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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 Luddy on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:29
I've tried going through all the threads to see if there was already one like this, but didn't find anything.
I've been on Wellbutrin 300mg for a week now. The ringing in the ears was somewhat bothering me, so I called the doc to see if he thought it would eventually stop & if it was doing damage to my ears in any way. He didn't know about that side effect, so he's now switched me to Zoloft.
Dr. put me on WB for mild depression, lack of energy, lack of libido, just lack of everything!
I love the med so far, the ringing ears really isn't bad, I was just calling him to make sure I wasn't going to go deaf after taking this stuff. <Grin> The best side effect is my lack of appetite!!!!Has anybody else been on both of these drugs? And could the Zoloft have the same effect on my appetite as Wellbutrin?
Posted by King Vultan on July 14, 2004, at 14:54:09
In reply to Zoloft VS. Wellbutrin, posted by Luddy on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:29
I've been on both more than once and also suffered the ear ringing in the early going with Wellbutrin. It did go away after a while, or it at least diminished drastically. I did read an anecdote in another forum from a person fixated on the notion that a high dosage of Wellbutrin had given them permanent tinnitus, but I question this. I have minor tinnitus in my left ear from something that apparently happened to me as a kid and never noticed it until I became involved in the high end audio hobby about ten years ago and started paying more attention to what I was hearing. I suggest that the aforementioned Wellbutrin patient may have always had a low level of tinnitus, and was unaware of it until the higher level of tinnitus on Wellbutrin sensitized them to the whole issue, perhaps resulting in an obsessive fixation. That's just a suggestion to be considered, though.
In any event, the more relevant issue here is Wellbutrin vs. Zoloft, and these are really quite different antidepressants. Wellbutrin is a combined norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor, while Zoloft is an SSRI (it targets serotonin); it also happens to have a very low level and probably irrelevant effect on dopamine. Wellbutrin is an activating med known for its lack of sexual side effects; it can even be pro-sexual in some cases. It is also known as one of the antidepressants that tends to have a minimal or negative effect on appetite for many people.
Zoloft, OTOH, is known for its sexual side effects (loss of libido and problems with delayed and/or absent orgasm), and this is really a characteristic of the whole SSRI class. I find it rather activating myself, especially at first, but Wellbutrin would likely be considered more so, and Zoloft definitely would have more of tendency to induce weight gain. Out of the ten or so drugs I've tried, this is the one that had the most noticeable effect on increasing my own appetite. There is a huge YMMV you need to keep in mind with that, however, because people really do seem to exhibit large individual differences in the way they react to these SSRIs.
So my suggestion is that if you really are doing well on the Wellbutrin except for the tinnitus--which appears to be more or less just a nuisance at this time--I would suggest calling your doctor and clarifying your position. The Zoloft is from a different antidepressant class and while it's a good drug IMO, it really is quite different in its effects. You may want to consider sticking with the Wellbutrin to give it more of a trial.
Todd
Posted by Luddy on July 14, 2004, at 15:22:33
In reply to Re: Zoloft VS. Wellbutrin, posted by King Vultan on July 14, 2004, at 14:54:09
Todd-Thank you so much for all the advice. I was sort of thinking the same thing. Giving it a few more weeks. I'm glad to hear that the tinnitus could diminish after a while. (fingers crossed)
I also am petrified of the loss of libido. That was a main reason he put me on Wellbutrin in the first place.
Posted by Ktemene on July 14, 2004, at 18:33:46
In reply to Zoloft VS. Wellbutrin, posted by Luddy on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:29
Hi Luddy,
Your post reminded me of something that happened when I started taking Wellbutrin. My low-level tinnitus increased so dramatically that it was almost unbearable. I talked with a colleague at work about it, who asked me whether I had been taking more aspirin lately. I had. Wellbutrin, like lots of psychotropic drugs, caused headaches in the first couple of weeks that I was taking it, and I had been unthinkingly taking a lot of aspirin to deal with the headaches. It turns out that aspirin greatly exacerbates tinnitus in some people. When I stopped taking aspirin, the tinnitus that I thought had been caused by Wellbutrin dropped to manageable levels. There are other OTC meds that can increase tinnitus. It is just a thought, but you might want to consider whether some other med might be the culprit, or at least a contributing cause. I would hate for you to stop your trial of Wellbutrin if some other med is causing (at least in part) the irritating tinnitus. As Todd says, Wellbutrin is sometimes claimed to be the sole cause of permanent tinnitus on rather questionable grounds. Tinnitus is a mysterious condition that lots of people develop and have for years (at low level) without even being fully aware that they have it until some trigger increases the volume enough to make it noticeable. And Wellbutrin sounds as if it might be a great med for you. Many people find it an effective antidepressant that causes no weight gain- in fact it helps them lose weight. And its sexual side effects are more likely to be positive than negative. I have some friends who talk (almost seriously) about setting up a Wellbutrin dating service ;) Zoloft, on the other hand, doesn’t have as encouraging a track record on libido and weight gain, although it is a great med for lots of people. YMMV, as always.
Ktemene
> I've tried going through all the threads to see if there was already one like this, but didn't find anything.
>
> I've been on Wellbutrin 300mg for a week now. The ringing in the ears was somewhat bothering me, so I called the doc to see if he thought it would eventually stop & if it was doing damage to my ears in any way. He didn't know about that side effect, so he's now switched me to Zoloft.
>
> Dr. put me on WB for mild depression, lack of energy, lack of libido, just lack of everything!
> I love the med so far, the ringing ears really isn't bad, I was just calling him to make sure I wasn't going to go deaf after taking this stuff. <Grin> The best side effect is my lack of appetite!!!!
>
> Has anybody else been on both of these drugs? And could the Zoloft have the same effect on my appetite as Wellbutrin?
>
>
Posted by Luddy on July 14, 2004, at 18:52:59
In reply to Wellbutrin, tinnitus and aspirin, posted by Ktemene on July 14, 2004, at 18:33:46
> Hi Luddy,
>
> Your post reminded me of something that happened when I started taking Wellbutrin. My low-level tinnitus increased so dramatically that it was almost unbearable. I talked with a colleague at work about it, who asked me whether I had been taking more aspirin lately. I had. Wellbutrin, like lots of psychotropic drugs, caused headaches in the first couple of weeks that I was taking it, and I had been unthinkingly taking a lot of aspirin to deal with the headaches. It turns out that aspirin greatly exacerbates tinnitus in some people. When I stopped taking aspirin, the tinnitus that I thought had been caused by Wellbutrin dropped to manageable levels. There are other OTC meds that can increase tinnitus. It is just a thought, but you might want to consider whether some other med might be the culprit, or at least a contributing cause. I would hate for you to stop your trial of Wellbutrin if some other med is causing (at least in part) the irritating tinnitus. As Todd says, Wellbutrin is sometimes claimed to be the sole cause of permanent tinnitus on rather questionable grounds. Tinnitus is a mysterious condition that lots of people develop and have for years (at low level) without even being fully aware that they have it until some trigger increases the volume enough to make it noticeable. And Wellbutrin sounds as if it might be a great med for you. Many people find it an effective antidepressant that causes no weight gain- in fact it helps them lose weight. And its sexual side effects are more likely to be positive than negative. I have some friends who talk (almost seriously) about setting up a Wellbutrin dating service ;) Zoloft, on the other hand, doesn’t have as encouraging a track record on libido and weight gain, although it is a great med for lots of people. YMMV, as always.
>
> Ktemene
>Ktemene,
Oh my gosh....that is probably-hopefully what is the cause. I've been taking Excedrine for headaches-it has asprin in it. I've also been taking an OTC allergy pill at night so I won't wake up with a sinus headache.Now that I think about it I have had a headache nearly every day since I started on WB.
NO MORE aspirin for me!! We'll see how things go. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Posted by matkins on May 19, 2005, at 13:07:22
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, tinnitus and aspirin, posted by Luddy on July 14, 2004, at 18:52:59
I have been on Zoloft 100mg for about 1 1/2 years now and I couldn't be more happier. The only down side is the lack of libedo and unable to accomplish orgasm. Because of my wife's frustration I have decided to try Wellbutrin. I am concerned about the change. I do want to keep my marriage together in the bedroom, but is it worth my mental well being? Also, Zoloft has helped me with my undiagnosed symtoms of OCD, will Wellbutrin do the same?
Posted by Wilna on March 18, 2008, at 7:53:43
In reply to Wellbutrin, tinnitus and aspirin, posted by Ktemene on July 14, 2004, at 18:33:46
I was just wondering if your tinnitus went away later, I am stuck for 2 weeks now with this idling sound in my ear, now going to the other ear as well. I feel as if I am acting in a bubble at all times ... and more loud noises makes it even worse!!!! I stopped taking the Wellbutrin, but I am petrified that I might be left with permanent tinnitus, and am not too sure if I will be able to cope with this ....
This is the end of the thread.
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