How Long Does Wellbutrin Stay In Your System?

Wellbutrin has a very long half-life and can stay in your system for days or even weeks. More on Wellbutrin metabolism and detection windows here,

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Reviewed by: Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. Dr. Juan Goecke, M.D.

ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Wellbutrin is a popular antidepressant medication. So if you’re taking it, how long does Wellbutrin stay in your body? And can Wellbutrin on drug test be detected? We review the Wellbutrin detection here and invite your questions about Wellbutrin in the system at the end.


Main Wellbutrin Uses

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medication that works by increasing some types of brain activity. Wellbutrin is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder and help people quit smoking. Getting high off Wellbutrin is unlikely, but you should always use caution while drinking and taking Wellbutrin.  And be sure to report all other prescription medication use to your prescribing doctors.

How Do You Take Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin comes in three different formulations: it is available as a tablet taken 3-4 times a day, but also as a sustained-release and extended-release tablet. The sustained-released version is only taken twice a day. The extended-release is taken once daily.  Some people try snorting Wellbutrin XL or SR for euphoric effect.  But this kind of administration is less effective and more risk than oral doses and taking Wellbutrin as prescribed.

Peak Levels And Half Life Of Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin hits its peak levels about 7 hours after taking the medication. The medication has a very long half-life, about 33 to 37 hours.

Wellbutrin Drug Testing: How Long Does Wellbutrin Stay In The Body?

Because of Wellbutrin’s long half-life and slow rate of absorption, it’s possible that Wellbutrin could remain in the body for weeks. However, Wellbutrin is not a controlled substance and is not considered a high risk for abuse, so it’s not included in normal drug screens. Still, Wellbutrin is sometimes tested for using a toxicology screen in a medical setting.

It is important to note also that Wellbutrin can create a false positive for amphetamines. Because Wellbutrin can be mistaken for a stimulant drug, if you’re doing a drug test for legal or employment purposes, inform the Medical Officer in charge of test results of Wellbutrin use by presenting your doctor’s note or prescription.

How Long Does Wellbutrin Stay In Blood?

Wellbutrin can stay in the blood for several days. A blood test will likely only be done in the case of a medical emergency – perhaps to see what medications were taken if you experience overdose or a serious adverse effect of Wellbutrin.

How Long Does Wellbutrin Stay In Hair?

Wellbutrin isn’t normally tested for in hair, since it’s not a drug of abuse and it can’t be used to facilitate criminal activity. However, most medications stay in the hair up to 90 days.

How Long Does Wellbutrin Stay In Urine?

It’s unclear how long Wellbutrin stays in the urine, but, according to the FDA, it is well-known that Wellbutrin can cause false positives for amphetamines and other controlled substances on urine screens. So if you’ve taken Wellbutrin within a month or so of a urine drug test, you need to let the person administering the test know. They’ll have to use an alternate test.

Wellbutrin And Addiction

Wellbutrin is not addictive in normal amounts. It does have a mild stimulant activity that might tempt some people to abuse the drug, but this comes with a very high risk of seizures. Still, Wellbutrin is not a medication which can be stopped abruptly due to the risk of adverse effects. So, it is important to always seek medical advice when starting or stopping Wellbutrin. Antidepressant Withdrawal Treatment Programs specialize to assist all those who attempt to quit the drug but find it difficult to stay quit for long. Plus, medical teams can make the process of withdrawal far more manageable by offering medications, therapies, and support.

Wellbutrin In Your System Questions

Do you still have questions about Wellbutrin in your system? Please leave your questions below. We will be happy to try to answer them with a personal and prompt reply ASAP.

Reference Sources: DailyMed: Wellbutrin XL
PubMed Health: Bupropion
FDA Medication Guide: Wellbutrin XL
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
Medical Reviewers
Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. is a general surgeon practicing women's focused medici...
Dr. Goecke is a medical doctor and general surgeon with personal experience of...

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a licensed medical professional.

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