Wellbutrin Sexual Side Effects: Less Common, Not Zero
Wellbutrin is linked to fewer sexual side effects than SSRIs, and some people say their libido went up. Others still lose desire 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 In a 2002 US study of 6,297 people, older forms of bupropion had some of the lowest rates of sexual dysfunction, 22% to 25%, against 36% to 43% for SSRIs, mirtazapine and venlafaxine XR. In 100 r/bupropion threads, about twice as many people said sex was unaffected or better as said it was affected. Lower desire was the most common complaint among those affected, followed by erection problems and delayed orgasm. Of 45 people on r/bupropion who said how it went over time, 37 still had the side effect when they posted, so it is worth raising rather than waiting. On this page
What 209 people on r/bupropion said about sex and libido Why are sexual side effects less common on Wellbutrin? Do sexual side effects on Wellbutrin go away? Sexual side effects are reported less often on Wellbutrin (bupropion) than on SSRIs, but they still happen. In a 2002 US study of 6,297 people on a single antidepressant, most of them women, sexual dysfunction was reported by 22% of those on immediate-release bupropion and 25% on the sustained-release form. For SSRIs, mirtazapine and venlafaxine XR, it was 36% to 43%. That study observed people on the drugs their doctors chose, so it shows how often problems were reported, not that the drug caused fewer. In its own controlled trials, the label reports lower sex drive in 3% of people on immediate-release bupropion against 2% on placebo.
For the XL form most people take today, the head-to-head trial is against venlafaxine XR, an SNRI: in a 2006 trial of 348 sexually active adults over 12 weeks, sexual function did not get worse on bupropion XL, and overall it improved slightly, while it got worse on venlafaxine XR. There is no head-to-head trial of XL against an SSRI.
What 209 people on r/bupropion said about sex and libido
We read 100 recent threads about sex and libido on r/bupropion, comments included, and 209 people described their own experience. Many of the threads were about libido going up, so the pool leans toward good news; read the split as what people posted about, not how often each outcome happens. Our count also does not record whether people were men or women.
Of those 209, 187 said whether their sex life was affected: 124 said it was unaffected or better, and 63 said it was affected. Our count does not separate unaffected from better. The table shows what the 63 described, and one person can be in more than one row:
What they described Of 63 people Lower desire 38 Erection problems 14 Delayed or no orgasm 12 Genital numbness 4
Why are sexual side effects less common on Wellbutrin?
Bupropion does not block the reuptake of serotonin, which is the main way SSRIs are thought to affect sexual function. Instead it weakly blocks the reuptake of noradrenaline and dopamine, and dopamine is involved in desire and arousal. In the 2002 US study, the odds of sexual dysfunction were 4 to 6 times higher on SSRIs or venlafaxine XR than on bupropion SR. That was in people with no other risk factors for it, a group where rates were lower overall. The label still lists impotence and abnormal ejaculation among reports after approval. Some people say their libido went up on Wellbutrin. The label lists increased libido too, but among spontaneous reports after approval, for which it gives no rate and no proof of cause. One person on r/bupropion wrote:
Had a high libido and stronger erections.
Do sexual side effects on Wellbutrin go away? Medically reviewed by Dr. Jason Tan on October 27, 2026, this section only.
For many people who have them, not on their own. Of 45 people on r/bupropion who said how it went over time, 37 still had the side effect when they posted. That is a small group, and people who stopped Wellbutrin or are still early on are missing from it. The clinical view:
Sexual side effects are common with many antidepressants and often do not ease on their own, so they are worth raising.
They include lower desire, difficulty with arousal, and delayed or absent orgasm. Depression itself also lowers desire, which can make the cause hard to pin down. ## What should you tell your prescriber about sexual side effects?
Tell your prescriber what changed and when it started. It is a common conversation for them, and the answer can change your treatment. It helps to tell them:
When you started Wellbutrin, and your dose. Which part changed: desire, arousal, erection or orgasm. Whether it was there before you started. Other medications you take, especially other antidepressants. Whether it has lasted after any change of dose or medication. There is more than one way forward, and which fits depends on you, your dose and your history.
If you also take an SSRI, see Lexapro with Wellbutrin .
Download on the App Store Sexual side effects are easier to raise with your prescriber when you can show how they changed with your dose. The withClaro app lets you log mood, side effects and sleep each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report for your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions Does Wellbutrin increase libido? Some people on r/bupropion said so. If the change is unwelcome or comes with restlessness or poor sleep, mention it at your next appointment.
Can Wellbutrin cause erectile dysfunction? It can for some people; the label lists impotence among reports after approval. Note when it started relative to your first dose or a dose increase, and raise it with your prescriber.
Can women get sexual side effects on Wellbutrin? Yes. In the 2002 study, most of the 6,297 people were women, and the 22% to 25% rates for bupropion include them. Lower desire and difficulty reaching orgasm are the effects to mention, even if they feel awkward to raise.
Is Wellbutrin added to SSRIs for sexual side effects? That is a question to put to your prescriber. Bring the name and dose of your SSRI and which part of sex changed, so they can weigh the options with you.
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Sources Clayton AH, et al. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among newer antidepressants. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2002 WELLBUTRIN XL (bupropion) prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed, revised February 2026 Thase et al., 2006, Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology: A double-blind comparison between bupropion XL and venlafaxine XR, sexual functioning, antidepressant efficacy, and tolerability 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).