disorders, including stimulant use, but it isn’t a standard approved treatment for those.

In one large trial of adults with methamphetamine use disorder, a combination of extended-release bupropion and injectable naltrexone helped more people produce mostly negative urine tests than placebo: 13.6% compared with 2.5% over 12 weeks⁸. The researchers called the response low, though it was better than placebo. The combination is not FDA-approved for this use.

Because it can treat depression, a doctor may prescribe it for someone in recovery who also has depression. In people with a history of stimulant misuse, prescribers usually weigh the misuse risk carefully, for example by checking that tablets are taken as directed.

If you’re worried about your own Wellbutrin use

If you’ve started taking more than prescribed, or using bupropion in other ways, it can feel hard to bring up. Your prescriber has heard it before, and being honest helps them keep you safe. Things worth telling them:

• How much you’re actually taking, and how often
• Whether you’ve crushed, snorted or injected it
• Any alcohol, stimulants, sedatives or other drugs you use
• Whether your depression or anxiety feels worse, better or the same

Don’t stop suddenly or cut your dose on your own, especially if you also drink heavily or use sedatives, because of the seizure risk. Your doctor can adjust or change your medication and, if needed, point you toward treatment for substance use.

Treatment for Wellbutrin misuse

Bupropion misuse rarely happens on its own. It often sits alongside other substance use, such as stimulants, alcohol or opioids, and alongside depression or another mental health condition. Treatment works best when it looks at all of these together.

Depending on what else is being used, treatment may begin with medical detox, then continue in residential treatment, a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program. Therapy helps people understand why they misused the medication, and psychiatric care makes sure depression is still treated safely.

Getting help at Red Rock

Red Rock treats prescription drug misuse and co-occurring mental health conditions together through dual diagnosis treatment. Care runs from medical detox in Morrison through residential, PHP, IOP and sober living, with individual therapy at least weekly at every level and medication management to review medications.

If you’re worried about how you or someone you love is using Wellbutrin, or other substances, our admissions team can talk it through and check your insurance.