Winter depression guide

Winter depression prevention online

For adults 18 to 64 who got depressed in the fall or winter for at least 2 winters in a row, felt well each spring, and feel well now, before their low season starts.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Winter depression.

Some people get depressed every fall or winter and feel well again in spring. This is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression. A daily pill called bupropion XL (Wellbutrin XL) is approved by the FDA to help keep it from coming back. You start it in the fall, before your low mood starts. You take it through the winter, and you slowly stop it in early spring. A bright light box can help too. If your low mood has already started, our anxiety and depression visit treats it instead.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Already in ongoing care with us for this? Check-ins are $39 (your first one is free).

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless, or losing interest in things, most of the day for 2 weeks or more, starting in the fall or winter
Sleeping more, eating more, or having low energy in the winter months
Trouble focusing, and work, school, or home life getting hard in winter
Feeling well again each spring or summer

May fit online care

Adults 18 and older
You are 18 to 64
You had depression that started in the fall or winter for at least 2 winters in a row, and felt well each spring or summer
Your low times come mostly in fall or winter
You feel well now, your low season has not started, and you have a blood pressure reading under 160/100 from the last 3 months

Look for another care setting

Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in any way (call or text 988, or call 911).
Feeling down, tired, or less interested in things on many days now (use our anxiety and depression visit instead).
Age 65 or older.
Pregnancy, possible pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
Narrow-angle glaucoma, or narrow angles in the eyes, that have not been treated.
A blood pressure of 160/100 or higher, or no reading in the last 3 months.
A seizure ever, epilepsy, a bad head injury, a brain or spine tumor or infection, a bad stroke, or a blood vessel problem in the brain.
Anorexia or bulimia, now or in the past.
Low sodium, low oxygen, or using oxygen.
An allergy to bupropion.
Mania, hypomania, bipolar disorder, or psychosis, or a past stay in a hospital for your mental health or a past suicide attempt or self-harm.
A heart attack, stroke, worsening heart chest pain, or serious heart rhythm problem in the last 12 months.
Liver or kidney disease.
Taking bupropion already, another medicine for depression or mood, or a medicine for psychosis.
An MAOI, linezolid, methylene blue, tamoxifen, flecainide, or propafenone.
Heavy drinking or drug use, or just stopping alcohol or a sleep, nerve, or seizure medicine all at once.

What to have ready

The months your low mood usually starts and ends, and how many winters it has happened
A blood pressure reading from the last 3 months, with the date
Every medicine, vitamin, and supplement you take
The name of any doctor or counselor who has checked your winter mood, if any

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

About Ankur Fadia, MD Verify Virginia medical license Verify West Virginia medical license Verify board certification

How does the medicine help prevent winter depression?

Bupropion XL is approved by the FDA to help keep winter depression from coming back. You take one tablet each morning, starting in the fall before your low mood starts. Your doctor may raise the dose at your 2-week check-in. In early spring, you slowly stop it.

What if my winter low mood has already started?

This visit is for people who feel well now. If your low mood has already started, please use our anxiety and depression visit, which treats depression. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.

Why do I need check-ins and a blood pressure reading?

Antidepressants can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts in young adults, and bupropion can raise blood pressure. So you check in at 2 weeks and then each month, and you send a blood pressure and pulse reading each time. If you are 18 to 24, we also check in after 1 week. The first check-in is free.

Other conditions we treat

Not quite what you have? Here are other conditions we treat.

Adult ADHD (non-stimulant)Anxiety & depression Grief and adjustment support Insomnia (trouble sleeping)Panic attacks Performance anxiety