Published on 12 December 2021

Is Wellbutrin SSRI? Read And Clear Your Doubts

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) DefaultImage
Table of Contents

Depression is not a small condition to ignore, nor a severe condition to have stress on it. You can get rid of this issue with various solutions available. Actually, this condition happens due to different reasons and the individual suffering through their daily lives. Some of the reasons happen due to medical illness, loss of a close person, stress, or family issues.

According to the study, 9.5% of people go through depression in the USA. Most of them are older than 18 years of age. Depression has no age limit; it can occur to anyone in the world. Compared to Men, women suffer the most from such issues.

Wellbutrin medicine works best for such issues. There are various questions in your mind, is it an SSRI, NDRi, or belongs to any other drug class? Know more in detail about Wellbutrin and whether it is really an SSRI.

What Is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is a medication used for people who have been suffering from depression. As depression has become a common issue, Wellbutrin is widely used among people. Wellbutrin is not a controlled substance in the USA, but you must have a prescription from a licensed doctor to buy Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin is used for not only depression but also seasonal affective disorder, and its other brands, like Bupropion, help in smoking cessation. It helps smokers or tobacco consumers to give up. 

How Does Wellbutrin Work?

The drug Wellbutrin belongs to the drug class called aminoketone. Also, it is known as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It affects how your body makes neurotransmitters essential to your moods, including dopamine and norepinephrine. 

Your body uses chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. A neurotransmitter called norepinephrine keeps your body awake and prepared to take action. They help in moving signals between neurons. They act as your body's internal message system, transmitting commands from neurons to other tissues and vice versa. 

If you are suffering from low norepinephrine and dopamine levels, they have been linked to depression. Aminoketone medicines, such as Wellbutrin, can raise norepinephrine and dopamine levels and alleviate the symptoms of depression by preventing your brain from reabsorbing norepinephrine and dopamine.

Frequently asked questions

The main reason for both to be different is their working process. Both work on different receptors and brain molecules.
The main purpose of suggesting Wellbutrin is that it has lower side effects as compared to other class antidepressants.
Yes, Wellbutrin is very effective to treat depression and other conditions. For the safer side, you should consult a doctor.

What is SSRI?

SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) is a drug class used in medication for antidepression. The central part of SSRI is to improve the mood and keep you away from depressive issues. 

Primarily for treating depression-like issues, SSRIs are being prescribed to people. They are one of the widely prescribed medicines for people with depression. It has a unique ability because it shows fewer side effects on people.

How Does SSRI Work?

The different working pattern of SSRIs is by raising serotonin levels in the brain. One of the neurotransmitter receptors that communicate between brain nerve cells is serotonin (neurons). 

Scientifically, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by preventing the reabsorption or reuptake of serotonin into neurons, increasing the amount of serotonin available for transmitting messages between neurons. "selective" refers to SSRIs primarily impacting serotonin rather than other neurotransmitters.

It not only cures depression within people but also helps cure anxiety issues. So whenever you are about to consume drugs, you must talk to the doctor and get proper advice.

Is Wellbutrin a SSRI?

Wellbutrin is not known to be an SSRI, but it belongs to a group of medications known as Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). Both SSRIs and NDRIs are antidepressants; they totally function differently within the body. 

SSRIs increase the levels of serotonin, a brain chemical, whereas NDRIs increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine. Both medications are capable of elevating mood and treating conditions such as depression.

Is Wellbutrin Safe Compared To SSRI?

Any medication in the pharmaceutical world is safe, but it depends on different individuals and their body’s consumption power. When it comes to comparing an NDRI and SSRI, you should be taking a call from a general practitioner.

Commonly known that any antidepressants you take are safer. According to the research, SSRIs-based medicines are safe for people. But there are also chances of side effects, just like other drug classes.

Possible Side Effects

Every medication available has different side effects. It depends on the individual body and the dosage recommended. Know about the side effects.

Common Side Effects

Severe Side Effects

Drowsiness

Suicidal thoughts

Lightheadedness or dizziness

Dizziness and fainting

Headaches

Severe headaches

Constipation

Rashes, such as hives

Nausea and vomiting

Seizures or convulsions

Dry mouth

Confusion or hallucinations

The above-mentioned side effects, typical side effects, can be cured with time, but when it comes to severe side effects, they should be properly taken care of by consulting a doctor.

Precautions Of Wellbutrin

Taking preventive measures is essential before you consume the medicine. Precautions will help you not affect yourself from the side effects
You should inform the doctor if you are going through any of the following:

Any reactions bother you after taking medicine.

  • If you are getting suicidal thoughts
  • If any other medication has interacted
  • If you are pregnant or about to become a parent
  • If you are breast-feeding
  • If you suffer from seizures or epilepsy
  • If Wellbutrin is causing or losing weight gain

When you go through any other conditions, you must inform the doctor. This will help you not mix up with the existing medicine you have been taking. Informing history about your medical condition is mandatory.

Half-Life Of Wellbutrin

The duration for which half dose of Wellbutrin stays in the body is approximately 21 hours. In simple words, it takes around 21 hours for the body to eliminate the half-consumed dose of Wellbutrin. 

To entirely eliminate the drug from the body, it takes atleast five half-lives, which is about 105 hours or 4 days. It is advisable to consult your doctor or pharmacist for a clear understanding.

Can You Take Wellbutrin For Longer Duration?

Wellbutrin is intended for prolonged use to treat depression. If you and your physician agree that Wellbutrin is safe and effective for your condition, then there are chances for you to take medicine for an extended period. 

In the case of SAD, you may take Wellbutrin XL for brief periods throughout the year. Your doctor will inform you if you may need to take Wellbutrin to treat any condition.

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

Wellbutrin is not not a SSRI. It is an NDRI drug class of medicine that works similarly to SSRI. The main purpose of using these drug classes is to treat depression. It works by changing the mood and curing the depressive state.

You need to take the relevant information about the drug whenever you are about to take medicine. Your doctor will inform you everything about the drug, which will lead you to the road of curing the condition.

  • APA PsycNet. (n.d.). Psycnet.apa.org. Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1983-30867-001 
  • Calabrese, J. R., & Markovitz, P. J. (1991). Treatment of depression. New pharmacologic approaches. Primary Care, 18(2), 421–433. https://europepmc.org/article/med/1876622 
  • Cooper, B. R., Wang, C. M., Cox, R. F., Norton, R., Shea, V., & Ferris, R. M. (1994). Evidence that the Acute Behavioral and Electrophysiological Effects of Bupropion (Wellbutrin®) Are Mediated by a Noradrenergic Mechanism. Neuropsychopharmacology, 11(2), 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.1994.43 
  • Dhillon, S., Yang, L. P. H., & Curran, M. P. (2008). Spotlight on Bupropion in Major Depressive Disorder??? CNS Drugs, 22(7), 613–617. https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200822070-00006 
  • Popli, A., Tanquary, J., Lamparella, V., & Masand, P. (1995). Bupropion and Anticonvulsant Drug Interactions. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 7(2), 99–101. https://doi.org/10.3109/10401239509149035 
  • Stringaris, A. (2017). Editorial: What is depression? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(12), 1287–1289.
  • Warner, C., & Shoaib, M. (2005). How does bupropion work as a smoking cessation aid? Addiction Biology, 10(3), 219–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/13556210500222670Â