How much Wellbutrin is too much?

Afraid of taking too much Wellbutrin? You can overdose on Wellbutrin, but even at lower doses of Wellbutrin you risk severe adverse effects. More on Wellbutrin overdose and safe dosing inside.

3
minute read

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medication used to treat depression, seasonal effective disorder (SAD) and to help people stop smoking. In this article, we’ll look at the safe amounts of Wellbutrin and how much Wellbutrin it takes to overdose.  Although using Wellbutrin to get high is unlikely, we also review some of the risks of taking high doses of Wellbutrin.  Your questions about too much Wellbutrin are welcomed at the end.

Wellbutrin strengths

Wellbutrin comes in a tablet, as well as a sustained release and extended release formula. Wellbutrin may be prescribed in strengths of 75mg or 100 mg. You can develop a tolerance to the medication and eventual dependence on Wellbutrin if you take it long term. If you become physically dependent on Wellbutrin, doctors will have you decrease your dose gradually rather than stopping all at once to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

How much Wellbutrin is safe?

While it is possible to overdose on Wellbutrin, it’s never safe to take more than the recommended amount on your prescription. However, even at normal therapeutic doses, there’s a slight risk of seizures (about 4 in every 1000 patients), and this becomes more pronounced at doses higher than 450 mg per day.

How much Wellbutrin can you take at once?

Up to 100 mg of Wellbutrin should be taken at one time. And there is no medical reason which justifies higher doses of Wellbutrin. Plus, taking Wellbutrin in large quantities to try to “get high” is unlikely to result in any kind of euphoria, and is very dangerous.

How much Wellbutrin to overdose?

Cases of Wellbutrin overdose have been reported where individuals survived taking 12 g of the antidepressant medication – that’s 26 times higher than the maximum recommended daily dose. However, for many people OD on Wellbutrin occurs in lower doses, between 5.4 and 9 grams. But even at thes lower doses of Wellbutrin, you’re still likely to suffer adverse side effects which could be dangerous.

Toxic levels of Wellbutrin in the system

You can overdose on Wellbutrin by taking it orally. But it’s easier to overdose on Wellbutrin by taking it in ways other than prescribed (more frequently, in higher amounts, or by trying to abuse Wellbutrin). In fact, crushing a Wellbutrin tablet and snorting Wellbutrin SR, or dissolving it in water and injecting it, increases your risk of overdose or severe side effects.

Furthermore, how long Wellbutrin out of system can be long, because of Wellbutrin’s long half life and slow rate of absorption.  This is why traces of Wellbutrin can remain in your system for days to weeks after last dose.

How much Wellbutrin is fatal?

Any amount over 5.4 grams could be fatal. While some people can take much higher doses and survive, it’s not worth taking the risk. Individuals can react very differently to Wellbutrin, so it’s important to only take it as directed by a doctor.

How much Wellbutrin should I take?

You should take the amount of Wellbutrin prescribed to you by your doctor. Never take more than recommended by a medical professional, and only take this oral medication as directed.

How much Wellbutrin questions

If you still have questions about Wellbutrin and overdose, please leave them here.  We are happy to respond to your questions personally and promptly.

Reference Sources: DailyMed Drug Label: Wellbutrin
PubMed Health: Bupropion
Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Bupropion Hydrochloride
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.
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