8 Signs Your Wellbutrin Is Working

Clinically reviewed by Rachel Wise, ARNP

Wellbutrin can be a highly effective antidepressant. In most cases, it is used to treat major depressive disorder (MAD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, it is sometimes used for the cessation of smoking, and can be effective treatment for other mental health conditions. Just like any medication, Wellbutrin doesn’t work for everyone. What are the signs that it is working for you?

Contact us today to learn more about effective medication management for depressive disorders and other mental health concerns. 

What Is Wellbutrin?

Before we focus on the signs Wellbutrin is working, let’s take a brief step back and review some basic information about this drug.

Wellbutrin is the brand name of a prescription medication that contains bupropion. It is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), which means that it increases the amount of two chemicals in a person’s central nervous system:

• Norepinephrine’s responsibilities include influencing arousal, alertness, and attention.
• Dopamine is involved in functions such as reward, learning, pleasure, motivation, and satisfaction.

Bupropion was first synthesized in 1969 and Wellbutrin earned initial approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986.

Today, Wellbutrin is approved to treat:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Nicotine cravings and withdrawal

Physicians also use Wellbutrin for several off-label purposes, including:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Depression due to bipolar disorder
• Obesity
• Sexual dysfunction caused by other antidepressants

Wellbutrin Side Effects

Like every other prescription medication, Wellbutrin can cause a variety of adverse effects.

The drug’s more common side effects include:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Increased perspiration
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Elevated heart rate
• Appetite loss
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Insomnia 

Less common but more severe side effects include:

• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Dangerously fast heartbeat
• Seizure 
• Suicidal ideation

The seizure risk was so significant that Wellbutrin was removed from the U.S. market in 1986, one year after it was introduced. After determining that the elevated seizure rate was related to high dosage levels, the drug’s manufacturer re-introduced Wellbutrin in 1989 with modified dosage recommendations.

8 Signs Your Wellbutrin Is Working

Now that we’ve discussed Wellbutrin’s potential for causing unpleasant reactions, let’s turn our attention to positive outcomes. Below are eight signs that your Wellbutrin is working.

1. Elevated Mood

Since Wellbutrin is commonly incorporated into depression treatment, improvements in mood can be a crucial sign that the medication is working. 

Wellbutrin’s ability to improve a person’s mood is clearly key to its value as an antidepressant. But some people are hesitant to take it out of fear that they won’t be able to experience the full range of emotions if they’re medicated. 

Here’s the truth: Wellbutrin can ease the crushing psychological weight of depression, but it doesn’t artificially induce a sense of perma-happiness. When Wellbutrin is working as intended to improve mood, it doesn’t prevent you from feeling sad, frustrated, or afraid. It simply prevents these feelings from being your baseline or “normal” state of mind.  

2. Energy Boost

Along with low mood, lack of energy is another common characteristic of depression. Though experts are not sure exactly how Wellbutrin causes the effects that it does, elevated levels of norepinephrine may be at least partially responsible for this medication’s energy-boosting effects.

Wellbutrin’s effects on energy can also contribute to improved mood and vice-versa. Physical activity can trigger the release of dopamine, endorphins, and other “feel-good” brain chemicals. The resultant improvement in mood can increase a person’s motivation and energy levels, continuing a cycle of beneficial interconnected changes.

3. Increased Activity

This sign that Wellbutrin is working isn’t the same as the one above, but it is related. While the previous sign focused on physical energy, this one involves increased motivation and greater participation in personal, professional, and social activities.

Untreated depression can rob you of the ability to find joy in activities that were once significant to you. Combined with low mood and energy, this can lead to a growing sense of isolation. But when Wellbutrin is working as it should, you should begin to once again enjoy hobbies, sports, spending time with friends, and other activities that are part of a full and satisfying life. 

4. Appetite Changes

For some people, depression is accompanied by appetite loss. For others, feelings of persistent sadness are linked with eating binges and other signs of an overactive appetite. Wellbutrin can help to bring people back from both extremes.

As we’ve already mentioned multiple times in today’s post, this development is related to other signs that Wellbutrin is working. When you have a more optimistic outlook on life, feel energetic, and stay active, you will be less likely to either overeat in an attempt to self-soothe or deny your body essential nutrients.

5. Improved Sleep Quality

Eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, and getting an appropriate amount of sleep are the pillars of a healthy lifestyle. We’ve already discussed how Wellbutrin can help with two of these pillars. Now we’ll address the third.

Similar to how it can alter a person’s appetite, depression can also push people into extreme sleep patterns. This can include both insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep) and hypersomnia (sleeping excessively). 

One of the signs that Wellbutrin is working is that you’ll be able to get a full night’s sleep and awaken feeling refreshed. 

6. Better Focus

For people with depression, difficulty focusing, concentrating, and paying attention can contribute to problems at work and in school. As indicated by its off-label use with people who have ADHD, Wellbutrin can have a positive impact in this area. 

If you find that you’re less prone to distractions after taking Wellbutrin, that can be another sign that the medication is working.

7. Greater Self-Confidence

Will taking Wellbutrin cause you to experience a sudden increase in confidence? No, it won’t. 

But when the drug is working as hoped, you’ll no longer feel like you’re at the mercy of your physical and psychological symptoms. Regaining control of your thoughts and behaviors can, in turn, have a positive impact on your confidence and self-esteem.

8. Fewer Suicidal Thoughts

Recurrent thoughts of death and dying are an unfortunately common symptom of depression. For many people, these thoughts are accompanied by suicidal ideation and urges to self-harm. A reduction in the frequency and intensity of these thoughts can be a sign that Wellbutrin is working.

Important note: As mentioned earlier, one of the more concerning side effects of Wellbutrin is an increase in suicidal thoughts. If you have been thinking about ending your own life, please know that you are not alone, and help is available.

In the United States, you can access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline either online or by calling or texting 988. This free service, which is available 24/7, is staffed by trained professionals who can talk to you about what you’re experiencing, offer meaningful guidance, and connect you with appropriate resources in your area.

Find Depression Treatment in Tennessee

Time Wellness Tennessee offers a full continuum of personalized care for adults who have been living with depression, other mental health concerns, and co-occurring addictions.

Treatment options at our center in Chattanooga, TN, include a residential/inpatient program, partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and outpatient program (OP).

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.