My first week on meds has sucked.

[HealthAnxNut]

150mg of Wellbutrin. They want me to increase the dose to 300mg after 10 days, but that AIN'T happenin'!

I've been even more anxious than I was before. Like today, I feel all cracked out, and dizzy, and my belly isn't so hot either. I have several friends who said they had similar reactions for the first few weeks. Tomorrow will be a week on this med. I sure hope it chills out soon.

[tailspin]

I have not been on Wellbutrin but I have been on all the regular SSRI's (Zoloft, Lexapro etc) and definitely the start-up can be a bit rough. So, as you already know, what you're experiencing is very common. I know that doesn't help much though!! I would definitely wait until you feel a bit better before increasing the dose. Perhaps there is a way to split the 150 mg tablet so you can increase more gradually?

Really hope things settle down for you very soon!

[petrified]

I'm on week 2 of my meds and the first week was hell I had to increase my beta blockers after a few days as I felt worse. I'm not in the same meds as you though. I'm in uk ours are pretty limited over here. I'm eventually starting to feel slightly better I'm starting to have more good days than bad. I agree with tailspin stick with them and try to just slightly increase them. Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon :-)

[HealthAnxNut]

Thanks so much. It does help to know it's common, for sure. I'm trying not to look up anyone else's experience with this med. From what I do know, it's a bit "lighter" than some of the anti-depressants, which was appealing to me. I'm not going to say I don't struggle with depression, because it's there, but I feel like the anxiety triggers it. People with success for anxiety on anti-depressants must have it the other way around - and I don't know for sure if that's me, until I give it a go. You know?

[petrified]

Yeah I do my depression wasn't there til my anxiety was there and vice versa I suppose. I've always been against meds but I'm now on antidepressants and beta blockers I just needed a way out I was fed up with feeling low. The way I look at it is things can only get better from here. I hope you are feeling a little better soon :-)

[faultandfracture]

***********************************NOT A DOCTOR**********************************

Bupropion HCL (Wellbutrin) definitely has those side effects. I think I was on 100mg or maybe even your dosage of 150mg. For me, Wellbutrin gave me that "anxious" or "jacked up" feeling you describe. It's an NDRI which is different from other, more commonly prescribed antidepressants such as Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. I remember it heavily affecting my ability to sleep. If you're willing to put up with the side effects, they might go away. Most of the debilitating side effects I've had at the onset of new meds went away.

Ask if you can stick with 150mg for a month and see where that goes.

I'm convinced this med probably works best for people who respond better to the nor-epinephrine and dopamine dynamic.

[Stephj526]

The first month of my meds was HORRIBLE! I was even more freaked out and had tons of symptoms not to mention I could barely eat anything. But it gets better. I didn't believe everyone at first, but I promise it does.

[patchezzzz]

I'm on wellbutrin as well. It did mess with my anxiety at first but it's gotten so much better. The withdrawal is HORRIBLE though. So so so bad. I'm only trying to get off it because of the insomnia. I've tried twice to get off it but I can't even make it 24 hours. I haven't even been on this med a month...

[HealthAnxNut]

The first month of my meds was HORRIBLE! I was even more freaked out and had tons of symptoms not to mention I could barely eat anything. But it gets better. I didn't believe everyone at first, but I promise it does.



The first month of my meds was HORRIBLE! I was even more freaked out and had tons of symptoms not to mention I could barely eat anything. But it gets better. I didn't believe everyone at first, but I promise it does.

Hearing things like that makes me a feel a lot better. I am having a lot of side effects, and feel nauseous throughout the day. The thing that helps is hearing other anxiety sufferers that have gone through it, and say it works. I am hopeful. This drug is good for pregnancy, and we are hoping to have another baby next year, so that was a plus!

[HealthAnxNut]

***********************************NOT A DOCTOR**********************************

Bupropion HCL (Wellbutrin) definitely has those side effects. I think I was on 100mg or maybe even your dosage of 150mg. For me, Wellbutrin gave me that "anxious" or "jacked up" feeling you describe. It's an NDRI which is different from other, more commonly prescribed antidepressants such as Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. I remember it heavily affecting my ability to sleep. If you're willing to put up with the side effects, they might go away. Most of the debilitating side effects I've had at the onset of new meds went away.

Ask if you can stick with 150mg for a month and see where that goes.

I'm convinced this med probably works best for people who respond better to the nor-epinephrine and dopamine dynamic.

So far, it's only kept me up an extra hour per night, which isn't bad, considering how jacked up it makes me feel all day. I think it tires me out, to be honest! Yes, I am going to see about staying on the lower dose a while. I'm glad to hear the worst of your side effects went away!

[HealthAnxNut]

I'm on wellbutrin as well. It did mess with my anxiety at first but it's gotten so much better. The withdrawal is HORRIBLE though. So so so bad. I'm only trying to get off it because of the insomnia. I've tried twice to get off it but I can't even make it 24 hours. I haven't even been on this med a month...

I've read where some people say that. Hopefully I won't have to come off it anytime in the near future, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I think the key to avoiding insomnia for me will be taking a low dose at the beginning of the day, and nothing in the evening. That seems to be the way to go so far.

[HealthAnxNut]

Just an update. I had the weekend from hell with a migraine headache. There were a lot of factors... monthly visitor (sorry!), stopping all caffeine intake, and the new med, which I believe makes me clench my jaw sometimes. I felt awful all day Saturday and better yesterday. I don't feel as bad as I did last week, and definitely not as bad as the week prior. I'm having a hard time gauging whether the med is "working" because I'm waiting for it to stop making me anxious. I've had some moments where I felt better/happier, but I guess I'm still adjusting. I'm also still grieving for my sister, who passed away on 9/25, and I guess that is making it hard to tell as well. Damn, I've got a lot going on!

[tailspin]

Hi HealthAnxNut, Sorry you had a bad weekend! As you say, you definitely have a lot going on at the moment. Plus I know you said in another post that you're anxious about a Stress Echo you're having tomorrow. Hopefully the new medication is helping a bit, but you might not feel any real benefits until things have settled down. Hopefully you will feel better when you've completed the Stress Test, and the headache will improve as your body gets used to being without caffeine.

Really hope you feel better very soon!!