What do you think of the drug Wellbutrin?

Question

I've never been diagnosed with depression, but I am kinda shy and get warm when talking in front of large groups of people. I think Wellbutrin has helped me with this feeling, and I've actually become more talkative to others and people seem to think my sense of humor has improved. Is this normal effects of Wellbutrin? Are there any bad side effects I should be worried about? My doctor thinks it's a good drug. He said it should also help curb my road rage problem.

Answer 1

There are negative side effects, but if you haven't noticed any by now then I wouldn't worry about them.

Possible side effects include:
*headache or migraine;
*sleep problems (insomnia);
*nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth;
*confusion, dizziness, agitation, tremors (shaking);
*appetite changes, weight loss or gain;
*mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating; or
*loss of interest in sex.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

You should not take Wellbutrin if you have epilepsy or a seizure disorder, an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia, if you are using a second form of bupropion, or if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives. Do not take Wellbutrin if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

I've been down a shitload of SSRIs, and other mood stabilizers (I have dysthymia and sever depression). I recieved no effect one way or the other from Wellbutrin, but since then have been diagnosed with some loopy type of "treatment-resistent" depression.

Wellbutrin/Buproprion is a well-recieved drug, and if you feel like you're getting some benefit out of it, then I would stick with it. If necessary, you could also start an additional medicine to help augment the effects, if you feel that you're not reaching your potential.

There are also other options available for social anxiety disorder, such as Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, and even beta-blockers like Atenolol. I've tried Zoloft and Atenolol at different times, and they really helped me a lot.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Wellbutrin is used a recreational drug, and not just by inmates. When peeled, crushed and snorted, it provides a bit of a short burst of energy, similar to the high caused by amphetamines . In the city where I live, one 300mg pill can go for as much as $5 on the street. When taking orally as prescribed you will not experience these effects, it s only when you snort (or supposedly inject, although most times these pills are time released so I don t know how that would work) that they can occur.

Answer 3

I have been diagnosed with depression and some of my symptoms were flying off the handle, being on edge...that kind of thing. So I do think that particular drug is designed to take the edge off...
As far as a bad side effect, I had none. Although it is a bad idea to stop taking it cold turkey as with any anti-depressant. Talk to your dr. and discuss being weened off of it instead.
On a side note, Wellbutrin was also being sold under another drug name called Zyban I believe which was a prescription smoking cessation drug. So if you are a smoker who is trying to quit, Wellbutrin may also help you with that.

Answer 4

Actually it is one of the safer drugs, and if it is working that good for you stick with it. For me it did nothing, and even for smoking it did nothing for me, but then again, that is me and not you. We are all different, and so we all have a different reaction to the drugs that doctors give us. For you , it is doing what it is suppose to be doing. A lot of people have been helped with this drug, so just stick with it. If you have any questions about it, or if you think you are having side effects then talk with your doctor who gave it to you. Otherwise i would not worry about it. It has been out for a long long time, and many people have gotten great help from it, with little or no side effects. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

If you haven't been diagnosed with depression, why are you on an anti-depressant? Those are effects of someone on a drug they don't need to be on. But if you like the way they make you feel, then go by that because the same drug can work 50 different ways on 50 different people. Just be careful, because being on a medication to treat something that you don't have can work very adversely and end up making you depressed or even suicidal.

Answer 6

I took it for a couple of years with no side effect difficulties . It works in a relatively subtle way so I didn't notice a drastic effect but it helped my depression for a time until the source of my depression was gone. Others noticed the difference in me better than I myself .So I would agree it's a good drug and I didn't find it addicting .

Answer 7

Wellbutrin has seemed to help me along with the rest of my meds

Answer 8

I took it. The only thing it did to me was make my heart race so I discontinued taking the medication altogether.

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupropion