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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 7:30:54
I have been on Wellbutrin for two weeks now and all I have are side effects. I take 2x150mg of the SR version and each dose sedates me, how common is that? I have been wondering if I should take one dose at bedtime because a few hours after intake when plasma conc. peaks I usually take a nap on the couch, I thought it would be activating.
I take it with 50mg Zoloft, with the above in mind will this med ever work for me and how long does it take to kick in. It make me nauseous and shaky especially in the mornings. I had a little AD effect when I raised from 150mg to 300mg that lasted for one day, but that's all./Mattias
Posted by Klavot on January 2, 2007, at 9:50:35
In reply to Wellbutrin, posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 7:30:54
I recall reading somewhere the possibility of taking Wellbutrin at night if insomnia is a problem, although most websites seem to advise against this. I actually intend to try this myself when I re-commence Wellbutrin in a few weeks' time. If you try it, please let me know how it goes.
Certainly do not take both Wellbutrin tablets at once, or else risk seizure.
I personally never found Wellbutrin to be particularly energising long-term; I needed an afternoon nap every day before I began taking it, and still needed an afternoon nap even with Wellbutrin. It did improve my alertness and motor-coordination.
I don't know how good Wellbutrin is as an antidepressant, but somehow I think I did better with Zoloft + Wellbutrin than with Zoloft alone, although the added benefit is hard to make precise.
I'd say, persist for another few weeks before you pass judgement. I think too many people on this board quit their meds prematurely because of unpleasant but tolerable side-effects, and in doing so, deprive themselves of a potential therapeutic effect.
> I have been on Wellbutrin for two weeks now and all I have are side effects. I take 2x150mg of the SR version and each dose sedates me, how common is that? I have been wondering if I should take one dose at bedtime because a few hours after intake when plasma conc. peaks I usually take a nap on the couch, I thought it would be activating.
> I take it with 50mg Zoloft, with the above in mind will this med ever work for me and how long does it take to kick in. It make me nauseous and shaky especially in the mornings. I had a little AD effect when I raised from 150mg to 300mg that lasted for one day, but that's all.
>
> /Mattias
Posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2007, at 10:31:37
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » tensor, posted by Klavot on January 2, 2007, at 9:50:35
It made me feel manic really energized me. Too much so. Love Phillipa
Posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 12:23:32
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » tensor, posted by Klavot on January 2, 2007, at 9:50:35
>I recall reading somewhere the possibility of taking Wellbutrin at night if insomnia is a problem
That's what I've read too, however I will take my second dose closer to bedtime to night and see what happens. But the morning dose is devastating, I can't be this tired when I start working. And we don't have the XL version here.
>I personally never found Wellbutrin to be particularly energising long-term
How did you respond to it, the first weeks? When Remeron works for me it's very energizing, while many other find it sedating and anxiolytic.
>I think too many people on this board quit their meds prematurely because of unpleasant but tolerable side-effects
I agree, I will stick with it for awhile. Once you decide to quit, the med is removed from your list of options permanently.
Posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 12:26:48
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2007, at 10:31:37
It makes it so much harder when many of us respond completely different to a particular med. But it's too early for me to make a conclusion about this med.
/Mattias
Posted by Klavot on January 2, 2007, at 15:41:43
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » Klavot, posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 12:23:32
> How did you respond to it, the first weeks?
I took Wellbutrin SR 150 mg / day for 10 months, give or take, and I had already been taking Zoloft 50 mg / day for 2 months prior to the addition of the Wellbutrin.
Positive: more energised; reduction in anhedonia; improved muscle-coordination, fine motor movements and handwriting; felt more driven; I did "boring" things more easily, things like work in the garden, wash my car, clean out my room, etc.; I felt more in control of my fate.
In later months, I became better at socialising, without necessarily enjoying it more. I did something that I probably would never have done before, namely I took a Dale Carnegie course in public speaking. I gave talks to small groups of people (+/- 15 people) both inside and outside the Dale Carnegie setting, and I never really felt stressed beforehand (in the past I would have been sick with fear; when I was still in school, I even pretended to be sick so as to miss class presentations). I became less sensitive to criticism in general - developed a thicker skin so to speak.
I'm not saying that all this was as a result of taking Wellbutrin, but rather that all these things happened while I was taking Wellbutrin. I achieved a lot of permanent personal growth while on Wellbutrin - I believe Wellbutrin galvanised me into doing beneficial things that I would not normally do. I should also add that my parents, who know that I take medication, but also people who do not know that I take medication, have commented that they noticed an improvement in my general attitude and behaviour while I was on Wellbutrin. I think that third party input can be quite beneficial to guage the effect of medication, since depression corrupts objectivity.
Negative: akathisia in the evenings which sometimes prevented me from falling asleep because I couldn't lie still; urinary hesitation; when driving on roads where trees and buildings cast shadows, so that the road surface alternates between light and dark, I would develop a feeling of derealisation (seizure incident maybe?); felt more edgy.
In the long run, Wellbutrin never really properly impacted my anhedonia or drowsiness, which are the two reasons why I took it in the first place.
I have seen articles suggesting the dopamine reuptake inhibition of Wellbutrin is quite weak, that at "civilised" dosages Wellbutrin acts mainly on norepinephrine.
Klavot
P.S.: To anyone reading this who has public speaking issues, I can stronly endorse Dale Carnegie. It works on the principles of "baby steps" and "exposure to the object of fear desensitises one to that fear".
Posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 16:41:22
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » tensor, posted by Klavot on January 2, 2007, at 15:41:43
Hi Klavot, thanks for your detailed answer. I really hope my motivation and energy will improve soon. I also sometimes have feelings of derealisation or maybe it's just dizziness, I'm not sure. Anyway, I guess time will tell if it will work as an antidepressant or not.
/Mattias
Posted by Jimmyboy on January 3, 2007, at 10:03:10
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » Klavot, posted by tensor on January 2, 2007, at 16:41:22
How long would it take for a low dose of Wellbutrin, ( 100mg) to start effecting norepinepherine levels?
Thanks
JB
Posted by Klavot on January 3, 2007, at 12:01:54
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, posted by Jimmyboy on January 3, 2007, at 10:03:10
> How long would it take for a low dose of Wellbutrin, ( 100mg) to start effecting norepinepherine levels?
>
>
> Thanks
> JBWithin hours, I believe. That is why high dose Wellbutrin has an weak amphetamine-like effect, and some people actually abuse it and get high off it.
I stand to be corrected, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Wellbutrin not only inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine, but also *increases* norepinephrine.
Klavot
Posted by Jimmyboy on January 3, 2007, at 16:00:18
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » Jimmyboy, posted by Klavot on January 3, 2007, at 12:01:54
If it kicks in immediately, i wonder why it supposedly takes a couplke of weeks to start working? Seems like it would work immediately..
JB
Posted by Klavot on January 4, 2007, at 1:42:06
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, posted by Jimmyboy on January 3, 2007, at 16:00:18
> If it kicks in immediately, i wonder why it supposedly takes a couplke of weeks to start working? Seems like it would work immediately..
>
>
> JB
*Some* of the effects in my opinion, based on my experience, kick in immediately, but not all. For example, I think the dopamine reuptake takes some time to produce an effect.
This is the end of the thread.
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