Wellbutrin prescription online

Wellbutrin’s active ingredient, bupropion, is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). Norepinephrine is a brain chemical thought to play a role in your stress response. It helps regulate sleep, alertness, and blood pressure. Dopamine, another brain chemical, plays a role in movement and affects your motivation, perception of reality, and ability to experience pleasure. Wellbutrin makes these chemicals more available in your brain, which helps relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD over time. 

A review of Wellbutrin’s clinical data shows that it was effective at reducing depression symptoms in 24 out of 27 trials. And it’s just as effective as other available antidepressants FDA-approved to treat MDD, like Effexor (venlafaxine) or Zoloft (sertraline).

Wellbutrin is a pill you take by mouth. You can take it with or without food and should swallow it whole. It’s available in 2 forms — extended-release (Wellbutrin XL) and sustained-release (Wellbutrin SR). 

— Wellbutrin XL is available in 2 strengths — 150 and 300 milligrams. The recommended starting dose is 150 milligrams each morning. After 4 days, your provider may increase your dose to 300 milligrams.

— Wellbutrin SR is available in 3 strengths — 100, 150, and 200 milligrams. The recommended starting dose is 150 milligrams once each morning. After 3 days, your provider may add a second 150-milligram dose 8 hours later. This is the typical target dose, but you can take up to 400 milligrams a day (2 200-milligram doses 8 hours apart) if needed. 

Bupropion is also sold in brand-name Forfivo XL, which comes in a 450-milligram tablet. 

Talk to your provider about which form and dose of Wellbutrin is right for you. They’ll help you safely adjust your medication until you find a schedule that works.

There are 7 classes of antidepressants — as an NDRI, Wellbutrin is in an atypical class. While many antidepressants in other classes increase the neurotransmitter serotonin and others, Wellbutrin isn’t thought to affect serotonin much, if at all. Instead, it works by affecting the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine.

In clinical trials, Wellbutrin was just as effective at relieving symptoms of depression as other antidepressants, including serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), like Effexor. When compared directly with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Paxil (paroxetine), not only was Wellbutrin just as effective, people taking it reported fewer side effects. 

Studies have also shown it leads to improvements in ADHD symptoms.

Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil are all FDA approved to treat MDD. All have side effects that can include, but aren’t limited to, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, insomnia, sweating, and weight changes.

Talk to your healthcare provider about which medication, if any, is right for you. They can help you make this decision and give you a prescription if recommended.

Learn more about Effexor vs Wellbutrin.