The FDA label for Wellbutrin (bupropion) tells patients to minimize or avoid alcohol. Mixing Wellbutrin and alcohol is riskier than with many other antidepressants. Heavy drinking raises the risk of seizures on bupropion, as does suddenly stopping after heavy use. Some people also find they handle alcohol worse than usual while taking it.
Key Takeaways
- The Wellbutrin label advises you to minimize or avoid alcohol during treatment.
- Bupropion can cause seizures, and heavy drinking is a listed risk factor.
- Stopping alcohol suddenly while on Wellbutrin is also dangerous if you drink heavily.
- Some people report lower alcohol tolerance or mood changes when they drink on bupropion.
- Bupropion has a half-life of about 21 hours, so it stays in your system all day.
- Tell your prescriber how much you drink before you start, change or stop Wellbutrin.
Can You Drink on Wellbutrin?
Most prescribers recommend little or no alcohol while you take bupropion. The Wellbutrin XL prescribing information says alcohol use during treatment should be minimized or avoided.
Wellbutrin works differently from SSRIs like Zoloft or Lexapro. It acts on dopamine and norepinephrine instead of serotonin. It is prescribed for depression, seasonal affective disorder and quitting smoking. Because of how it affects the brain, its main alcohol concern is seizures rather than drowsiness.
An occasional drink may be acceptable for some people with a stable dose and no seizure risk factors. That decision belongs to your prescriber, who knows your full history.
Wellbutrin, Alcohol and Seizure Risk
Seizures are a known risk of bupropion. With the immediate-release form at 300 to 450 mg a day, about 0.4% of patients had a seizure in studies, according to the FDA label. The risk rises with higher doses and certain risk factors.
Alcohol affects that risk in two ways.
Heavy Drinking
The label lists excessive alcohol use as a factor that raises seizure risk on bupropion. Binge drinking puts extra strain on the brain’s electrical balance. That makes a seizure more likely if you are also taking Wellbutrin.
Stopping Alcohol Suddenly
Alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures on its own. Wellbutrin is not to be used in people who are going through abrupt withdrawal from alcohol. If you drink heavily, MedlinePlus advises telling your doctor before you start bupropion. Never quit heavy drinking cold turkey while taking it without medical guidance.
Other Effects of Mixing Wellbutrin and Alcohol
Seizures are the most serious risk, but they aren’t the only one. People who drink on bupropion have reported other problems.
| Effect | What it can look like |
|---|---|
| Lower alcohol tolerance | Feeling drunk faster or on fewer drinks than usual |
| Mood or behavior changes | Rare reports of agitation, confusion or unusual behavior |
| Worse side effects | More dizziness, nausea, headache or trouble sleeping |
| Worse depression | Lower mood or anxiety the day after drinking |
The FDA label notes rare postmarketing reports of neuropsychiatric events or reduced alcohol tolerance in people who drank during treatment. MedlinePlus adds that alcohol can make bupropion side effects worse.
How Alcohol Affects Depression on Wellbutrin
Bupropion can take 4 weeks or longer to reach its full benefit. Drinking during that stretch adds a depressant to your system while the medication is trying to lift your mood.
Alcohol also disrupts sleep. Insomnia is already a common bupropion side effect, so the two can leave you exhausted and more depressed.
If you started Wellbutrin for seasonal depression, winter drinking can be a hidden problem. Holiday gatherings and shorter days often mean more alcohol at the same time mood is lowest.
How Long After Taking Wellbutrin Can You Drink?
There is no safe window after your daily dose. Bupropion has a mean elimination half-life of about 21 hours. When you take it every day, it stays in your system around the clock.
Skipping a dose to drink doesn’t remove the seizure risk. It can also make your depression symptoms return. Take Wellbutrin as prescribed and keep alcohol to a minimum, or avoid it.
Who Should Not Drink on Wellbutrin
Avoid alcohol entirely on bupropion if you:
- Have a seizure disorder or a history of head injury.
- Drink heavily or binge drink.
- Have a current or past eating disorder.
- Take other medications that lower the seizure threshold.
- Are trying to stop drinking after a period of heavy use.
If you are in that last group, you need a safe plan for stopping. That is where alcohol addiction treatment comes in, with medical oversight for your medications.
Conclusion
Wellbutrin and alcohol are a riskier pair than most antidepressant combinations. Heavy drinking raises seizure risk on bupropion. Stopping heavy drinking suddenly does too.
Keep alcohol to a minimum or avoid it, take your dose as prescribed, and be honest with your prescriber about how much you drink. If you can’t cut back on your own, medical support makes stopping much safer.
Get Help for Depression and Drinking at Lotus Recovery
If drinking is making your depression harder to treat, Lotus Recovery Treatment Center can help you address both. We offer outpatient mental health treatment in Thousand Oaks with psychiatric care, therapy and support for alcohol use.
Our psychiatry team reviews your medications as part of your care. Our depression treatment program offers day or evening sessions to fit your schedule. Doctors are on call 24/7.
Most insurance is accepted. Call (805) 856-6690 or verify your insurance to schedule a same day appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip Wellbutrin for a day to drink?
No. Skipping a dose won’t clear bupropion from your body, since it stays active for about a day. It also won’t remove the seizure risk tied to heavy drinking. Missed doses can let depression symptoms return. Keep taking it as prescribed and limit alcohol instead.
Does Wellbutrin make you not want to drink alcohol?
Some people say they want to drink less on Wellbutrin, but it is not approved to treat alcohol use disorder. It can lower your tolerance, which some people read as losing interest. If cravings are the problem, medications made for alcohol use disorder, like Vivitrol, are a better fit. Lotus offers Vivitrol treatment on an outpatient basis.
Can I have one drink on Wellbutrin?
One drink is unlikely to cause a seizure in someone with no other risk factors. The label still advises you to minimize or avoid alcohol. You may also feel the drink more than usual. Ask your prescriber what is safe for your dose and history.
What cannot be mixed with Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin should not be combined with MAO inhibitors or with other forms of bupropion, such as Zyban. Heavy alcohol use and sudden withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines or seizure medications are also dangerous with it. Give your prescriber a full list of your medications and supplements.
What does a seizure from Wellbutrin and alcohol look like?
A seizure can cause stiffening, jerking movements, loss of consciousness or a blank stare with confusion afterward. Call 911 if someone has a seizure, especially if it lasts more than a few minutes. Keep them away from hard objects and turn them on their side.
