What Pharmacists Say About the Best Time to Take Wellbutrin (Plus 6 More Tips)

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is part of a group of medications known as atypical antidepressants. It comes in three forms: immediate-release (IR), sustained-release (SR), and extended-release (XL) tablets.

All Wellbutrin products are FDA approved to treat depression in adults. Wellbutrin XL is also approved to manage seasonal affective disorder. Learn more about Wellbutrin with these seven tips on how and when to take it, what side effects you might experience, and more.

Good to know: Brand-name Wellbutrin IR is no longer available. The medication is only available as bupropion IR. But since the brand name Wellbutrin is well known, we’ll use that name throughout the article.

1. The best time to take Wellbutrin depends on what product you’re taking

Can you take Wellbutrin at night, or is it better to take it in the morning? It depends on what product you’re taking — Wellbutrin IR, SR, or XL.

It’s common to take Wellbutrin IR 3 to 4 times a day. And it’s recommended to take Wellbutrin SR twice daily. So, if you’re taking one of these forms, you may take your medication in the morning and evening. However, Wellbutrin XL is taken only once daily.

If you’re taking Wellbutrin IR, space your doses by at least 6 hours. This lowers the risk of having too much of the medication in your system, which increases your risk of side effects. If you’re taking Wellbutrin SR, separate your doses by at least 8 hours.

Trouble sleeping is a common Wellbutrin side effect. If you have trouble sleeping, try to avoid taking your last dose of the day too close to bedtime. This may be challenging if you take 3 or 4 doses a day, but taking your first dose of the day as soon as you wake up can help. If you’re prescribed Wellbutrin XL, take your dose in the morning, as well.

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2. You can take Wellbutrin with or without food, but taking it with food may help prevent nausea

All Wellbutrin products can be taken with or without food. But nausea is a common side effect of the medication. If you experience nausea, try taking Wellbutrin with food. But avoid fatty, fried, or spicy foods, since these foods can make nausea worse.

3. Ask your pharmacist whether you can take Wellbutrin with other medications

Generally, you don’t have to worry about taking Wellbutrin at the same time as other medications. While drug interactions are possible, they can occur regardless of when you take your medications.

Wellbutrin can interact with other antidepressants, including:

• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as selegiline (Zelapar, Emsam)

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram (Celexa)

• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta)

While this is not a full list, other medications Wellbutrin can interact with include:

• Antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole (Abilify)

• Heart rhythm medications, such as propafenone

• Medications that raise your risk of seizures, such as tramadol

• Medications that raise dopamine levels, such as carbidopa / levodopa (Sinemet)

Additionally, Wellbutrin interacts with alcohol. This combination can cause dizziness and difficulty concentrating, and it can increase your risk of having suicidal thoughts. So avoiding alcohol while you’re taking Wellbutrin is the safest option.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• How Wellbutrin works: Pharmacists explain how Wellbutrin (bupropion) treats depression, plus ways to know it’s working.

• What are Wellbutrin’s side effects? Learn what side effects are possible when taking Wellbutrin and when to seek medical care.

• What does taking Wellbutrin feel like? Three people share what it feels to take Wellbutrin — and when you might start noticing your symptoms improving.

It’s a good idea to give your healthcare team a current list of all the medications, supplements, and herbal products you take. This list can help them check for potential Wellbutrin interactions.

4. If you miss a dose of Wellbutrin, you should skip the missed dose

If you miss a dose of Wellbutrin, skip the missed dose. Then, take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Taking doses too close together can raise the risk of side effects, including seizures.

If you’re regularly having trouble remembering to take your Wellbutrin, consider putting visual reminders in places you can see them or adding your medication schedule to the calendar on your phone. There are also a few medication reminder apps you can try if you have a smartphone.

If you miss multiple Wellbutrin doses in a row, contact your prescriber. Missing too many doses in a row can cause withdrawal effects. Depending on how many doses you’ve missed, your prescriber may recommend restarting Wellbutrin at a lower dose.

5. Do not suddenly stop taking Wellbutrin

Forgetting a single dose of Wellbutrin usually doesn’t cause noticeable side effects. But missing multiple doses or suddenly stopping it can cause withdrawal symptoms, also known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome happens when there’s a sudden drop in certain chemical messengers in the brain. Suddenly stopping any antidepressant after taking it for a while, including Wellbutrin, can cause withdrawal symptoms. Although it’s typically not dangerous, it can be very uncomfortable and last for a week or two.

Common signs of antidepressant withdrawal include:

• Flu-like symptoms

• Headache

• Tiredness

• Dizziness

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Upset stomach and nausea

If you want to stop taking Wellbutrin, speak with your prescriber first. They can help you slowly lower (taper) your Wellbutrin dose to lower the risk of withdrawal symptoms. Talk to them about how to stop taking Wellbutrin. It’s better to have a taper schedule than to stop Wellbutrin cold turkey.

6. You should know about possible Wellbutrin side effects

Like most medications, Wellbutrin can cause side effects. Contact your prescriber if you experience side effects that are affecting your quality of life. They may recommend lowering your dose of Wellbutrin or switching to another antidepressant.

Some of the most common Wellbutrin side effects include:

• Tremors

• Anxiety

• Headache

• Nausea

• Trouble sleeping

• Dizziness

• Dry mouth

• Constipation

• Sweating more than usual

• High blood pressure

• Sexual side effects

In rare cases, Wellbutrin can cause more serious side effects. These include:

• Seizures

• Suicidal thoughts or actions

• Extreme changes to energy levels, including periods of very high energy for people with bipolar disorder (mania)

If you experience any of these serious side effects, reach out to a healthcare professional immediately. If the side effects are severe, such as having seizures, seek emergency care or call 911. This also applies if you experience symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, including unusual swelling or difficulty breathing.

7. Understand how long it takes Wellbutrin to work

It takes time to feel the effects of Wellbutrin. And you’ll need to be consistent with your doses to see results. Here’s a timeline of how long it takes Wellbutrin to start working:

• Hours: Depending on your prescribed dosage form, it takes between 2 and 5 hours for the medication from your Wellbutrin tablet to reach peak levels in your bloodstream. You likely won’t feel any different during this time.

• Days: It takes about 8 days for your body to have consistent levels of Wellbutrin available (called steady-state concentration).

• Weeks: Some people may start to feel the positive effects of the medication during the first few weeks of treatment. But not everyone who takes Wellbutrin feels it working this quickly.

• Months: It takes about 1 to 2 months for most people to feel the full effects of Wellbutrin.

All forms of Wellbutrin take the same amount of time to start working. They also take the same amount of time to leave your body (about 5 to 7 days) if you stop taking Wellbutrin. Be sure to discuss the pros and cons of each Wellbutrin product with your prescriber. They can help you decide which form is right for you and what to expect when starting Wellbutrin.

How to save on Wellbutrin

All Wellbutrin products are available as lower-cost generic medications. The SR and XL versions are also available as brand-name medications. GoodRx may be able to help you save on the average retail price of the generic version of Wellbutrin products. With a free GoodRx coupon:

• Generic Wellbutrin IR 100 mg may be as low as $16.20 for 90 tablets.

• Generic Wellbutrin SR 150 mg may be as low as $11.40 for 60 tablets.

• Generic Wellbutrin XL 300 mg may be as low as $10.80 for 30 tablets.

And if you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 per prescription of brand-name Wellbutrin XL using a manufacturer copay card.

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Written by:

Nicole E. Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD, BCPS, NCMP

Nicole E. Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD, BCPS, NCMP, has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist, professor, and researcher. She currently practices as a clinical pharmacist at Buffalo General Medical Center.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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