Mixing Cocaine And Wellbutrin: Effects And Risks

Both cocaine and Wellbutrin (bupropion) can have life-threatening and potentially fatal results when abused. Combining these substances only increases these health risks.

Wellbutrin is considered non-habit-forming, but some people do abuse it by crushing it and snorting it to produce a high similar to that of cocaine.

Learn more about the dangers of polydrug abuse.

The Effects Of Mixing Cocaine And Wellbutrin

An experimental clinical trial in 2001 studied the effects of cocaine prior to and during the use of bupropion. Participants were given repeated cocaine doses at 0, 50, and 100 milligrams (mg) per 70 kilograms (kg), while being pretreated with 150 and 300 mg of bupropion per day.

The study found that, while bupropion enhanced some of the effects of cocaine, it didn’t produce significant changes to the subjective or cardiovascular affects of cocaine.

Risks Of Mixing Cocaine And Wellbutrin

While Wellbutrin has been used to treat patients with cocaine addictions, taking the two substances at the same time can be dangerous.

Enhanced Toxicity Of Both Substances

One case study of a 25-year-old woman investigated the simultaneous use of cocaine and bupropion. The case study revealed the danger of synergistic (a combined effect greater than just one of the substances) cardiovascular and CNS toxicity from mixing cocaine and bupropion.

This increased toxicity can cause:

• seizures
• tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm of more than 100 beats per minute
• agitation
• hypertension, high blood pressure

Cardiovascular Problems

Bupropion and cocaine can both cause significant cardiovascular complications.

These include:

• increased blood pressure
• clamped blood vessels
• decreased oxygen flow in the blood

All of these cardiovascular issues can lead to serious effects including cardiac arrest, stroke, tissue damage, and death.

Increased Chance Of Seizures

If a person overdoses on one or both of these substances, seizures can occur. Cocaine reduces the body’s seizure threshold, and when used with Wellbutrin, the threshold continues to shrink. In a case report published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, researchers investigated the importance of bupropion relative to other drugs, including cocaine.

The study found that 17 out of 279 seizures involving bupropion were drug-related. In six of these cases, after cocaine intoxication seizures, bupropion was the third leading cause of drug-related seizures. All of the people involved in this case were taking the recommended dose of bupropion. This indicates that there is no safe level of cocaine and bupropion that can mix.

Finding Help For Cocaine And Wellbutrin Misuse

The combination of cocaine and Wellbutrin creates serious health risks that require professional treatment to address safely. Because both substances affect the brain’s chemistry in significant ways, attempting to stop using either drug without medical supervision can be dangerous. Professional treatment gives individuals the best chance at recovery while minimizing the health risks associated with withdrawal and detox.

Treatment options for cocaine and Wellbutrin abuse may include:

• medically supervised detox to safely manage withdrawal symptoms and monitor for complications such as seizures or cardiovascular issues
• inpatient rehab programs for those who need round-the-clock care
• outpatient and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) for those who need flexible treatment while maintaining work or family responsibilities
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify the triggers driving drug use and develop healthier coping strategies
• dual diagnosis treatment for those dealing with underlying mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety alongside substance abuse
• aftercare and relapse prevention planning to support long-term sobriety after formal treatment ends

Browse our directory or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff