When starting a new medication like Wellbutrin (bupropion), it’s natural to have a lot of questions. People on sites like Reddit often share their personal timelines and experiences, which can be comforting and help you feel less isolated during this adjustment period. But it’s important to remember that every person’s body is different.

A Reddit thread can’t replace the advice of your medical team. For accurate and personal medical information, you should always rely on your doctor or psychiatrist, pharmacist, and the official prescribing information provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Here we use professional sources, including the drug’s prescribing information and our own medically reviewed Healthline and Medical News Today articles, to answer some of the most common questions people ask on Reddit about starting Wellbutrin.

While the drug starts working in your brain right away, most people won’t feel noticeable changes in their mood or overall depression symptoms until they’ve been taking Wellbutrin for at least 2 to 8 weeks.

How Wellbutrin works (also known as its mechanism of action) is by affecting certain chemical messengers in the brain, primarily norepinephrine and dopamine. Once you start taking Wellbutrin, the amount of the drug in your bloodstream quickly builds up. Steady-state levels (the point where the amount of drug you take equals the amount your body is eliminating) are reached in about 8 days.

But simply having the drug in your system isn’t the same as feeling its full therapeutic effect.

  • Early changes (1 to 2 weeks): Some people report that physical symptoms of depression (such as fatigue and sleep issues) begin to improve within the first 1 to 2 weeks. This early boost in energy is often noticed sooner than the lift in mood.
  • Full antidepressant effect (6 to 8 weeks): It takes time for the chemical balance in your brain to adjust fully. Significant improvement in mood and overall depression symptoms generally takes about 6 to 8 weeks.

There’s usually a delay in noticeable results, so it’s very important to stick with your prescribed regimen for the full period your doctor recommends.

The speed at which Wellbutrin works depends on your body’s metabolism and how quickly your brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) adjust. There’s no scientifically proven method to safely make the drug work faster.

You should not take extra doses to speed up the process, as this can be extremely dangerous. Taking too much Wellbutrin, or taking doses too close together, can dramatically increase your risk of seizures.

Instead of trying to speed up the process, focus on these steps to ensure the drug works as effectively as possible:

  • Take it consistently: Take your tablet at the same time every day to maintain a steady level of the drug in your system. If you miss a dose, do not double up on the next one.
  • Follow dosing instructions: The dosage of Wellbutrin is usually started low and gradually increased (titrated) over several days or weeks. This slow increase is deliberately designed to reduce side effects, particularly the risk of seizures.
  • Maintain healthy habits: Supporting your mental health with positive habits like regular sleep, a balanced diet, and light exercise can work alongside the medication to improve your symptoms.

In most cases, yes, you should give Wellbutrin more time. However, if it’s been 6 to 8 weeks and you’re not seeing improvement, contact your doctor. But do not stop the medication on your own.

What your doctor may recommend next:

  • Dose increase: If you’re still on a lower dose — such as 150 milligrams (mg) — your doctor may recommend increasing it to the typical maintenance dose of 300 mg daily. If you don’t feel noticeable improvement after several weeks on this dose, your doctor may increase it to the maximum daily dose of 400 mg for Wellbutrin SR or 450 mg for Wellbutrin XL.
  • Wait and see: If you’re nearing the end of the 8-week period, your doctor might suggest continuing for a few more weeks to see if a delayed response occurs.
  • Switching medications: If you’ve been on the maximum dose for several weeks with little or no improvement, your doctor may suggest switching to a different type of antidepressant or adding a second medication.

It’s important that you never discontinue or change your dose of Wellbutrin without your doctor’s guidance.

The feeling that Wellbutrin worked right away is a very common experience and is often not “all in your head.”

As an atypical antidepressant that affects dopamine and norepinephrine, Wellbutrin has stimulant-like properties. It can often provide an almost immediate perception of increased energy, motivation, or focus. Some physical symptoms like sleep issues and low energy can improve in as little as 1 to 2 weeks — much faster than the full antidepressant effect on mood.

If you feel an immediate boost, enjoy it, but recognize that this is likely not the final therapeutic level. The full, stable improvement in your depression symptoms still requires the brain to adjust over several weeks. It’s important to continue monitoring your mood for more serious changes, as a small number of people can experience hypomania or mania, which requires immediate medical attention.

Anxiety, agitation, and restlessness are some of the most commonly reported Wellbutrin side effects in people first starting this drug. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you’re not alone, and for most people, the anxiety does ease over time.

Because Wellbutrin acts on norepinephrine and dopamine, which are associated with the body’s “fight or flight” response, it can increase feelings of nervous energy. This is typically most noticeable during the first few weeks of treatment as your body adjusts to the drug.

However, for some people, the anxiety or agitation can be severe. In the drug’s studies, a small percentage of people had to stop taking Wellbutrin because of intense anxiety or nervousness.

You should contact your doctor immediately if:

  • The anxiety is severe, includes panic attacks, or is causing you extreme distress.
  • You experience agitation, hostility, or new or worsening suicidal thoughts. (Wellbutrin has a boxed warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in people ages 24 years and younger. Keep reading to learn more.)

Your doctor can help you manage this side effect by lowering your dose temporarily, prescribing a short-term anti-anxiety medication, or advising you to stop treatment.

Starting Wellbutrin is a process of waiting, observing, and communicating with your doctor. While online communities can offer comfort, only your doctor has the authority to make decisions about your mental health treatment.

  • Be patient: Expect physical symptoms to improve in 1 to 2 weeks, but allow 6 to 8 weeks for the full effects on your mood.
  • Follow the plan: Never change your dose without your doctor’s recommendation. Taking too much Wellbutrin can significantly increase the risk of serious side effects like seizures.
  • Communicate: If side effects like anxiety or insomnia are severe, or if you see no change after 6 weeks, contact your doctor immediately to discuss a dose adjustment or a change in medication.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.