Again with the welbutrin...enough already.

[spider6]

Angels...if any one has time ....could you remind me again...the pitfalls and sinkholes of taking this drug if you really don't need it.  .....   Welbutrin.    

[weaver71]

My doctor saw me manic and said, "No way I'm gonna give you Wellbutrin." I wanted it for energy and to quit tobacco. Clinical studies have proven that Wellbutrin causes anxiety in many and mania in bipolar. Bipolar take it often times, but usually with an anti psychotic or mood stabilizer to balance it out. With the Wellbutrin not allowing the rapid metabolizing of our natural uppers, Epinephrine or Norepinephrine, Wellbutrin causes an elevated mood. It could be anxiety, tension, or ultimately mania. You are no longer on opiates or any other mood suppressant, so I think that is why the Wellbutrin is having a different effect now, there are no other drugs in your system to balance it out.

[spider6]

Ya.,..kinda makes sense doesn't it.? Well......now what?    Yiiiiiiikkkkes.....haven't taken anything for three days now I think and I'm already mind searching for something.......

[weaver71]

My doctor saw me manic and said, No way you should be on Wellbutrin. It is clinically proven to cause anxiety in many and mania in bipolar. Bipolar take it, but always with an anti psychotic or other mood stabilizer. Taking it alone is like speed. It doesn't allow the metabolizing of our natural uppers. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine, and they accumulate into anxiety or mania. That is why I think it is working different now, there are no pain killers or other mood suppressing drugs to balance it out.

[ActingBrandNew]

Its like Ariel said above, its not an SSRI but rather an NDRI (Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor)

Here is a quote from the Mayo Clinic:

"However, bupropion can cause or worsen anxiety in some people."

I took Welbutrin before. I was on and off it back in the day. Anyways, every time I got back on it after  being off it for a while, I dealt with anxiety for a couple weeks until I stabilized or got used to it again. Everybody is different though and I know a lot of recovering addicts who take Welbutrin who experienced anxiety as a side effect are now also taking Busbar with it. Busbar is a non addictive anxiety med. Its not a benzo.

Anyways, your best bet is to get with your doc to discuss your options.

God bless.

[Ariel0894]

Hi, Wellbutrin is a bit different from most anti-depressants as it is an NDRI rather than an SSRI.  That means it works on dopamine and norepinephrine rather than on serotonin.  It can absolutely heighten anxiety and agitation, especially if you are predisposed to having anxiety.  It can work very well to treat depression, but there is no component in it that alleviates anxiety at all, and as I said can actually do the opposite.  I know a lot of people who have taken this and ended up feeling dizzy and panicky, myself included.....however that's strange that you're having this reaction after being on it so long.  I have worked with psychiatrists and recently I've been seeing them prescribe it as a secondary medication for ADD, not just for depression.  I'm not a doctor myself so I don't know what this means, but I do know that if you take regular stimulants for ADD and you don't actually have ADD, it can make you extremely sped up and agitated.....not sure if this would be the case here.....again, just really weird though because you've been on it so long.

[Jade59]

Hey honey, I'm with Annie in 'why'  Wellbutrin is behaving differently for you now.  After being on MANY AD's, I tried it yrs ago...before opiates full time.  It caused horrid anxiety, I had to stop.  Anxiety IS a major side effect of this drug.  

[spider6]

Oh Annie, been on it for years....15...mostly on.

[EvolverU]

It's possible that the opiates or earlier, the alcohol, was masking an anxiety reaction to the Med. How long have you been on the Bupropion & when did you start experiencing the anxiety? Discontinuing an SSRI & switching to W (if it doesn't work for you) might also cause this. (I had a friend that that happened to). Have you told your Dr. ?

[spider6]

Ohhh gawk really........welbutrin had been the only one I've been able to hack...I've been on every ad you can think of.  Thing is ...all these years taking it...I've been on all kinds other stuff ...and now,....it's behaving different on me...makin me high anxiety !

[EvolverU]

Hi there C! :)

I know I haven't been around lately, so please forgive me if I'm asking a silly question (my favorite kind:) but why are you taking it if you don't need it? Here's a list of known side-effects. What is it that you're experiencing?:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/wellbutrin-side-effects.html

[meegWpaw]

I have taken almost every ssri in the book and I had a bad reaction to Wellbutrin.  I think tho it was more this stuff Reglan I was taking for nausea.  or the combo.  none of the doctors could ever be sure.  but they took me off the Wellbutrin real fast.  xoxo