If you have been prescribed Wellbutrin, it’s helpful to know how long it stays in your system for a number of reasons.
For one, if you are considering going off it for any reason—and you should always consult a doctor first before doing so—you need to know how long it stays in your system to accurately identify if you are experiencing adverse effects due to discontinuation.
Another reason you may be curious about how long Wellbutrin stays in your system is if you have an upcoming drug test.
Although Wellbutrin isn’t commonly abused, it’s still possible to misuse this drug, and its main active ingredient is also a common cause of false-positives for amphetamine drugs.
Here, we break down how Wellbutrin works, how long it stays in your system, and more.
It’s also important to know that it comes in two different formats, and each type stays in the body for a different amount of time, which we will also cover.
Wellbutrin, also known as bupropion, is a commonly prescribed antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder It’s also sometimes prescribed off-label for conditions like ADHD, weight loss, and smoking cessation
While Wellbutrin can be an effective medication when taken as prescribed, some people consider stopping their medication abruptly, or “cold turkey” However, research shows this is not recommended
Dangers of Stopping Wellbutrin Cold Turkey
Quitting Wellbutrin cold turkey comes with considerable risks that should be taken very seriously, including:
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Withdrawal symptoms – Stopping Wellbutrin suddenly can cause difficult withdrawal symptoms like depression, anxiety, irritability, headache, insomnia, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. These may be mild for some people but can be severe for others.
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Seizures – Wellbutrin lowers the seizure threshold, so seizures are a major risk during abrupt discontinuation. Seizures can result in injuries, hospitalization, and can potentially be life-threatening.
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Suicidal thoughts – Antidepressant withdrawal is linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Sudden discontinuation of Wellbutrin may increase suicidality.
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Psychiatric effects – Wellbutrin withdrawal may trigger mania, hallucinations, confusion, paranoia or other psychiatric disturbances. These could necessitate psychiatric hospitalization.
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Other health impacts – Quitting antidepressants cold turkey can cause issues like flu-like symptoms, balance problems, and tremors or spasms. In rare cases it can trigger stroke or heart attack.
Due to the unpredictability of cold turkey withdrawal effects, unsupervised discontinuation of Wellbutrin is not recommended. The risks are considered too high.
Signs of Withdrawal After Stopping Wellbutrin
Withdrawal symptoms may begin within just 1-3 days after the last dose of Wellbutrin. However, some symptoms can arise later on or linger for weeks or months.
Common Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Depression, suicidal thoughts
- Anxiety, panic attacks
- Mood swings, irritability, agitation
- Fatigue, low energy
- Insomnia, nightmares
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Dizziness, headaches
- Tremors, muscle spasms, tics
- Brain zaps, tingling, numbness
- Hallucinations, confusion, delusions
Seizures tend to occur within the first few days after stopping Wellbutrin. Suicidal thoughts and behavior can emerge within weeks or months of quitting.
If you have stopped Wellbutrin suddenly and experience any unusual or severe symptoms, seek medical assistance right away. You may need to restart the medication or receive other medical care to stabilize your condition.
How to Safely Stop Taking Wellbutrin
Quitting Wellbutrin cold turkey is not advised – a gradual taper is much safer. Slowly reducing your dosage over weeks or months under medical supervision can minimize withdrawal severity.
Some tips for safely discontinuing Wellbutrin:
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Consult your doctor – Never change medication dosage without first discussing with your prescriber. Get their guidance on tapering speed and schedule.
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Taper gradually – Decreasing dosage by 150 mg every 1-2 weeks is generally recommended to avoid harsh effects. Some people may need a slower taper.
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Track symptoms – Keep note of any withdrawal effects so your doctor can adjust the taper if needed. Worsening depression or suicidal thoughts are of particular concern.
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Consider switching meds first – Transitioning to fluoxetine (Prozac) initially can facilitate stopping Wellbutrin more smoothly.
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Ask about adjunct meds – Short-term medications like benzodiazepines may ease discontinuation symptoms like anxiety or insomnia.
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Enlist support – Having trusted friends/family aware of the process can provide comfort and monitoring for safety. Consider counseling as well.
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Practice self-care – Gentle exercise, relaxation techniques, healthy eating and rest can help you through. Avoid alcohol during the transition.
With careful medical oversight, patience and self-care, tapering off of Wellbutrin is very possible to achieve safely. Quitting cold turkey is strongly advised against, but a gradual discontinuation minimizes risks. Discuss your options with your prescriber to map out the best plan for you.
How Long Does Wellbutrin Appear on A Drug Test?
If your main concern is about Wellbutrin showing up on a drug test, stop for a moment and think about why you’re concerned.
Wellbutrin can occasionally show up as a false positive for methamphetamine salts, but this is a common enough occurrence that showing your prescription will usually clear up any misunderstanding.
If you absolutely cannot fail a drug test, and are concerned enough about the idea to risk missing a few doses of your medication (which is not recommended by medical professionals), you need to understand how long the drug stays in different parts of the body.
Overall, it takes around four days for all bupropion to exit the body.
However, most of it clears specific parts of the body much faster.
For example, more than 60% is excreted in urine in the first 24 hours.
So, if you show up for a drug test before taking the next dose of XL (or skip only one dose of SR), it would be unlikely to cause a result.
Wellbutrin can stay in the blood longer than four days, but blood tests don’t typically look for the compound it would show up as.
In hair, it can stay up to 90 days.
But again, it’s not commonly something that’s being looked for.
The main concern is usually the possibility of it showing up in a urine test.
In fact, more than 40% of false positive methamphetamine test results in one study were directly linked to people using bupropion therapeutically.
If you’re being tested for methamphetamine use with a urine sample, take your proof of prescription with you and let the testing facility and your employer know up front that you are on a medication known to cause a false positive.
Keep in communication with your healthcare provider
Following your doctor’s advice for tapering down your medication and communicating any new symptoms or concerns can help you stay the course and successfully discontinue the drug.
Your doctor is there to help you be safe and succeed.
If you are having serious side effects, they can recommend treatments or medication to help dampen the withdrawal symptoms until your body stabilizes.
If you’re having a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also get free 24/7 support from a suicide and crisis expert by calling or texting 988. If you’d prefer to chat online, you can chat with a suicide and crisis expert by visiting the Lifeline Chat.
Symptoms of Wellbutrin Withdrawals
FAQ
What happens if you stop Wellbutrin suddenly?
Common Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms include:
Loss of appetite and weight loss. Trouble sleeping. Tremors. Restless legs.
Do I need to taper off 150 mg Wellbutrin?
If you take Wellbutrin XL 150mg, your doctor will create a specific tapering plan. Here’s an example of what a prescribed tapering schedule for Wellbutrin XL 150mg might look like: Week 1: Reduce the dose to 150mg on alternate days. This starts the process of gradually weaning your body off the medication.
What is the best way to stop taking bupropion?
- Week 1-2: Reduce to 100 mg daily.
- Week 3-4: Reduce to 75 mg daily.
- Week 5-6: Reduce to 50 mg daily.
- Week 7-8: Discontinue.
Does Wellbutrin need to be weaned off?
A gradual tapering process, as recommended by a healthcare provider, can help minimize the risk of worsening depression during Wellbutrin discontinuation.Jan 8, 2024