![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
Hi it seems that everyone out there that is taking wellbutrin sr gets an increase in anxiety. I'd like to hear some positive effects on anxiety and this drug. Why does it increase anxiety? I am starting wellbutrin for my depression and adhd but I guess I'll have to add celexa for my severe anxiety /panic attack problem that I have.
Posted by paxvox on August 16, 2001, at 8:40:33
In reply to Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
Yes, Wellbutrin can cause anxiety or worsen it in the anxiety-prone. Ask Pdoc for a benzo or mood stabilizer to take the edge off the WB. WB is a good mood lifter for depression, but clearly not the first choice for panic/anxiety disorders. Paxil seems to be the SSRI along with Klonopin for that disorder. So....ask your PDoc what the diagnosis is, and verbalize your concerns to him/her. Give the WB about 4 weeks to get the best AD effect, but don't hesitate to ask for the benzo.
Posted by sl on August 16, 2001, at 11:49:21
In reply to Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
Not EVERYONE. I didn't get an increase. It just didn't HELP the anxiety I was already feeling.
Don't ASSUME you'll need another med, give it a chance. You certainly wouldn't be the first to get unforseen effects from a psychiatric med. ;)sl
> Hi it seems that everyone out there that is taking wellbutrin sr gets an increase in anxiety. I'd like to hear some positive effects on anxiety and this drug. Why does it increase anxiety? I am starting wellbutrin for my depression and adhd but I guess I'll have to add celexa for my severe anxiety /panic attack problem that I have.
Posted by Janelle on August 16, 2001, at 13:11:45
In reply to Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
I THINK that part of the reason why Wellbutrin often increases anxiety is because it acts on Dopamine receptors, and increasing Dopamine has been found to be activating.
Posted by paxvox on August 16, 2001, at 17:31:52
In reply to Re: Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety? » AVR, posted by Janelle on August 16, 2001, at 13:11:45
> I THINK that part of the reason why Wellbutrin often increases anxiety is because it acts on Dopamine receptors, and increasing Dopamine has been found to be activating.
Well, yes and no. Wellbutrin is not a dopamine agonist,nor does it bind to dopamine receptors in the CNS. It is postulated that it DOES allow more free-floating dopamine to remain in the sytem. It is the GABA receptors, to which the benzodiazepines have an affinity, that affect the "calm" state of mind. WB definitely does not make one calm.
Posted by Janelle on August 16, 2001, at 18:01:39
In reply to Re: Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety? » Janelle, posted by paxvox on August 16, 2001, at 17:31:52
Thanks for the clarification. I could have sworn that Wellbutrin IS a dopamine agonist and does bbind to dopamine receptors, but I apparently am mistaken.
I guess I thought this because it must block dopamine re-uptake, since it allows more free-floating dopamine to remain in the sytem.
Posted by paxvox on August 16, 2001, at 20:21:39
In reply to Re: Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety? » paxvox, posted by Janelle on August 16, 2001, at 18:01:39
> Thanks for the clarification. I could have sworn that Wellbutrin IS a dopamine agonist and does bbind to dopamine receptors, but I apparently am mistaken.
>
> I guess I thought this because it must block dopamine re-uptake, since it allows more free-floating dopamine to remain in the sytem.According to PDR 2000 " Wellbutrin is a weak blocker of the neuronal uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, it also inhibits the neuronal reuptake of dopamine to some extent...it causes dose-related CNS stimulant effects."
So, while not an agonist of dopamine, it does allow some of it to "free-float".
However, SalArmy4me had a link to the guy that helped develop Wellbutrin originally in the late 1970's that expounds on these issues, and on the efficacy of bupropion.
Posted by Waterlily on August 16, 2001, at 20:48:26
In reply to Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
> Hi it seems that everyone out there that is taking wellbutrin sr gets an increase in anxiety. I'd like to hear some positive effects on anxiety and this drug. Why does it increase anxiety? I am starting wellbutrin for my depression and adhd but I guess I'll have to add celexa for my severe anxiety /panic attack problem that I have.
Well...my experience with it is this - Prior to going on Wellbutrin I was on Zoloft and had a low-grade generalized anxiety. I made the switch to Wellbutrin because I was tired of Zoloft's sexual side effects. My doctor also had me on Luvox to deal with the anxiety portion of my problem. It worked well, but my insurance wouldn't pay for the Luvox so I was left with Wellbutrin only. I functioned well for several years this way until last year, when I got panic attacks. The only organic cause of the attacks could be my use of a pesticide (malathion) in my garden. If the Wellbutrin had caused attacks it would have happened years earlier. I now take imipramine for generalized anxiety every day along with Wellbutrin for depression and have Ativan should I have a panic attack. I haven't needed Ativan in over six months. I don't think that Wellbutrin will necessarily push you over the edge, but it is possible that you may need something else to reduce your anxiety. Hope it works out for you!
Posted by AVR on August 17, 2001, at 5:24:16
In reply to Re: Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety? » Janelle, posted by paxvox on August 16, 2001, at 20:21:39
I am going to my pdoc next week to get klonopin or something similar perscribed for my anxiety and panic attacks. How long does it take for klonopin to work? Is this the best benzo? Will it over come my social anxiety that I have around people?
Posted by paxvox on August 17, 2001, at 7:36:31
In reply to Re: Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 17, 2001, at 5:24:16
> I am going to my pdoc next week to get klonopin or something similar perscribed for my anxiety and panic attacks. How long does it take for klonopin to work? Is this the best benzo? Will it over come my social anxiety that I have around people?
Klonopin is generally the med of choice in panic disorder. It has a longer half-life than other benzos, so it works longer. You may take it at therapeutic doses for years (though there is some discussion on this). I went from Klonopin to tranzene after pdoc thought i was getting a tolerance to Klonopin.
Posted by FreudianGarterBelt on August 18, 2001, at 21:00:57
In reply to Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
The action Welbutrin has on the brain is unknown (last time I checked) It has stimulant properties and shound not be taken by those who have had problems with stimulant dependency. It can cause seizures but thatis counterbalanced by less sexual side affects. or is it effects.
Posted by jason60 on August 19, 2001, at 20:35:53
In reply to Re: Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 17, 2001, at 5:24:16
klonopin,xanex,and Neurontin work very well for social anxiety Its good to take one of the benzos
and the Neurontin together. Neurontin give me a
kind of a speedy but relaxed felling. klonopin is has a very
long half life and xanex has a short half life .
xanex is supposed to be more adictive also.
klonopin and Neurontin takes about 1 or 2 hours to take start working for social anxiety
xanex about 30 min to 1 hour. but everyone
nay be different.
> I am going to my pdoc next week to get klonopin or something similar perscribed for my anxiety and panic attacks. How long does it take for klonopin to work? Is this the best benzo? Will it over come my social anxiety that I have around people?
Posted by Cam W. on August 20, 2001, at 10:28:25
In reply to Does wellbutrin sr work for anxiety?, posted by AVR on August 16, 2001, at 4:47:23
AVR - There have been a couple of studies showing that Wellbutrin SR™ (bupropion) does decrease anxiety, in some people. Whether this is a secondary effect (ie. decrease in depressive symptoms, or a decrease in smoking makes someone less anxious about wanting to quit) or a primary effect (ie. direct anxiolytic effects of the Wellbutrin) is still in question.
As to Wellbutrin's mechanism of action, it does seem to have some effect on the noradrenergic system, but recent studies have shown that this is not through the norepinephrine reuptake pump.
My 2˘ - Cam
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.