Discouraged on Wellbutrin 300 xl

[JGF25]

Okay, I have been on Wellbutrin 300 xl (generic) for more than a month now.  I am still a little jittery in the morning but not as bad.  I get headaches every afternoon/evening and so I have to beat them to the punch with an Aleve at about 2:00 and even then I may still get the headache but just not as bad.  Constipation has set in, still dealing with the dry mouth, and I have breakthrough panic attacks.  I have been trying to self-coach my way through them..sometimes with success and sometimes not.  In any event, I am very discouraged.  I stayed on this medication because it had less sexual side affects but in reality I think I am trading sex for my mental health.  I don't remember having any side affects on Prozac but that was about 17 years ago.  Anyway, any thoughts you might have would be helpful.  I am so hesitant on switching medication because I don't want to go through the couple of weeks where my anxiety would be off the charts.  Unless they can give me Prozac and then wean me off of the wellbutrin.  Help...I don't know what to do.  I went to bed crying thinking I am just not myself anymore.  

[mlfddf]

Please ask your pharmasist to print out a fact sheet about Prozac and Wellbutrin or what ever anti-depresnt you are taking.  Read it to see what chemicals in the brain they affect.  They are not all the same.  For example, when I read about Prozac, I realized it helped with OCD and anxiety ,as well as, depression.

I have suffered from depression for most of my life and still do, even with medical treatment.  I have found that each of us HAS to do our own research when we can and then ask our physicians about what we have found.  It's your body.

[JGF25]

I just looked at some of the posts on the forum...I'm with you...I cannot even begin to read some of them...they just put stuff in our heads we simply do not need to hear about.  I hope somebody else can help them!  

[mauismom]

Just found it on Amazon...ty..

[JGF25]

Let me know what you think of it.  I pick out sections and reread them.  

[mauismom]

Yes....going through menopause and I know THAT figures into it....it is not just a thought...it is the truth, I am sure!!!!Gonna look for the book right now!!! Thanks!!!

[JGF25]

I think I saw a post of yours earlier...did it say you are 51?  I am 47 and I also wonder how much of a role hormones plays in anxiety...just a thought.

Anyway, the book is called Self Coaching by Joseph Luciani.  The one I read has a green cover.  I got it through my e-reader but I'm sure you can get it in the bookstore.  It was an eye opening book for me...the techniques I am sure will work, however, they take a lot of practice and vigilence.  Sometimes I can do it and sometimes I can't.  I try to catch myself right when the thought pops into my head.  Best of luck to you and I hope we both feel better soon!  

[mauismom]

I had no side effects at all going off 300 to 150...yes..I would like the name of the book...have fun on your vacation...we just got back from Tennessee and it was nice to get away but the 8 hr car ride takes it toll...hope you are going somewhere RELAXING!!!

[JGF25]

I don't think that we are supposed to plug a book or a drug...however I did read a book that has helped me.  I try to employ its techniques when I catch myself "forward thinking" or in your case "overthinking."  You kind of have to do it the second you realize you are starting to think about those things that make you feel anxious.  If you would like the name of it I would be happy to post it. I am getting ready to go on vacation and I don't want to rock the boat right now so I think I will tackle the prozac issue when I get back.  I really, really want off this 300 wellbutrin.  150 was fine...no side affects at all and it seemed to manage my panic...however my septic went out, major expense, and I went over the edge and am still trying to find my way back.

[mauismom]

Yeah, I am thinking the same thing about the Wellbutrin not being for me...I have slight OCD but major panic and anxiety and I just OVERTHINK everything...I just started the zoloft a few weeks ago and it really doesn't seem to be kicked in yet. I have to take the Xanax... I am not addicted I only take .25 or.5 at a time and have gone for days not taking it but I am going through a rough time right now...my dad passed away three mos ago under not so good circumstances and my psychologist thinks that is what is making this resurface agian but I really don;t think about it... I don't know...I am making an appt at that ENT tomorrow to check out my major complaint that I have just discovered since going downwhill the past two mos...I made a big post about anxiety and spatial problems...I think alot of my panic right now is that and always has been..

[JGF25]

Did the addition of zoloft help at all?  It was about 17 years ago when I started taking prozac and I don't remember gaining a bunch of weight.  I stayed on it for about 5 years or so and then took nothing until about a year ago when I went on 150 wellbutrin to combat waking up at night with panic over my son's grades.  You are right though, I have lost weight with wellbutrin...too much weight actually.  I try to eat that second piece of whatever just to try to put some weight back on.  I am personally feeling that wellbutrin is not the drug for my type of anxiety which is OCD thoughts.  I just think that has to be it otherwise I would not have these breakthrough anxiety attacks...I am a forward thinker..the "what-if" person.  Apparently I want to control every event that "may" come up in my life.  It is all about fiction for me.

So on a personal note, did the zoloft help at all since they kept you on 300 mg of wellbutrin and do you still have to take the xanax?   I have klonopin that I can take which does help but I resist taking it unless I get really bad during the day.  Even a quarter of 1 mg will help me but I just don't want to take it.  Then I am left feeling not like my regular happy self that I was about 3 months ago.  thanks for your comments.  

[mauismom]

Wellbutrin made me jittery too, I had to take my xanax with it..I take 300mg too and 25 mg of Zoloft since I have been having major anxiety issues pop up again..this past month. I feel that way too about trade offs..The Wellbutrin makes me stay at a normal weight while the one that did the best for me, Luvox, packed on the pounds. I think I make go back on that..I would rather be  happy and chubby than miserable and have a beach body!!! Maybe your doc can add something to yours.. I am all for meds that work...I have lived with this my whole life and it is NOT fun!!! Good luck..you are NOT alone!!