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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 gigeligi on October 26, 2007, at 15:27:00
I am a female who has been struggling with Anxiety for the last couple years and depression (on and off) for my whole life. Recently, I have been put on many medications for this. Straterra actually helped both my depression and anxiety but my insurance co. stopped paying for it. I have since tried several ssri's and Rem(?) all of which made me gain weight - which I can't tolerate. Effexor was the best at treating my symptoms but I gained 7 pounds in 2 months (I am a marathon runner so that was big). I am now on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg/day. I want so much for this drug to work but it seems like I have worsened in regard to my symptoms. I am so negative, crying, feeling like my marriage is falling apart. I don't know how much of this is the drug or just me. I have been on about 1.5 months with an increase in dosage from 100 - 300 only about 10 days ago. Anyone else had similar experiences?
Posted by Racer on October 26, 2007, at 16:01:58
In reply to Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by gigeligi on October 26, 2007, at 15:27:00
It's hard to say what's going on, because Wellbutrin can worsen anxiety, which can certainly seem like worsening depression. On the other hand, when it works, Wellbutrin is a nice, friendly little drug.
For me, the first sign it was going to work happened about two weeks into an increased dose -- and it was singing as I cooked breakfast, and smiling while I did it. Since a week earlier, I'd been snappy, snarly, and bursting into tears, that was a pretty good sign... On its own, Wellbutrin isn't a great choice for my husband, who is much more anxious than I, and it's not entirely effective for me, without augmentation. And, despite what some people experience, I gain weight when the augmenting agent is Prozac. The Wellbutrin is capable of avoiding weight gain from SSRIs for many people. I'm one of the less than lucky ones in that regard. (Then again, I have an eating disorder, which makes EVERYTHING about weight kinda wonky. In my case, since I am still symptomatic, when I eat more, especially more starches, I lose weight. That means that what happens to me is not indicative of what happens to more normal people.)
I hope that you have good luck with it, too. The main benefit I have had with Wellbutrin is that it's been virtually devoid of side effects. No foggy head, no lethargy, no weight gain, no nothin' except a brighter mood. Again, not totally effective on its own. But effective enough I've stuck with it anyway for several years. (Disclaimer: I'm trying something else now, but will go back to Wellbutrin if it doesn't work.)
Good luck, and I hope that helps.
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2007, at 16:45:57
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by Racer on October 26, 2007, at 16:01:58
Was not good for my anxiety at all as I have panic disorder so only a week on it and the pdoc pulled me off as he thought I was acting hymomanic. Running around his office ended up as my last hospitalization for a week. Changed to zoloft at that time. I do hope it works for you. And yes so many others say it's good for weight loss. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on October 26, 2007, at 17:37:20
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2007, at 16:45:57
You may have sucess with a TCA medications. Nortryptaline and desipramine are similar in actions to straterra, but are available very cheaply as generics.
It might be worth a try.
Linkadge
Posted by Racer on October 26, 2007, at 17:56:44
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by linkadge on October 26, 2007, at 17:37:20
> You may have sucess with a TCA medications. Nortryptaline and desipramine are similar in actions to straterra, but are available very cheaply as generics.
>
> It might be worth a try.
>
> LinkadgeActually, that's a good idea and is definitely worth a try. TCAs are no longer first line antidepressants for a variety of reasons, but they're also very effective for many people.
The only thing I would say, though, that might be out of alignment with this suggestion, is that nortriptyline is known for weight gain. I've heard desipramine is pretty weight neutral, but could only stay on it a few days, as it triggered idiopathic hypotension. I was very disappointed, though, since I've heard so many good things about it.
Posted by your#1fan on October 26, 2007, at 22:50:42
In reply to Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by gigeligi on October 26, 2007, at 15:27:00
wellbutrin was horrific for me.
i hated the stuff, but more i did not like strattera. It actually made me in a worse mood.
Can you take Lexepro with it?
Posted by War-Face on October 27, 2007, at 12:00:33
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by your#1fan on October 26, 2007, at 22:50:42
Over the past 8 or 9 years, I have tried virtually every form of Wellbutrin/buproprion: IR, SR, XL, in doses from 37.5 to 450.
One of the hardest things to do and one of the biggest Wellbutrin flops I ever had was when I switched from an SSRI (Prozac) after 3 years and went back to Wellbutrin straight up (no taper). Once the withdrawal effects kicked in for the SSRI, I was much like you: crying, emotional, irritable... I was forced to go right back to prozac. The Wellbutrin did NOTHING for SSRI withdrawal syndrome. I think the problems you're experiencing might be due to your moving from SSRI/SSNRI drugs to Wellbutrin - what you're experiencing might very well be withdrawal effects from the former.
More recently, as another example, I had withdrawn from Prozac for good last year and after 4 months off of it (let the withdrawal run its full course, which was miserable), I went back to Wellbutrin and had enormous success. It did take about 2 plus full months for it to really kick in.
BTW, the Wellbutrin XL is the finest Wellbutrin released yet in my opinion - smooth onset of action, lasts all day with its release mechanism, and causes the least anxeity.
I would say stick with it for a few months.
Posted by KarenRB53 on May 16, 2008, at 10:34:25
In reply to Mostly agreeing with Linkadge, posted by Racer on October 26, 2007, at 17:56:44
> > You may have sucess with a TCA medications. Nortryptaline and desipramine are similar in actions to straterra, but are available very cheaply as generics.
> >
> > It might be worth a try.
> >
> > Linkadge
>
> Actually, that's a good idea and is definitely worth a try. TCAs are no longer first line antidepressants for a variety of reasons, but they're also very effective for many people.
>
> The only thing I would say, though, that might be out of alignment with this suggestion, is that nortriptyline is known for weight gain. I've heard desipramine is pretty weight neutral, but could only stay on it a few days, as it triggered idiopathic hypotension. I was very disappointed, though, since I've heard so many good things about it.Have you heard anything about Imipramine. I am considering TCA's but my dr is the one who suggested Imipramine.
Karen
Posted by Tadler on May 21, 2008, at 2:52:37
In reply to Re: Mostly agreeing with Linkadge, posted by KarenRB53 on May 16, 2008, at 10:34:25
Karen, I have taken Imipramine for years. My doctor always tries to get me off it and onto newer meds. I have been on Paxil,Zoloft,Prozac,Cylexa,Welbuterin,Lexapro and more. I always end up back on the Tofranil(I prefer the namebrand) It has less side affects, and it helps with my ADD. It doesnt cause weight gain and there are no sexual side effects. I do wish it helped more with the social anxs. In the past I have taken 20mg of prozac with the "T"!150mg Its a perfect combo for me but my weight creeps up and the sexual side effects get old.
Good Luck T
Posted by tanner257 on June 8, 2008, at 11:16:56
In reply to Wellbutrin XL - worsening depression/anxiety, posted by gigeligi on October 26, 2007, at 15:27:00
Wellbutrin increased my anxiety through the roof - and turned me into a raging fishwife! I cringe when I think of what I put my poor husband through. I actually attended a work event (his) and spent the evening complaining about him to his colleagues. So not like me.
I lasted a month before stopping (then went on Cymbalta, which gave me explosive diarrhea!) Sigh.
Now I am just soldiering through, without drugs. Somedays it feels OK, sometimes not.
Posted by KarenRB53 on July 3, 2008, at 10:48:15
In reply to Re: Mostly agreeing with Linkadge, posted by Tadler on May 21, 2008, at 2:52:37
> Karen, I have taken Imipramine for years. My doctor always tries to get me off it and onto newer meds. I have been on Paxil,Zoloft,Prozac,Cylexa,Welbuterin,Lexapro and more. I always end up back on the Tofranil(I prefer the namebrand) It has less side affects, and it helps with my ADD. It doesnt cause weight gain and there are no sexual side effects. I do wish it helped more with the social anxs. In the past I have taken 20mg of prozac with the "T"!150mg Its a perfect combo for me but my weight creeps up and the sexual side effects get old.
> Good Luck TSo, if you take Tofranil by itself you don't gain weight but if you take Prozac with it you do? I'm having a heck of a time with my meds. I've gained 25lbs since I started Prozac. Now the pdoc has added Wellbutrin to see if it will give me more motivation because I have none on Prozac.
Thanks,
Karen
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