Med Help Please!!!!! Bupropion, Adderall, Zoloft, Etc...

[carefulmama]

Hello :) I am in desperate need for help and advice. Having a history of PTSD, anorexia, panic attacks, OCD (obsessive thoughts) and now binge eating disorder. Zoloft worked in the past with my PTSD and anorexia. Recently I started binge eating and then fantasizing about being anorexic again so I decided it would be a good idea to see the doc!

Doc put me on 25mg Zoloft for 2 weeks which didn't do anything for the BED but helped the depression. Started 150mg Bupropion XR which was an AMAZING drug! I have never felt so great!!! After a month I experienced insomnia. So Trazadone was added at night. It helped a little but took away the efficacy of the Bupropion :( binge eating started right away (eating 3 or 4 meals for dinner). Luckily I'm not obese but have gained 15 pounds in 2 weeks which shows the urgency.

My doc took me off Bupropion and Trazadone and put me on Adderall. I don't get the same zip of energy and confidence as the Bupropion, in fact feel calm and slightly focused. There is an awful side affect of headaches and exhaustion AND Binge Eating at the end of the day. I sleep really well which has been nice.

My need for help is around suggestions of coping with Bupropion. I really want to go back to it. It is amazing!!!! I felt like my old self before all of the trauma in my life. Has anyone figured out how to take Bupropion and be able to sleep at night? I don't mind taking a med to fall asleep as long as it doesn't decrease the effects of Bupropion. Wondering if taking a smaller does would help. Like 75mg IR and then half that in the pm. As opposed to the 150mg XR.

Thank you!!!!

 

[joeylittle]

You could talk with your doc about a smaller dose - but there's a chance they won't want to let you go back to it. Bupropion can bring out mania for some people; it's also known for a 'false euphoria' effect. So, one of three things could have been happening:

• You were just on too high a dose, and can restart at a lower dose, get benefits, and still be able to sleep.
• You were being agitated by it, and a lower dose would have the same effect, which would indicate it's not a drug you can safely use.
• You were on too high a dose, we're having euphoric reactions, and at a lower dose will not get benefits.

No matter what - taking a sleep med (or any other med) to counteract the bupropion isn't generally a good path to go down...simply because it's hard to sustain long-term.

Are you in any other treatment (cognitive therapy) for the binge eating? I'd think that'd be really important.

 

[carefulmama]

You could talk with your doc about a smaller dose - but there's a chance they won't want to let you...

Thank you for your reply and insight! I wondered about mania and afalse sense of euforia. I'm waiting to be called for a program. It could take 2-3 months! I live in a small town so options are limited. My eating disorder isn't typical in the way that it's influenced by ocd. However my OCD is more triggered by ptsd and feeling a loss of control.


I think I've been hoping for a perfect solution but need to be happy with the combination of therapy and meds. I've been considering staying on meds to avoid potential relapse in the future. I thought I had "cured" myself as my eating disorder wasn't an issue for 10 years!


There is a social anxiety component and bupropion really helped with it! Adderall+Zoloft helps but it's not enough.