Wellbutrin for Anxiety: Does It Help or Make It Worse?
Wellbutrin is not approved for anxiety, and anxiety is one of its listed side effects, yet some people with anxiety do well on it.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-11-02 · 4 min read
Clinical section reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan , Consultant Psychiatrist, on October 27, 2026.
Key takeaways Wellbutrin is approved for depression and seasonal depression, not for anxiety disorders. In the FDA trials, anxiety and agitation were more common on bupropion than on placebo. In 100 r/bupropion threads, more people said their anxiety ended up better than said it got worse, and some of them felt worse first. If anxiety rises on Wellbutrin and stays high, tell your prescriber when it started and whether it followed a dose change. On this page
What happened to anxiety for 119 people on r/bupropion Why can Wellbutrin make anxiety worse? Can Wellbutrin help anxiety that comes with depression? Wellbutrin (bupropion) is not approved for anxiety. The FDA label approves it for depression and for preventing seasonal depression. Anxiety and agitation are on its list of common side effects, so it can make anxiety worse for some people. In people who have both depression and anxiety, anxiety usually improved on it too, though the evidence is weak.
What happened to anxiety for 119 people on r/bupropion
We read 100 recent threads about Wellbutrin and anxiety on r/bupropion, comments included. Between the posts and the replies, 333 people described their own experience, and 122 said they had anxiety. These are people's own accounts, not trial scales, and people with a strong reaction either way are more likely to post, so treat this as a range of experiences rather than odds.
More people said their anxiety ended up better than said it got worse. Of the 119 who said what happened, 37 said it got better, 9 partly better and 23 felt worse at first, then better; 39 said it got worse:
What happened to their anxiety Of 119 people Better 37 Partly better 9 Worse at first, then better 23 No change yet 7 Didn't help 4 Worse 39
Among those whose anxiety got worse and gave a time, the typical point was about 4 weeks in. One person on r/bupropion wrote:
I remember it feeling a little off or getting more anxious, but it has leveled out
Why can Wellbutrin make anxiety worse?
Bupropion is activating. It blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine and does little to serotonin. A 2025 review of bupropion and anxiety notes this stimulating effect can bring on anxiety, mostly at higher doses. In the label's depression trials of the sustained-release form, anxiety was reported by 5% on 300 mg a day against 3% on placebo, and by 6% on 400 mg. Agitation shows the dose effect more clearly: 3% on 300 mg against 2% on placebo, and 9% on 400 mg. Insomnia, which often comes with anxiety, was also more common than on placebo.
On r/bupropion, people whose anxiety got worse and gave a time most often put it at about 4 weeks in, and some of those whose anxiety rose early said it settled. A rise that keeps building after the first weeks, or follows a dose increase, is the point to raise it.
Can Wellbutrin help anxiety that comes with depression? Medically reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan on October 27, 2026, this section only.
Sometimes. Most antidepressants used for anxiety act on serotonin, and Wellbutrin does not, but that does not rule it out. A 2025 review of six studies with about 3,700 adults with depression and marked anxiety found anxiety generally improved on bupropion. It did about as well as SSRIs. SSRIs came out a little ahead when anxiety was high, but only in pooled patient-level analyses; the individual trials found no difference. None of the six studies showed a clear signal of anxiety getting worse on bupropion. The authors rate the evidence as low certainty, and none of the studies was designed around anxiety. If you take an SSRI as well, see how Lexapro and Wellbutrin are taken together . The clinical view on antidepressants for anxiety:
Antidepressants are a first-line medication for most anxiety disorders, alongside talking therapy, and their benefit for anxiety builds over several weeks.
People with anxiety can be more sensitive to early side effects, including a brief rise in anxiety. That is why treatment often starts at a low dose and goes up slowly. ## What should you tell your prescriber about anxiety on Wellbutrin?
Tell your prescriber how your anxiety changed since starting, and when. It helps to tell them:
Your dose, when you take it and any recent increase. Whether anxiety is new, or worse than before you started. Panic attacks, restlessness or trouble sleeping. How much caffeine you have each day. Other medications you take for anxiety or sleep. The label asks families and caregivers to watch for new agitation, panic or restlessness and report it right away. This matters most under 25: in pooled antidepressant trials, suicidal thoughts and behavior rose in people under 18 and aged 18 to 24, while from 25 the risk was no higher than on placebo, so the first months and the days after a dose increase need the closest watch. If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away. In the US, call or text 988. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. Elsewhere, find a crisis line near you .
Download on the App Store Anxiety on Wellbutrin can rise in the first weeks and settle later, or keep going. The withClaro app lets you log anxiety, mood, sleep and side effects each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report for your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions Who should not take Wellbutrin? MedlinePlus says to tell your doctor about any seizures, anorexia or bulimia, now or in the past, because bupropion raises seizure risk in those cases. If any of these apply to you, mention them before you start.
What if anxiety gets worse after a Wellbutrin dose increase? Note when the dose went up and when the anxiety started, and tell your prescriber before the next increase.
Can Wellbutrin cause panic attacks? The label lists panic attacks among symptoms to report right away. Write down when they happen and how long they last, and call your prescriber.
Can you take Wellbutrin with an SSRI for anxiety? Some people take both under a prescriber's care. If you are on an SSRI already, bring its name and dose so your prescriber can check the two together.
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Sources WELLBUTRIN XL (bupropion) prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed, revised November 2025 Pinzi et al., 2025, International Journal of Molecular Sciences: Efficacy and tolerability of bupropion in major depressive disorder with comorbid anxiety symptoms, a systematic review Oldak and Maristany, 2025, Human Psychopharmacology: Bupropion and anxiety, a brief review MedlinePlus: Bupropion Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).