Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 105846

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What is it like to be on Welbutrin?

Posted by Sparrow on May 10, 2002, at 2:20:14

This is my first visit here and I'm so impressed with how well all of you express your opinions and experiences. It's really refreshing and so VALIDATING for me to read all of your posts.

Question: My primary care doc is weaning me off Paxil (due to severe fatigue and tremendous weight gain) and is suggesting Welbutrin (taken by itself - no other meds). I noticed several of you mentioned words such as "anger", "irratibility" & "on the edge" when descirbing this drug. How bad is this? Before the Paxil I was able to be annoyed rather easily. Now, on the Paxil, I'm barely awake to care! I have taken the Paxil for anxiety and panic.

I'm concerned that I'd be trading one problem for another - which I realize that you do with all meds to a certain extent - I'm just concerned I'm going to take it and experience an uncontrollable urge to behave somewhat inappropriately.

Can any of you who have taken Welbutrin for any length of time, describe to me what it does - good or bad and what it feels like.

Thank you.

 

Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin? » Sparrow

Posted by paxvox2000 on May 10, 2002, at 10:07:14

In reply to What is it like to be on Welbutrin?, posted by Sparrow on May 10, 2002, at 2:20:14

I have been on WB for over three years now. It takes a little while to get used to, and can be VERY individualized as to dose effectiveness and dose sensitivity. For instance, I had taken 150 SR twice daily, then my Pdoc tried to bump it up to 3X, which REALLY casued chest tightness and tachycardia with me. Then backed down to 200 Mg X 2, which still made me uneasy, so back to 150 X 2.

Sometimes WB can make you a bit hyped up, and that's really how it works, as a psycho-stimulant, as opposed to SSRI meds (dopamine vs. serotonin).

Now, I personally need a benzo to help mellow me out a bit with the WB (it can exacerbate insomnia). It can make you twitchy, and jittery, but you get used to that (at least I did) once you realize it's no big deal. You will most likely lose weight unless you are combining it with something like Remeron, which might counter-act that effect. I have lost 30 lbs. personally.

As an AD, WB is pretty good at lifting your mood. It doesn't seem to "poop out" like many SSRI meds do. At VERY high doses, there is increased seizure risk, but I believe that this problem is very uncommon within normal therapeutic treatment levels.

Anyway, check the archives for more info, there is a lot of it available. WB is becoming more widely used as a primary AD, especially for those who have sexual side effects from SSRI AD meds.

Hope that helps.

PAX

 

Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin?

Posted by Marie416 on May 10, 2002, at 11:28:40

In reply to Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin? » Sparrow, posted by paxvox2000 on May 10, 2002, at 10:07:14

I have been on Wellbutrin for a few months now, 1st in combo with effexor and now alone. Only now that I take it alone do I notice a quick to anger response mostly when I feel hyper after taking it. It's not that bad. I take 150mg 2xday. You know yourself better than anyone. I highly doubt you'd do something you'd find upsetting. If you do feel especially irritable then drop the dose a little or find something else.

 

Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin?

Posted by paxvox2000 on May 11, 2002, at 9:05:57

In reply to Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin?, posted by Marie416 on May 10, 2002, at 11:28:40

Hmmmm....

 

Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin? » Sparrow

Posted by terra miller on May 11, 2002, at 22:46:14

In reply to What is it like to be on Welbutrin?, posted by Sparrow on May 10, 2002, at 2:20:14

hi. i'm on wellbutrin i.r. as my only AD. it was a tough ride for me for the first 1-2 months, but i was determined to tough it out. i was really irritable on it. other people hear told me that might happen so i toughed it out and they were right.

i really liked how it kicked me out of bed and gave me energy. in the beginning months i felt like i could clean anything. having energy was so nice! i also lost weight, probably because it took away my appetite as well as my thirst (even now i have to remind myself to eat.)

eventually the high energy wore off (after more that 6 months i suppose) and it's just become routine. but for me, being on immediate release, i have to dose at least every 4 hours and no more than 5 hours or i become extremely irritable... i burn through it fast apparently.

i had to completely cut caffeine out of my diet. i cannot touch it or i become too irritable to tolerate it.

i have also lost all desire for diet soda, smoking and suicidal thoughts, which was my reason for going on an AD in the first place... to stay safe. it's worked.

i do have to take a benzo from time to time. the irritability catches up with me every so often. and from time to time i take something at bedtime to sleep. if you take your dose as far away from bedtime as you can, then that helps.

take care,
terra

 

part II

Posted by terra miller on May 11, 2002, at 22:50:45

In reply to Re: What is it like to be on Welbutrin? » Sparrow, posted by terra miller on May 11, 2002, at 22:46:14

sparrow- also, i'm on this for anxiety and panic also. it helps with my depressive symptoms, but my primary issues are PTSD related. i took zoloft for a short time but stopped because it totally numbed me out and i couldn't feel anything.... no panic, but nothing else either. so, even though there's an increase in irritability with the wellbutrin, at least i can feel now. i have to remind myself from time to time of the value of feeling; for me it's necessary to feel to do the work of therapy.

terra

 

Re: part II » terra miller

Posted by paxvox2000 on May 12, 2002, at 18:26:22

In reply to part II, posted by terra miller on May 11, 2002, at 22:50:45

Terra, I hate to pry, but I am trying to deal with my wife's PTSD (she is getting meds from GP, but can't get to see a Pdoc till August!----you may have seen my posts about THAT!). She IS going to a "counselor" on Wed. but I have no idea to what degree that's going to help unless she gets into an EXTENDED process. Please, if you will, elaborate to the degree you feel comfortable, about the SUCCESSFUL aspects of your treatment for PTSD. If you would prefer, I can provide you with my email address if you would rather not post openly.

Thanks for whatever you may have to say,

PAX

 

Re: part II » paxvox2000

Posted by terra miller on May 12, 2002, at 19:22:21

In reply to Re: part II » terra miller, posted by paxvox2000 on May 12, 2002, at 18:26:22

sure, you bet. i'll start a separate thread, though.
terra

 

Terra - Zoloft/Wellbutrin experience » terra miller

Posted by Liz2 on May 20, 2002, at 15:14:21

In reply to part II, posted by terra miller on May 11, 2002, at 22:50:45

Terra - saw in the attached post that you are on Wellbutrin for panic too -- have you found it as effective as Zoloft? I am on Zoloft right now but am interested in talking to my doctor about using Wellbutrin instead. Did you find coming off the Zoloft uncomfortable, or was it less so since you were on the Wellbutrin at the same time? I am frustrated by Zoloft's sexual side effects, and I also feel like it is "pooping-out" on me (I've been on Paxil and then Zoloft since '97).

Thanks.

> sparrow- also, i'm on this for anxiety and panic also. it helps with my depressive symptoms, but my primary issues are PTSD related. i took zoloft for a short time but stopped because it totally numbed me out and i couldn't feel anything.... no panic, but nothing else either. so, even though there's an increase in irritability with the wellbutrin, at least i can feel now. i have to remind myself from time to time of the value of feeling; for me it's necessary to feel to do the work of therapy.
>
> terra

 

reply » Liz2

Posted by terra miller on May 21, 2002, at 21:29:01

In reply to Terra - Zoloft/Wellbutrin experience » terra miller, posted by Liz2 on May 20, 2002, at 15:14:21

i didn't have trouble coming off the zoloft because i had to stop cold turkey.

for wellbutrin and panic, it has taken a long time before i felt that it had an effect on my panic. i started to feel better and have more energy, so i stuck with it. it probably took 6 months (i hope i'm not depressing you.) before i noticed one day that i felt more relaxed than usual. and as the months go on i feel that even when i have what would have been a panic-attack reaction, it just feels removed. i need a benzo less and less. but it took me a long time to get to this point. it was worth the wait big time.

~terra

 

Re: part II - prozac for pms

Posted by kathiep on May 22, 2002, at 0:24:17

In reply to Re: part II » terra miller, posted by paxvox2000 on May 12, 2002, at 18:26:22

Before my adhd diagnosis I thought my only problem(besides a zany personality), was severe pms. I had all the physical symptoms too, but it was the irritability that I couldn't handle. After a few visits to my ob/gyne with these complaints he told me of studies that showed prozac had a significant impact on helping to eliminate pms irritability. That was five years ago,even before fda approved it specifically for pms. The prozac virtually eliminated my pre-menstrual irritability then and still does. I don't feel tired or wired on it. In fact I don't feel it at all except that I don't want to kill the guy buying lotto tickets in front of me!


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