Is Wellbutrin an SSRI, or does it fall into a different medication category?
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What Is Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin is the brand name of a prescription medication that contains bupropion. It is typically taken by mouth in tablet form.
In the U.S., it is sold in three versions: immediate release (Wellbutrin IR), sustained release (Wellbutrin SR), and extended release (Wellbutrin XR). It is also available as a generic.
Though it is commonly described as an antidepressant, Wellbutrin has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat three conditions:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Tobacco dependence
Physicians also prescribe Wellbutrin on an off-label basis to treat several other disorders, including:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Depression due to bipolar disorder
- Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction
- Stimulant addiction
- Obesity
According to data collected by the online medical resource ClinCalc, U.S. pharmacies filled more than 30 million prescriptions for Wellbutrin or its generic version in 2023.
Is Wellbutrin An SSRI?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have helped countless people experience relief from depression. Since Wellbutrin has also earned a reputation as an effective antidepressant, this has prompted many people to wonder, is Wellbutrin an SSRI?
No, Wellbutrin is not an SSRI.
Wellbutrin is categorized as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). It is also sometimes described as an atypical antidepressant
How Does Wellbutrin Work?
SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac) boost levels of a neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, called serotonin. As Wellbutrin’s category name indicates, it affects levels of two other chemicals:
- Norepinephrine, which influences functions such as alertness, focus, mood, memory, and the sleep/wake cycle
- Dopamine, which is sometimes called “the feel good hormone” because of its involvement with pleasure, memory, reward, and motivation
Wellbutrin boosts the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in a person’s central nervous system. For some people, increased levels of these chemicals can lead to decreased depression symptoms.
What Are The Alternatives to Wellbutrin?
If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, Wellbutrin is by no means your only medication option.
Doctors also often use SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to treat depressive disorders:
- In addition to Prozac, other meds in the SSRI category include sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), and paroxetine (Paxil)
- Frequently prescribed SNRIs include venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
If these types of prescription medications don’t improve your symptoms, your doctor may also try a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) or a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor (MAOIs).
Prior to the introduction of the first SSRI in the late 1980s, TCAs and MAOIs were the main medication options for depression. Today, they are typically only prescribed to patients who didn’t respond well to drugs from the other categories.
What's The Best Antidepressant?
The best antidepressant is the one that works for you.
The effects of any antidepressant can vary widely from one person to the next. A drug that provides immense relief for one patient may be of no value – or even cause intolerable side effects – when taken by a different patient.
This is why it is so important to find a treatment provider who will pay close attention to your unique needs and work with you to find the medication that’s right for you. This often involves a bit of trial and error, both in selecting the right med and determining the optimal dosage level.
When you’re working with a provider that you trust, one who encourages you to play an active role in your care, your likelihood of having a successful experience can increase substantially.
It’s also important to remember that medication isn’t your only option. There are also a variety of therapies that can make a world of difference.
What Happens During Therapy for Depression?
Even if Wellbutrin or another med improves your depression symptoms, therapy can still be extremely helpful.
Your experience in therapy for depression can vary depending on many factors, including who is participating in the session and which type of modality or approach your therapist is using.
Participants
Most depression treatment centers offer individual and group therapy. Some also offer family therapy or counseling.
- Individual therapy sessions are one-on-one conversations with a licensed professional. They can be ideal opportunities to process your experiences, receive focused guidance, and address topics that you may be hesitant to bring up in a group setting.
- Group therapy sessions typically involve about 5-10 other participants, along with the professional who is leading the session. Groups are safe environments where you can gain valuable information, practice essential skills, and discover the value of shared support.
- Family therapy is a form of group therapy that involves you and your loved ones. These sessions can help you resolve conflicts, communicate in a healthier manner, and learn how to better support each other moving forward.
Approaches
The way your sessions are structured, the issues you focus on, and the activities you take part in can vary depending on which approach or modality your therapist uses. Approaches that are often used to treat people with depression include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT sessions can help you identify unhealthy thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors, and replace them with more positive and productive ways of viewing the world and dealing with your emotions.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT sessions can help you become more mindful, regulate your emotions better, tolerate psychological distress without resorting to unhealthy coping strategies, and build healthier relationships.
- Holistic therapy: Therapies such as yoga, art therapy, and acupuncture promote the mind-body connection while also introducing you to different ways to cope with stress and express your emotions.
Begin Depression Treatment in Atlanta, GA Today
Valor Behavioral Health offers customized outpatient treatment for adults with depression and other mental health concerns.
We also provide dual diagnosis services for clients whose mental health struggles are accompanied by addictions to alcohol and other drugs.
Treatment options at our center in Atlanta, GA, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), a virtual IOP, and an outpatient program. At each of these levels, adults and adolescents receive age-appropriate care in separate environments.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
