medicine at night

Can you take Wellbutrin at night instead of morning?

Bupropion, often known as Wellbutrin, is a medication primarily used to treat depression. Additionally, it can be applied to aid in quitting smoking.

Brand-name versions of bupropion include Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin, and Forfivo XL. It is moreover a generic medication. Drugs that are generic typically cost less than those that are brand-name.

The use of Wellbutrin, how it functions, potential adverse effects, and whether it should be taken during the day or at night are all covered in this post.

What is Wellbutrin?

The drug Wellbutrin is categorized as an aminoketone. In the United States (U.S.), it received its initial clinical use approval in 1985.

In the English-speaking world, it is one of the most frequently prescribed antidepressants. It is mostly utilized as a smoking cessation aid and to treat and prevent depression.

It is available as an extended-release tablet or an immediate-release tablet. Both versions are ingested orally. An extended-release medication enters your body gradually over time. A medication with instant release acts more quickly.

Brand-name versions of bupropion include Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin, and Forfivo XL.

It is moreover a generic medication. Drugs that are generic typically cost less than those that are brand-name.

Why is it used?

Seasonal affective disorder and depression are both treated and prevented with bupropion (SAD). People with SAD experience seasonal depression episodes in the fall and winter.

Bupropion is also used to assist smokers in quitting.

How does Wellbutrin work?

The medicine bupropion is a member of the antidepressant drug subclass. A class of pharmaceuticals is a collection of compounds with comparable mechanisms of action.

Similar problems are frequently treated with these medications.

The way bupropion works is by making your brain’s natural chemicals operate harder. These substances are used by your nerves to communicate with one another. Norepinephrine and dopamine are two of these substances.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors make up the majority of antidepressants (SSRI). They increase serotonin levels in the brain.

Can you take Wellbutrin at night instead of morning?

Wellbutrin is generally prescribed to be taken during the daytime and not at night. This is because it has the potential side effect of making you sleepless (insomnia).

This means that if you take it at night, it is likely to affect the quality of your sleep and may even deprive you of sleep altogether.

But if you take it in the morning, such side effects are going to subside by the time you are ready to go to bed.

If you have a genuine concern and would prefer to take Wellbutrin at night, I will encourage you to discuss it with your prescriber.

If it is agreed upon for you to take it at night then you should know that you may not have the best sleep at night and therefore may feel somehow drowsy during the day.

Note that the specific dosing schedule as prescribed by your doctor may depend on the particular formulation they are giving you and your own individual needs as well.

Hence, remember to voice out any concerns that you have so your doctor can incorporate that into planning your dosing schedule for Wellbutrin.

Dosage

Wellbutrin comes in tablets of 75 milligrams (mg), 100 milligrams (mg), or 150 milligrams (XR) for oral administration. The more well-liked XR tablet is 150 mg.

When using the 150-mg SR tablet, a user will take one tablet twice daily. The daily amount shouldn’t be more than 450 mg, and no single dose should be more than 150 mg.

It is advised to take the tablet in the morning and to drink it whole if it is an XR tablet. The risk of an overdose and possible seizures increases when an XR pill is broken or chewed.

To prevent any hazards, always adhere to your doctor’s instructions to the letter. Your medication’s dosage, form, and frequency will depend on:

your age, the illness being treated, the severity of the illness, any additional illnesses you may have, and how you respond to the initial dose

Side effects of bupropion

The oral tablet form of bupropion doesn’t make you sleepy, but it can have other negative effects.

More frequent adverse effects

The side effects of bupropion that are more typical include:

  • diarrhea and constipation
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • dizziness
  • agitation
  • sweating
  • sweating
  • difficulty sleeping
  • difficulty sleeping
  • rapid heartbeat 
  • heightened rage 
  • rash disorientation, irregular heart rhythms
  • hearing alterations, such as ringing in the ears or hearing unreal noises

If these side effects are minor, they can disappear in a few days or weeks. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if they are more severe or persistent.

Serious side effects

Immediately contact your doctor if you have any severe adverse effects. If your symptoms seem life-threatening or you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911.

These are some examples of serious side effects and associated signs:

  • thoughts of death or suicide
  • attempt(s) at suicide
  • fresh or deteriorating depression
  • increased or fresh anxiety
  • having panic attacks or being really irritated
  • difficulty sleeping

Bupropion and other drugs may interact.

The oral tablet form of bupropion may interfere with any drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements you may be taking.

When a substance modifies how a drug functions, there is an interaction. This could be hazardous or stop the medication from working properly.

Your doctor needs to closely monitor all of your prescriptions to help you prevent interactions. Tell your doctor about all of the drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies you are using.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as phenelzine or selegiline, can interact with Wellbutrin.

Serious elevated blood pressure can arise from taking these medications together with bupropion. You must wait at least 14 days after using an MAOI before using bupropion.

Warnings of Wellbutrin

Manic or crazy excitement risk

Excessive enthusiasm that finally manifests as mania is another caution related to the usage of Wellbutrin.

This adverse effect is more frequently observed in individuals with an underlying personality disorder, such as bipolar illness.

Sometimes, these undiscovered diseases coexist with depression and become apparent when they combine with your medications, a phenomenon known as a “drug-disease interaction”.

Check to see if you have a personality disorder at the root of your problem.

Convulsion danger

Seizures are among the worst side effects of Wellbutrin. For those who already have epilepsy, this could be fatal.

Wellbutrin should not be used in patients who suffer from convulsive disorders for precisely this reason.

One of the new, unsettling side effects you could experience from using Wellbutrin excessively is seizures. Alcohol use needs to be kept to a minimum because it feeds the fire.

Summary

The antidepressant Wellbutrin has several uses outside of treating depression. When taking this medication, it is crucial for managing the negative effects it produces.

Taking Wellbutrin at night is not recommended because of its potential side effect of causing insomnia. If you have special needs and would like to take it at night, then you would need to discuss that with your doctor.

WRITTEN AND EDITED RESPECTIVELY BY:

Michael Sarfo
Content Creator at Wapomu

Michael Sarfo is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a content creator for enochkabange.com and a writer for Wapomu

Dr. Ehoneah Obed is a registered pharmacist and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has experience working in a Tertiary hospital as well as various community pharmacies. He is also a software engineer interested in healthcare technologies.

His love for helping others motivates him to create content on an array of topics mostly relating to the health of people and also software engineering content.

He is knowledgeable in digital marketing, content marketing, and a host of other skills that make him versatile enough to uplift any team he joins.

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