Posted by Simcha on December 31, 2003, at 14:18:31
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin efficacy, posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 22:28:46
I just switched to the XL version of Wellbutrin. My pdoc increased the dosage from 200mg(that was SR) to 300mg of the XL. I was having some depression and it seems to have been mitigated by the increase. I have more energy now and I feel better. Sleep has been a bit more challenging.
I have turned to herbal supplements to help with sleep. Some of the herbs I have tried with some success are: Passionflower, Chamomile, Scullcap, Valerian. I also take Neurontin at night usually 600mg. My pdoc just gave me extra Neurontin in the form of 100mg capsules to take as needed. He told me I can take more when I have trouble sleeping. This does help too.
Wellbutrin is not for everyone. If you find that your depression is not significantly better after 5 or 6 weeks then perhaps it's time to re-evaluate the medicine. My current pdoc believes in addressing depression very aggressively. If something is not working he will up the dose or switch me right away. He has convinced me that waiting around for something to work only works if there is some marked improvement at about the 2 to 4 week mark. He acknowledges that it can take up to 8 weeks to see the full effects of the medication yet he believes that 2 to 4 weeks is enough to see if a drug is going to work.
Also my pdoc has told me to try to take the XL formulation at night. The reasoning is that it takes 8 hours for the med to really kick in. Supposedly by taking it at night, my system would have the lowest concentration of Wellbutrin the following night and it should be easier to sleep. So far, and this is only day two of trying this, I've had a small indication that this might work for me.
Wellbutrin was originally an add-on medication to boost the effects of the 40mg of Celexa I take in the morning. Now I'm on a therapeutic dose of it along with the Celexa. Apparently I need to have seratonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine more available for my brain.
Everyone seems to be different as to what works or doesn't work. Depression is still somewhat of a mystery as to the causes. My suspicion is that we will find out that there are many more different sub-types of depression in the very near future. Until that time we are guessing with medication at best.
Remember that with all of these medications your mileage may vary.
Simcha
poster:Simcha
thread:294779
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031231/msgs/295143.html