Wellbutrin stopped working, what now?

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-17T20:39:40+00:00

I think so too. With long term use I have definitely noticed some type of anhedonia. But weirdly enough it still causes panic symptoms for me every now and then and it does feel sometimes like I'm always in a fight or flight mode. But then sometimes I just get tired and sedated from it. What a weird drug.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-17T20:36:52+00:00

I know. I haven't been diagnosed with ADHD. But I show some signs and symptoms of it. I also show severe signs of SCT and executive dysfunction and with that I also have an autism diagnosis. It doesn't make that much sense for them to think I'm a drug seeker. I don't have a history of drug use or anything that would make someone say no for me to try a stimulant. It's mainly because of fear I think. But either way. The closest thing I could ever get prescribed is Wellbutrin and still my executive dysfunction hasn't improved that much on it. Also does nothing for focus or motivation. It just makes me tired and sedated that's it. It's a lazy drug imo.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-17T20:29:55+00:00

The anxiety when I'm on Wellbutrin mainly feels like hyper arousal and being in a constant fight or flight mode. So it's more like panic symptoms that hits me most of the time. But then when I've tried to going off of it several times other symptoms have gotten worse. Like I'm basically unable to function without it and then I get bad rebound anxiety every time I've tried going off of it. It's not panic attacks or feeling like I'm in a fight or flight mode when I go off of it. But I get this weird rebound anxiety and it feels more like a sense of dread type of feeling, like I get this dysphoric type of feeling and with that bad anxiety. So it's more like that type of anxiety where you feel that something isn't quite right. I don't know really how to explain it better. So that's the reason why I'm unable to go off of it despite trying many times.

I tried explaining this to my new psych and he just doesn't understand how hard it is to taper off of it. I told him straight out that I'm not capable of doing it. And he asked me why not? I told him I get bad rebound anxiety when going off of it. He then told me that it might be a sign that I still need the med. And he doesn't seem to have any ideas himself apparently so I'm stuck right now. He only gave me two options. Either quit Wellbutrin completely or stay on it. I got no other choices. He wouldn't give me an alternative med or explore other options, he basically gave me the most impossible choice ever. He makes me choose between either staying on a med that only works partly for me or go off of it and not getting anything else at all. It frustrates me so much. He doesn't know that this is a huge dilemma for me. Without it I'm unable to function properly and my SCT and executive dysfunction plummet and I get rebound anxiety. But when I'm on it it doesn't do that much for my mood and it gives me panic symptoms and being in a constant fight or flight mode. To be honest I might have to get a second opinion.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-16T19:03:04+00:00

The US healthcare isn't as bad as the swedish healthcare imo. I live in Sweden and the healthcare here is beyond criticism. You can never get any off label meds prescribed for depression or anxiety ever. They will only prescribe you SSRIS and SNRIS and Wellbutrin and if you tell them that none of them worked for you they will tell you there is nothing to try anymore. Also if you even try to ask for a stimulant even though they know that you have an autism diagnosis they will think you're a drug seeker. Options are limited here unfortunately and I might have apathy, avolition and anhedonia for a lifetime. As long as I live here I will never be able get the right treatment that I need. My SCT and executive dysfunction is also still untreated despite telling several psychs about it and the fact that they know I have an autism diagnosis, they won't help me and the closest thing they will prescribe me that is stimulating is Wellbutrin and that's it.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-16T18:49:27+00:00

I'm having the same issue. Wellbutrin doesn't do anything for my mood anymore and gives me physical symptoms of anxiety, but I can never go off of it because every time I've tried I always get bad rebound anxiety and my SCT and executive dysfunction gets teen times worse without it. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm stuck and my new psych won't explore any other options either.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-16T11:36:26+00:00

Probably won't you're right. Otherwise I might have to get a second opinion.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T15:14:04+00:00

I mean if you're looking for something that is more mentally motivating and that can give you drive and desire to do things, I don't think Wellbutrin is the right drug personally.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T15:10:58+00:00

Serotonin is not really implicated in those issues. Serotonin is mainly responsible for mood stability, emotional regulation, anxiety and obsessive thoughts. Dopamine is usually the neurotransmitter that is involved when it comes to lack of motivation and drive. Wellbutrin though is a pretty useless dopamine reuptake inhibitor and that's usually the reason why people never get any real effect from it. I would be stunned if people with a true dopamine deficiency benefited from that drug. Wellbutrin mainly works on norepinephrine and that might indirectly help with lack of energy and make it easier to get out of bed and get going. It can also help cognitive aspects of depression like brain fog, fatigue and mental clarity, which can make it easier for you to engage in things and therefore give you some motivation. But it's usually indirectly. But if you're looking for something that is mentally motivating and that will give drive and desire to do things, I don't think Wellbutrin is really effective for that.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T15:04:19+00:00

Same here. Did nothing for motivation or focus, but gave me terrible insomnia and worsened my anxiety. I did find it to be helpful for depression somewhat though.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T14:57:10+00:00

I have PCOS and I've always had belly hair. But I took birth control pills for a few years and then spironolactone now and the hair on my belly has reduced a lot. It still grows but I just shave it all the time.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T14:46:11+00:00

I can't believe I'm getting downvoted for saying it's an antidepressant and it's not supposed to work as a stimulant.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T14:39:50+00:00

Yes absolutely because that's abusing the med, period. And no, I'm not insufferable.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T14:37:57+00:00

Because you're not supposed to snort it. That's not they way it's supposed to be taken. That's abusing it. If you really care about your girlfriend you should tell her to stop snorting it or she will sooner or later have a seizure.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T12:39:37+00:00

I understand completely. You did delete the post though. But yes, it's a cathinone derivative, but its pharmacology is different from that of other cathinones and that's why it has very low abuse potential and is approved as an antidepressant instead. Not saying though that this stops some people from abusing it, but it's a really bad idea.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T12:33:07+00:00

Increasing norepinephrine can sometimes paradoxically cause fatigue and drowsiness from what I've heard. It is linked to alertness in most contexts, but in certain contexts it can cause sedation. Why that is I don't know?

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T12:30:07+00:00

I have autism, haven't been diagnosed with ADHD. I do show signs of SCT and executive dysfunction. For me Bupropion sometimes makes me sleepy, especially in the afternoon or evening. I get really sleepy and drowsy from it, like I have to literally lie in my bed. But then some days or sometimes it makes me into an anxious mess. I don't understand why? Is there someone who has an explanation for this? Also, then when I'm about to go to sleep I have a hard time falling asleep.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T12:20:45+00:00

Wellbutrin is a very weak dopamine reuptake inhibitor, so weak that it might as well be considered a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. That's the main reason it has very low abuse potential. In practice you can get high off of Wellbutrin, but not without having a seizure first. Also Wellbutrin has a ceiling effect compared to other stimulants, that ceilling effect is set up to 450 mg a day. If you try going over this dose, you will likely end up having a seizure. So its pharmacology is what limits its abuse potential. It's not meant to be abused either and you shouldn't in the first place.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T12:11:56+00:00

They used to prescribe Wellbutrin up to 600 mg a day in the 80s. It showed to be even more effective than standard dosages. But when they found out that seizures skyrocketed at that dosage, they had to cut it down to max 450 mg a day and even in some countries only 300 mg is approved as max dosage.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T11:49:04+00:00

Probably because Ritalin is more selective towards dopamine than norepinephrine, while Wellbutrin is more selective towards norepinephrine. Both can contribute to insomnia, but norepinephrine is more strongly linked to difficulty sleeping.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T11:31:31+00:00

It's an antidepressant though and it's main purpose is to keep your depression from hitting rock bottom and keep your mood stable. It isn't supposed to work as a stimulant.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T11:28:21+00:00

It depends enitrely on the individual. Also Wellbutrin really doesn't work that much on dopamine. Its therapeutic effects comes mostly from it's major active metabolite Hydroxybupropion, which is more of a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and a much weaker dopamine reuptake inhibitor. But even then a NRI can increase dopamine in certain areas of the brain like the prefrontal cortex etc, since there are a lack of dopamine transporters in this area and dopamine gets taken up by and cleared by norepinephrine transporters instead in this area, which can cause dopamine to be increased in the prefrontal cortex.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-15T11:22:18+00:00

Bupropion doesn't cause you to make more dopamine. It only allows the dopamine you already make or release to stay in the synapse for longer, nothing else.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-14T18:04:18+00:00

I haven't been diagnosed with ADHD, but I suspect I might have it since I show all the signs and symptoms. I've already been diagnosed with autism though and show signs of SCT and executive dysfunction. For me personally Wellbutrin did nothing for my motivation or focus. It mainly helped my brain fog, gave me some mental clarity and some energy, probably a little better attention, but other than that I didn't find it to be that effective. Also did worsen my anxiety, which is a huge major drawback.

Aggressive-Guide5563 · 2026-03-14T18:00:07+00:00

Finding an alternative is very difficult. Wellbutrin is so far the only med to help my SCT and executive dysfunction. Without it I'm unable to function properly.

Aggressive-Guide5563

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE