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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on October 20, 2002, at 19:24:50
I was wondering if Wellbutrin has any
antianxiety properties. How does it act on
anticipitory anxiety.
Would a person with Sad crying spell type depression do any good on a drug like this.
I heard somewhere that it has slight effects on SeretoninLinkadge
Posted by catmint on October 20, 2002, at 23:28:43
In reply to Does Wellbutrin have any antianxiety properties., posted by linkadge on October 20, 2002, at 19:24:50
Yes, Wellbutrin can help with crying spells. It mainly boost "gas pedal" brain chemicals, like norepinephrine.
It can be difficult for some to sleep on it.
Posted by viridis on October 22, 2002, at 10:24:04
In reply to Re: Does Wellbutrin have any antianxiety properties. » linkadge, posted by catmint on October 20, 2002, at 23:28:43
Wellbutrin increased my anxiety greatly, and had various other intolerable side effects that didn't disappear, even after two months of use. The intensity of side effects seemed directly proportional to the dose, and they stopped as soon as I discontinued the drug. The GP who prescribed it said that my reaction must be imaginary (since WB "can't" cause side effects). However, the psychiatrist I saw subsequently wasn't at all surprised, said that he's extremely cautious in prescribing WB for people with anxiety disorders, and added that it's about the last thing he'd prescribe for me. So, we explored other options, which have worked out very well.
Posted by Squiggles on October 22, 2002, at 11:28:47
In reply to Re: Does Wellbutrin have any antianxiety propertie, posted by viridis on October 22, 2002, at 10:24:04
I know someone personally who tried this
drug; it is very speedy and causes anxiety.
It also used for stopping smoking. I quit
smoking many years ago by trying about 7 times,
but finally it worked. Anyway, i am surprised
at how little is known by doctors sometimes--
but then it occurs to me, that they might have
people dying on their hands, from cancer or
other much worse conditions.I think that the drug companies should
start schools for psychopharmacologist doctors.Squiggles
Posted by viridis on October 22, 2002, at 23:26:06
In reply to Re: Does Wellbutrin have any antianxiety propertie » viridis, posted by Squiggles on October 22, 2002, at 11:28:47
Hi Squiggles,
I agree that doctors deal with life-threatening conditions of all sorts, and so many may put conditions like anxiety and depression low on the priority list (even though for some, these conditions can be life-threatening too). And I realize that, by definition, a GP can't be an expert in everything.
Several things particularly bothered me in this case. I went in reasonably well-educated, with an understanding of Wellbutrin's mechanism of action and the knowledge that it might exacerbate anxiety. He dismissed this from the beginning, and prescribed a large dose (450 mg/day to start), which I questioned given my history of severe anxiety problems. His response was that either it works or does nothing, so just take it and see what happens. When I asked the pharmacist if this was a normal dose, she said it was definitely at the high end, and typically a dose someone would titrate up to gradually. She called the doctor, who said he'd intended to write 150 mg to start (although we had discussed this just a couple of hours before). So, I tried 150 mg and can't imagine what would have happened at 450.
When I reported my response, he said it had to be my imagination, and that what I really needed was therapy. So, there are several problems here. I wasn't pushy or arrogant at any point, yet the doctor completely brushed off my questions, even though I explained the basis for my concerns from the start. And, the idea that all of my problems could be addressed by therapy shows a fundamental lack of understanding of mental health problems (I've had plenty of therapy, by the way, and the last two therapists I saw wound up telling me that I was quite sane and obviously had a biological problem that would require medication). I also wasn't impressed by the assertion that he'd "intended" to prescribe a lower dose, when we'd just finished discussing whether 450 mg was too high.
Anyway, things have turned out alright with the help of an excellent psychiatrist who I found on my own (I asked the GP for a referral to a psychiatrist, but he said he didn't know of any -- I'm in a large metropolitan area and the one I'm seeing is a few minutes' drive from the GP's office).
I think I'm fairly well informed, so I shudder to think what many people, especially those totally crippled by mental illness, must experience. I hope that with the growing awareness that mental conditions are medical conditions, family doctors will begin to become more informed. And you're right -- maybe we will see more education of doctors in the area of psychopharmacology. There's certainly a market for people with those skills, and my impression is that the stigma associated with treatment of these conditions is diminishing.
I'm not sure doing it through the drug companies is the best strategy, though. Although I don't buy into the "evil pharmaceutical empire" viewpoint, it would be pretty hard to avoid a totally unbiased education from people who are being paid to market their company's latest and greatest AD, etc.
All the best,
Viridis
Posted by Squiggles on October 23, 2002, at 7:15:23
In reply to Re: Does Wellbutrin have any antianxiety propertie » Squiggles, posted by viridis on October 22, 2002, at 23:26:06
Hi Viridis,
What an unfortunate experience. I'm sorry.
This is the kind of thing that would make
me iatrophobic. I hope that you and your
doctor can report this incident to the Adverse
Reactions Heath Report through a form provided
by the government.Your recommendations are very wise. Not
all GPs are as distracted as the one you
describe. You are fortunate that the pharmacist
was so cooperative.As for who would fund drug doctors, I think
that the drug companies have a lot more money
to do this sort of thing than the government--
at least that is the case in Canada. They
could put that money to good use, and stop
advertising those silly commercials instead
and having banquets and PR sessions.Squiggles
Posted by Rick on October 24, 2002, at 23:45:54
In reply to Does Wellbutrin have any antianxiety properties., posted by linkadge on October 20, 2002, at 19:24:50
Like Virdis, I found that Wellbutrin added to my anxiety (or, more precisely, detracted from Klonopin's benefits).
While it can assuredly cause anxiety, it should be noted that Wellbutrin *does* paradoxically help some people a lot with anxiety -- based on both plenty of anecdotal reports and small studies. Apparently a very slow titration, plus waiting out an initial increase in anxiety, can help. My pdoc wanted me to start with one-quarter (!) of a 100 mg tablet, but I stupidly took 100 mg, and thought, "hey, I don't have an problem with this stuff." I stopped it too quickly to know whether it might have eventually helped.
But no matter, 100 mg Provigil added to my Klonopin and Serzone quite quickly accomplished the anti-fatigue, anti-apathy effect we had been seeking..along with unexpected *benefits* for my social anxiety, including anticipatory (and also nicely added some mood elevation, although that wasn't the goal).
Rick
> I was wondering if Wellbutrin has any
> antianxiety properties. How does it act on
> anticipitory anxiety.
> Would a person with Sad crying spell type depression do any good on a drug like this.
> I heard somewhere that it has slight effects on Seretonin
>
> Linkadge
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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