1st Wellbutrin Update - In a Crisis

April 11, 2026··

Posted in:Introductions and Updates Support Symptoms & Self-Care Wellbutrin (Bupropion)

taper update

Feeling in a crisis. Been having bouts of irritability, anxiety, appetite changes, and depersonalization. Life was completely upended. Anxiety, stress, panic took control. Very little tolerance for uncertainty with living situation. Stating I no longer want to be married. But leaned on people and used safety plan. Called 988 and friends, enjoyed the simple pleasure of being out in the sun, really prioritized myself.

AhhhhImOffTheMeds’s taper progress

Dose (mg)

Mood (/10)

8 Replies

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CatinaStaff4mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @AhhhhImOffTheMeds, and welcome. I'm so sorry you're in a crisis situation right now. I've been in a similar situation before, so I understand how difficult it is. Please know you're not alone. Are you completely off Wellbutrin or are you still tapering? I'm glad you took steps to help yourself by calling a hotline and leaning on friends. Also, getting outside into nature can really help. I'm glad you're prioritizing your needs. We'll be here to help you the best we can. You can check the forum sections for Symptoms & Self-Care along with Support. Please let us know how best we can help you! Hang in there. Catina ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Jo4mo ago

NavigatorSeroquel · active

@AhhhhImoffthemeds, just a quick note of thanks and a warm hello. What you are going through and reporting on will help others quite soon. I say that hoping it helps you right now. A good friend is depending on Wellbutrin and uncomfortable talking about the concerns using it over the long term causes. He left that door open so I will let your testimony inform him, and hope that helps you both. I've been in crisis and understand. You will find your way through. What helped me was learning breath work. Breathing with focused intent gives me a tool calm my vagus nerve, and it actually helps. A bit of practice and it just clicked. Since then I've added in binaural beats (headphones required, low volume), humming, and now I'm starting to meditate. All these things calm my body down. My brain follows. Repetition matters. I just got here, but you'll be hearing more from me. I've learned a few other things that smooth my road, I hope they'll be of value to some others. Hang in there! /jo

Seroquel — 350 mg — 15 years — actively tapering | without clinician

JulesStaff4mo ago

Community Anchor

Hi AhhhhImOffTheMeds, welcome to our community. I'm sorry to hear you're in a crisis. It sounds really intense, I’m really glad you reached out and used your safety plan. Calling 988, leaning on people, getting outside… that’s you taking care of yourself in the middle of the chaos, even if it doesn’t feel like it. The waves of irritability, anxiety, depersonalization can be hard during this process, especially when life stress piles on top. For now, staying close to what’s helping (people, sunlight, simple moments) is a great plan. Keep reaching out. You’re navigating something really tough, and you’re actively keeping yourself steady. ~ Jules

Healthyagain4mo ago

WelcomerProzac · holding

I hope you’re doing okay. I’d really love to hear more of your story since I’m on Wellbutrin too, how long were you on it, what dose, did you taper, when did your symptoms start, and how are you doing now? Also, please let me know if there’s any way we can support you.❤️

Current medications: Fluoxetine 10 mg, Wellbutrin XL 150 mg, Tirosint 88 Mcg, Cytomel 15 mg, Metformin 500 mg Bid

01 Jan 2025 Prozac 40mg; Wellbutrin XL 450mg
01 Feb 2025 Prozac 30mg (-25%); Wellbutrin XL 450mg
01 Mar 2025 Prozac 20mg(-33%); Wellbutrin XL 450mg
01 Apr 2025 Prozac 20mg; Wellbutrin XL 300mg (-33%)
01 May 2025 Prozac 20mg; Wellbutrin XL 150mg (-50%)
15 Jun 2025 Prozac 10mg(-50%); Wellbutrin XL 150mg

01 Aug 2025 Prozac 10mg every other day; Wellbutrin ~75mg (splitting XL 150mg)

22 Aug 2025 Panic attack and intrusive thoughts → took Xanax 0.25mg once; psychiatrist advised reinstating Prozac 10mg daily and Wellbutrin XL 150mg. Within a few days I felt somewhat better.

Between 22 Aug 2025 and 14 Nov 2025: a handful of times (exact dates unclear) during panic episodes, I took an extra Prozac 20mg and Xanax 0.25mg. Last Xanax dose: 1/4 of 0.25mg tablet on 10 Jan 2026.

I was also taking supplements and Ozempic (last dose: 06 Nov 2025), which I believe contributed to my destabilization despite previously tolerating them. I had not yet found the withdrawal communities and continued to experience panic and intrusive thoughts, so my psychiatrist advised dose increases:

01 Oct 2025 Wellbutrin XL 300mg (+100%) (brief increase; caused palpitations → reduced)
21 Oct 2025 Wellbutrin XL 150mg (-50%)resumed and held
01 Nov 2025 Prozac 15mg (+50%) (brief increase; worsened palpitations/SI → reduced)
14 Nov 2025 Prozac 10mg (-33%)resumed and held

Since 21 Oct 2025: holding Wellbutrin XL 150mg
Since 14 Nov 2025: holding Prozac 10mg

After this point, I focused on eliminating other medications and supplements, which is also when I found the withdrawal communities.

Recent drugs and supplements taken in the last 12-24 months are: Fluoxetine 40 mg, Wellbutrin XL 450 mg, Tirosint 112 Mcg, Cytomel 25 mg, Zepbound 2.5 (last and only dose was 10/1/25), Ozempic (last dose was 11/6, stopped bc made intrusive thoughts way worst), xanax 0.25 (only used total of 6 in my life, occasionally when panic was at its worst; last dose 1/4 tablet of 0.25 mg on 1/10/2026), Omega 3, Vitamin D, Magnesium citrate, Vitamin C, naltrexone, pyloguard, probiotic, GI synergy, pancreatic enzymes, iron, L-threanine, testosterone cream, Hunger powder, Calocurb, Ovasitol, magnesium glycinate, progesterone, Paxlovid

A history of drugs taken 24 months ago and beyond: - Fluoxetine 40 mg (2003-2009), Fluoxetine 80 mg (2009-2019), Fluoxetine 40 mg (2019-2025), Wellbutrin XL 450 (2013-2025), Synthroid 88 Mcg (2005-2010), Synthroid 112 (2011-2025), Cytomel 25 (2019-2025)

Roy E4mo ago

LighthousePristiq · active

I would be interested to hear more about your experience too @AhhhhImOffTheMeds I had considered requesting a switch to Wellbutrin in future if we can't get on top of the issues I'm having now with daytime exhaustion and inability to focus. I haven't seen much information on peoples experiences as in Australia it has to be prescribed privately and off label for depression and related symptoms, as it's only approved for nicotine withdrawal, I did go on it many years ago when I was 20 to try and quit smoking for 12 weeks.

Pristiq — 30mg — 17 Years — holding | Seroquel — 400mg — 17 Years — holding | Valium — 2mg once or twice a week — 10 years — supporting others | other — Modafinil 200mg — 3 Months — supporting others | with clinician

Roy E3mo ago

LighthousePristiq · active

Hi @AhhhhImOffTheMeds Just checking in, how are you doing. Please feel free to share more of your situation if you are open to it. Are you doing a taper currently and had problems or did you have the Wellbutrin suddenly stopped or stopped very quickly? We may be able to provide more support if you need, please hang in there.

AhhhhImOffTheMeds3mo ago

NavigatorWellbutrin

@Catina @Jules @Roy E @Healthyagain Hey folks, thank you for the welcoming support. Since then I had a lot of stuff happen in my life. Last summer, in 2025, I went cold turkey after beginning grad school. Then was experiencing the worst symptoms because I had to leave an environment that invigorated me and return back to a place that really made me miserable. I went cold turkey off of Wellbutrin for 6-7 months after trying different antidepressants (I don't remember them all right now) since 2018. In February, after months of not doing well, I gave in and got back on the Wellbutrin. The Wellbutrin has helped here and there but the weeks leading up to a stabilization period SUCKED. Lately, the common symptom has been suicidal ideation. I really really try to do what I can: meditate, walk, exercise, eat as healthy as possible with minimal junk food, lean on friends even if it feels like a chore. I have wanted to completely give up and have also noticed the anxiety not doing well. I have taken gabapentin 100mg like 5 times now since getting a prescription but I really don't want to lean on that as a solve all solution. Here's a tip, don't do edibles or any other drugs while in these things. I tried half of an edible gummy for the first time in my life after taking 1, 150mg of Bupropion and I felt like absolute teenage suicidal angst. Thank goodness I leaned on loved ones and told them how I was feeling but goodness it was not a good feeling.

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CatinaStaff3mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Thanks for the update. You've definitely been through a lot! Wellbutrin (along with most psychiatric drugs) can actually cause suicidal ideation. Have a look at this: https://rxisk.org/drugs-that-can-cause-depression-agitation-suicidality/ Gabapentin also comes with its own set of risks and side effects. I'm glad you also realize that adding in other drugs can be risky while taking psychiatric drugs. It's nice to know you had people to support you; that can make all the difference. I hope you're doing better now, and we look forward to more of your updates! 💜

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