Posted by Else on July 4, 2001, at 22:19:04
In reply to ADs and seizures, posted by Joe Schmoe on July 4, 2001, at 19:53:52
> I am now starting on Wellbutrin. This drug seems to have gotten a lot of bad press due to risk of seizures and the information that comes with it always mentions seizures, e.g. don't drink any alcohol because it can lower the seizure threshold, don't use short-acting benzos like xanax because they lower the seizure threshold, etc. etc.
>
> But when I looked into it closer, it appears that it actually has the same seizure rate as SSRIs like Prozac and Paxil, and actually less risk than the other SSRIs! Zoloft has a higher seizure risk than Wellbutrin for example.
>
> Here is an article:
> http://www.salon.com/sex/feature/2000/09/26/wellbutrin/
>
> I don't understand why seizures are never discussed with regard to SSRIs. Are people on Paxil at risk for a seizure if they drink alcohol or take xanax? If so, nobody told me when I was given Paxil. What is going on here?
>
> I am willing to give up all alcohol while on Wellbutrin if it is necessary to avoid seizures, but it sure seems odd that the guy sitting next to me can be putting away a few beers when he is on Paxil or Zoloft, when he is at the same risk as I am. Does anybody have the facts on seizures with these drugs? Is it really necessary to never have a glass of wine while on Wellbutrin? If so, why aren't similar warnings handed out with the SSRIs? The only warnings I hear about alcohol with SSRIs, Serzone etc. is "Alcohol is a depressant so it can defeat the purpose of the AD" not "Alcohol will give you a seizure!"This is a personnal account. Wellbutrin WILL probably give you a seizure if taken in overdose. I know because I have done it twice. I don't reconmend it (projectile vomitting, visual hallucinations, convulsions, delirium, etc...). I've now been on it for two month and no longer do stupid self-destructive things. I have had drinks but have never gone on a bender, I've taken Xanax with no dire consequences. If you're not epileptic I don't *personnally* see why you should avoid alcohol. Anyway, I think the main difference is that SSRIs are not as likely to give you seizures if you take the whole bottle as Wellbutrin is. If you don't plan on doing that (and once again I don't recommend it) I think you will be o.k.. I have been and I have a low convulsive threshold.
And besides, that warning is probably aimed at alcoholics who indeed have an increased chance of seizure when they stop drinking. The Wellbutrin would probably compound that. But I don't think it's aimed at social drinkers, really.
poster:Else
thread:68976
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010701/msgs/69009.html