Key takeaways:
It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL). Combining alcohol and bupropion can increase your risk of side effects. Both can cause dizziness, which makes it more difficult to do certain tasks, such as driving. The combination can also increase your risk of seizures and alcohol poisoning.
Most people take bupropion to treat depression. But alcohol use can contribute to depression, counteracting the antidepressive effects of bupropion.
For most people, bupropion lasts in your system for at least 4 to 5 days. So if you’ve stopped taking bupropion, it may be safe to have a drink after these many days have passed since your last dose. But check with your healthcare professional first.
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Depression is a mental health condition that negatively affects the way you think, feel, and act. Antidepressant medications — which are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. — are often used to treat depression.
Antidepressants can help improve your mental health, but they have some risks. This includes side effects and drug interactions. Alcohol is one drug interaction to be aware of with all antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL). It’s best to avoid combining alcohol and bupropion. Below, we’ll dive into the details of why drinking while taking bupropion isn’t considered safe.
1. It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol with bupropion
It’s best to avoid combining alcohol and bupropion. There are three main reasons why:
Combining bupropion and alcohol may increase your risk for alcohol- or bupropion-related side effects. These include dizziness and mood changes. Additionally, combining bupropion and alcohol may increase your risk for seizures and alcohol poisoning. The risk for seizures is particularly high for people who drink a lot of alcohol and then stop drinking abruptly.
Bupropion may lower your tolerance to alcohol. This means you may feel the effects of alcohol after drinking a smaller amount than what you’re used to. This can cause impaired concentration and slower reaction times, among other things.
Drinking alcohol can contribute to depression. This can counteract the benefits you’d expect from taking bupropion. In particular, drinking large amounts of alcohol, or having alcohol use disorder, is linked to depression.
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Many people may experience feelings of pleasure and well-being when they first drink. This is because drinking alcohol affects the levels of several brain chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine. But if you drink heavily over a long period of time (like in alcohol use disorder), your brain starts responding differently. This can lead to negative mental health changes, such as depression.
2. Even just one to two drinks may be risky
In general, it’s best to avoid alcohol entirely when using bupropion. But ask your healthcare professional if this is safe for you. In some cases, they may say that having an alcoholic drink every now and then is OK while using bupropion.
It’s hard to say whether any amount of alcohol is safe with bupropion. Each individual handles alcohol differently. Several factors, such as your age, other medical conditions you have, and medications you take, can affect how your body handles alcohol.
Even if your healthcare professional says an occasional alcoholic drink is OK, be especially mindful of having alcohol before an activity that requires concentration. This includes driving or taking care of small children. This becomes even more important while taking bupropion since the combination of alcohol and bupropion may affect your concentration and focus even more. Also, pay close attention to serving size. For example, a 5 oz glass of wine counts as one drink.
In most cases, it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol with all antidepressants. This includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants. Combining antidepressants with alcohol can increase side effects like dizziness and drowsiness, and it could also worsen your depression.
3. Certain people may be more at risk when combining alcohol and bupropion
There are some situations that make combining bupropion and alcohol riskier. We’ll review a few of these.
Heavy alcohol use
People who drink large amounts of alcohol shouldn’t use bupropion. This is because alcohol withdrawal can occur in people who drink large amounts of alcohol and then stop abruptly. In some cases, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be severe, such as seizures. And bupropion also increases your risk of seizures, with or without alcohol.
But what is considered too much alcohol? Two terms — binge drinking and heavy drinking — define excessive alcohol use. If either of these applies to you, bupropion may not be the best choice for you:
Binge drinking: Five drinks or more on a single occasion in men or four drinks or more on a single occasion in women.
Heavy drinking: More than 14 drinks per week for men or more than seven drinks in a week for women.
Additionally, drinking a lot is a sign of alcohol use disorder. If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for resources in your area.
People who have seizures
Bupropion is one of several medications that can increase your risk of seizures. And alcohol withdrawal can also lead to seizures. So combining alcohol and bupropion is especially risky if you have an underlying seizure disorder. In fact, bupropion typically isn’t prescribed if you have a seizure condition such as epilepsy.
If you have a seizure disorder, make sure your healthcare professional knows. Other medications can also raise your risk for having seizures and are best avoided with bupropion. Examples of other medications that increase seizure risk include tramadol (Qdolo, ConZip), tacrolimus (Prograf), and Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts). Giving your healthcare professional and pharmacist a list of all the medications you take can help them check for medications that increase your risk of seizures.
Drug interactions with alcohol. Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) isn’t the only medication to avoid with alcohol. Learn whether other medications you take can also interact.
Avoidance of alcohol. Alcohol can affect your mind and body in several ways. Experts agree that no amount of alcohol is considered safe to drink.
Tips for taking bupropion. Avoiding alcohol with bupropion isn’t the only important thing to know about this medication. Learn other tips to get the most out of this medication.
Older adults
As we age, alcohol affects us differently. In general, older adults have an increased sensitivity to alcohol and may experience more side effects from drinking. If you’re also taking bupropion, these effects may be even greater.
4. It’s safest to wait several days before drinking alcohol after stopping bupropion
It’s hard to say exactly how many days you should wait to drink alcohol after stopping bupropion. The main thing that influences how long you should wait is how long bupropion stays in the body.
How long does bupropion stay in your system?
In general, it takes 4 or 5 days for your body to completely get rid of bupropion after you stop taking it. So it may be safe to have alcohol about this many days after your last bupropion dose. But this can vary depending on factors like your age and whether you have liver or kidney problems. Ask your healthcare professional for more personalized advice about when it’s safe to have a drink.
Don’t stop taking bupropion without speaking to your healthcare professional. You may need to slowly lower your dose over time to avoid antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, like nausea, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.
References
If you take bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL), it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol. It may be safe for some individuals to have an occasional drink, but it’s hard to predict how the combination of bupropion and alcohol will affect you. For most people, the risks of combining bupropion and alcohol are great enough to avoid drinking entirely. Risks include increased dizziness, trouble focusing, and seizures.
After stopping bupropion treatment, you may be able to safely resume drinking alcohol after 4 or 5 days because this is how long bupropion typically lasts in your system. But ask your healthcare professional first. Several factors can affect how long bupropion stays in your system.
References
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2023). Bupropion hydrochloride- bupropion hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert].
ClinCalc DrugStats. (2024). The top 300 of 2021. ClinCalc.
Huecker, M. R., et al. (2023). Bupropion. StatPearls.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Older adults.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). What is a standard drink?
Nunes, E. V. (2023). Alcohol and the etiology of depression. American Journal of Psychiatry.
RemedyRepack. (2024). Bupropion hydrochloride- bupropion hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert].
Saffaei, D., et al. (2020). New-onset seizure in patient medicated with bupropion for smoking cessation: A case report. The Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Schachter, S. C. (n.d.). Alcohol as a seizure trigger. Epilepsy Foundation.
Ward, R. J., et al. (2009). Biochemical and neurotransmitter changes implicated in alcohol-induced brain damage in chronic or ‘binge drinking’ alcohol abuse. Alcohol and Alcoholism.
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