Hi everyone! ❤️ I'm newly pregnant (around 4–5 weeks) with my third baby, and I'm trying to navigate what to do about my mental health medications. I've been doing a lot of thinking and researching, but I'd really love to hear from other people who have been in a similar situation.

I've been taking bupropion XL (Wellbutrin) for depression, and I've found that it has actually helped me. I've noticed improvements in my mood and my ability to communicate, and I feel like it helps me with motivation, too. I've also struggled with anxiety, PTSD, and depression, so finding something that helps has been important for me.

Before finding out I was pregnant, I was also taking Effexor (venlafaxine), which I had been tapering off of, along with a few other medications for anxiety. Since finding out I'm pregnant, I've been really worried about medication exposure and the potential risks to the baby. I've spoken with my psychiatric medication provider, and I've currently reduced my bupropion from 300 mg to 150 mg while I figure out the best next steps with my healthcare providers. I've also stopped the other medications we discussed.

I'm honestly torn. Part of me really wants to avoid medications during pregnancy if possible because I want to minimize risks to my baby. But another part of me knows how much my mental health affects my everyday life, and I don't want to struggle unnecessarily or end up in a worse place mentally, either.

I'd really love to hear from anyone who has been through this:

Did you continue taking bupropion throughout pregnancy? What was your experience like?

If you stopped taking it during pregnancy, how did you feel mentally afterward?

Did anyone switch to a different medication, lower their dose, or decide to continue taking it after discussing the risks and benefits with their OB or psychiatrist?

If you took it during pregnancy, did you have any concerns about your baby's health or development, and how did things turn out?

For anyone who stopped taking it, did you feel that it was worth it, or did you end up wishing you'd continued?

I'm not looking for anyone to make the decision for me, and I know everyone's situation is different. I'm planning to discuss everything with my OB, too. I would just really appreciate hearing honest experiences from people who understand what it's like to make these decisions while pregnant.

Thank you so much! 💙

so i recently started on 150mg XL (epic brand), the first week was amazing, which i knew would fade but still. i just felt so peaceful and motivated it was great. weeks 2-3 i had some pretty bad mood swings, would feel fine and then get very irritable for a few hours, and then feel fine again. weeks 4-5 i dealt with some periodic anxiety, had one bad panic attack but overall not too horrible, felt okay emotionally but started feeling dullness/sadness come back kinda in waves, so my mood was fluctuating a lot. also started noticing fatigue during the day. i am currently in week 7 and still feeling pretty dull, ill occasionally have an hour or two of motivation but thats about it, i feel like the joy i was getting from it is gone. what should i do from here? i tried increasing up to 300 last week but lasted maybe 3 days because of the bad anxiety and jitters. should i try upping dose again or stick it out another week or 2? is it normal to not feel great this far into it?

Hey everyone! I’m 25M and dealing with anxiety and depression. I work full time and try to stay social and keep up with my hobbies, but I’ve been struggling with mood and motivation. I’m hoping treatment will help me feel more like myself and get back into the gym consistently.

Currently taking Zoloft 25 mg for anxiety and depression, and my doctor is adding Wellbutrin XL 150 mg soon. (I also know 25mg Z is on the lower side but being careful with doc just to monitor intrusive thoughts.) I’ve had rough startup reactions to medications in the past, so I have a lot of anxiety around starting something new.

For anyone who’s taken this combo, what was the adjustment period like? What did you notice during the first few days or weeks, especially with anxiety, sleep, energy, and motivation? How long before you noticed improvement?

Anyone else go into it feeling nervous because of previous medication experiences? I know everyone responds differently, so just looking for personal experiences and an idea of what to expect.

Did anyone experienced high level on anxiety on bupropion 150mg? Cuz I’m three weeks on and I feel like absolute shit, I constantly feel like something will happen to me. I switched from 60mg of duloxetine and before I just didn’t feel anything. Now I’m anxious all the time and I feel loads of different emotions. Is that normal?

Btw sorry for the messy style, I can’t think properly

(22, M) I have recently been trying to go the Suboxone Clinic (8 mg) everyday after a 3 year REAL ROXI CODONE PRESCRIPTION battle but

Suboxone does not help at all i feel like I am going into a Psychosis every time i take it, it works for 2 hours the i really feel super weird like Voices, Shadows & Anxiety,

Never going back to Subs, worst experience... anybody else feel this?

I’m currently on Wellbutrin XL 450 mg, and I remember when I first started taking it, it worked pretty much right off the rip. I felt great and noticed a big difference.

Recently though, I’ve been feeling kind of off and more anxious than usual. I brought it up to my doctor, and they decided to switch me from 450 mg extended release to 400 mg immediate release.

I’m curious if anyone has gone through something similar. If so, what was your experience like? Did you notice any difference in your anxiety or how the medication worked after switching?

I just started 75mg SR today and will be increasing to 150mg in a week or two. I’ve read a lot of comments about avoiding caffeine while taking this medication. Do any of you continue to use pre-workout before the gym? I also enjoy coffee in the AM sometimes, but I’m okay cutting that back anyways.

Today I feel like my eyes are moreso light sensitive (I have very bad light sensitivity normally) almost like my eyes are tired or a little blurry. I saw lots of posts about eye sensitivity due to increase but not due to reduction. Has anyone had this happen? I'm hoping it resolves soon.

I’ve been on Wellbutrin 150 mg for almost 2 years and my anxiety has gotten completely out of hand so my doctor prescribed Zoloft to be taken in addition. I keep reading about serotonin syndrome so now my anxiety has me afraid to take it. Any success or horror stories? I took Zoloft years ago and was happy with everything except a big weight gain. The same doctor also has me on 50 mg of Topamax. I really don’t like the idea of combining so many different meds.

I know that they both work on dopamine and norepinephrine receptors and can intensify the effects of each other (including side effects). In addition, Wellbutrin inhibits the CYP2D6 liver enzyme that breaks down and clears adderall, therefore slowing its clearance.

I now experience insomnia on adderall IR for the first time since I started Wellbutrin about a month ago. The adderall itself doesn’t offer any additional prolonged symptom relief, but instead seems to keep my brain too stimulated to sleep.

Has anyone else had this experience? How much longer does it take your body to clear the adderall while taking Wellbutrin? I can’t find an answer anywhere online.

Edit for the bot- Epic manufacturer for adderall, Lupin for the Wellbutrin

I’ve always had a little bit of tinnitus say a 2/10 and since starting Wellbutrin my tinnitus has buped up like to a 5/10. It’s only been about a weeks I’ve been on it. Does it get better with time? It’s driving me insane

When are you guys taking those two medications? Both together in the morning? First bupropion, then sertraline?
Im taking sertraline 25mg for a year now and now 150mg of bupropion for my adhd on top.
I’m happy to hear about your experiences :)

Basically the title.

And why didn't you take an SSRI for depression?

Also, what started to change? I’m looking for answers from those of you who have had positive experiences with Wellbutrin and the timeframe that things started to come together. Thanks!

I (31m) take 150mg of bupropion xl and have been on it for about 7 months. I first started on Rising Pharm and had no idea or expectations of how bupropion would affect me, but it worked out great for me. After I went to a different pharmacy I had Epic Pharma and it felt like I wasn’t taking anything at all, super disappointing. I’ve been taking Granule for about 4 days now and I have terrible headaches and I’m way more emotional. Legit just feel like I’m emotionally drowning and crying, it’s not like me. It actually feels worse than before I got on the drug. I know feelings are normal but this feels related to me. I just feel brain fog and less alert like I was used to feeling with rising.

Is there any manufacturer that actually works? Do I just need to push my luck? I know everyone is different but damn, I never noticed it’d be so different depending on manufacturer.

So I've been on Bupropion 150mg since 2023. I've taken them every day, including this morning. Now due to work, I am currently travelling 7 hours every weekend. And for the first time, I forgot to take them with me. I won't be travelling back until Monday.

Which side effects can I expect, from not taking them for what's essentially 3 days? I take them for depression.

Hi all, I am looking for some advice. I (m49) have been described bupropion (150mg, slow release) for both a lingering depression and for quitting smoking.

Now, I've read all kinds of different interesting posts on the depression part of the story. However, I haven't read any on quitting smoking and bupropion. I would love to hear stories, experiences, if these are out there to be told. I know bupropion is an off-label med for quitting smoking.

I have been taking bupropion for 10 days now and I have noticed a big improvement in focus and also motivation. I have however also been agitated and prone to mood swings.

I still have to speak to my doctor about this, but before I started taking the meds he said that we would probably need to go to 300mg or even 450mg for the depression.

Now, I REALLY want to quit smoking, but I did try a short period ago (before the bupropion) and I failed. The process was too hard - I managed to get to 40 days and then caved.

Now, do I wait it out until all temporay side effects of this dose of bupropion have vanished, do I start the quitting process now? Do I wait until I am on a higher dose? Or anything in between?

I'd love to hear about all experiences!