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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LorraineB on March 11, 2001, at 21:17:01
I have been talking Buspar for generalized anxiety
and Wellburtin for mild bipolar for about 4 months
now. They do help my anxiety and mood swings, BUT . . .
they make me absolutely fatigued. This isn't I-didn't
-get-enough-sleep-the-last-few-nights fatigue. I am
talking about immobilozing sleepiness. What's worse,
I'm restless at night. My cousin suggested diet
pills for energy. But I need another solution.
ANYTHING will help. I'm very desparete.Mary
Posted by JohnX on March 11, 2001, at 22:51:54
In reply to Help me, posted by LorraineB on March 11, 2001, at 21:17:01
> I have been talking Buspar for generalized anxiety
> and Wellburtin for mild bipolar for about 4 months
> now. They do help my anxiety and mood swings, BUT . . .
> they make me absolutely fatigued. This isn't I-didn't
> -get-enough-sleep-the-last-few-nights fatigue. I am
> talking about immobilozing sleepiness. What's worse,
> I'm restless at night. My cousin suggested diet
> pills for energy. But I need another solution.
> ANYTHING will help. I'm very desparete.
>
> Mary
Mary,Can you supply a little background on how you started taking the two meds, and at what dosing schedule? Also, at what point in time did you start to experience extreme fatigue? Generally Buspar is neutral on fatigue and Wellbutrin combats fatigue.
Have you had a thorough physical to check for other causes like hypo-thyroid which will most definately cause fatigue and depression ?
-John
Posted by JohnX on March 12, 2001, at 1:07:25
In reply to Re: Help me, posted by JohnX on March 11, 2001, at 22:51:54
> > I have been talking Buspar for generalized anxiety
> > and Wellburtin for mild bipolar for about 4 months
> > now. They do help my anxiety and mood swings, BUT . . .
> > they make me absolutely fatigued. This isn't I-didn't
> > -get-enough-sleep-the-last-few-nights fatigue. I am
> > talking about immobilozing sleepiness. What's worse,
> > I'm restless at night. My cousin suggested diet
> > pills for energy. But I need another solution.
> > ANYTHING will help. I'm very desparete.
> >
> > Mary
>
>
> Mary,
>
> Can you supply a little background on how you started taking the two meds, and at what dosing schedule? Also, at what point in time did you start to experience extreme fatigue? Generally Buspar is neutral on fatigue and Wellbutrin combats fatigue.
>
> Have you had a thorough physical to check for other causes like hypo-thyroid which will most definately cause fatigue and depression ?
>
> -JohnA few other thoughts/questions:
- Are you taking any vitamin/mineral/herbal
supplements? If so what?Mega-Vitamins can be energizing at 1st, but
over time they may be imbalanced and cause
metabolic inefficiencies (vitamintosis). I would stick with
a simple one a day type vitamin (with RDA, not
1000x RDA yada)if you want to take a supplement.- How has your appetite or weight been as of late?
Wellbutrin has been known to cause weight loss.
Part of that can be due to its appetite suppression.
If you are inadvertantly excessively cutting down your calories (i.e. your body's fuel), this may cause fatigue over time.
Also, are you taking any special diet?- How active (excersize, etc) are you?
Too much/Too little can cause fatigue.
- Sleep patterns? (I know you didn't want to harp
on this, but it is important to know)- Any allergy symptoms? (Dark circles under eyes,congestion).
- Before you were prescribed the meds, did your
physician run diagnostic tests to rule out
any other ailments (such as hypothyroid, as I mentioned earlier) ?
- Has your fatigue been accompanied by other depression symptoms like lack of interest in activities?- Have you been having many manic episodes since
on the meds ?Feel too energetic for short spurts,
can't sleep, grand thoughts?
Posted by jb on March 13, 2001, at 13:11:08
In reply to Help me, posted by LorraineB on March 11, 2001, at 21:17:01
> I have been talking Buspar for generalized anxiety
> and Wellburtin for mild bipolar for about 4 months
> now. They do help my anxiety and mood swings, BUT . . .
> they make me absolutely fatigued. This isn't I-didn't
> -get-enough-sleep-the-last-few-nights fatigue. I am
> talking about immobilozing sleepiness. What's worse,
> I'm restless at night. My cousin suggested diet
> pills for energy. But I need another solution.
> ANYTHING will help. I'm very desparete.
>
> Mary
Hi, Mary. Modafinil, 200 mg/day, is supposed to be very good at restoring alertness, energy, etc., without interfering with normal nightime sleep. It's been prescribed for narcolepsy (falling asleep during the day without realizing it), but is also prescribed for the daytime fatigue, sleepiness, etc.Please talk to your psychdoc about this.
See you and good luck.
John B (:)
Posted by JohnX on March 17, 2001, at 7:43:34
In reply to Re: Help me Mary, posted by jb on March 13, 2001, at 13:11:08
> > I have been talking Buspar for generalized anxiety
> > and Wellburtin for mild bipolar for about 4 months
> > now. They do help my anxiety and mood swings, BUT . . .
> > they make me absolutely fatigued. This isn't I-didn't
> > -get-enough-sleep-the-last-few-nights fatigue. I am
> > talking about immobilozing sleepiness. What's worse,
> > I'm restless at night. My cousin suggested diet
> > pills for energy. But I need another solution.
> > ANYTHING will help. I'm very desparete.
> >
> > Mary
>
>
> Hi, Mary. Modafinil, 200 mg/day, is supposed to be very good at restoring alertness, energy, etc., without interfering with normal nightime sleep. It's been prescribed for narcolepsy (falling asleep during the day without realizing it), but is also prescribed for the daytime fatigue, sleepiness, etc.
>
> Please talk to your psychdoc about this.
>
> See you and good luck.
>
> John B (:)John B/Mary,
What do you think the possible impact is for a bipolar paitient not taking a mood stabilizer or low dose anti-psychotic. My pdocs have told me that true bipolars can be destabilized (inducing more rapid cycling) by anti-depressants by themselves. I took unipolar meds for a long time and had a lot of see-saw action, finally a doctor told me I was bp II (i.e. "mildly bipolar") where the hypomanic symptoms are harder to diagnose. That's why I was trying to see if Mary was potentially having intermittent hypomanic episodes followed by slumps into atypical depression symptoms (i.e. was the tiredness accompanied by lack of interest or pleasure in activities). A mood stablizer may be appropriate if this was the case.
Otherwise, I do agree that a low dose stimulant like Provigil or even Adderall would help with the sleepiness even though it is rare for those on Wellbutrin to feel sleepy, hence my diet questions. My own experience on Adderall was similar to Wellbutrin, at 1st I felt like I had a rush of energy and both tended to shorten my sleep. But after a few weeks, I found myself eating less food since the meds killed my appetite and at that point I was really tired. Forcing supplementation of calories with easy to digest balanced health drinks cured my problem.
If your not really sure of the underpinning reason I think its best to discuss it with your physician.
Good luck.
-John
Posted by Cindylou on March 19, 2001, at 0:09:20
In reply to Re: Help me Mary, posted by JohnX on March 17, 2001, at 7:43:34
Hi Mary,
I had the same problem with the Buspar Wellbutrin combo. The Wellbutrin does not make me tired, but the Buspar made me extremely fatigued, and the Wellbutrin didn't do anything to help it. Perhaps it is the Buspar causing the fatigue? Did you start them both at the same time?Just something to check out ...
good luck,
cindy> > > I have been talking Buspar for generalized anxiety
> > > and Wellburtin for mild bipolar for about 4 months
> > > now. They do help my anxiety and mood swings, BUT . . .
> > > they make me absolutely fatigued. This isn't I-didn't
> > > -get-enough-sleep-the-last-few-nights fatigue. I am
> > > talking about immobilozing sleepiness. What's worse,
> > > I'm restless at night. My cousin suggested diet
> > > pills for energy. But I need another solution.
> > > ANYTHING will help. I'm very desparete.
> > >
> > > Mary
> >
> >
> > Hi, Mary. Modafinil, 200 mg/day, is supposed to be very good at restoring alertness, energy, etc., without interfering with normal nightime sleep. It's been prescribed for narcolepsy (falling asleep during the day without realizing it), but is also prescribed for the daytime fatigue, sleepiness, etc.
> >
> > Please talk to your psychdoc about this.
> >
> > See you and good luck.
> >
> > John B (:)
>
> John B/Mary,
>
> What do you think the possible impact is for a bipolar paitient not taking a mood stabilizer or low dose anti-psychotic. My pdocs have told me that true bipolars can be destabilized (inducing more rapid cycling) by anti-depressants by themselves. I took unipolar meds for a long time and had a lot of see-saw action, finally a doctor told me I was bp II (i.e. "mildly bipolar") where the hypomanic symptoms are harder to diagnose. That's why I was trying to see if Mary was potentially having intermittent hypomanic episodes followed by slumps into atypical depression symptoms (i.e. was the tiredness accompanied by lack of interest or pleasure in activities). A mood stablizer may be appropriate if this was the case.
>
> Otherwise, I do agree that a low dose stimulant like Provigil or even Adderall would help with the sleepiness even though it is rare for those on Wellbutrin to feel sleepy, hence my diet questions. My own experience on Adderall was similar to Wellbutrin, at 1st I felt like I had a rush of energy and both tended to shorten my sleep. But after a few weeks, I found myself eating less food since the meds killed my appetite and at that point I was really tired. Forcing supplementation of calories with easy to digest balanced health drinks cured my problem.
>
> If your not really sure of the underpinning reason I think its best to discuss it with your physician.
>
> Good luck.
>
> -John
This is the end of the thread.
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