Posted by Cam W. on September 18, 2001, at 20:26:29
In reply to max wellbutrin dose, posted by gdog on September 18, 2001, at 15:25:05
Gdog - I have personally been involved in 2 cases of Wellbutrin™ (bupropion)-induced seizures, and have heard of 2 more in our area. All four cases were drug-induced, with the two people taking low doses of traditional antipsychotics (Case #1 - taking 100mg of Largactil™ - clorpromazine; Case #2 - taking 50mg of Mellaril™ - thioridazine).
In both of cases I was involved in, the psychiatrists had figured that the doses of the traditional antipsychotics were too small to decrease the seizure threshold by a significant amount. Indeed, both of these docs had used similar combinations uneventfully (and with higher doses of the traditional antipsychotics).
I would expect of drugs that lower seizure threshold (esp. TCAs) would have a propensity to induce seizures, when taken together. I have never seen a combination of Wellbutrin and a TCA causing a seizure, but I have heard of it happening (so I don't know if there were other extenuating circumstances in these cases). I cannot remember what the drugs were in the other 2 cases in our area.
Even though the risk of seizures caused by Wellbutrin may be exaggerated, the relative risk of having a seizure at the 450mg/day dose is 4x greater than at the 300mg/day dose. Any risk is still a risk, and needs to be respected.
My 2˘ - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:79007
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/79030.html