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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 1:48:34
I got 200 mg of Wellbutrin SR... I am so scared to take the pills. I am on lexapro (5mg) and very med sensitive. Am I going to get really sick? How bad are the side effects? My mom took it once and said she was very nauseas and couldnt get out of bed. Is this true? How many mg's should I take to start out? Thanks for any input.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 17, 2004, at 7:36:56
In reply to Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good?, posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 1:48:34
hi
i have had no problems with wellbutrin. i am very med sensitive and it has been fine, there were some side effects in the beginning but they have waned. the side effects were a bit of a "too much coffee feeling" that is really all i can think of that i am sure is related to wellbutrin.
but one important thing- everyone is different and just b/c it didn't work well with your mom doesn't mean it won't for you. also if you start a med worried it might not work properly b/c you will be looking for side effects , so wait until you are less woried about it. i believe it is worth a try unless you are a REALLY big drinker. and i would start at 100mg a day and then go up to 200mg a week later. although they say to take it 2x a day, never once. but i think they mean for higher doses, just to be safe id double check with a pharmacist. what did the doc say to do?
good luck with it
Posted by HappyGirl on January 17, 2004, at 9:11:55
In reply to Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good?, posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 1:48:34
Hi:
If there is worry/concern on 'Wellbutrin,' then I suggest you to take just VERY low-dosage, around 100 mg. that I did at the beginning of WB. This med. has 'motivation,' 'energy' along with 'good concentration' effect, however like your Mom's, some of folks are intolerable to WB, because there is 'stimulant' effect that causes 'insomnia' in general, but not everyone.
It's good to be 'precautious,' however what happened to your Mom does not mean the same happens to you. Keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to different meds.
In my suggestion, go 'very slowly,' if you have any worry on this, WB. Once you see some improvement, then take WB to the level/dosage your symptoms need.
H.G.
Posted by Sebastian on January 17, 2004, at 14:00:51
In reply to Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good?, posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 1:48:34
Don't break the pills. Start by taking 100 mg a day.
Posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 17:13:53
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good?, posted by Sebastian on January 17, 2004, at 14:00:51
Thanks for all the responses, I have not taken it yet. I will tomorrow. Well, I was thinking of starting at 50mg... see if I get any bad reactions. So I shouldnt break the pills? Oh no, these are 200 mg tablets.
Posted by 8 Miles on January 17, 2004, at 17:40:10
In reply to Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good?, posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 17:13:53
Hold on a second there! Are you SURE you have the SR and not the IR? There is a HUGE difference in how they work. You should NEVER, EVER break apart an SR or the new XL Wellbutrin. There are also immediate release pills (IR). These CAN be broken if deemed necessary. I think that if you have NEVER been on WB before, that even a dose of 200 SR is sort of a high starting dose. I started on the 150SR once a day and then twice a day. Years later, I tried boosting doses of 50-100 IR WB. Now, you did not specify WHY your where given the WB, nor what you were on before (if anything). That is rather salient information to know about.
As to the "safety" of WB, it IS associated with a *risk* of seizure (due to those that happened in patients when WB was initially prescribed at higher doses). You will also see warnings about other meds or chemicals (such as alcohol) that may "lower the seizure threshold". I don't think that there have been too many reported seizures in recent times at the current doses, but they have to list that as a possible side effect. Does WB work? Well, again, that would depend upon the reason it was prescribed to you. But when I started taking it in 1996, it blew the shoes off the SSRI meds that I had been taking. The main side effects that I have noticed are: potential to hurt your sleep (which can be fixed if you take the second dose earlier in the day).Jitters and chest tightness, which generally subside after a while of taking it. Appetite reduction and weight loss, which have actually been a GOOD thing for me. And some nervousness, which can be treated by adding a small dose of a Benzos. I recently tried to switch to the XL dose of 300mg, but it did not allow my body enough time to get the med out of my system before bedtime. So, I have gone back to 150mg SR twice daily. Basically, I have been using it for about 8 years w/o any problem significant enought to make me want to stop taking it. If you have MORE questions, you should contact your doc and ask all that you need to know so that you will feel comfortable about it. Hope that helps.8
Posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 18:19:07
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good? » panic_attack, posted by 8 Miles on January 17, 2004, at 17:40:10
Wow, thanks. I have The SR 200mg. Thanks for telling me, I was going to break it in 1/2 or 1/4ths. Anyways. I was prescribed Wellbutrin for my alcohol dependence. I drink too much, im trying to quit. I also smoke, and I have gained alot of weight on Lexapro and have no sex desire what so ever. So doc thought this stuff might help. There is now way in hell i am going to take 200 mg to start with. Ill just have to wait, or break the pill in half anyways, LOL. :)
Posted by theo on January 17, 2004, at 18:47:24
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good? » panic_attack, posted by 8 Miles on January 17, 2004, at 17:40:10
You won't get the release the SR was designed for if you split but to start at low doses it's fine, until you titrate up to your prescribed dose. My doc said it is okay and I even called Glaxo and they said it is okay. I did this starting at 50mg for 2 days, 100mg 2days, then up to 150mg or 200mg, whichever tablets you have. The good thing about Wellbutrin is you adjust alot sooner than when uping most SSRI doses.
Posted by Sebastian on January 18, 2004, at 9:23:03
In reply to You can split SR to titrate up says Glaxo!!!!!!!!!, posted by theo on January 17, 2004, at 18:47:24
The reason they say not to split them, It will hit you faster and stronger. So try 2 50 mg peaces. I cut one once and eat the dust, not the pice. I was short lived but strong.
Posted by Simcha on January 19, 2004, at 13:14:22
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good? » panic_attack, posted by 8 Miles on January 17, 2004, at 17:40:10
Actually, I've had simalar issues with sleep on the 300mgXL. For me it seems to take the XL eight hours to really ramp up. Therefore the pdoc suggested I take it before I go to sleep. This works for me. If I take it in the morning I don't sleep well at night. If I take it before I go to bed it seems that there is a low enough dosage in my blood to allow me to sleep. An added benefit is that I have increased energy in the morning (usually). This morning I drank a few shots of espresso and that really got my heart going. I would suggest watching the caffeine on this medication especially if you have issues sleeping. I lay off of the caffeine well before noon so that it gets out of my system before bedtime... Just a suggestion,
Simcha
Posted by Viridis on January 19, 2004, at 22:27:38
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR- IM SCARED! Is it any good? » 8 Miles, posted by Simcha on January 19, 2004, at 13:14:22
According to GSK, splitting the SR tabs is fine. They even faxed me graphs of release rates of split vs. intact pills -- the release rate of the active ingredient is just slightly higher in the first 15 minutes for the split tabs, and then everything evens out.
The slow release is based on the fact that the WB is imbedded in a wax matrix that dissolves slowly. The coating of the pill has nothing to do with it (this is from a conversation with one of the people who developed the SR version).
The one thing to avoid is dividing many tabs at once, since they can then take up water from the atmosphere, which degrades the active ingredient. They recommend only dividing a couple of days' worth at a time for this reason.
Posted by panic_attack on January 20, 2004, at 7:39:49
In reply to Splitting WB SR, posted by Viridis on January 19, 2004, at 22:27:38
Wow, thanks so much! You guys are great and so helpful. Much Love...
This is the end of the thread.
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