Is It Safe To Drink Coffee While Taking Wellbutrin?

Heavy eyes, foggy mind, and a cranky disposition — this is the typical morning view for some before their first cup of coffee. For many people, the morning would be an unimaginably incomplete point in time without a cup or two of coffee. Coffee is a product that comes from the berries of a particular species of coffee plants (via the National Coffee Association). The coffee beans come from coffee cherries, and are processed and roasted before they make their way into your cup. 

Coffee contains a stimulant known as caffeine — about 95 milligrams per cup — that has many effects on the brain and body, reports Healthline. For example, while moderate amounts of caffeine can promote your metabolism, frame of mind, and overall performance, too much caffeine may lead to anxiety, poor sleep, and exhaustion (per Healthline). Given the health benefits of caffeine, you might wonder if drinking coffee can help with depression.

A 2018 study published in the journal Nutrients found that those who consumed 4 or more cups of coffee a day were at lower risk of depression than those who consumed less than one cup per day. Notably, the study excluded those who used antidepressant medication. According to HealthCentral, caffeine and antidepressants can have some adverse interactions. Here's everything you need to know.

Wellbutrin, generic name bupropion, is an antidepressant medication commonly used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), reports the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is also used to help people quit smoking. Some common side effects of Wellbutrin may include — but are not limited to — dizziness, headache, increased heartbeat, nausea, and poor sleep. Wellbutrin, like caffeine, affects the central nervous system (i.e., the brain), so you might wonder if it is ok to take the two at the same time.

According to Drugs.com, caffeine and Wellbutrin have a moderately rated drug interaction that may result in raised blood pressure. Further, consuming caffeine alongside Wellbutrin may increase certain side effects of the antidepressant, like poor sleep (via WellRx). But that does not mean that you need to avoid caffeine entirely if you take Wellbutrin, as these adverse effects are only noted when consuming excessive amounts of caffeine. HealthCentral notes that while a single standard cup of coffee may be ok, any more than that could bring you one cup over the line. When you take coffee and an antidepressant together, they can stick around in your system for longer than they would on their own. So if you are sensitive to caffeine, consider cutting back on your coffee intake while on Wellbutrin.