Wellbutrin XL

[BloomInWinter]

I know this is terrible, but sometimes I tell MD's that I'm depressed when I realize I'm getting to fat. I tell them wellbutrin always helps me.

(((((OrphanedChild)))))))

That is not terrible, that is an honest attempt to help yourself feel better in the ways you know how. Maybe not the most direct route to getting better, but it takes time to face & heal these things.

Speak kindly to yourself.

 

[orphaned child]

Thank you BloominWinter, I was starting to regret posting that as I am new here. I always rationalize it with"if i get fat, I really will get depressed."

 

[Iam]

Hi Isolated,

I agreed to go on Wellbutrin XL after being hospitalized last November. It has helped tremendously. I am only on half the recommended dosage as I tend to be quite sensitive to most medications. I didn't realize until later that it was the cause of my decreased desire to smoke. It did cause horrendous nightmares at first, but those disappeared after about a week or so. It supposedly can interfere with sleeping soundly as well. I take it in the morning and have actually started sleeping much better since being on it. The psychiatrist at the hospital that convinced me to try it, did point out that most people lose weight when they take it. Probably trying to give me an extra incentive LOL! It hasn't done that for me, not that I need to lose a ton of weight anyway, but it would have been nice to shed a few pounds ;o)

I agree with those above who stated that you need to go to a trauma pyschologist (psychiatrist basically just dx and prescribe meds now). If you have PTSD, then you need therapy to help you deal with the symptoms. Medication can help, but it is not the end all be all.

Orphaned Child.....(((HUGS))), believe me I have thought of doing that at times LOL! Don't feel ashamed or embarrassed for sharing the truth here. The forum is a place of support and encouragement. Do be prepared however to have people here tell you what they really think out of love and experience. (((HUGS again)))

 

[Jawn]

Wellbutrin XL has helped me with my depression and I am able to focus better. I've also lost weight, but I'm not sure that was Wellbutrin or the stress in my life recently.

 

[Iam]

Wellbutrin XL has helped me with my depression and I am able to focus better. I've also lost weight, but I'm not sure that was Wellbutrin or the stress in my life recently.

Most likely both Jawn.......

 

[a3a2]

I have been considering switching to Wellbutrin from celexa because of weight gain, so this was a very well timed post for me. I think I will head the advice given here and go to a psych rather than my primary. Thanks, all!

 

[Happy Head]

I wish there were a way where we could pick and choose our side effects

 

[Iam]

I have been considering switching to Wellbutrin from celexa because of weight gain, so this was a very well timed post for me. I think I will head the advice given here and go to a psych rather than my primary. Thanks, all!

I gained like crazy on celexa too. Plus I found that I had to keep increasing the dosage, which I may find true of wellbutrin as well. WARNING on going off the celexa. Do it under a dr's care and wean off very slowly. The withdrawals from celexa were hell on because I did it too fast. Didn't realize that they were even withdrawal symptoms until well after the fact. I didn't substitute a different anti-depressant though so it may be different. I just weaned off over a 6 or 8 week period of time. The withdrawal symptoms got worse over a 6 month time period until I went on wellbutrin. Of course part of that could be just the fact that I wasn't on anything and (for me) really needed to be while in therapy

 

[Aj]

I have to ask, since those on this thread are familiar with Wellbutrin: I recently stopped taking my Zoloft, as the personal side effects led me to the conclusion that (at the lowest dose) the drug was doing more harm than good. However, I also suffer from IBS and since getting off Zoloft (a little over a week ago) I've been going through withdrawl (foggy mental state, IBS feels like it's flaring up with frequent painful spasms, anxiety is up a little). I'd been on Zoloft for years, and tapered down slowly to 12mg a day. I kept hoping the side effect in question would go away, but it didn't, even at a lower dose. I know it's the Zoloft but I think I might require SOME sort of medication. I wanted to know as a PTSD sufferer (10 years), will Wellbutrin make things worse in terms of anxiety, or better? I am going to as my psychiatrist about it soon, but I wanted to get the input of those who are suffering from PTSD anxiety first. I'm also going to see my Gastroenterologist. I did find this info on those going through SSRI Withdrawl online:

"SSRI's are split into two categories: long acting and short acting. For example, Prozac is a longer-acting SSRI. Paxil, Effexor, Zoloft and Luvox are short-acting. The shorter acting SSRIs, when discontinued or when the dosage is lowered, produce an "anticholinergic rebound," which is an interruption in production of the key neurotransmitter acetylcholine. (Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used more when a person is under greater stress.) These symptoms will last anywhere from one to seven weeks, and then disappear."

 

[Iam]

I wanted to know as a PTSD sufferer (10 years), will Wellbutrin make things worse in terms of anxiety, or better?

I AJ.....don't know if you're still on the forum, but I have found that my anxiety decreased dramatically after starting Wellbutrin. I am also sleeping soundly again for the first time in a couple of years.

 

[ktmarie71]

I was on wellbutrin XL for a few years. It worked just fine until the last four months I was on it. Suddenly I had headaches everytime I took them. I dont know if anyone else experienced something like that, but the headaches were horrible. It was really too bad because it was working pretty well before that.

 

[Iam]

Funny you should say that ktmarie.
I had an appt with my regular family dr today for a med check. I had told him that I was concerned that the wellbutrin might be causing muscle pain. He said that is an unusual side effect, but that it was possible.

He doesn't like prescribing unless absolutely necessary, but since I am still having to fight depression symptoms, he suggested that we up the dosage from 150mg (which is 1/2 the usual) to the usual 300mg. He also said that if it is causing muscle pain that I will notice it getting much worse and we'll have our answer.

The other concern I brought up was developing a tolerance to it which he said doesn't happen. I wonder what caused the change for you. Thanks for sharing.