Is Wellbutrin (Bupropion) A Controlled Substance?

Wellbutrin is not considered a controlled substance by law, which makes it different from many other prescription medications. This antidepressant is commonly prescribed to help people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Since everyone’s treatment needs are different, Wellbutrin comes in both immediate-release and extended-release forms to give doctors more options for their patients.

Even though Wellbutrin isn’t legally controlled like some other psychiatric drugs, it can still be dangerous if someone takes it the wrong way. People can misuse or abuse this medication, especially if they take more than prescribed or use it without a doctor’s supervision. Learning about how Wellbutrin works and its potential for abuse is important for anyone who takes it or knows someone who does.

Why Wellbutrin Is Not A Controlled Substance

Wellbutrin is not a controlled substance, though it acts similar to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). It is not a narcotic or an opioid, so it does not necessitate a legal classification as a controlled substance — unlike other antidepressant sedatives, such as benzodiazepines.

Non-Addictive Medication

Wellbutrin does not produce a high, and thus does not possess typical addictive qualities. Faster-acting agents, such as benzodiazepines produce sedative effects that can be felt within 30 minutes of ingestion. However, it takes weeks for Wellbutrin to produce positive management of symptoms, since it is not a direct dopamine-releasing or GABA-producing (y-Aminobutyric acid) medication.

Though Wellbutrin is not generally addictive, use of it over time can produce a physical dependence, abuse of it may produce effects characteristic of a Wellbutrin addiction.

Wellbutrin Does Not Produce A High

While there have been some reported cases of people snorting crushed Wellbutrin pills to produce a high, doctors have noted that Wellbutrin does not produce euphoric sensations. However, if you take excessive amounts of Wellbutrin in an unapproved manner, such as by snorting or ingestion, the brain can be flooded and overwhelmed with neurotransmitters.

These neurotransmitters dump excessive amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine, which can produce somewhat stimulant effects, earning Wellbutrin the nickname ‘poor man’s cocaine.’ However, the effects of stimulants and Wellbutrin are very different, as Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), not a stimulant such as amphetamine.

What Class Of Drugs Is Wellbutrin In?

Wellbutrin falls under a class of drugs called norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRI), and are also known as aminoketone medications, which are antidepressant drugs. The active ingredients in these non-stimulant medications work to access different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) to balance chemicals in the brain.

How Wellbutrin Works In The Body

Scientists don’t fully understand exactly how Wellbutrin affects the brain, but they do know some important details about how it works. Wellbutrin is classified as an NDRI, which stands for norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor. This means it helps balance the production and movement of certain brain chemicals in the central nervous system.

Wellbutrin comes in different forms, including extended-release tablets (also called sustained-release tablets) known as Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL. These special tablets are designed to release the medication slowly over time rather than all at once. When someone takes Wellbutrin, the active ingredient called bupropion is gradually released into the brain, where it helps improve mood and thinking by affecting neurotransmitter activity. The medication works by keeping two important brain chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine, active in the brain’s nerve cells for longer periods of time. These chemicals are responsible for helping the brain maintain focus and positive mood.

Does Wellbutrin Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Wellbutrin is currently the most commonly prescribed prescription drug used in the treatment of depression for both major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers alike have determined the most efficacious type of bupropion for treating both SAD and MDD to be Wellbutrin XL (bupropion HCL).

This type of Wellbutrin is usually prescribed under the brand name Zyban, or a slightly modified compound, called bupropion hydrobromide (Aplenzin).

Signs Of Wellbutrin Misuse

Signs of Wellbutrin abuse may fly under the radar if the person currently misusing the drug does so by means of oral ingestion. Wellbutrin is also being dissolved into soluble solutions, then injected. This leads to obvious visual signs of drug abuse, such as skin lesions, bruising, and collapsed veins.

Below are some less-apparent signs of Wellbutrin misuse that are important to recognize.

Signs of Wellbutrin misuse include:

• taking higher doses than prescribed by a doctor
• crushing or breaking extended-release tablets to feel effects faster
• taking the medication more often than directed
• getting prescriptions from multiple doctors at the same time
• stealing or buying Wellbutrin from other people
• lying about losing pills to get refills early
• continuing to take the medication even when it causes problems
• feeling unable to function normally without taking Wellbutrin
• experiencing mood swings or personality changes
• having trouble sleeping or staying asleep
• showing increased agitation or irritability
• losing interest in activities they used to enjoy

If you notice these behaviors in yourself or someone you care about, it’s important to talk to a doctor or addiction specialist right away.

Is Wellbutrin Misuse Dangerous?

Wellbutrin, as far as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is concerned, is a safe medication when daily doses are taken as prescribed by healthcare professionals. Long-term use, too, has not proven to cause adverse effects, though some people may experience allergic reactions to the medication. Wellbutrin, as with many other medications, does have an extensive list of known drug interactions that can produce unpleasant but common side effects.

However, physical dependence is a possibility, which can lead to cravings, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health complications as the brain attempts to reorient itself. Wellbutrin may be lethal when mixed with other potent drug combinations or drugs of abuse, such as alcohol, opioids, cocaine, heroin, and others.

Wellbutrin And Seizure Risk

One of the most serious dangers associated with Wellbutrin misuse is a elevated risk of seizures. Even at prescribed doses, bupropion carries a higher seizure risk than most other antidepressants, and this risk increases dramatically when the drug is taken in higher doses, crushed and snorted, or combined with alcohol. The extended-release formulation exists in part to reduce this risk by preventing sudden spikes in bupropion concentration.

Seizures from Wellbutrin misuse can occur without warning and escalate quickly. Combining Wellbutrin with alcohol is particularly risky, as alcohol lowers the seizure threshold and interacts unpredictably with bupropion. Anyone experiencing tremors, muscle twitching, or sudden confusion while taking Wellbutrin should seek medical attention immediately.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff