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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
wellbutrin + anxiety
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
wellbutrin + anxiety
by nyprof, Aug 13, 2008 02:41PM
hi,
i went off antidepressants (effexor) in december (after 15 yrs on), have stayed on xanax (1 to 3 .5mgs a day as needed) and have been fine, got my energy back. BUT i just had major depressive episode (zombie/like paralysis, constant sobbing and deep sadness, difficulty sleeping) coupled with my normal anxiety (external factors involved such as surgery recuperation, serious family and relationship problems. but who knows how internal and external issues fuse?). wanted to stay off effexor due to low libido side effects (am in a relationship which is suffering) . had taken 150 mgs wellbutrin in the past along with effexor and was fine. now went back on wellbutrin 8 days ago (first 2-4 days of 75 mgs, then went up to 150). also take 5-10 mgs ambien for sleep. shrink out of town. depression is subsiding, but am extremely scarily anxious & xanax calms it down. don't know what to do, could the wellbutrin be making anxiety worse? might it be temporary early side effect? ....read posts and everyone is different and they make me a little more nuts! NOT being on meds is no longer an option.
i went off antidepressants (effexor) in december (after 15 yrs on), have stayed on xanax (1 to 3 .5mgs a day as needed) and have been fine, got my energy back. BUT i just had major depressive episode (zombie/like paralysis, constant sobbing and deep sadness, difficulty sleeping) coupled with my normal anxiety (external factors involved such as surgery recuperation, serious family and relationship problems. but who knows how internal and external issues fuse?). wanted to stay off effexor due to low libido side effects (am in a relationship which is suffering) . had taken 150 mgs wellbutrin in the past along with effexor and was fine. now went back on wellbutrin 8 days ago (first 2-4 days of 75 mgs, then went up to 150). also take 5-10 mgs ambien for sleep. shrink out of town. depression is subsiding, but am extremely scarily anxious & xanax calms it down. don't know what to do, could the wellbutrin be making anxiety worse? might it be temporary early side effect? ....read posts and everyone is different and they make me a little more nuts! NOT being on meds is no longer an option.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 13, 2008 06:54PM
, Aug 13, 2008 06:54PMTo: nyprof
Yes, the wellbutrin could be making it worse because it has a slight stimulant effect, and if anxiety is the issue until your doctor comes back, then you might want to stick with the xanax and not try to self medicate yourself.
with ,much appreciation,
nyprof