New meds & side effects

[AM1995]

I have not been on here for a long time so I hope it's still a helpful resource!  I just started taking Wellbutrin (generic) last Monday and I have had the weirdest week. Shaky, off balance, this constant high pitched noise in my ears, one day a lot of energy and feeling pretty good, then feeling so crappy for most of the other days, and I've been waking up in the morning with an odd taste in my mouth, which by the way is like a dried up river. What makes the side effects worse is that I'm a hypochondriac - major health anxiety! So of course all week I've got myself so consumed with what's happening  in my body that I think I'm making things worse. Last night I woke up probably around 3 or 4 and noticed some pain in my head...I haven't been able to fall back to sleep since then. It makes me afraid to get out of bed and start my day. I'm just laying here obsessing about this pain! I am also taking fluoxetine for anxiety, which normally does the job, but not so much this week.
So I'm wondering how to deal with these side effects? I really want to see if the meds will help ease my depression but I just feel like I won't be able to handle feeling so shaky and weird for a real long time. Please let me know if you've had a similar experience and how you managed. Again, I'm pretty sure my health anxiety is adding to my problem here...(I will be feeling my head and worrying about this new pain all day, I'm sure)
Thanks!!

[youngdude421]

I also take Wellbutrin & fluoxetine. I just started the Wellbutrin about 3 weeks ago. After about a week to 10 days the shaky side effects wore off for me and like you I went back to feeling down again. Now 3 weeks in my Doc upped my dose to 300mg, the 150mg was the starter dose. I just accepted the unpleasant effects (anxiety, lack of sleep, irritability) as my body getting used to a new med. beacuse I knew the positive out weighed the negative because WellB. does do wonders for my depression, i have started going back to the gym and feel more of a purpose in my day. I would give it some time, thats what my experience showed me to give this med some time. Hope you feel better soon!

[remar]

I hope you feel better soon. All of these meds can have possible side effects, especially in the first first weeks.
I'm glad to hear your Dr cut your dose instead of just taking you off of it.
Yes, it's possible to start feeling better in a week.

[AM1995]

Thanks for your input! I have heard of St. John's Wort and tried it a few years ago but it didn't really work for me.  I wish it would have cuz I would much rather do a more natural medicine.  
I have heard so many people say they've gotten good results with Wellbutrin so I'm really hoping it will for me!!  I called my PCP today and he told me to cut my dose in half - so instead of 150mg twice a day, I'll just take it once.  I feel like it could be helping, which is why he didn't want to take me off of it just yet and try the lower dose. (I don't know if it's possible to feel slightly better with only a weeks worth of it, but...?)  So, we'll see how it goes for the next week.  I'm hoping the shakiness and the off balance feeling will subside with less.  Of course, hoping the music and talking stops too!!  :-)
I think the pain was just stress and tension.  I massaged it a lot last night and used a Salonpas (?) on it today and it's much better.  I have a chronic neck problem, so you would think that by now I would know that the head pain is connected to the neck pain!
Thank you both again!

[CRSeaside]

I've had bad side effects w lots of anti depressive meds. But,Wellbutrin was the best med I found. It's also one of the only one that the people in my group therapy say doesn't kill your sex drive.
Check w your Dr & let us know! Pamela

[violet_genration98]

Hey: With Depressive Meds I think it's takes awhile to kick-in but I would tell your GP about these side-effects.
They sound not that great if you're getting pain; did you know there's actually a natural anti-depressant? It's called 'St. John's Wort' it's a abit expensive but it's better than prescribed.
I hope you're okay and everything goes well for you mate :)