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Wellbutrin XL Dosage

When treating depression, your Wellbutrin XL dosage may be 150 mg a day. Your healthcare provider may increase this after three days to 300 mg a day. In order to prevent seizures from the medication, the daily dose of Wellbutrin XL should not exceed 450 mg. The recommended starting dose for people with seasonal affective disorder is 150 mg, taken during the autumn and winter months.

 

Wellbutrin XL Dosage: An Introduction

The dose of Wellbutrin XL® (bupropion XL) that your healthcare provider prescribes will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may currently be taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your Wellbutrin XL dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Wellbutrin XL Dosage for Depression

The recommended starting dose of Wellbutrin XL for depression is 150 mg, taken once daily in the morning. As soon as the fourth day, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to 300 mg once daily. To help avoid Wellbutrin seizures, the maximum recommended Wellbutrin XL dosage is 450 mg a day. Also, your healthcare provider should increase your dose slowly.
 
For people with liver problems (such as liver failure or cirrhosis), the maximum Wellbutrin XL dose is 100 mg, taken once daily, or 150 mg, taken every other day.
 

Wellbutrin XL Dosage for Seasonal Affective Disorder

When treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), Wellbutrin XL is taken only during the autumn and winter months.
 You may start with Wellbutrin XL 150 mg once daily in the morning in the autumn months before your depression symptoms start. After one week, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to Wellbutrin XL 300 mg a day.
 
Wellbutrin XL is usually stopped in early spring. Your healthcare provider should taper your dose when stopping the medication. It should be reduced to Wellbutrin XL 150 mg once daily for two weeks before stopping the medication altogether (see Stopping Wellbutrin XL).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;