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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 13:40:58
I was feeling still groggy and tired with lex for two months. first month 10mg and then second month my doc doubled it to 20 to see if i would feel better. my anxiety got better but i still have ups and downs. two days ago doc decided to add 150 mg of Wellbutrin and bring me back down to 10mg of Lexapro to take with the 150 Wellbutrin. I take Lex at dinner so im not tired all day and Wellbutrin in the morning so i can sleep at night. so far my throat hurts and my nose is runny...typical cold symtoms but it all started the same day as I started wellbutrin. is this common? I have an anxiety disorder. is 150mg too much of Wellbutrin? ive read that it makes anxiety worse. should i take 20mg of Lex and maybe less Wellbutrin? i think i was ok on 20mg of lex i just needed something more to help with tiredness. has anyone had similar problems or had any experiences? please let me know.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 14:22:27
In reply to On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 13:40:58
Hi Karalyn,
Tomorrow I'm adding 50 mgs of Wellbutrin to my 15 mg Lexapro dose. It's a small dose to start out with, but I have a very low tolerance to meds.
Like you I take my Lexapro at night and will be taking the Wellbutrin in the mornings. You mentioned that you aren't tired all day...I wish I could say the same thing. I've been groggy since starting Lex.
I don't think 150 mgs is "too much." My psychiatrist told me that I could go as high as 300 mgs - it just depends on what I'm comfortable with. I'd like to stay at a low dose if possible.
Like you, I'm worried about the Wellbutrin increasing my anxiety. But for that I have Klonopin and Xanax. I've found both to be very helpful during panic attacks and moments of high anxiety.
I'm adding the Wellbutrin to help counteract the groggy feeling I get with Lexapro. I hope we both get good results.
K.
Posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 17:27:20
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 14:22:27
thanks KathrynLex,
I dont have panic attacks per say cause i have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and its more just little bits all the time and I have negative anxious patterns of thinking. does that make sense? haha. ive gotten so used to have anxiety that its how i approach everything. occasionally i get a lil panic attack. I dont think I want to be on more than two meds. so i hope i wont have to be on xanax or klonopin. well I guess I am tired, especially in the beginning month but I think i got used to sleeping so much that now my body wants it and it might not be still the Lexapro. is 50 the lowest dose for Wellbutrin? do you know how long till i will see results from wellbutrin? my doc didnt really say that. Im going back in 3 weeks though. keep me posted how this is working for you.Karalyn
Hi Karalyn,
>
> Tomorrow I'm adding 50 mgs of Wellbutrin to my 15 mg Lexapro dose. It's a small dose to start out with, but I have a very low tolerance to meds.
>
> Like you I take my Lexapro at night and will be taking the Wellbutrin in the mornings. You mentioned that you aren't tired all day...I wish I could say the same thing. I've been groggy since starting Lex.
>
> I don't think 150 mgs is "too much." My psychiatrist told me that I could go as high as 300 mgs - it just depends on what I'm comfortable with. I'd like to stay at a low dose if possible.
>
> Like you, I'm worried about the Wellbutrin increasing my anxiety. But for that I have Klonopin and Xanax. I've found both to be very helpful during panic attacks and moments of high anxiety.
>
> I'm adding the Wellbutrin to help counteract the groggy feeling I get with Lexapro. I hope we both get good results.
>
> K.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 17:46:18
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 17:27:20
Hi Karalyn,
I've noticed that the Lexapro made a huge difference in my anxiety levels and depression. It's just made me tired all the time.
I can understand why you don't want to be on 2 meds. You can take Klonopin, Xanax and Lorazepam on an as needed basis (when you're feeling VERY anxious and need to calm down) You don't have to take them every day. It's just something to keep in mind. I found them to be very helpful when I started taking Lexapro.
My psychiatrist told me that I'll probably see results in 2 or 3 weeks. It will take 2 wks for the side effects to go away and by week 4 he said things should be fine. I think you can go as low as you need to on Welbutrin as long as you don't mind cutting the pills. I was given a prescription for 100 mg pills and have to cut those to get my 50 mgs. But, my doc said he had one patient who was taking 37.5 mgs. Go figure.
I'll let you know how it all works out. In the meantime, I hope you start seeing positive results!
K.
Posted by theo on March 25, 2004, at 19:37:41
In reply to On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 13:40:58
I took Wellbutrin for a period of time and the sore throat side effect never went away, it would come and go. I stopped Wellbutrin about a month ago and no sore throat symptoms at all since I've stopped.
Posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 23:30:21
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin » Karalyn, posted by theo on March 25, 2004, at 19:37:41
Theo, did you take only Wellbutrin? or did you take another drug with it too? how many mgs were you on? did you also have a runny nose? i have that too.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 26, 2004, at 13:16:12
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by Karalyn on March 25, 2004, at 23:30:21
Hi Karalyn,
I'm just wondering, what other side effects have you encountered on Wellbutrin besides the runny nose? I took 50 mgs of Wellbutrin this morning and would like to know what to expect for the first couple of days.
It's just a thought but maybe your decrease in Lexapro is giving you a stuffy nose. When I started Lex I had every flu symptom (runny nose, sore throat, lack of concentration) but it wasn't the flu because I didn't have a fever. The flu symptoms started as soon as I began Lexapro.
But I've noticed that some people who decrease their Lex dose sometimes experience the side effects similar to the ones people get when starting the medication. And didn't you decrease your dose right when you started the Wellbutrin. Maybe you could go back up to 20 mgs and see if the runny nose doesn't go away? If it does than you know it was caused by the decrease in Lex, if it doesn't then you'll know the Wellbutrin is causing problems.
Or, I could be completely off base with that little theory. It was just a thought.
K.
Posted by Karalyn on March 27, 2004, at 3:38:19
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by KathrynLex on March 26, 2004, at 13:16:12
yeah i dont know what I had. I wanted to call the doc today but then I didnt. Now I have a runny nose too and its all the typical cold symtoms. I'm sneezing as well. And my nose is really runny!! its almost raw from blowing it. My head feels kinda big and full and kinda fuzzy. I also feel like im floating through life that things arent real right now. I have a slight headache as well. So thats my symtoms. I was on lex last year for only a month cause i thought i wasnt gonna have insurance...but when I went off it back then I'm trying to remember if i experienced this. actually i think I did...hmm... like i think i had a little runny nose and stuff but it wasnt near this bad. I'm at colleg and right now everyone is getting colds and the flu...so I dont know which I have. I just hope it goes away...what with adjusting to a new med situation, full time load of classes, and now being sick...I dont know if i can handle all of this right now. hows your first day on Wellbutrin?
Posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 11:59:36
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by Karalyn on March 27, 2004, at 3:38:19
Hi Karalyn,
How are you feeling today? It's entirely possible that you just have a cold and it will be gone in only a few days.
My first few days on Wellbutrin have been okay. I've been taking 50 mgs in the a.m., starting tomorrow I'll increase to 100 mgs. I've noticed a slight increase in my anxiety and I feel a little out of it, but it's not too bad.
You said you're feeling a little "fuzzy." That could be caused by the Wellbutrin, because I'm definately feeling a tad "fuzzy" myself. Hang in there. I think things will begin to get better for both of us in a few weeks.
K.
Posted by Karalyn on March 29, 2004, at 19:08:04
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 11:59:36
> I still have the cold symtoms. I cant tell if my anxiety has gotten any worse cause i feel so sick and fuzzy out of it. my head is so congested i cant even hear that well. Im also taking 100 more mg than you are. this is just weird. i dont know if i should call my doc or not. I think im ok. I guess i have anxiety about going to have anxiety. like this wont work. otehr than that I think im not as anxious or depressed---maybe cause im sleeping and watching a lot of tv.. haha.
let me know how you are.Hi Karalyn,
>
> How are you feeling today? It's entirely possible that you just have a cold and it will be gone in only a few days.
>
> My first few days on Wellbutrin have been okay. I've been taking 50 mgs in the a.m., starting tomorrow I'll increase to 100 mgs. I've noticed a slight increase in my anxiety and I feel a little out of it, but it's not too bad.
>
> You said you're feeling a little "fuzzy." That could be caused by the Wellbutrin, because I'm definately feeling a tad "fuzzy" myself. Hang in there. I think things will begin to get better for both of us in a few weeks.
>
> K.
Posted by Karalyn on March 29, 2004, at 19:11:03
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 11:59:36
I was just wondering how many mgs are you going to get up to? I wonder why my doc didnt start me up slowly instead of taking me straight to 150.
Hi Karalyn,
>
> How are you feeling today? It's entirely possible that you just have a cold and it will be gone in only a few days.
>
> My first few days on Wellbutrin have been okay. I've been taking 50 mgs in the a.m., starting tomorrow I'll increase to 100 mgs. I've noticed a slight increase in my anxiety and I feel a little out of it, but it's not too bad.
>
> You said you're feeling a little "fuzzy." That could be caused by the Wellbutrin, because I'm definately feeling a tad "fuzzy" myself. Hang in there. I think things will begin to get better for both of us in a few weeks.
>
> K.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 10:48:11
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by Karalyn on March 29, 2004, at 19:08:04
Hi Karalyn,
I'm sorry to hear that you're still not feeling well. When I encountered cold/flu symptoms with Lexapro it took about 2 weeks for them to go away. In the meantime, have you tried an over-the-counter decongestant? It might help a little bit.
I know exactly what you mean about having anxiety about having anxiety. It's very common for people with anxiety to worry about that sort of thing. In a way it's kind of funny. In my experience the Lexapro has really helped with my negative thinking patterns, so I don't worry as much as I used to.
I'm currently at 100 mgs. The plan is to increase by 50 mgs every 3 days until I feel comfortable with the dose I'm on. Right now I'm thinking I'll only go as high as 150 mgs because that dose seems to be very successful for a lot of people.
My doctor started me on Wellbutrin very slowly because I had some horrible side effects when I started on Lexapro. (e.g. cold/flu symptoms including a nasty sore throat - other people refer to it as the lex flu, night sweats, increased anxiety etc...) If I had to it over again, I would start out at 5 mgs instead of 10 mgs. So, my doc thinks I'm sensitive to meds and started me at a very low dose of Wellbutrin.
I really hope you start to feel better soon. Hang in there.
K.
Posted by karalyn on March 30, 2004, at 13:40:29
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 10:48:11
hey, so last night i took 15 mgs to see if it would do anything. it just made me wired before going to bed so i had to take an ambien. thats what always happens when i move up on lexapro....i have insomnia for a few days. im pretty sure its a real cold...cause my boyfriend has it too.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 31, 2004, at 12:56:38
In reply to Re: On Lex and just added Wellbutrin, posted by karalyn on March 30, 2004, at 13:40:29
Hi Karalyn,
I've noticed some very positive changes since I started taking Wellbutrin. Lexapro doesn't make me nearly as tired as it once did and I've been feeling much more motivated as of late. I hope you'll start to see similar changes when you're feeling better.
K.
This is the end of the thread.
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