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587279 tn?1223700755

Long term side effects from wellbutrin or zyban

Has anyone had long term side effects from Wellbutrin or Zyban? I have had long term neurological problems that seemed to be triggered by a reaction to wellbutrin. I was wondering if others have experienced any problems from either of these drugs. Please contact me and let me know. I am suffering from muscle wasting, muscle twitching, severe memory problems and I am 32 years old. No doctor nor specialist can figure out what is causing my decline in health. I had severe hand pain and swelling from wellbutrin as well as chronic head pressure and then I started having the above problems. Please let me know if anyone has had this type of problem or any other health problems they feel may be from these drugs, thanks, Mya
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Avatar universal
Hello,

I believe that you are suffering from the underreported side effects of Wellbutrin.

I saw a neurologist after experiencing symptoms akin to brain damage after taking a high dose of Wellbutrin for almost a year. He diagnosed me with tardive dyskinesia/ akathisia. He asked why on earth I was prescribed such a high dose of Wellbutrin at such a young age and just about lost it when I told him there wasn't any reason (it was just sort of an experiment it seems.) He said "no one should ever be prescribed this drug for more than 6 months. Period." and continued, "THIS DRUG MAKES PEOPLE CRAZY AND CAUSES AKATHISIA IN MANY CASES. IT SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT TREATMENT FOR EXTREME DEPRESSION."


I was prescribed the drug against my will as a teenager by a weird pro-drug doctor who prescribed it for me when I went to see him for a simple infection. I was not depressed nor anxious before taking the drug.

Quite the contrary; I was in very good mental and physical health (super happy and always liked to joke around/ laugh with friends, top of my class, super athletic, would win sports trophies and scholarships.) After being prescribed the drug experimentally even though I didn't want to take it, my energy increased even more and I did even better in school than ever, but after almost a year on the drug I developed some scary symptoms including memory loss, lack of coordination, parkinsons like tongue movements and facial twitches, inability to get an erection and was doing worse in school and worse athletically. I was weaned off of the drug but the negative effects have not gone away.

Years after discontinuation I suffer from: involuntary tongue movements and grimacing, "taser shocks" shooting from back of head,
clicking  noises coming from the back of my head, extreme 24/7 inner agitation/anxiety/ terror, seizures, extreme shakiness, trouble sleeping, extreme memory loss, slurred speech, lack of cogitation (basically retarded) and have trouble reading and writing now. I also have lost a lot of control of my limbs and have symptoms similar to Parkinson's except I have not been diagnosed with Parkinsons (they truly believe it is all tardive dyskinesia caused by too much Wellbutrin.) I also lost all ability to feel any emotions and have been feeling very very numb since the dose of the drug was decreased. I have not been able to work and have been on disability. I had the perfect life and lost everything.

Please do not dismiss this as a freak occurrence- I am one of many who have been damaged by this drug. Please try convince your neurologist that you were damaged by this drug if you had similar symptoms right after taking this drug because we need to educate doctor and spread the message. Unfortunately, it seems big pharma is very good at hiding cases of bad side effects under the rug.

Most studies done on these drugs are only done for the 2 month effect of taking such drugs not the effects of years yet people think it is safe to take these drugs for years when it is NOT. Furthermore, the studies are done by the pharma companies 95% of the time so the results are skewed in their favor. Please record exactly what has happened to you share your stories and take action (either speaking out against the drug companies, complaining to doctors or other health care professionals, or going public or to court.) And remember, you are not alone!


Thank you very much,

Kevin
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1 Comments
Hi Kevin,

This is very delayed so you may never see this (plus I just wrote out a long response which didn't send).

I wanted to say thank you for sharing and to say that I've had long term issues re athletic performance too. For me the 2 years I went back on Wellbutrin (which I've done on and off the past 5-6 years) I ended up with a lack of concentration and focus which I didn't notice as much until I came off it and studied for a financial exam, I definitely have a far more volatile temper, my kidney function dropped from a steady 61 eGFR to 51 points in 1 year and I have muscle/tendon issues which become inflamed/sore when I train for my ultra marathons. I also think/feel I run slower and get more fatigued as my heart rate spikes and runs higher.

I hope things may have changed for you and some of your performance has come back. It must be incredibly frustrating and horrible to have performed at such a high level and then be put on a chemical you didn't really need.
Avatar universal
It seems like there needs to be more investigation into these symptoms and ailments that people are reporting and less jumping to conclusions that they are due to Wellbutrin. I'm not claiming that they aren't or that we've had thorough enough long term studies presented which detail the effects on the body with continued use of buproprion. However, there are correlations between many auto-immune diseases and depression. Perhaps the depression presented first and the onset of the AI was later. Many ailments have age-related onsets. If one was to start Wellbutrin and 5 years later an illness began, it could be due to the individual's age and not the medication. I suffered from intense, whole-body pains and was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, but when I saw an upper cervical neck specialist, found that my neck was injured and fixing that injury stopped the other symptoms completely.

Wellbutrin is a wonderful medication. It has some side effects and it is always better to avoid medication if problems can be addressed in other ways. It shouldn't be taken as a quick-fix. It should be coupled with therapy. One should always intend to use medications for a short term if possible. But it's not possible for everyone. Wellbutrin has saved my life, helped me gain success in my career, enabled me to go through intense therapy to become a lovable, functioning person. It's also given me mild shaking when the medication peaks, some memory issues, including minor periods of blackouts, and feelings like lightning in my head while weening off for the 6 months I discontinued use in 2012.

Don't avoid help. Don't not listen to your doctor or get the medical treatment that could help or save you. Not because someone on the internet has reported stomach pain that hasn't been proven to be caused by Wellbutrin. Every person's chemistry is different and perhaps there was a reaction for that person, but it doesn't mean it applies to all. If you do start a medication, please try to get therapy or find someone who has gone through the experience of starting antidepressants to help you through the experience. Best of luck to all of you.
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Avatar universal
After 18 years of severe leg and back pain doctors put me on cogentin and it's helping.  Also they found that  they found a new drug that starts with an "n" that helps with ms and the things I wrote above,  it's s drug traditionally used to block Opiod receptors  
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1 Comments
I am so in so much shock reading these posts!!! For the past ten years I must have been told by at least five different specialist that I have an autoimmune disease, and I have to explain to each one that I have indeed been tested for everyone that other doctors felt the same, and each one ruled them out with blood work! I have every symptom, and I continue to get worse as time goes by, I went from being a marathon runner, to have absolutely no quality of life! Every single muscle in my body hurts, I can't even hold my arms up for more than 5 seconds! I had upper extremety DVT (blood clots) extremely rare in upper extremity, my arm, however, common with autoimmune patients such as Lupus. My liver enzymes are always high, yet they say Wellbutrin is not the cause, I had two neuroma,s removes (tumor on the nerve) gallbladder removed, my body is always twitching, as well as my eyes, I can go on and on and on.  I have been on Wellbutrin for almost 20 years, but now that I think about it, my illnesses became increasingly worse several years back when my doctor increased my dosage to 450mg a day!
Avatar universal
My Sister has all of a sudden starting twitching and shacking can't even walk if anyone has experience this please respond she was on well butting clay for 10 years
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4 Comments
She was on well button xl
It could be dystonia.  
This is much later (2021), but I read your sister's side effects and related to it.   I took Wellbutrin for 9 months.  I can't remember the dosage, but it was more like a starter dosage.   Several months in...maybe 6 months, I began to lose balance, my gait was off, and I could not put one foot in front of the other (as in walking a straight line, like when a policeman would test if you were drunk driving).  I went to a neurologist and he did MRI, other neuro tests, but could find no reason for these shaking symptoms, walking issues.  One day, I thought about it...what could cause this and when did it start?  I made a connection of taking Wellbutrin...so I decided to take myself off of it....and behold!  I was walking normally, etc. as if I never had a problem....and continued being normal again. The neuro was puzzled; he'd never heard of these side effects before!
Hi LEH50, that's scary.  It's amazing how people can have such individual effects to psychiatric medications.  So, do you still take any medication that works for your depression?
Avatar universal
Yes I have had long term effects from Zyban which I took 10years ago, it ruined my life
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Avatar universal
Hi
I told my Dr I'd like to have Wellbutrin prescribed to me in order to assist with smoking cessation and I was told to stay away from it as it might make me psychotic!
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Avatar universal
I was taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg to assist me with smoking cessation.  I was so anxious (I thought from not having tobacco), so they upped my dose to 300mg and that is when I had my first panic attack. and they took me off the medication  I have never been the same and this was 11 years ago.  I now suffer with tremors, continuous anxiety over nothing that should cause anxiety and daily panic attacks.  I truly believe that the Wellbutrin changed something in my brain, that seems to be irreversible.  I have been searching for answers ever since.
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Avatar universal
I've taken it off and on since it came out. It may have been one of the best...if any actually were. I was usually prescribed a benzodiazepine and/or a hypnotic to cope with side effects; insomnia, racing heartbeat, anxiety. I had an abnormal EEG after a few years after first prescribed. Abnormal in the sense that it showed a "spiking and slowing typically seen in seizure disorders" but I lived alone and if I had seizures, they were not noticeable to me. I heeded the neurologist's warning and didn't drive for several months. I have each of the long term effects mentioned by others here as back to 2008. Aging seems to have accelerated intolerance physically and emotionally. I am now 62. My GI system is messed up from end to end and natural sleep seems impossible. Short term memory issues and spontaneous tremors/shaking have occurred in this last six months and the GI issues so bad, I can no longer leave unless I fast while I am out and/or take an OTC anti-diarrhea along. Concerned about overuse of the latter OTC med, I usually choose the former...safer option.
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Avatar universal
I feel like the Wellbutrin does not work as well anymore. I too Wellbutrin for 10 years and loved the side effects. Ten years later, I started again and it does not work as well? Why? I lost weight, stopped oversleeping and felt normal?
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Avatar universal
It is band in ENGLAND for over stimulating  3, heart patients  died in tests  , NOT A MED FOR  ANXIETY  
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Avatar universal
What was your reason to be on Wellbutrin? I have just started on generic brand bupropion 150mg XL. trying to cope with adult ADHD.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I have been taking Wellbutrin 300 for 5 years now and I have been diagnosed now with CFS. Before taking Wellbutrin I was healthy, energetic, good memory, no pains and no myalgia. Just recently I started thinking the cause of my CFS could be long term use of Wellbutrin and after reading your post I might try to get off it.
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Avatar universal
I have been noticing the last 3 years that I am getting slight tremors from my tongue down to my legs.  I had a nerve conduction test run because I was getting paranoid about these symptoms.  They are getting increasingly worse and recently I have been thinking it may be the long term affect of the Wellbutrin. I have been on it for 11 years. Think it's time my Dr and I have a come to Jesus meeting and atart weening me off.  
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2 Comments
Did you ever figure it out?  I've been on Wellbutrin for about 16 months and have recently experienced lots of spasms all over my body.  It is scary s so many other bad diseases have that same symptom.
Did you ever figure it out?  I've been on Wellbutrin for about 16 months and have recently experienced lots of spasms all over my body.  It is scary s so many other bad diseases have that same symptom.
Avatar universal
what symptoms do u have? i have been edgy, impatient, angry, and have been on it for about 8 or 9 years. never noticed this before, and my ears ring all the time now.
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Avatar universal
Hi. Any new news on the symptoms?  I have some strange symptoms that are just now showing up after taking welbutrin for 16 years.  Including tremors.  
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Avatar universal
She is 27 now..
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Avatar universal
My daughter took Wellbutrin at about 12 years old. She took it for about two years and stopped. Started it again when she was about 25. Since starting this medication she has had Migrane headaches. Been diagnosed with a stomach emptying disease (gastric Pyresis) a blood pressure disorder called POTS disease. (In ability to maintain blood pressure) Anxiety, Muscle atrophy and now some rare form of MS!! Now the docs are suggesting an autoimmune disorder from a mutant gene. She was perfectly healthy until she began taking this medication!! We are headed to the mayo clinic in February and I am taking this information with me!
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1 Comments
Have doctors check for dystonia and Akasthesia.  Antipsychotic meds can cause these things.  Maybe Wellbutrin changed her brain chemistry.  Check tardive dyskinesia
Avatar universal
My problem is that I still have alot of joint and muscle pain, it started about 4 weeks after starting Zyban. I stopped taking Zyban and still have a lot of problems 6 weeks after stopping. Am looking for how to get rid of the pain, it has been a problem with my every day life, it is worse in the mornings and a night. Been taking 3 to 4 400mg asprin 2 to 3 times a day so I can some what keep going. Am just looking for any help to get back to pain free life. Any suggestions would be appreciated
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Avatar universal
Hi..... I  have taken wellbutin on and off for about 10years.  At one point it did save my life.  I have not experienced any of the side effects to the extreme you mentioned.  I did have a substainal weight loss when first starting on this med. ( 60lbs) But I did not  have any pain associated with the loss and I did need to lose the weight.  I have experienced tremors, and accerated thinking intermittently... in which I reduced the dose. ( I was taking 450mg daily under care of Psychriatist  at one point.)  I am too questioning wellbutin...... with memory loss.. with me it seems to be short term memory..
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365714 tn?1292199108
When I first took it, it seemed a bit less effective than remron, but better than nothing.  But recently after being perscribed an NSAID, which I took for all of 2 1/2 days before getting an adverse reaction...  Then things went downhill from there. I guess they were before, but it was signifigatnly worse... Last couple weeks lost my appitite, had bad cramps, IBS like reaction, and I notice my typing and coordiantion worse...my wrists sore too... Not all of it is probably the Welbutrin. Anyways I'm changing to Celexia which I'm not sure I will like any better... I get depression and anxiety just reading off the side effects!!!

Anyways two days without taking welbutrin or anythy anitdepressent, today I noticed my cramps gone and I could actually eat through a full meal.  Thing is though I don't feel full...  But at least I could eat!  Moodwise............different story.....I feel like ****...

So I'm keeping an eye on it.  If I continue to be free of cramps and IBS like symptoms, then it probably was the wellbutrin afterall.
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587279 tn?1223700755
Very possible it is side effects from this drug. I know when I went to my DR he said the muscle pain would not be from Wellbutrin only because he wasn't aware this was a side effect, listen to what your body is telling you, if you have felt like **** since you have started the drug, it's most likely the drug, maybe you can try something else, how long have you been on the wellbutrin?
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365714 tn?1292199108
Thanks for your post. I've been wondering why I've seemed to have been suffering auto-immune like stuff since lately.  I was looking for an allergic reaction like the hives and itching...the common type allergies. I was puzzled why it seems my wrists have gotten more painful, and digestive upsets, etc...

I see my psycho today and I will tell her. Maybe this sick feeling I've been having these last few weeks could be an allergic reaction to the med I'm developing.
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587279 tn?1223700755
.......signs of being allergic to it, I wonder if my immune system was stimulated and has now bone bisurk,I may never know or get an answer, but I just want to know why my once fabulous world has been rocked and turned upside down as my physical health deteriorates with no answers.
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587279 tn?1223700755
Unfortunately that is the problem there is no way to prove is bupropian is responsible and that is why I'm trying to find others that may have similiar problems. I never had any physical problems or pains and wellbutrin gave me severe  pain in my hands, swelling at 300mg but I was fine at 150mg. After a few times trying 300mg and having allergic reaction I stayed at 150mg for two years, it worked really well for my anxiety/low energy. From what I have read an allergic reaction to a drug is an autoimmune reaction, sometimes that is all it takes to begin an autoimmune po rocess, although many people take it and our fine. I read fda reports and three people developed ms when the first started wellbutrin, now was it Wellbutrin triggering an immune reation or these people may very well have developed it anyways, there is no way to prove it either way. I am just trying to find an answer because many doctors and specialists can't give me an answer. I want to know why a perfectly healthy woman is now struggling everyday. Wellbutrin can be resposible for intestinal problems look into the side effects. Before I completely bash this drug I must say it was the only drug that worked for my anxiety/low energy but I fell maybe the two years I was on it and since I had signs of b
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