Posted by Racer on November 22, 2005, at 18:19:41
In reply to Re: wellbutrin and seizures..., posted by overtheedge on November 21, 2005, at 5:28:34
This is only from what my pdoc told me:
EDs have a way of screwing with our body chemistry, which tends to lower the seizure threshold. Wellbutrin also lowers the seizure threshold, which raises the risk too high to use it in someone with an ED.
Yes, it tends to be much more dangerous in those who b/p, but my pdoc said he wouldn't risk it with me unless I was working with an RD to normalize my eating, and even then he'd stop it if he found that I was restricting again. (Yes, he and the RD do communicate.)
How much of a risk is it? That varies according to the studies you look at, but the number I see most often is about 1 in 250 people with have a seizure. That's a fairly high risk, and doctors lose their licenses if they take that sort of risk with patients, so I wouldn't expect your doctor to be willing to try it.
On the other hand, the risk is very much dose and form related: the more med hits your bloodstream at any given time, the greater the likelihood of a seizure. So the sustained or extended release versions are not quite as dangerous as the regular, and very low doses are less dangerous than higher doses. But at this point, there have now been reports of seizures on the XL, too. My pdoc nearly stopped my WB because of that -- pretty good incentive to work on hitting my meal plan.
poster:Racer
thread:580689
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051119/msgs/581340.html