I had my Wellbutrin increased to 400mg a day, while keeping my Xanax at 8mg a day.
After 7 weeks, my insomnia, anxiety, and depression have all gotten worse.
This is exceptional, because I have an extremely high will power and am very motivated and am very successful at using coping skils (breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, postive affirmations, thought stopping, etc...) but as the days went by on this medication, my anxiety insomnia and depression (and post-tramuatic stress flashbacks) became so much worse that I could hardly function at the most basic tasks. Every day I had crying fits, or panic attacks or both, when I do get sleep it's for no longer than 2 weeks at a time, and 9 out of ten times I wake up crying or in the middle of a panic attack.
So, Welbutrin has made my condition worse... including my smoking.... the exact opposite I hear from most people I've talked to who have taken it.
I saw my psychiatrist today, and he is going to have me wean off of the Wellbutrin while staying on the Xanax. Then after two weeks of being off the Wellbutrin, he is going to put me on an MAOI, the last class of medicines that we haven't tried yet (I've been on 16 different meds so far).
I am 44 yrs old, married and mom to 3 teens. Life in the past few years keeps getting more and more stressful and challenging. Although people consider me to be a strong, smart and capable woman, I hit a major depression about 13 months ago. I couldn't function and kwew that I was in trouble. Couldnt get up, couldmt work, cried constantly, lost weight, felt like I didnt belong anywhere and no hope. I kept feeling like life had NO PLEASURE in it. That's how I would describe it. Also, a very busy person, I was always running - work to home to the store to chores to fight with kids and husband. Anyhow, I called a psychiatrist and immediately put me on paxil which made me sedated, then Zoloft, which made me gain weight and lose all sex interest. Not that I have much anyway, but I didnt feel normal. So I discoved Wellbutrin, and have found success with it for about 6 months. I take one purple pill (150) in the am and pm. Lately, I feel depression is trying to come back, with more problems in my life. I am wondering if I am going to need to increase my medication or will the dr make me switch. I am really scared to go back to that horrible lost hopeless feeling of last spring, but I am starting to cry and feel hopeless again -not as bad, but scared nonetheless. What do you think I should do? Also, talking to the psych seems like kind of a waste - my best friends are pretty helpful, but I am starting to feel like a babbling bore. It's the situations in my life that just WONT stop happening, and its never good.
For me I think wellburtin is one of the best atidepressant I been on with the least side affects. This medication does not stop the seratolin uptake but dopimine. A doctor once told me that I taking the mediation not him if a person is worst off one needs to tell his or her doctor. Do you know that people w/mental health issues there is about a 20% to 30% medication complience???
I take 200mg wellburtin, 2000mg of depaoke and 400mg of seruqoral a day. I been clean and sober for going on 16 yrs,
and I miss the mania so bad that i will play games of finding of not taking my meds(denial). I still see my doctor and Iam in counseling. Thank God
mark
Yes, you should see a doctor, but if that is totally impossible, I would suggest that you stay on the Wellbutrin, but DON'T sit around, wait, vegetate, and hope that the medication is going to do all of your work for you. You said, when your life was going well,you didn't need medication. If you are not working, and just sitting around waiting, your life can't go well. You must change your routine immediately...get out, do, look for work, volunteer, see people, etc.....and stay on medication. That will work.
I started Wellbutrin about a month ago. I'm at 200mg twice a day. I also take Xanax at 4mg, twice a day. Prior to starting the Wellbutrin, my depression was getting really bad - my primary disorders are in the anxiety disorder spectrum, but my depression lately has overwhelmed my anxiety, or in other words, my anxiety has taken a back seat to my depression.
Anyway, despite all the great anecdotal stories I have heard about Wellbutrin, all it has done for me is create lots of insomnia, and my depression still continues to get worse.
And the kicker is that my smoking has increased as well. Wellbutrin is basically the same as the anti-smoking pill Zyban, but, probaby due to the insomnia caused by the Wellbutrin, I have actually increased the amount I smoke. I know smoke at least two packs a day.
BTW, I forgot to mention that I am female, 35 yrs. old.