hi all...

my new neuro put me on wellbutrin (to help me quit smoking and for depression). I have only taken it a few days but I am very agitated and cranky. I am sensitive to meds so its not unlike me to notice side effects from a new med soon after beginning. Apparently, agitation can be a side effect as well as heart stuff...arrhythmia issues. I was just wondering if any of you took wellbutrin and what your experience has been?

thanks!

janet

Hi Janet,

I tried using Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin made me feel like I wanted to jump out of my skin. Very agitated, increased anxiety, and very angry.

Some people can take Wellbutrin and some cannot.

Wellbutrin worked well for me when I was really feeling tired. For me, it woke me up. However; it is for deep depression so it can make you feel too on edge. If you suffer from anxiety, this drug is not for you.

Zyban is the drug used to quit smoking and is basically Wellbutrin. I had better luck with that then just taking Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin has to be used in really high doses to help you quit smoking.

Better to try Chantix to quit smoking. Worked for both my husband and I.

Some people like Wellbutrin and some don't. You will have to feel your way through the different meds. Give yourself at least a month before you make a decision to stop the Wellbutrin.

I was on it, years ago, for a short amount of time. It made me feel
worse, so I stopped it. That's all I can remember. It was evil.

Hi Janet,

Wellbutrin comes in several (three) formulations:

-- regular (immediate release)
.......... taken 2-3 times a day. Medicine level rises and falls.

-- Sustained Release (SR)
.......... usually taken 2-3 times a day. Medicine level stays fairly even.

-- eXtended reLease (XL)
.......... taken 1ce a day. Medicine level stays fairly even.

The XL is the newest and most prescribed nowadays... I'm guessing that is what you are on, but you can find out by checking the bottle.

==========================
I have taken all three versions of Wellbutrin.

I did fine with the immediate release and with the sustained release (SR). The SR version is the best antidepressant I've ever had. I took it for about 2 years.

At a later time, when I again needed an antidepressant, I was in a country where they only had the XL, so I was started on that. I could not tolerate the XL version. I felt wound up and had constant chest pain. Now, that does not necessarily mean heart problems, but I stuck it out for 2 weeks and it did not improve, so I gave it up.

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A problem with the XL is it comes only in 150mg or 300mg strengths, so if that is prescribed right off the bat, one has to get used to the full dose all at once.
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I would call your doc and let him/her know about your agitation and crankiness. Also let him know how sensitive you are to meds. You could ask if he would let you start out with low doses of the immediate release. This comes in 75mg and 100mg tablets, and you can cut them for lower doses.

The SR version comes in 100, 150 and 200mg tablets. Some people might process meds more slowly, and might be able to take this formulation only once a day once the target dose has been established.

Anyway, I would ask about these possibilities, because it can be a really good med.

Good luck, I hope you find something that helps you! Depression is awful!

waves

I've been told that it can cause anxiety. The higher the dose the more likely anxiety. I've been on it for maybe 8 years. It works really well for me, and keeps me from smoking (I can smoke just a few puffs now before feeling kind of ill). I take the XL version.

What dose are you on? I take 150 now, but have taken 300 before. I honestly don't feel different on the higher dose. All I know is that if I don't take it for a few days in a row the depression will come back.

I know you have had problems with tremors, did you know a side effect of Wellbutrin is tremors?

Once the medication is stopped and out of your system Wellbutrin induced tremors will usually resolve.

I have not taken Wellbutrin so I don't have any advice regarding that drug specifically. However, the 1st AD type drug they tried me on was Cymbalta. I had a lot of nerve pain and the dr decided to try it as it works well for nerve pain in those with peripheral neuropathy. It worked fantastic for the nerve pain but for the 3 days I was on it I had aggressive thoughts and couldn't sleep. Like you, I was agitated also. I stopped taking it and called my PCP and said I wasn't going to take it anymore. It was not a good experience for me as I am not one to have those kinds of thoughts and it was pretty upsetting to me. The thoughts were so dark. Maybe talk to your dr about switching to something else if the side effects are too much for you to deal with.

tkrik: I actually was on Cymbalta years ago and it was a miracle drug for me. then after a number of years I stopped because I couldn't afford it. In the interim, I had heart surgery and was put on a lot of meds including arrhythmia medications for atrial fib and ventricular fib....and at one point I went back on Cymbalta and I had a couple of seizures. So I stopped the Cymbalta for about a year..and tried it again and the same thing happened. I had a couple of seizures. So no more Cymbalta for me.

I like certain affects of the Wellbutrin...a little more energy, a little better "thinking" ability but the agitation and chest pressure is disturbing. Because I am also a heart patient of course every time I feel a twinge in my chest I worry but a good lot of that feeling is anxiety anyway. So I'm still figuring this new drug regimen out. I appreciate your input. Thanks so much.

chaos:

thanks for the information. I am on 150 mg now ... the SR version and she wants me to go from once a day (for four days) to twice a day....I'm going to maybe wait 7 days til I up it. I know, I'm not a doctor. I will tell her though. Hopefully, over a little time the side effects will subside and it will be smooth sailing... (hahaha...always the optimist)

Thanks for the information I really appreciate your reply.