From the Guidelines
The recommended dosage of Wellbutrin (bupropion) for anxiety is 75-150 mg once or twice daily, starting at a lower dose and gradually increasing to minimize side effects, as indicated in the study published in 2002 1. When prescribed off-label for anxiety, it is essential to initiate treatment at a lower dose and monitor the patient's response, as individual responses can vary significantly.
- The extended-release formulation (Wellbutrin XL) is often preferred at 150-300 mg once daily.
- Treatment should always be initiated and monitored by a healthcare provider.
- Wellbutrin works differently from typical anxiety medications by affecting dopamine and norepinephrine rather than serotonin, which explains why it may help some patients with anxiety, particularly those with comorbid depression.
- Side effects can include insomnia, agitation, dry mouth, and headache, as noted in the study published in 2015 1.
- Patients should be aware that anxiety symptoms might temporarily increase when starting treatment before potentially improving.
- Other medications like SSRIs or SNRIs are typically first-line treatments for anxiety disorders and should be considered before trying Wellbutrin, as they have a more established efficacy and safety profile for anxiety treatment.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Dosage of Wellbutrin for Anxiety
The recommended dosage of Wellbutrin (bupropion) for anxiety is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the following points can be noted:
- Bupropion is sometimes used to treat anxiety symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD) 2.
- The efficacy of bupropion in treating anxiety symptoms is comparable to that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 2.
- There is no consistent difference in the time to anxiolysis between bupropion and SSRI treatment groups 2.
Key Findings
- A study from 2023 found that bupropion does not increase anxiety in patients over a 12-week period 3.
- Another study from 2008 found that bupropion and SSRIs have comparable efficacy in treating anxiety symptoms in MDD 2.
- The dosage of bupropion used in these studies is not specified, but the typical dosage range for bupropion is 150-300 mg per day, divided into two or three doses.
Considerations
- Bupropion may be used off-label to treat anxiety disorders, but its efficacy and safety in this context are not well established 3, 2.
- The decision to use bupropion for anxiety should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual patient's medical history and response to treatment.
- More research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and treatment regimen for bupropion in anxiety disorders.