Snorting Wellbutrin | Dangers Of Snorting Bupropion

Wellbutrin is a prescription antidepressant that contains bupropion hydrochloride as its active ingredient. It’s available in different forms including Wellbutrin SR (sustained-release), Wellbutrin XL, and is also sold under brand names like Aplenzin and Zyban. Doctors prescribe these medications to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder, and to help people quit smoking.

While Wellbutrin can be effective when taken as prescribed, it becomes extremely dangerous when misused by snorting or taking high doses. Crushing and snorting this medication can cause serious, life-threatening complications and significantly increases the risk of addiction due to faster absorption and more intense effects.

When someone develops an addiction to Wellbutrin, they face an even higher risk of these dangerous reactions as they may use larger amounts or combine it with other substances. The faster onset and more intense high from snorting also makes the medication much more addictive than when taken orally as prescribed.

Dangers And Risks Of Snorting Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an aminoketone antidepressant that works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. Unlike true stimulants such as amphetamines, bupropion has a distinct mechanism. However, its dopaminergic effects are what drive misuse, particularly through snorting, which amplifies and accelerates its effects.

Dangers of snorting Wellbutrin include:

• agitation
• insomnia
• psychosis
• confusion
• changes in appetite/weight
• allergic reactions
• tachycardia (increased heart rate)
• high blood pressure

Wellbutrin may be helpful in treating major depressive disorder and have off-label uses in treatments for bipolar disorder and attention disorders including ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Still, these risks are possible even if a person is taking bupropion as his or her doctor is prescribing it. If Wellbutrin is being snorted, the risks are even greater.

Side Effects Of Snorting Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin can cause side effects even when taken properly as prescribed by a doctor. When someone snorts this medication, these side effects often become much more severe and dangerous.

A few common side effects of Wellbutrin may include:

• dry mouth
• drowsiness
• headache
• nausea and/or vomiting
• loss of appetite or weight
• stomach pain
• constipation
• anxiety
• excitement
• uncontrollable shaking
• muscle or joint pain
• sweating
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• sore throat

Snorting bupropion can also cause serious additional side effects that don’t typically occur with oral use. These dangerous reactions may include hallucinations, confusion, hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing.

Seizure risk is the most clinically significant danger of Wellbutrin misuse. Bupropion lowers the seizure threshold more than most antidepressants. This risk increases dramatically when pills are crushed and snorted, which delivers a large dose to the bloodstream at once. Seizures can occur even in people with no prior seizure history and may happen without warning.

Wellbutrin Overdose Risk

If too much Wellbutrin is taken, an overdose can occur. The FDA has documented Wellbutrin overdoses involving very large amounts. However, the key clinical concern is not a specific threshold but that bupropion’s seizure risk is dose-dependent and rises significantly above the prescribed therapeutic range.

An overdose of bupropion alone may include hallucinations, loss of consciousness, sinus tachycardia, and changes in heart rate. If bupropion is being misused alongside other drugs, an overdose may occur.

Symptoms of overdose include:

• fever
• muscle rigidity
• rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that leads to kidney damage)
• hypotension
• stupor
• coma
• respiratory failure

The risk of overdose is increased when a person is snorting drugs. The effects of Wellbutrin may kick in faster or more intensely than expected. Because of this, a person may easily take too much of the drug by accident.

If you suspect a Wellbutrin overdose, call 911 immediately. Don’t wait for anything worse to happen because seizures can occur rapidly and without warning at high doses. Keep the person calm, do not give them anything to eat or drink, and stay with them until emergency services arrive. Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) can also provide guidance for non-emergency situations.

Treatment Options For Snorting Wellbutrin

People battling Wellbutrin addiction have several treatment options available, including inpatient and outpatient programs. Inpatient treatment is usually recommended for moderate to severe addictions, where people stay at a treatment facility full-time and receive 24/7 medical supervision during withdrawal and recovery.

Outpatient programs offer more flexibility for people with work or family commitments, requiring visits to a treatment center several times per week for counseling and follow-up care. The best treatment option depends on the severity of the addiction, your personal circumstances, and the level of medical supervision needed to safely overcome Wellbutrin abuse.

No matter which treatment program you choose, treatment for snorting Wellbutrin may include a variety of approaches including behavioral counseling, individual or group therapy, medication-based treatment if other substances are also being abused, evaluation and treatment for mental health issues, and long-term aftercare.

These proven practices help people change their relationship with drug use, develop healthy coping skills, recognize triggers that may lead to substance use, and make better choices for their recovery.

For people whose Wellbutrin misuse began as an attempt to improve focus or energy, an ADHD evaluation as part of treatment may be valuable. Wellbutrin is actually an FDA-approved treatment for ADHD in some contexts. A prescribing physician can determine whether medically supervised bupropion use is appropriate alongside other treatment components.

Browse our directory to find substance use disorder treatment programs near you, or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. Their operators provide free, confidential support whenever you need it.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff