Posted by Catherine Sheel on May 9, 2006, at 11:11:38
I've read posts regarding wellbutrin and pitting edema; I've had pitting edema (15-20 lbs for 4 months, and then about 5 lbs. of water weight 2 months previously) and been on 300 mg Wellbutrin twice daily for the past 4 years so I went off my Wellbutrin 8 days ago.(I'm also on 125 mg. Topamax BID to supplement the Wellbutrin and Bactim DS every day or eod for acne).
From what I've read...most people have found that their edema resolved within two days or so. Mine has not. I'm on diuretics (many different types, and they help, and then they don't...)...so, I'd have to say -- so far, the edema has not resolved from the discontinuation of the Wellbutrin. Now, granted, it appears that it takes me a long time to clear drugs. (I went off my Mirapex for my Restless Leg Syndrome, and it took 3 weeks to see the effects of the side effects go away).
I'm writing because I feel really, really desperate at this point...what else can I do????? I've gone to my GP -- who is clueless (she even misread my normal thyroid as bordeline low). I've gone to a speciality clinic in Santa Barbara where all my labwork is normal (renal funtion, liver funtion, urinalyis, electrolytes, cortisol...). But that day....my blood pressure was 90/48 (a week off diuretics)...this isn't normal, is it???? The cardiac ultrasound and abdominal CT are pending...but i can't imagine they're abnormal...I'm 37 years old, I run 6 miles a day (when my muscles don't hurt from the edema)...my physical exam was normal...i just don't think i have heart disease or an abdominal tumor...(but i guess I could be wrong...we'll see).
I tell my therapist, my psychiatrist, my internist about the wellbutrin and the possibility of it causing the edema (I also get night rashes)...and they just shrug. Is it the topamax? I can't find anything related to the edema and topamax...so I've left that the same. I don't want to change too many things, you know?
I feel helpless, trapped in this wierd baloon-animal body that is completely out of my control, I feel like no doctor really cares about me or knows what is going on or even wants to know what's going on. I'm scared. I don't want to live my life like this. My clothes and shoes don't even fit. I hurt all over. I can't even do repetitive things like stir...my arms begin to hurt. Sometimes i think it will be ok...when I lose a few lbs. of water weight...but then literally 3 hours later -- i'll gain like 5-7 lbs of water weight back, and I swear! I think I'm going to lose my mind.
Please, please give me some hope!
-c
poster:Catherine Sheel
thread:641723
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060504/msgs/641723.html