Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by amyw on August 14, 2000, at 20:32:31
I had written about my 18 year old son on wellbutrin. Today we saw the doctor and he thought that maybe the increase in effectiveness was because he had been on a small dose of prozac at the beginning of the wellbutrin and then it left his system. Any one have expereince with the two together? Also, a lot of his symptoms are physical - dry mouth, weakness, etc. - do other peopoe experience these symptoms in relation to anxiety and depression? He gets so fucused on thse symptoms that he can't stand it. THat focus is what the wellbutrin ahd seemed to help.
Now he is on 400 wellbutrin and 10 prozac. THe docotr does suspect some sipolar and topamax may be next in a few weeks.He is afraid about starting college, but I am afraid for him to continue sitting in the house. I think the stimulation will be good for him even if he doesn't feel great. Any thoughts? He really doesn't do much at home and has stopped seeing friends, etc.
Posted by MrBill on August 16, 2000, at 14:43:20
In reply to wellbutrin and prozac added today and college?, posted by amyw on August 14, 2000, at 20:32:31
Amy:
I am in a similar position. I was taking effexor but it ran out of gas. Added prozac and wellbutrin and getting off the effexor 75 mg/day. I have found prozac itself very beneficial. More calming, better focus, and more social. In my first few days on wellbutrin (300 mg),
it has provided energy and drive. Some side effects (e.g. dry mouth), but minor. However, even the energy may be a side effect, which along with other symptoms, may disappear over time. That is, the real benefit may be as an antidepressant. Biochemically the combination makes sense in that prozac is specific to serotonin, while wellbutrin appears to have a minor effect on norepinepherine and dopamine levels. While none of my business, I can understand your son's anxiety in stabilizing before college, which is stressful enough. I guess I would go for the minimal dose of each so that he is acclimated, then increase as needed once he gets established. Good luck to the both of you.Bill
Posted by jzp on August 18, 2000, at 20:05:37
In reply to wellbutrin and prozac added today and college?, posted by amyw on August 14, 2000, at 20:32:31
Hi,
I don't want to presume to know what's really going on with your son and whether he should go to school, but I'm going to give you my $.02 anyway. I'm a 24-year-old graduate school dropout, suffering from bipolar II since late high school, and I have lots and lots and LOTS of experience dealing with depression and college, so I hope that this will at least be a little helpful to you.
First, where is your son going to school? Nearby or far away? Would it be possible for him to take 1 or 2 classes instead of a full courseload? Where will he be living? From personal experience, I can say that going to a new city and a new school while depressed is a bad, bad idea. Starting college is a very stressful experience, and you don't want to set him up for failure. However, if he'll be nearby, or living at home, it might be easier. My best suggestion is for him to try a few classes and see how it goes. If it's too much, he can withdraw from the classes or take incompletes. I have found professors to be, on the whole, pretty understanding of these kinds of things.
The number one priority should be getting functioning again. I understand why you want him to be out and about and doing something, but it's important to be realistic about how much "stimulation" he can handle. Keep in mind that while it is important to try to do SOMETHING every day, depression is a debilitating illness.
I hope this is of some help to you. My thoughts are with your son-- I've been through it and I know how hard it is. He is lucky to have a parent like you.
Take care,
Jannette
Posted by Chris A. on August 18, 2000, at 22:24:44
In reply to wellbutrin and prozac added today and college?, posted by amyw on August 14, 2000, at 20:32:31
Janette's experience rang bells for me. It is very hard to think, concentrate and build new relationships when depressed. I dropped out of undergrad school twice, both times far away from home while very depressed. School was easier closer to home because there were more support systems in place. If your son does choose to take classes hopefully he can take some in which he is highly interested or already has a mastery of the subject. He needs to be encouraged, but yet not set up for failure, a delicate balance requiring some hard decisions. Eventually I completed a masters, so there is hope.
My heart and prayers go out to you as you find the right diagnosis and treatment. It is not easy being a parent sometimes.Blessings,
Chris A.
Posted by amyw on August 20, 2000, at 8:49:19
In reply to Re: wellbutrin and prozac added today and college?, posted by jzp on August 18, 2000, at 20:05:37
Thanks for the feedback. He is going to the Univ. of Delaware which is only 85 miles away. His depression is not severe - his main problem now is occasional binge eating which he feels he can not control and the self-hatred afterwards. However, he has no friends here because of how bad his depression has been and there is tension between his step-dad and him so I feel that the stimulation at college may help the binge thing. It only happens when he is bored, anxious and alone.
I do realize the risks and I have left it up to him. However, even though he had a binge yesterday, he wants to go and is excited about it. He is trying the wellbutrin alone for a whiole again and thinks part of why it stopped working was a reaction to the hepatitis vaccine. I encouraged him to get counseling and support at shcool and I hope he iwll do it. He has become pretty dependent on me and I am hoping the independence will help.
Hopwever, realistically speaking, I know that this may be setting him up for failure.
His load of classes is not bad and he is majoring in exercise physiology which he is really intersted in.
All I can say is that all of this really started two years ago when he lost a lot of weight and it is as if he hasn't healed yet. His diagnosis has been eating disorder, depression, OCD, possible bipolar- they are never sure.
This is the end of the thread.
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