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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 20:25:39
According to this site, wellbutrin is the 3rd leading cause of drug induced seizures. Is there any truth to this ??
http://www.health-fx.net/Wellb.html
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 20:28:43
In reply to wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ?, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 20:25:39
I know the site's oppinions might be skewed but I was just wondering about the statement.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2005, at 21:21:20
In reply to Re: wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ?, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 20:28:43
I really never believed it could help you lose wt, but the hospital I worked at had a program where they supplied zyban to the employees in a smoke cessation program. So what is the purpose of wellbutrin if it doesn't do these things? Do you know? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by gromit on June 21, 2005, at 0:21:46
In reply to wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ?, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 20:25:39
> According to this site, wellbutrin is the 3rd leading cause of drug induced seizures. Is there any truth to this ??
Great, I had seizures as a child. I've been drinking like a fish at night just to calm down, strike two. I knew there was a risk but #3 worst offender, arghh.
I really hate Wellbutrin and the XL version is even worse for me. I can't believe I got talked into trying it again.
Posted by Shawn. T. on June 21, 2005, at 14:18:53
In reply to wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ?, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 20:25:39
That only applies to 279 patients at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York. Only four patients were on bupropion, and "Sleep deprivation, previous history of attention deficit disorder and bulimia, and previous heavy alcohol use were associated in three of the patients taking bupropion who had seizures." Wellbutrin is contraindicated in patients with a current or prior diagnosis of bulimia
or anorexia nervosa because of a higher incidence of seizures noted in patients treated for bulimia with the immediate-release formulation of bupropion. It's also contraindicated for people undergoing abrupt discontinuation of alcohol use. So is it fair to judge Wellbutrin based on the article cited? I think not, especially with regards to the extended release formulations that are properly prescribed. Also, the mechanism of action of bupropion is not as elusive as the author makes it seem.Shawn
Posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 14:32:37
In reply to Re: wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ?, posted by Shawn. T. on June 21, 2005, at 14:18:53
I was going to tear the article apart. You did it better than I did. At 300mg using extended release formulations, Wellbutrin is no more epileptogenic than tricyclics.
> Also, the mechanism of action of bupropion is not as elusive as the author makes it seem.
Ok Shawn, I have the spotlight on you. What do we currently know about bupropion?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by Shawn. T. on June 21, 2005, at 15:16:47
In reply to Re: wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ? » Shawn. T., posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 14:32:37
Bupropion inhibits the norepinephrine and dopamine transporters with low potency. A metabolite of bupropion, hydroxybupropion, contributes to the drug's effects as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. The (2S,3S)- isomer of hydroxybupropion is a much more potent norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor than bupropion. Other bupropion metabolites may also contribute to the drug's effects at the dopamine and norepinephrine transporters. Bupropion is a noncompetitive antagonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors including the alpha3beta2, alpha4beta2, alpha3beta4, and alpha4beta4 subtypes. Bupropion metabolites such as (2S,3S)-hydroxybupropion are also antagonists at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Most of this information was gleaned from Damaj et al. (2004).
Shawn
Posted by laurenjb on June 21, 2005, at 16:10:51
In reply to Re: wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ? » SLS, posted by Shawn. T. on June 21, 2005, at 15:16:47
This is purely anecdotal, but I suffered 2 grand mal seizures following a minor overdose of Wellbutrin XL. I actually loved the stuff - it worked great for me and I was on a dosage of 300mg/day (200mg 1x/day; 100mg 1x/day) with, I think, Prozac. I forgot I had taken the 100mg dose and took it again and, as a result, had the seizures while I was within therapeutic dosing levels. It should be noted that about 17 years prior, I passed out a few times and was diagnosed with a seizure disorder, though I never had a seizure and stopped meds after a year. It should also be noted that I saw a premier epilepsy/seizure specialist after the seizures, had every test in the book and we both concluded that it was the Wellbutrin.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on June 22, 2005, at 10:26:12
In reply to Re: wellbutrin - 3rd leading cause of drug seizures ?, posted by laurenjb on June 21, 2005, at 16:10:51
i remember reading somewhere that celexa had a higher risk for seizures.
This is the end of the thread.
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