Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 61029

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Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin

Posted by Louisa on April 24, 2001, at 15:40:16

I have just started taking Wellbutrin for depression, and I've noticed a new, marked sensitivity to fluorescent lights. I'm sitting in my office trying to write a lecture, and my head is aching miserably -- when I hold my hand up to shield my eyes from the overhead fluorescent light, I feel tremendous relief. Obviously, I'm headed to Office Max to pick up a non-fluorescent office light, but I'm a little worried about the seizure threshold problem with Wellbutrin. I seem to recall that some people get migraines from fluorescent lights, and I remember tons of Japanese kids having seizures after watching a TV show with problematic flickering recently. Could the fluorescent light be triggering something it shouldn't?

I'm seeing my new pdoc on Friday, but I have two lectures to write before then!

Thanks for any info --

Louisa

 

Re: Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin

Posted by SalArmy4me on April 24, 2001, at 15:48:03

In reply to Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin, posted by Louisa on April 24, 2001, at 15:40:16

You have little to worry about with the seizure risk on Wellbutrin. The incidence of seizures is 1.7% (http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/buprop_ad.htm). And I have never talked to someone here that has had a seizure; the doctors I know haven't seen seizures with Wellbutrin...

 

Wellbutrin's supposed seizure risk is unfounded

Posted by PhoenixGirl on April 24, 2001, at 16:19:27

In reply to Re: Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin, posted by SalArmy4me on April 24, 2001, at 15:48:03

Because as far as I know, people who get seizures from Wellbutrin are the underweight ones with eating disorders, and even they don't get it that often. I think that the supposed seizure risk for Wellbutrin is nonsense, just like it was nonsense for amineptine to go out of production. *sigh*

You have little to worry about with the seizure risk on Wellbutrin. The incidence of seizures is 1.7% (http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/buprop_ad.htm). And I have never talked to someone here that has had a seizure; the doctors I know haven't seen seizures with Wellbutrin...

 

Re: Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin

Posted by sl on May 3, 2001, at 20:50:47

In reply to Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin, posted by Louisa on April 24, 2001, at 15:40:16

This is very weird, I'd SWEAR I already answered this post, but somehow it never got there. Very weird.

Anyway, yeah, I had that problem too, now that you mention it. I was getting nasty migraine-level headaches, while I was on the higher-dosage of Wellbutrin. Not much at the lower-dosage, tho.

I think I'd mentioned that the thing with the japanese kids and video games were flashing lights triggering hidden epilepsy (from what I remember) not something I'd expect from a drug.

The other thing....try wearing sunglasses, if you get the right color/tint then it won't hamper your vision at all and it might keep the headaches at bay. :)

sl


> I have just started taking Wellbutrin for depression, and I've noticed a new, marked sensitivity to fluorescent lights. I'm sitting in my office trying to write a lecture, and my head is aching miserably -- when I hold my hand up to shield my eyes from the overhead fluorescent light, I feel tremendous relief. Obviously, I'm headed to Office Max to pick up a non-fluorescent office light, but I'm a little worried about the seizure threshold problem with Wellbutrin. I seem to recall that some people get migraines from fluorescent lights, and I remember tons of Japanese kids having seizures after watching a TV show with problematic flickering recently. Could the fluorescent light be triggering something it shouldn't?
>
> I'm seeing my new pdoc on Friday, but I have two lectures to write before then!
>
> Thanks for any info --
>
> Louisa

 

Re: Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin

Posted by Lorraine on May 3, 2001, at 21:33:30

In reply to Fluorescent lights and Wellbutrin, posted by Louisa on April 24, 2001, at 15:40:16

> Wellbutrin has visual side effects. They are listed in the PDR. In my case, I hallucinated or had dancing lights if I went from a dark room to a well lighted room (exiting movie theater, getting up in the morning). I also had visual trails like you get on LSD. I don't think they are a prelude to anything--just a side effect that you need to determine if you can live with.

I have just started taking Wellbutrin for depression, and I've noticed a new, marked sensitivity to fluorescent lights. I'm sitting in my office trying to write a lecture, and my head is aching miserably -- when I hold my hand up to shield my eyes from the overhead fluorescent light, I feel tremendous relief. Obviously, I'm headed to Office Max to pick up a non-fluorescent office light, but I'm a little worried about the seizure threshold problem with Wellbutrin. I seem to recall that some people get migraines from fluorescent lights, and I remember tons of Japanese kids having seizures after watching a TV show with problematic flickering recently. Could the fluorescent light be triggering something it shouldn't?
>
> I'm seeing my new pdoc on Friday, but I have two lectures to write before then!
>
> Thanks for any info --
>
> Louisa


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