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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by upsndowns on January 16, 2008, at 14:15:27
I added Wellbutrin to my Abilify, Concerta, Tranxene cocktail hoping it would give me some energy and reduce some other side effects I have been having from mainly the Abilify. I am Bipolar II and the Abilify has given me the anxiety and ADD symptoms necessitating the other drugs. Has anyone found that Wellbutrin is depressing rather than stimulating? Or am I having some sort of idiosyncratic reaction to it, this is not the first time I have tried it and with different drugs in the mix, so it obviously does not agree with me. Would be interested in any one else who has had similar reactions to it so I wouldn't feel so nutty; actually feel quite depressed, tearful, almost suicidal.
Posted by Racer on January 16, 2008, at 15:35:12
In reply to Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on this, posted by upsndowns on January 16, 2008, at 14:15:27
Wellbutrin is my good and trusted friend, so I can't speak to that part of your question, but I did wonder about something:
For years, when I said I was "depressed," the symptoms I was experiencing were mostly agitation, negative ruminations, distress, suicidal ideation, and other symptoms of a similar sort. Those were the more bothersome symptoms for me, the low energy, low mood, apathy, lack of appetite, etc, were a problem, but not nearly so much as the agitation, etc. It took until only a few years ago for me to figure out that the worst symptoms for me were actually in the anxiety spectrum, not the classic depressive range.
I wonder if the Wellbutrin might be triggering anxiety in you, and that you might be associating that with the more agitated portion of your depressive symptoms? That is, maybe it's too activating for you, but you're getting the negative side of that aspect, rather than the positive side. You know, instead of useful energy, you're getting agitation without motivation. That sort of thing.
The bottom line, of course, is that it doesn't sound as though you and Wellbutrin are going to be friends. It might be easier to write it off, and try something else. Why this happens is anyone's guess -- it just ain't the right drug for you, is what this sounds like, especially since you've tried it before without good results.
Of course, most side effects occur in the first few weeks on a new medication. It's possible that this will turn around for you if you stick it out. Then again, if you've tried it before without good results, there probably isn't a lot of margin on that side.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Phoenix1 on January 16, 2008, at 16:59:38
In reply to Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on this, posted by upsndowns on January 16, 2008, at 14:15:27
> I added Wellbutrin to my Abilify, Concerta, Tranxene cocktail hoping it would give me some energy and reduce some other side effects I have been having from mainly the Abilify. I am Bipolar II and the Abilify has given me the anxiety and ADD symptoms necessitating the other drugs. Has anyone found that Wellbutrin is depressing rather than stimulating? Or am I having some sort of idiosyncratic reaction to it, this is not the first time I have tried it and with different drugs in the mix, so it obviously does not agree with me. Would be interested in any one else who has had similar reactions to it so I wouldn't feel so nutty; actually feel quite depressed, tearful, almost suicidal.
At this point, it's arguable whether or not my bigger problem is depression or anxiety. I don't want anyone to take what I say as gospel about Wellbutrin, because the fact is that it's an incredibly effective medication for many. Acts on multiple receptors, stimulating, etc. OK, with out of the way that out of the way, I blame Wellbutrin almost entirely for my downhill spiral into near-suicide and hospitalization. I started at 150mg, and it made me more anxious, but I stuck with it. My GP upped it to 300mg and I got significantly more anxious, which he countered by adding liberal doses of Klonopin. Then after 6 weeks of no response, and worsening of my depression, he upped the dose to 450mg. This pushed me over the edge. I was very, very suicidally depressed, my anxiety was out of control and I used nearly 21/30 days of sleep meds and anxiety meds in the space of 3 days. And then they hospitalized me, finally. Pdoc agreed, the Wellbutrin was not the right med for me. It worsened my anxiety which worsened my depression. Again, Wellbutrin is a savior for many, but it was a disastrously bad drug for me.
Phoenix1
Posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2008, at 19:31:03
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t, posted by Phoenix1 on January 16, 2008, at 16:59:38
Not bipolar but one week of l50mg of wellbutrin landed me in the hospital as well. The pdoc saw me thought I was bipolar and manic. Took me off it right away and the symptoms disappered so for some it a wonderful med for me not so. Phillipa my wellbutrin story.
Posted by upsndowns on January 17, 2008, at 12:27:46
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t, posted by Phillipa on January 16, 2008, at 19:31:03
Thank you all for reinforcing my feelings about Wellbutrin just not being right for me. It has definitely increased the agitation and anxiety, as well as depression and I am on the very verge of hospitalization and suicidal ideation......my therapist has me on an every hour phone call regimen until my husband gets home this evening, almost didn't let me leave her office but I promised I wouldn't do anything stupid. the problem is this drug is bringing out the worst in my bipolar behaviors and when I looked at the drug warnings it said it hadn't been approved for use with bipolar patients.........what is left for us to increase our energy, fight the weight gain of our other meds and decrease the sexual side effects?
Posted by bleauberry on January 17, 2008, at 20:31:24
In reply to Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on this, posted by upsndowns on January 16, 2008, at 14:15:27
When people are prescribed Wellbutrin for smoking cessation, depression is listed as a common side effect.
Any antidepressant can make depression worse. Go figure. It happens a lot anecdotally, and it happens about 5% to 15% in clinical studies.
Wellbutrin took me from mild depression to severe depression in 3 days. Silly me, I might actually try it again. What a fool I am sometimes.
Posted by 4WD on January 17, 2008, at 20:48:53
In reply to Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on this, posted by upsndowns on January 16, 2008, at 14:15:27
> I added Wellbutrin to my Abilify, Concerta, Tranxene cocktail hoping it would give me some energy and reduce some other side effects I have been having from mainly the Abilify. I am Bipolar II and the Abilify has given me the anxiety and ADD symptoms necessitating the other drugs. Has anyone found that Wellbutrin is depressing rather than stimulating? Or am I having some sort of idiosyncratic reaction to it, this is not the first time I have tried it and with different drugs in the mix, so it obviously does not agree with me. Would be interested in any one else who has had similar reactions to it so I wouldn't feel so nutty; actually feel quite depressed, tearful, almost suicidal.
Hi,
Wellbutrin made me feel awful. It caused something like anxiety but it was more of a depressed restless feeling like I just couldn't stand myself. I couldn't stand the way I felt on it. Not to mention the insomnia.
Marsha
Posted by upsndowns on January 19, 2008, at 10:31:04
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t » upsndowns, posted by 4WD on January 17, 2008, at 20:48:53
You have all so validated my feelings. Things were rocky there for a few days, very rocky, but it has been three days since I am off the nasty thing and I am feeling better. Guess that's another one I can cross off my list and just go back to being nonenergetic, lethargic and eating.......such is life I guess. At least I tried, knowing that it probably wouldn't work. thanks for all the input, it helped so much.
Posted by rina on January 22, 2008, at 19:38:33
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t, posted by Phoenix1 on January 16, 2008, at 16:59:38
Wellbutrin xr was a horrible medicine for me as well. I take abilify as well and my pdoc suggested a vitamin called formula v vm-2000 made by solgar and can be found at any health food store. Gives me plenty of energy, without adding another medicine. Good Luck!
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2008, at 20:38:01
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t, posted by rina on January 22, 2008, at 19:38:33
I just started taking the same one how long have you been on it? Phillipa
Posted by upsndowns on January 23, 2008, at 9:57:38
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t, posted by rina on January 22, 2008, at 19:38:33
I am going to go out and get some of that Solgar vitamin formula and give it a try, after all, what have I got to lose?! Thanks for the recommendation.
Posted by rina on January 23, 2008, at 22:07:26
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin causing depression, any takers on t » rina, posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2008, at 20:38:01
about 4months
This is the end of the thread.
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