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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BrendaF on May 19, 2000, at 8:26:47
Hi. First of all, would like to say -- thank God for this site,
Just started Wellbutrin 3 days ago and seem to be doing pretty good on it so far. No major side effects, just feeling a little wired today---which is a good thing cause I'm usually dragging. Having any energy at all is definitely a rare occurence. Have taken Prozac (7yrs) with Ritalin, and then Effexor with Ritalin for approx 1 yr (gained 12 lbs). These did ok with the depression, but nothing for lack of motivation. I don't want to be a neat freak or triathelete, but it would be nice to have enough motivation to do some things I enjoy--otherwise, what's the point of living. So, my doctor's changed me to the Wellbutrin to see if it would help with that aspect of the depression. (If you're wondering why it took so long to change, it's cause I always figured I was just lazy---pretty common, eh?)I took a few months off the antidepressants and Ritalin after I found out I had a sleep disorder--UARS, similar to sleep apnea--and started sleeping with a cpap. I was sooooo sure that would solve all my problems with depression.....not! So, here I am, giving medication a chance again. It seems like I haven't seen as many success stories with Wellbutrin as the others. Of course, that could just be because it's not as widely used. I've also seen several posts saying it worked at first, but pooped-out.................Has anyone been on this med for a significant amount of time and had success with it? What dosage did you wind up with? Does the effectivenss taper off with time? Any input would be appreciated.
Take care, all!
Posted by Greg on May 19, 2000, at 9:11:25
In reply to Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by BrendaF on May 19, 2000, at 8:26:47
Brenda,
I've been taking Wellbutrin for a little over 3 months and it has worked well for me to a point, I haven't had any major depressive episodes since I've started taking it. I've gone from 150mgs a day to my current 300mgs. Lately it has been leaving me feeling a little irritated, and I think (don't know for sure) may be triggering some increased anxiety. I see my doc today and plan to talk to him about this and possibly discuss changing to a different med or maybe add another med to it to help with the irritation. When I first started taking it I would experience days where I would get very angry for no apparent reason. I was told that this is a normal side-effect for some people. That passed after about 3 or 4 weeks. The wired feeling you are getting is very normal for a lot people, I experienced that for a while as well. Wellbutrin is known to be an activator. But for most people that passes after a while as your system becomes acclamated to the drug. It can also add to your sleeping problems, I have insomnia and the Well certainly didn't do anything to improve that.You may not experience any of the side-effects I have, but this is just what's happened with me. There are a lot of people here that take Wellbutrin and have for a long time, I'm sure that you'll get a lot of input on the subject. Remember YMMV (your mileage may vary).
I hope this helps.
Best of luck with it and take care. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Peace,
Greg> Hi. First of all, would like to say -- thank God for this site,
>
> Just started Wellbutrin 3 days ago and seem to be doing pretty good on it so far. No major side effects, just feeling a little wired today---which is a good thing cause I'm usually dragging. Having any energy at all is definitely a rare occurence. Have taken Prozac (7yrs) with Ritalin, and then Effexor with Ritalin for approx 1 yr (gained 12 lbs). These did ok with the depression, but nothing for lack of motivation. I don't want to be a neat freak or triathelete, but it would be nice to have enough motivation to do some things I enjoy--otherwise, what's the point of living. So, my doctor's changed me to the Wellbutrin to see if it would help with that aspect of the depression. (If you're wondering why it took so long to change, it's cause I always figured I was just lazy---pretty common, eh?)I took a few months off the antidepressants and Ritalin after I found out I had a sleep disorder--UARS, similar to sleep apnea--and started sleeping with a cpap. I was sooooo sure that would solve all my problems with depression.....not! So, here I am, giving medication a chance again. It seems like I haven't seen as many success stories with Wellbutrin as the others. Of course, that could just be because it's not as widely used. I've also seen several posts saying it worked at first, but pooped-out.................Has anyone been on this med for a significant amount of time and had success with it? What dosage did you wind up with? Does the effectivenss taper off with time? Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Take care, all!
Posted by Noa on May 19, 2000, at 13:40:54
In reply to Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by BrendaF on May 19, 2000, at 8:26:47
Brenda, I can relate to the disappointment that the CPAP didn't take care of the depression. I knew that my depression predated my apnea but I still harbored the secret wish.
What CPAP did do was to rid me of some symptoms that I had previously attributed to depression, like constant fatigue, hypersomnolence (I would sleep pretty much straight through from Friday evening until Monday morning, saving all my energy for work), morning headaches, gastrointestinal problems, like reflux, etc.
Now I have more energy to go out and do things, but have still struggled with the other aspects of the depression.
Thyroid problems that got worse in past year brought back the fatigue and lack of energy, but that is now pretty much under control Apparently there is some correlation with apnea and thyroid. I think it has to do with thyroid making tissues swell, etc., not to mention if you have any enlargement of the gland itself.
What is UARS?
I am not taking WB but am considering it. I am in an OK "holding pattern" right now with my meds, but I can tell it is not really the best formula. I have made changes recently that make it much better than before, but am on the lookout for a next strategy, and WB is a possibility, the SR version, I think.
Posted by allisonm on May 19, 2000, at 18:20:34
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by Noa on May 19, 2000, at 13:40:54
I will have taken Wellbutrin SR for a year this June. I don't think that makes me a veteran, tho. My dose was upped to 400 not long ago and I have the same symptoms you do right now. Am waiting for them to subside, especially the irritibility. Grrrrr.
Posted by sandi on May 20, 2000, at 7:21:59
In reply to Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by BrendaF on May 19, 2000, at 8:26:47
Hi- I'm taking wellbutrin sr for the first time, I smoke also. I've been on it for 3 days. I feel jittery sometimes, but I think its coming down from Paxil, which I was on for 4 years. I noticed that the paxil just stopped. I really hit bottom last night and cried a river of tears. Hopefully things will even out and I can feel i'm not losing it. I only tood 20 mgs of paxil a day, and now 150 mg of wellbutrin sr a day. I need to know some expectations of switching to a new drug. Please e-mail me at sandi_thiel@hotmail.com with any help, it would be greatly appreciated. I have 2 small kids, and I have to be normal for them!
Posted by JohnB on May 20, 2000, at 16:54:06
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by Greg on May 19, 2000, at 9:11:25
> Brenda,
I take Wellbutrin and I would echo Greg's post pretty much. It works well as an AD, and is activating, at the cost of some irritability.
Posted by BrendaF on May 20, 2000, at 20:44:30
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by Noa on May 19, 2000, at 13:40:54
>Noa,
Thanks for your response! My depression also started pre-UARS, but you can't blame us for hoping, eh? UARS is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome---my throat closes up enough to make breathing an effort, but not actually stop it completely, as in apnea. Using the cpap does help with the constant sleepiness. I was also able to sleep an incredibly long time and was never, ever ready to get up. I'm not as sleepy now, but have discovered the distinction between sleepiness and fatigue--I had always wondered about that.
When I got off my AD's in January and still felt fatigued, I went to my primary phys. and requested to have my thyroid checked (and I was soooooo sure that would be the culprit....not!) So, I've "given up".....no,no, that isn't a good attitude.....I've decided to stop denying and get back to fighting it. I've got high hopes for WB because it's supposed to be activating and one of my biggest problems is lack of motivation---don't have it for even the things I want to do.I'm on day 5 now and day 2 for taking 300mg. I have had some trouble sleeping but it sounds like it will pass. No irritability yet, but sometimes I feel like I'm not....quite....there, ya know? It seems I'm having pretty good luck as far as side effects go, so far, though.
Hope you find the right combination of medicines.......and I hope I find the right combo......and I hope we can all live happily ever after!
Posted by BrendaF on May 20, 2000, at 20:53:30
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by Greg on May 19, 2000, at 9:11:25
>Greg,
How long were you taking WB before the irritability started? Like I said on my last post, I'm only on day 5.....I'm a single mom with a very active, stong-minded sweetie pie and I need all the patience I can get, so I really hope I don't suffer that side effect!
Not really any other sides except being a little wired and trouble sleeping. Hope it does pass like everyone says. Fingers crossed.....Good luck with your quest for the cure!! Take care, all.......
Posted by ChrisK on May 22, 2000, at 6:56:45
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by BrendaF on May 20, 2000, at 20:53:30
I have had problems with anxiety and panic attacks in the past but after some time on a TCA they have subsided. In January I started taking Wellbutrin and then in February added Adderall. I really haven't had a return of the anxiety problems while taking these in addition to my TCA. I actually got to the point of wanting something activating because even though much of the depression had lifted I never really felt "good."
So far my cocktail includes 5 meds but it seems to be working most of the time for me. If you are still anxious or irrritable you may want to think about a very low dose Benzo like Klonopin to counteract those feelings. At a low dose it shouldn't make you drowsy so you can still take care of the kids without major upset.
Good Luck with whatever you try.
Posted by Orin on May 23, 2000, at 22:52:06
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by BrendaF on May 20, 2000, at 20:44:30
Brenda:
I don't have a breathing problem like yours, but I have used both wellbutrin formulas. The immediate release was effective for depression, but I never got used to dosing three times a day. For some reason, the extended release formula, at an effective dose, kindled up the old OCD dragon, so I had to go off and crank up the zoloft.
Posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 24, 2000, at 12:45:37
In reply to Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by BrendaF on May 19, 2000, at 8:26:47
I took Wellbutrin for a while. I really liked it while I was taking it. It gave me engery, it took away my appitite so I lost weight (I was over weight, so this was a good thing) and it did help me feel better. The one really bad side effect... I got ringing in my ears. I didn't tell my doc about it right away because I liked how the Wellbutrin made me feel. But now it's more than three years since I stopped taking Wellbutrin and my ears are still ringing. If you get that side effect don't make my mistake! Talk to your doc right away.
Hugs!
Posted by allisonm on May 24, 2000, at 17:09:03
In reply to Watch our for ringing in your ears!, posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 24, 2000, at 12:45:37
The ringing was permanent? And you're sure the Well caused it?
And, please forgive me for asking what may be a really stupid question, but what does ringing in your ears sound like? Is it a very high-pitched continuous tone or something else altogether?
Thanks.
Posted by Mommy to an Angel! on May 24, 2000, at 22:40:40
In reply to Re: Watch our for ringing in your ears!, posted by allisonm on May 24, 2000, at 17:09:03
> The ringing was permanent?
Is it permanent... I don't know. I haven't tried to get it treated. It's one of those things that bothers me sometimes, but then I get really busy and I never get around to seeing a doctor about it.
And you're sure the Well caused it?
Well, I think the Wellbutrin caused it. My pdoc mentioned it was a possible side effect when I finally told him about it. I guess you can never be 100% sure of the causal relationship when your environment isn't controled... but I'm pretty sure the Wellbutrin caused it. (Although I'm not in a hurry to sue the company or anything like that.)
>
> And, please forgive me for asking what may be a really stupid question, but what does ringing in your ears sound like? Is it a very high-pitched continuous tone or something else altogether?
>
Yeah.. it's a high-pitched noise. Have you ever been in the woods or other really, really quiet place and you could hear the sound of silence, that's what it sounds like. Another time I had this ringing was after leaving a loud concert. Sometimes I'm more aware of it than at other times. If I'm really busy, I'm not as aware of it as if I'm not doing anything. But once I notice it, it's hard to get distracted again.I saw something or read something that a drug that's already in use for something else may be used to treat ringing in the ears. It's something that I don't fully remember. Do any of you doc or pharmacy types know anything about this?
Thanks:)
Posted by Morgaine on December 16, 2003, at 18:12:30
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by Noa on May 19, 2000, at 13:40:54
I just started on wellbutrin about 3 weeks ago. The
first week I took 100mg, 2nd wk. 200, began on 300
mg. new XL type yesterday. My question is will it cause
liver damage if one regularly drinks red wine only?
There was no mention of it in the patient info sheet
and my doc has not advised me about such. In fact
what's up with the Warning to NOT take it if abruptly
stopping drinking? Any info or experiences would
be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Morgaine
Posted by brussell on December 16, 2003, at 20:53:00
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by Morgaine on December 16, 2003, at 18:12:30
The most serious side effect with Welbutrin is that it can cause seizures at high dosages.
I believe that taking it while in alcohol withdrawl can increase the risk of seizure. This is probably only a problem for heavy drinkers who are detoxifying.
I drank socially on 300 mg Welbutrin with no problems. I have never heard of Welbutrin being associated with liver damage. If it had been, there would definitely be strong warnings in the prescribing info.
Serzone is the only AD I know of that can cause liver damage at normal dosages. It carries a "black box" warning to that effect at the beginning of the prescribing leaflet, and has been taken off the market in some countries for that reason.
Best Wishes
Posted by Morgaine on December 17, 2003, at 10:29:24
In reply to Re: Any Wellbutrin veterans?, posted by brussell on December 16, 2003, at 20:53:00
Thank you Brussell for your quick and informative
response. I am relieved to learn this.
Regards, Morgaine
This is the end of the thread.
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