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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
If you’re taking the antidepressant Wellbutrin and need to stop for any reason, here’s a word of caution: stopping this drug suddenly could result in some not-so-pleasant Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms. But don’t worry—that doesn’t mean you need to stay on this medication forever if it’s not appropriate for you. Your healthcare provider can help you taper off the drug slowly to avoid those unwanted symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about Wellbutrin withdrawal and how to deal with it. RoImprove and support your health from the comfort of homeWhat is Wellbutrin withdrawal?Wellbutrin (bupropion; see Important Safety Information) is a popular antidepressant also used to treat seasonal affective disorder and help quit smoking (among other off-label uses). About 20% of people who abruptly lower their antidepressant dosage or stop taking it completely (going “cold turkey”) will experience withdrawal symptoms. This can happen with any antidepressant medication, including Wellbutrin (Gabriel, 2017).Medical researchers don’t know precisely why these withdrawal symptoms occur. Still, they have noted that they are much more likely after stopping short-acting SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Paxil (paroxetine; see Important Safety Information), and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), such as Effexor (venlafaxine; see Important Safety Information) (Wilson, 2015).There is less research on bupropion-associated withdrawal symptoms than on other antidepressants, but case reports show that Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms are typically mild and usually last only a short time if they occur (Henssler, 2019).Wellbutrin withdrawal symptomsThe symptoms of Wellbutrin withdrawal can start from a few days to a week after your last dose of medication. The symptoms are typically mild and go away on their own within two to six weeks (Henssler, 2019; Carvalho, 2016). Researchers use the mnemonic FINISH to describe the mental and physical symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, which stands for (Gabriel, 2017): Flu-like symptoms—feeling tired and achy, headache, sweatingInsomnia—sometimes with vivid dreams or nightmaresNausea—occasionally with vomiting Imbalance—dizziness or lightheadednessSensory disturbances—feeling burning, tingling, or electric-like sensations known as “brain zaps”Hyperarousal—anxiety, irritability, agitation, mood swings, and sometime manic-like symptomsIn rare cases, withdrawal symptoms may last longer than six weeks, developing into a condition called “persistent post-withdrawal disorder.” This is
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