About Wellbutrin
- Wellbutrin is the brand name of a generic medicine called bupropion.
- It is FDA-approved for the treatment of depression specifically MDD-Major Depression Disorder.
- It is also approved for SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder and smoking cessation.
- It is used off-label* for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
- This cannot be the first choice of healthcare provider for anxiety treatment.
- It is typically an antidepressant medicine.
- It is sold in two forms: Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL.
- In a few cases, Wellbutrin was found to cause anxiety as a side effect.
- Other common side effects are drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.
- Serious side effects include hallucinations, seizures, and suicidal thoughts.
- Kindly inform your healthcare expert immediately in case of any serious side effects.
Off-label means it is not approved to treat such medical disorders. But, due to some of its properties, it can used to treat other disorders also.
Wellbutrin and Anxiety
Anxiety is a mental disorder caused by the imbalance of some neurotransmitters in the brain. This imbalance activates some psychological and physical symptoms in the body that make a person uncomfortable and uneasy. He may find difficulty in his daily activities.
Wellbutrin an antidepressant medication has properties that may be beneficial in treating and reducing anxiety disorder.
Moreover, Wellbutrin is an approved medicine for treating depression (MDD), ASD, and smoking cessation.
Its off-label usages are:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obesity
- Anxiety Disorder
A healthcare specialist may not prefer this medication for the treatment of anxiety. It can be the second or third choice of the specialist to treat anxiety.
Only a few of its properties are suitable for anxiety kind of disorders.
Few studies support the benefits of Wellbutrin in anxiety. It was found to reduce the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
However, it comes with a warming sign of causing anxiety as a side effect in some individuals.
How Wellbutrin Helps in Anxiety
Wellbutrin has the main property of increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
Dopamine and norepinephrine are the neurotransmitters responsible for uplifting the mood and reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.
It blocks the reabsorption of these neurotransmitters to increase their levels in the brain and maintain their increased levels.
- Dopamine is responsible for increasing mood and excitement in an individual.
- Norepinephrine is associated with an increase in happiness and energy levels.
This property of Wellbutrin to regulate certain neurotransmitters and uplift the mood makes this useful for the treatment of anxiety.
Anxiety is also associated with low moods and low energy. So, Wellbutrin seems to reduce anxiety effects associated with mood and energy levels.
How Fast does Wellbutrin work for anxiety?
- It takes around 45-60 minutes to be fully active.
- It takes around 2-4 weeks to give stable results with full effectiveness.
Side Effects of Wellbutrin
Wellbutrin also has some side effects like every medicine:
- Sweating
- Mouth dryness
- Constipation
- Irregular sleeping pattern
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Irregular bowel movement
- Loss of appetite
- Trembling
- Tastelessness
- Rapid Heartbeat
Some serious side effects:
- Anxiety
- Hypertension
- Allergic reactions
- Suicidal thoughts
Some Better Alternatives to Wellbutrin
Alternative Medication
There are some very specific medications available for the treatment of anxiety and they are more accurate and approved medicine for anxiety.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Following are FDA-approved SSRI medicines for the treatment of anxiety:
- Celexa
- Lexapro
- Prozac & Sarafem
- Luvox
- Paxil
- Zoloft
- Viibryd
SSRI works by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, memory, and sexual urges.
It blocks the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain and increases its level.
SSRIs are preferred over other medications as they have fewer side effects than others.
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
The following are FDA-approved SNRI medicines for anxiety:
- Duloxetine
- Venlafaxine
- Fetzima
- Effexor XR
SNRI works by increasing the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
Both are neurotransmitters responsible for enhancing mood and happiness.
It also works by inhibiting the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine so managing their healthy levels.
They also have fewer side effects than other medications.
- Buspirone
Buspirone is also an FDA-approved medicine for treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Generally, it has mild side effects that are tolerable, so it is also well suitable medicine for GAD.
- Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are FDA-approved medicines for GAD – anxiety disorder and panic attacks.
This medicine has sedative properties that slow down the active mind and body. It also helps in treating insomnia in individuals.
Conclusion
Wellbutrin is an FDA-approved anti-depressant medicine for the treatment of MDD (Major Depression Disorder) and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It is the NDRIs (Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors) class of medicine used for depression.
Its properties make this medicine suitable for anxiety. One of its side effects includes anxiety making this medicine a second choice for treating anxiety disorders. There are a lot of other better options available like SSRIs and SNRIs medicines for the treatment of anxiety disorders.