I started a prescription for Wellbutrin (generic name: bupropion) today. I have ADHD, but my psychiatrist feels there's a good chance I have an underlying disorder along with it, which might explain why my ADHD has been getting slightly worse the past few years, not better. My psych suspects a mild anxiety disorder, mild depression, or maybe both. I think I can see where he's coming from, but I'm not sure.
Anyway, as some of you know, Wellbutrin/bupropion is one of the few drugs that's indicated for all THREE of these disorders! :) Not that it helps everyone, and it doesn't always help ADHD as much as it helps anxiety/depression. But it sure sounds promising to me, and I also like that it has significantly LESS likelihood of bad side effects, compared to anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drugs in other families, like the SSRI family.
If you're taking or have taken this, please share your experiences. Hopefully there will be more "success stories" than "horror stories"!!
2006-08-24 12:54:03 · 15 answers · asked by scary shari 5 in Health ➔ Mental Health
P.S. I'm starting on a super low dose: 37.5 mg daily. The lowest the generic bupropion pills come in is 75 mg, so my psych said to take half a pill for 10 days, then go up to 75, which is still considered very low. (He knew I was nervous to try the drug, so he wants me to ease myself into it).
2006-08-24 12:58:09 · update #1
My son takes it for Adhd with ocd. I haven't seen a lot of difference in his behaviour, though depresison is definite problem for him. It is supposed to work well for addictive behaviours and depression. I took it in the past and it made my blood pressure go way up. If you have blood pressure problems avoid it. Otherwise, give it a try and let an objective friend tell you if they think it is working.
2006-08-24 15:53:02 · answer #1 · answered by sandra j 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am 53 yr.old, postmenopausal with a 26 yr. old son who is not well and my doctor thought that putting me on wellbutrin would help me when I told him I wasn't sleeping due to a lot of stress. I've been taking it for about a month and a half and I'm really not sleeping any better. I told him I wasn't depressed, just full of anxiety, and he said that it still could be an underlying symptom of depression. Anyway I have been feeling rather antsy and apparently I'm acting a little hyper. I didn't realize it but at lunch with a couple of girlfriends they asked me what was wrong and how come I couldn't seem to sit still. I had done some research before taking it and did notice that it can actually cause anxiety in some people. After taking it about a month I looked into it again on the internet and found one website that said you can test positive for an amphetamine like substance in the blood. Amphetamines, if you don't know, is like speed which would account for the hyperactivity, anxiety, irritability and loss of weight. I don't know if this a lot of hogwash, but I'm giving it another month or so to see if it will make a difference, on my doctors advice. A lot of my friends have taken ssri's and have all gained quite a bit of weight. I was also given a benzodiazepene, Ativan for ten days which absolutely helped me sleep but they are highly addictive. You build up a tolerance to them, where one works for a while then you need more and more to get the same effect so my doctor doesn't prescribe these meds very often and only for a short period of a few months when really needed. I would also like to know if any newer antidepressants, like Cymbalta, help anxiety without weight gain. Sorry to be so long winded, but I am experiencing the same reactions to Wellbutrin as yourself so I can empathize. I don't remember the site that suggested the amphetamine connection but it might be something to look into further.
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2016-04-14 02:08:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I must say it is very impressive to see someone well educated on the meds they are taking and take the time to create a proper question, one of the best I've ever seen. Now, on to the subject. I use Wellbutrin in combination with Zoloft, I take 450mg a day of Wellbutrin, I think that's about the max, not sure though. It works well for me and controls my emotions and moods very well, I have experienced no side effects other than a muted sense of emotion, but for me that's a good thing. I find it very difficult to cry but I also deal very well with emotional upheavals like relationships on the rocks where in the past it required a hospital stay to stabilize me.
2006-08-25 12:50:43 · answer #3 · answered by avidcyclist4 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I DESPISED Wellbutrin. In the fine print, my Dr. did read to me, it says a certain (small) percentage of people can have seizures with it. I took it ONE time, excited too, because it was to help my mood swings and give me energy. I awoke 2 hours later to find that my vision had been permanently impaired due to Wellbutrin. It caused small seizures to the nerve endings in the back of my eyes. Now, my eyes constantly jump (up and down) and I must take Lyrica daily to control the seizures in my eyes. I say stay away from Wellbutrin!
2006-08-28 17:08:58 · answer #4 · answered by GOUTVOLS 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Oy, I know you're probably not going to find this helpful, but I mean for it to be.
My cousin was on Wellbutrin. She had a seizure. She is healthy. Nothing like this EVER happened to her before. It scared the crap out of her poor kids. She drinks lots of caffeine.
2006-08-24 13:00:26 · answer #5 · answered by mightyart 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Hi,
Name name is Shai and i have been taking wellbutrin 300mg and its is not working for me. I just called my doctor and reschedule an appointment cuz this makes me feel worse. I have been taking it for two months. I would love to hear from someone if wellbutrin really works.
2006-08-29 08:52:10 · answer #6 · answered by C L 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Overcome your Depression Without Medication
2016-04-25 00:22:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have heard true stories of multiple people that have commited suicide on wellbutrin. I would never tell anyone that it is heplful. If it makes you feel funny in any way please stop taking it. There are other better things out there for your problem.
2006-08-29 07:11:10 · answer #8 · answered by laurie k 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I took wellbutrin for about 6 months for depression. Did not seem to help any. Made my mouth real dry and made me sick at my stomach. Not taking it anymore....
2006-08-24 13:07:59 · answer #9 · answered by princess 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is not going to effect two people the same. antideppressants are trial and error, kind of like birth control pills. Everybody's body is different and responds differently to medication. Try it and if it works for you then great if not talk to your dr. abut your symptoms and other options.
2006-08-30 04:31:02 · answer #10 · answered by keepingthefaith 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋