Bupropion is approved for use in helping with smoking cessation. Learn more about how it works here.
History of Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
Bupropion was patented in 1974 by Burroughs Wellcome, which is now part of GlaxoSmithKline. It was approved for medical use by the FDA in 1985.[1] It was first approved as a medication for depression, but it was soon observed that it was also helping people to quit smoking.
There have been a few controversies associated with the medication despite it having legitimate uses. GlaxoSmithKline was fined $3 billion in 2012 for promoting the medication for weight loss and to treat sexual dysfunction, which were unapproved uses.[1] These days, bupropion is used for two main indications: Depression, smoking cessation, and sometimes both at once.
What Is Wellbutrin Approved to Do?
The FDA has approved bupropion for use in treating adult depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and to help people quit smoking.
The mechanism by which it works isn’t fully understood, but it does affect the reuptake of two chemicals in the brain, norepinephrine and dopamine. Very broadly, it could be said to work by increasing certain types of brain activity, but there are unknowns.[2]
When used for its approved purposes and prescribed by a medical professional, the drug is very safe, although it does, like all medications, have some side effects to look out for. [2]
Do Doctors Use Wellbutrin in Off-Label Ways?
Yes, doctors sometimes use bupropion to treat antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, ADHD, depression associated with bipolar disorder, and obesity (usually adjunctively in combination with other medications for weight loss).
What Are the Side Effects of Wellbutrin?
Some side effects associated with bupropion (including Wellbutrin) include the following:
- Anxiousness/tremulousness
- Headaches
- Difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep
- Dizziness
- Dryness of the mouth
- Excessive perspiration
More serious side effects can also sometimes occur. These signal a serious medical issue that warrants calling your doctor as soon as possible or, in some cases, calling 911. The main serious side effects of bupropion is its ability to induce seizures in patients with known seizure disorders. If you are considering wellbutrin but have a history of seizures, you should ask your doctor before taking this medication.
How Is Wellbutrin Used in Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder?
While bupropion itself is not a treatment for opioid use disorder, untreated depression can often exacerbate or fuel an addiction disorder. Buproprion may therefore be used in combination with other antidepressants or addiction treatment medications to help treat both mood as well as addiction disorders.
Is Wellbutrin Addictive?
Bupropion isn’t addictive, and patients with a history of Substance misuse should not be worried about being dependent on this medication. Patients who take bupropion do not develop cravings to use it more frequently, and it is therefore not considered addictive at all.
However, while bupropion isn’t “addictive”, it does build up in the body and can cause some withdrawal symptoms if it is stopped abruptly, such as recurrent depression or anxiety, tremulousness, headaches, etc. While this is not dangerous or life threatening, it can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable. Therefore, if you have been taking bupropion for a long time, you should discontinue it slowly, ideally with the assistance of a medical professional.
Can You Overdose on Bupropion?
It is possible to overdose on bupropion, but accidental overdoses are rare.[4] More common is intentional overdosing, as the drug is used to treat depression but can also increase suicidal ideation in some users.
FAQs About Bupropion (Wellbutrin) in Addiction Recovery
Some frequently asked questions about this medication include the following:
Bupropion is not the same as Xanax. Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, a prescription benzodiazepine. Bupropion, often sold under the brand name Wellbutrin, is a type of antidepressant, a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor. They are not the same class of medication.
Bupropion is approved for use in smoking cessation and can help a person control their cravings to smoke. It can be used in combination with behavioral therapy or other medications such as nicotine replacement therapy or Chantix (venlafaxine) to help patients to quit smoking.
Yes, many people take Wellbutrin regularly and also drink alcohol. As with any medication, it is best to drink in moderation, and to drink carefully at least at first after starting Wellbutrin. But taking wellbutrin is not a contraindication to drinking alcohol or vice versa.
Generally, you shouldn’t stop taking any prescription medication without first talking with your doctor. Stopping bupropion abruptly is not life threatening, but it can cause some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. It is recommended a patient slowly taper off antidepressants slowly to prevent this. [5]
No, bupropion is not a stimulant. It is classified as an antidepressant, specifically a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor.[1]
Medically Reviewed By Elena Hill, MD, MPH
Elena Hill, MD; MPH received her MD and Masters of Public Health degrees at Tufts Medical School and completed her family medicine residency at Boston Medical Center. She is currently an attending physician at Bronxcare Health Systems in the Bronx, NY where ... Read More
- Huecker MR. Bupropion. National Library of Medicine. Published January 2023. Accessed August 14, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470212/
- Bupropion. National Library of Medicine. Published February 15, 2018. Accessed August 14, 2023. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a695033.html
- Xu KY, Mintz CM, Presnall N, Bierut LJ, Grucza RA. Association of bupropion, naltrexone, and opioid agonist treatment with stimulant-related admissions among people with opioid use disorder: A case-crossover analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2022 Jun 20;83(4):21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35759785/
- Stall N, Godwin J, Juurlink D. Bupropion abuse and overdose. CMAJ. 2014;186(13):1015. doi:10.1503/cmaj.131534
- Berigan TR, Harazin JS. Bupropion-associated withdrawal symptoms: A case report. The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1999: 1(2): 50-51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181057/
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