Published on 20 May 2022

How long does Wellbutrin stay in your system?

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) how-long-does-wellbutrin-stay-in-your-system
Table of Contents

Depression is a common disorder that impacts your health, affects your thoughts or feelings about your daily lifestyle, and makes you feel emotional and act during your physical activities. 

Some depressive episodes are given medical attention; you may feel symptoms like disturbance or suffering from insomnia, lack of interest, or energy. Even nowadays, every adult or facing depression once in part of life. 

In the US, out of adults aged 18, more than 21.0 million are facing major depressive disorder. 

People with depression must visit a doctor or psychiatrist to relieve the symptoms. Hence, Wellbutrin is among the most effective drugs for major depressive disorders. Let us understand in detail, 

What Is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is the brand name of a prescribed medication called "Bupropion."Wellbutrin is an antidepressant used to treat Major Depressive Disorder(MDD). There are two brand names for Wellbutrin called Wellbutrin SR(sustained-release) and Wellbutrin XL(extended-release). 

Wellbutrin is a typical antidepressant that belongs to a group of medications called norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitors(NDRI). Wellbutrin is used to treat symptoms of depression.

Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL two are atypical antidepressants, which means they change the level of one or more neurotransmitters or have multiple mechanisms of action.

Wellbutrin is prescribed to treat depression and SAD, a seasonal affective disorder. Before taking this medication, always consult your doctor first. Buy Bupropion from a certified online pharmacy.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form or type of depression related to changes in seasons that begin and end at about the same time every year. Wellbutrin is prescribed for depression and also helps people to quit smoking.

How Does Wellbutrin Work?

Wellbutrin belongs to the norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor(NDRI) drug class. Sometimes, Wellbutrin can also be known as an aminoketone antidepressant.

Wellbutrin works by blocking nerve cells (neurons) from taking them up in the brain. After this is released, the neurotransmitter dopamine and norepinephrine regulate mood and brain response.

Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline responsible for the body's stress response, sleep, and happiness.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter related to feeling pleasure, rewards, motivation, and productivity. It is often called the "happy hormone." So overall, Wellbutrin increases the number of neurotransmitters in the brain, which reduces the symptom of depression.  

What Are The Forms And Strengths Of Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin comes in three tablet forms.

  • Wellbutrin :75mg and 100mg
  • Wellbutrin SR : 100mg ,150mg and 200mg
  • Wellbutrin XL : 150mg and 300mg

How To Consume Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin can take several or many days to produce noticeable changes and up to six weeks to show its full effect. Wellbutrin can take several weeks to find the most effective therapeutic dose. You can consume Wellbutrin with or without food.

A typical dose of Wellbutrin is around 150 mg per day, although the starting dose is always lower, and the upper dosage limit is 400 mg per day. Wellbutrin, for immediate release, can be taken two to three times daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

FDA won't recommend using an anti-depression pill like Wellbutrin for more extended periods because it will increase the thoughts of suicide, especially in adult
It is used to treat the major depressive disorder in patients with severe depression. The medicine should be used for any 12 weeks.
Suppose you take Wellbutrin for several days, still facing depression symptoms of fear, agitation, and anger for several months to weeks. Then you should consult your doctor about increasing the dosage.

What Is The Half-life Of Wellbutrin?

Everyone's body processes medication in a different manner. So there is no particular period for the half-life of any drug. The half-life is how long your body takes to eliminate half of the drug. The half-life of Wellbutrin is 21 hours.

Wellbutrin has a longer half-life of 33 to 37 hours, meaning they remain in your bloodstream longer, creating fewer withdrawal symptoms. After consuming Wellbutrin, reaching the peak level takes almost 7 hours. The peak level can be the highest concentration of drugs in a patient's bloodstream. Wellbutrin stays in the system for 4.4 days; after that, it gets eliminated from the body. 

How Much Time Does Wellbutrin Take To Stay In The Body?

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) elimination half-life might vary based on the formulation and dose. The typical elimination half-life for immediate-release Wellbutrin is around 21 hours, whereas it is roughly 24 hours for extended-release Wellbutrin XL. The time it takes for the medication to be entirely cleared from the body, on the other hand, varies from person to person and is determined by factors such as age, liver function, and metabolism.

On average, it might take 5 to 7 days for Wellbutrin to be eliminated from the body after the final dose. Traces of the medicine may be detectable in urine and blood tests for several weeks after the last dosage. Individual factors can affect drug clearance, so it's always advisable to contact a healthcare expert for personalized information about how long a prescription will stay in your system.

We can perform several drug tests to know how long Wellbutrin stays in your body.

  • Blood Test: A blood test gives the most accurate result and is the best indicator to identify whether a drug(medication) is still active in your system. Wellbutrin takes about five hours to reach the level in the bloodstream. It can stay in the blood for several or more prolonged than four days. Wellbutrin has a longer half-life to remain iod for longer than other drugs.
  • Hair Test: Hair tests are uncommon because they are less accurate and more expensive than other tests. Wellbutrin is not usually searched by hair test, but it can stay in the hair for up to 90 days.
  • Urine Test- More research is needed for urine tests as the results are unknown, and we cannot state how long Wellbutrin stays in urine. But some Studies say that Wellbutrin lasts in the urine for a few days or more than four days; most drug screening tests will not check for Wellbutrin because it is a common drug for abuse.
  • Saliva, Test-The saliva drug test is not usually done for Wellbutrin. The time taken by Wellbutrin to stay in the saliva is around 4.4 days after the last dose. Saliva tests can detect the drug for a slightly shorter amount of time than urine tests.

Factors That Affect And Help To State The Period Of Wellbutrin In Your Body

Many factors influence how long Wellbutrin lasts in the body. But the result might be different for everyone because each person everyone Wellbutrin from their body at a different rate. The speed of the process depends on the.

  • Age-The age factor plays a vital role as it defines the working system of the body. Young adults can quickly process the medication, but older people take longer to detox from Wellbutrin. This is due to metabolism speed and includes the overall body and organ functioning. Your body system must work well to eliminate the drug from the body, and age can make the process slower.
  • Gender- The factor of gender can influence the period of drug elimination. The hormones are suspected of playing a pivotal role. If you are pregnant or planning for a baby, consult your healthcare provider before consuming Wellbutrin.
  • Weight-People who are overweight or obsessed have a higher body fat percentage, so it becomes difficult to break down Wellbutrin from your body. Usually, it becomes a longer process and enlarges the drug's half-life.
  • Metabolism-Drugs can be metabolized in different ways. The main goal of metabolism is to make drugs easier to excrete. The excretion process can speed up if the metabolism is fast since the rate of metabolism is higher in young adults and lower in older people.
  • Liver functioning- Your liver mainly metabolizes Wellbutrin as it acts on the device for toxins in the body. So your liver plays a vital role in the excretion of drugs. If your liver isn't working well or not functioning correctly, it can take much longer to process the medication out of your system. So your liver must be healthy and operate with Wellbutrin to move through the body efficiently.
  • Dosage amount and frequency: In the rare case that Wellbutrin is being abused, it can build up the drug in the system. Large dosages and prolonged use or high frequency can lead to addiction or abuse. So removing the drug takes longer if it builds up in the body. So try to start with low doses to avoid such effects. 

What Are The Effects Of Consuming Wellbutrin?

While consuming Wellbutrin, you may experience some common side effects during the start of your treatment which may disappear after some time.

Common Side Effects

Severe Side Effects

Nausea

Seizures

Headache

Chest pain

Vomiting

Fainting

Dizziness

Hypertension

Constipation

Undesired mood or mental changes

Fast heartbeat

Suicidal thoughts and behavior

Tremors

Severe depression or Anxiety

Who Can't Take Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin may not suit some people, so take precautions before consuming it. You should notify your healthcare provider if you ever suffer from such conditions which are mentioned below-

  • People who have allergic reactions to medication, supplements, vitamins, etc.
  • People with liver or kidney problems
  • People with diabetes and high blood pressure
  • People with bipolar disorder
  • People with a background of drug addiction or alcoholism
  • Older people above 65 years
  • Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers
  • Children or adults younger than 18 years.

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

Wellbutrin affects the levels of neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which reduce the effects of depression and give a relaxed feeling. Wellbutrin is available in different forms, and their dosages vary from each other. Generally, you can consume 150 mg once a day, which can exceed 450 mg per day.

Wellbutrin takes several days or six to eight weeks to show its effects. It contains a half-life of 21 hours and has a longer half-life, around 33 to 37 hours. Wellbutrin takes almost 7 hours to reach the peak concentration and stays in the system for about 4.4 days, which means four and a half days.
Other factors, like age, weight, metabolism, etc., also play an essential role in detecting Wellbutrin in your body.