Posted by Cam W. on November 22, 2001, at 10:42:05
In reply to Re: After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout? » Cam W., posted by pat c. on November 22, 2001, at 8:36:29
Pat - Yes, the anxiety and irritability does disappear. Actually, I found that there is 2 phases of this with Wellbutrin™ (bupropion). The first is when you start taking the drug (ie. a start-up side effect). This is where you seem to vibrate about an inch off of your chair and get annoyed fairly easily. This usually ends within 3 weeks of when you begin the drug, and is one of the main reasons that you start by taking only one tablet daily for the first 7 days.
The second bout of anxiety and irritability seems to occur between 3 to 6 weeks after starting the twice a day dosing. In this instance, the onset is incidious and you really don't realize it's happening until you blow up at people, for little to no reason. This doesn't happen to everyone.
I like to tell people about this second incidence because I find that it is one of the major reasons for people stopping Wellbutrin therapy. I found that when this happened to me, I would intentionally look for people to piss me off in traffic, just so that I could yell at them. You might find yourself yelling at (ie. over-reacting to) little things that your spouse or children do.
The main reason I talk about this second phase of irritability is that, if you know that it may occur, you can watch for it and take measures to minimize the adverse effects it may have on those around you. Tell people close to you that you may yell at them for no reason and that it is the drug, not you. Tell them that this phase WILL end.
•••For most people this phase lasts a week, usually no more than two weeks.•••
It can be quite embarrassing, and you do ask yourself why you exploded at a trivial incident.
Just remember, it does end; and the anxiety does fade, as well.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:84883
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84906.html