Wellbutrin Addiction

[rho462]

Has anyone here ever heard of someone being addicted to Wellbutrin
My BF has been told to stop since it made him Manic but he cant/wont
now he is going to state compelled rehab due to his instability and his profession
anyone have similar experience

[GA Guy]

No, him becoming manic is just a side effect of the medication or an underlying mental condition. Diabetics are dependent on insulin. They are not addicted. Addiction is the using of the medication for a high or mood altering effect that allows them to escape feelings. Here's a good explanation from a website I found a few weeks ago..

Addiction vs. Dependence
There's a fine line between addiction and physical dependence and we should draw the distinction. The dangers of synthetic opiates manifest themselves in both forms and while physical dependence is more likely than addiction, it is still important that addiction be addressed as a real possibility.

Addiction is characterized as a behavioral and psychological disorder. When you lose control, continuing use despite the obvious self-destruction and develop an uncontrollable desire to get a hold of the drugs, you may well be addicted. The three sisters highlighted in a previous post show these signs. With the addiction may come tolerance and with an increase in dosage comes increased risk of overdose and death. We see this all too often in teenagers and young adults as well as people who have previously had a bout with addiction including alcohol and drugs.

Physical Dependence on the other hand is the body's reaction to the drug, the ensuing dependence and withdrawal symptoms if the drug is stopped. Physical dependence is a very real problem and many patients with legal prescriptions for real problems find themselves dependent on the drug. When physically dependent individuals try to quit, varying degrees of withdrawal symptoms ensue, the severity of which depends on the amount of the drug being taken.

In either case, the consequences, both long and short term can be devastating and a detox program may need to be employed in order to withdrawal comfortably and safely.

[refusingbondage]

Dependence is our bodies natural reaction to taking certain meds for a long period of time.  A non addict can take pain medication legitimately and become DEPENDENT. Everyone will develop a dependency. Your body because use to it, you need it to not get sick.  You are dependent.  You will experience w/drawal when you stop the med, whether or not your an addict doesnt matter.  

Addiction is liking to get high. Whether cigs, alcohol, painpills.. and I guess wellbutrin or any dam thing else...   You use the med, drug cause you like how it makes you feel.  You dont need it.  You are ALSO dependent but your an addict.  I dont know how to explain it any differently.  

Your BF has obvious issues or else he wouldn't be on the Wellbutrin in the first place.  If he is manic, then he needs to seek help for his problem.  You cant force him into it unfortunately.  Perhaps he is bipolar and needs his meds adjusted.  Sorry for your situation.  He has to want to get help.  I have an unmedicated Bipolar person in my life and I understnad how trying it can be.

I wish you the best of luck.

[rho462]

Can u please explain the difference
between addiction and dependence
Im really unsure here
has anyone else heard of this
it seems he likes the fact that it makes him Manic
is that what u mean

[GA Guy]

Withdrawals happens to anyone who's on opiates for a length of time regardless of whether they're addicted or dependent. Having withdrawals is not an indicator of addiction. Addiction is categorized more by the actions the person takes to gain the mood altering effect of the drug.

[rho462]

Thanks u hit the nail on the head
Anyone else want to comment on the difference between dependence and addiction
u had said there is w/d so what is the difference then

[GA Guy]

Wellbutrin (Zyban)(bupropion-generic name) isn't what you'd classify as addictive in the traditional sense. My opinion (and just my opinion) is that he's developed a dependence on the medication and is having a tough time coming off of it. Antidepressants aren't typically addictive like opiates and benzos, but they will cause withdrawal symptoms when they are stopped. I've taken antidepressants at times and always had to wean off of them slowly. Since it's not a SSRI, my guess is that they will detox him by adding a SSRI to the mix and then wean him off slowly. Sounds like there may be other underlying mental issues that they will address as well. Good luck.