EVERYTHING

[Kate802]

Hey Im Kate and I have a few concerns... My doctor jus recently increased my effexor to 150 and just added wellbutrin 150... i have been on it for about 3-4 months now... the social anxiety has gotten alot better but i still have my moments with extreme nervousness and paranoia.. i also can sometimes become severely agitated and irritable... then theres the times where i am super sad and depressed... i also can tend to sleep for like 19 hours and eat alot... ive gained 50 pounds...sexual side effects are awful too i never want to engage in anything and my boyfriend is real frustrated about it.... my doctor also put me on ativan .5mg... i feel as though that dosage is too low and finding myself taking more and running out but im afraid to ask him for a higher dosage in fear he would think im abusing it....  i feel as though effexor and wellbutrin have been great for me but also feel as though half the time i feel those terrible side effects ive listed above... should i switch to something else or jus wait a few more months for it to totally kick in?-----Kate

[Kate802]

yeah thats true.... yeah melatonin didnt work... .5 or 1mg of what? :) i also was told by my psychitrist to go to my gyno and go on yaz because he says i suffer from PPMD.... all these medications uggghhh...does anyone know anything about yaz? im also waiting for this wellbutrin to kick in... even though i have a bachelors degree and a good job i still feel that i am a super lazy person and was hoping this wellbutrin would have helped that by now... i have a damn ellpitical in my house that i cant even get on because im so unmotivated ughhh. i used to go out and party alot but i dont even wanna do that anymore mainly because i gained so much weight and also becuase i simply jus dont feel like it ugghh help... lol..

[Paxiled]

Tylenol PM is liver toxic, so not a good med to take regularly.  Have you tried melatonin?  .5 or 1mg would be a good dose.

[Kate802]

Thank you everyone for all your repsonses! Very much apprecited! :) I also wanted to mention that i was diagnosed with ADD and ADHD when i was 7 years old and have been on at least 9 different medications for that from age 7-21. i am now 25 and havent been on anything for that for 4 years now. i felt as those medications enhanced my parnanoia due to being a stimulant... Im hoping the wellbutrin will treat the adhd? im very disorganized and tend to like to socialize alot at work... should i also try a sleeping medication? it takes me a long time to fall asleep at night and i tend to wake up alot.. tylenol pm does not appear to work for me anymore... it mainly causes severe agitation and migraines... my last concern is the obsessive compulsive... i tend to pick at my skin and pick scabs alot.. ive been doing this since i was in kindergarten. i cannot stop and dont know what to do....

[Paxiled]

The question here seems to be if you're being treated for anxiety, or depression, or both.  Neither wellbutrin nor effexor are first line treatments for anxiety because of just what you describe -- both can be very stimulating, especially wellbutrin, but effexor as well because it targets norepinephrine.  Combining the two would just make it all the more stimulating.  On the other hand, the serotonin effect of Effexor is making you sleep and slowing your metabolism, causing the weight gain.  It's a pickle.  The wellbutrin may very well have been prescribed to help you not sleep so much and to minimize both the weight gain and loss of libido, but if you're an anxiety sufferer, this would normally be done with an ssri, not an snri.  Hope it all works out.

[29sillygirl]

Most antidepressants depress the libido and cause weight gain.
It's a trade off.  

Sometimes your body adjusts and the side effects lessen, but usually not.  The theory is: if your body can take the meds, you will have the energy to exercise and I guess crave salads instead of brownies??  LOL

The weight gain may not kick in immediately, but after a year or so.
That was the case with me and Effexor.  It also caused a low grade nausea and diarrhea.  

After a year when the weight gain (50 lbs) and a acne-like condition covered my face, I took myself off it..  Serious withdrawal followed on top of trying to heal from anal cancer treatment, so I am not a fan of this medication.  I do know that it has helped others, so...

Wellbutrin might be ok for you: it can cause anxiety and  muscle tension, and is often prescribed with an anti-anxiety for this reason.   From what you have said it is time for a serious talk with doctor about side effects and medicine adjustment.

The name of the game is:' lets try this and see how you do'.  Important word: you.  The only person who understands the misery of depression and anxiety compared to  side effects of medicine: you.  

[remar]

All meds come with side effects. It's wonderful that we have them to help us but we could sure do with those side effects. Wellbutrin is different from Effexor, it's a stimulating med. I took Effexor myself and was sleeping way too much just like you. I think that's why your Dr prescribed the Wellbutrin, to give you more energy.
Are you only taking the Ativan once a day? If your still feeling agitated and irritable at this dose don't be afraid to tell your Dr. He may up your dose or try you on a different anti anxiety med.
The Wellbutrin may help with help with the weight gain and lack of libido, I say maybe. We're all different and respond to meds differently.
Usually you give a med about 6 weeks to see how you do on it. If your having severe intolerable side effects, of course you want to quit before that time. Only you and your Dr can decide this though.