Posted by medlib on February 26, 2000, at 3:39:52
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin +mania, posted by Renee N on February 26, 2000, at 1:37:09
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> > > Medlib, Wellbutrin is not usually prescribed for bipolar disorder. It can induce mania in those who are susceptable. Renee N
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> > Wellbutrin actually has a smaller chance to induce mania than the SSRI's. This is why a lot of doc's do prescribe it for BPD.
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> Cam W. or Dr. Bob, Please help us out here. What have you read, know, or have experience with concerning Wellbutrin and mania and Bipolar disorder?Renee and Brandon--
Thanks for the input! Renee, when I read your first post my initial reaction was, "Uhoh, that'll teach me to pop off on impulse." I wouldn't put it past my brother to have found success with something no other BPD in North America uses. He's that weird. Although never formally diagnosed as bipolar, he did take Lithium for several months before the side effects drove him off of it. (He takes 600mg./day of Wellbutrin and has had no mania, but episodic depression, for 2+ years.)
Normally, I don't make a suggestion or offer what I believe to be a fact without something to back it up; this time I had. When Brandon's post came in, I decided to do what I should have done in the first place. A quick-and-dirty Medline search turned up this citation on the first page of the results. Frances AJ et al, "The Expert Consensus Guidelines for Treating Depression in Bipolar Disorder." J Clin Psychiatry. 1998; 59 Suppl 4:73-79. From the abstract:
"Among the antidepressants, the experts prefer bupropion and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as first line. They also believe that bupropion is least likely among antidepressants to cause switches to mania."Of course, this is just one study. If I had the energy, I'd go search AHCPR to see if that's made it to government officialdom.
Interesting point, anyway. I'd like to hear from psych clinicians, too.
medlib
poster:medlib
thread:23620
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000220/msgs/23964.html