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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 Reggie BoStar on April 8, 2006, at 8:24:10
Anyone have positive or negative comments to make on this drug? This is the third time I've been prescribed it (150mg, twice a day), even after telling the Psych that it never did anything for me. He seems to think that adding Lamictal (25 mg/day) will somehow magically make the Wellbutrin work. Not! All I ever got from it (including right now) was decreased appetite and a lot of IBS. It has no effect on depression whatsoever, and even seemed to increase the depression during one trial. What good is it, except for the pharm industry?
Posted by SLS on April 8, 2006, at 9:10:49
In reply to What good is Wellbutrin?, posted by Reggie BoStar on April 8, 2006, at 8:24:10
> Anyone have positive or negative comments to make on this drug? This is the third time I've been prescribed it (150mg, twice a day), even after telling the Psych that it never did anything for me. He seems to think that adding Lamictal (25 mg/day) will somehow magically make the Wellbutrin work. Not! All I ever got from it (including right now) was decreased appetite and a lot of IBS. It has no effect on depression whatsoever, and even seemed to increase the depression during one trial. What good is it, except for the pharm industry?
I can see how frustrated you are. I encourage you to be persistent.
You have a smart doctor. Perhaps the combination will ultimately fail, but you are nowhere near the point at which you can evaluate its effectiveness. Drugs can produce a myriad of startup side effects. They can even temporarily amplify some of the somatic manifestations of the illness itself. This has been my experience, anyway. If you are running out of options, It might be in your best interests to stick it out. I find the lack of appetite thing to be a positive indicator. The average effective dosage for Lamictal in the treatment of depression is 200mg.
The addition of Lamictal to Wellbutrin has been a favorite strategy of my doctor and his collegues. I can't possibly know what you are currently experiencing with this combination, so I would not presume to know what is best for you. I hope you become more tolerant of the medication over the next few days.
My current regime:nortriptyline 100mg
Wellbutrin 300mg
Lamictal 100mg
Abilify 10mg
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on April 8, 2006, at 10:30:16
In reply to Re: What good is Wellbutrin? » Reggie BoStar, posted by SLS on April 8, 2006, at 9:10:49
Hi Scott
I didn't realise you'd stopped Keppra. Tell us more.
Ed
Posted by SLS on April 8, 2006, at 10:43:40
In reply to Re: What good is Wellbutrin? » SLS, posted by ed_uk on April 8, 2006, at 10:30:16
> Hi Scott
>
> I didn't realise you'd stopped Keppra. Tell us more.
>
> EdYeah. I gambled and discontinued the Keppra. I was experiencing too much passivity and listlessness on it, despite it helping with depression. The gamble is that I would respond to the addition of Wellbutrin and not need it. Seems to have paid off...
Thanks for asking.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on April 8, 2006, at 10:59:29
In reply to Re: What good is Wellbutrin? » ed_uk, posted by SLS on April 8, 2006, at 10:43:40
> > Hi Scott
> >
> > I didn't realise you'd stopped Keppra. Tell us more.
> >
> > Ed
>
> Yeah. I gambled and discontinued the Keppra. I was experiencing too much passivity and listlessness on it, despite it helping with depression. The gamble is that I would respond to the addition of Wellbutrin and not need it. Seems to have paid off...
>
> Thanks for asking.
>
> - Scott
I forgot to mention that I experienced a rebound intensification of depressive symptomology as I discontinued the Keppra. It was getting scary there for a little while, but I expected it as a possible scenario. The same thing happened as I reduced the dosage of Lamictal from 300mg to 100mg in 50mg decrements. I have gained an appreciation of the potential for depression to be a withdrawal effect rather than an indication of relapse.I believe it possible that some people do relapse as the result of having a withdrawal depressive episode triggering it. In other words, a gradual taper is desirable, even after months or years of successful prophylaxis, so as not to trigger a relapse. I think some of the older literature indicates this to be true.
- Scott
Posted by Caedmon on April 8, 2006, at 11:52:53
In reply to Re: What good is Wellbutrin?, posted by SLS on April 8, 2006, at 10:59:29
I found that I tolerated Wellbutrin much better when I was on a mood stabilizer.
- C
Posted by wildcard11 on April 8, 2006, at 13:19:53
In reply to What good is Wellbutrin?, posted by Reggie BoStar on April 8, 2006, at 8:24:10
~the 1st time the doc put me on wellbutrin i was extremely anxious and mean?! it did give me energy but i was too...quick to blow a fuse. the 2nd time was last year and specifically for energy. it has been great BUT the huge diff. for me is being on clonzeapam to help control the anxiety when needed...it's also great IMO for people that want to or have quit smoking...
Posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2006, at 17:58:14
In reply to wellbutrin xr » Reggie BoStar, posted by wildcard11 on April 8, 2006, at 13:19:53
Well I still wonder why a whole hospital staff was offered wellbutrin to stop smoking what ever happeded to the people who couldn't tolerate the energizing or anxiety part of it? Love Phillipa
Posted by gardenergirl on April 8, 2006, at 22:42:09
In reply to Re: wellbutrin xr, posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2006, at 17:58:14
> what ever happeded to the people who couldn't tolerate the energizing or anxiety part of it?
I'm sure they still exist and still discontinue the med if it is not the right one for them.
gg
Posted by JaclinHyde on April 8, 2006, at 23:32:36
In reply to What good is Wellbutrin?, posted by Reggie BoStar on April 8, 2006, at 8:24:10
IMHO it is a bad drug. I took it and my anxiety level went through the roof plus my hypochondria which had not surfaced in 25 years on a MAOI suddenly decided to return. And it gave me a constant period. I should have bought stock in tampax. (sorry guys)
Again, this is just my experience, ymmv.
JH
Posted by minimal on April 9, 2006, at 1:11:49
In reply to What good is Wellbutrin?, posted by Reggie BoStar on April 8, 2006, at 8:24:10
Wellbutrin SR 300 mg worked wonders for me for about 5-6 months several years ago. But by 9 months, it had stopped working. Several years later, I tried it a second time trying to take a break from Prozac and at 200 mg it made me quite angry, it gave me rashes and anxiety. The first time was brand. The second time was generic: go figure.
This is the end of the thread.
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