Can you help a newbie on wellbutrin?

[allegro]

I went on wellbutrin a month ago...many side effects. The one that is really bothering me though is that my mind keeps making trips to some foreign land and when I get back I don't know where it has been. Last week, the trips got a little longer when my dosage was increased to 300mg. Other people are noticing, it is affecting my work and my family is worried. I don't really notice it until I come back into reality and I don't know what is going on. It is like I am losing a few minutes here and there.

Anyone else had this in the beginning? The people in my life, work and otherwise are understanding and supportive. The problem is that it is happening while I am driving. It is scaring me. I keep getting the "bird" and obscene phrases that I luckily can't hear through the window.

I am thinking it will just pass as my body adjusts and I don't want to consult with my doctor. The results with my concentration between my trips into the cosmos is amazing. I do not want to be taken off of it.

I thought this was a stimulant. It has brought me way down. I am not depressed or anything like that. This has been the week that has been the worst with this...same week I was increased. How could I explain it? Not happy (which I normally am), not sad, not excited, not unexcited, not worried, not without worry. I am extremely calm. Too calm. I seem to have no will of my own.

And I am having a crazy thought... really crazy. Could these episodes be siezure related?

Any thoughts? Any experience or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[exeter]

Originally Posted by allegro

And I am having a crazy thought... really crazy. Could these episodes be siezure related?

Any thoughts? Any experience or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Yes, absolutely, it could be seizure related. Call your doctor about it immediately. If it works that well for you, you might see about some additional antiseizure medication, or a trial of a stimulant. (BTW, Wellbutrin is not really a stimulant. It is more of an antidepressant, but it is chemically somewhat related to cocaine/ritalin.)

[allegro]

Thanks so much. I appreciate the help. Not what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear...I will call my doc on Monday

[abre los ojos]

At it's prescribed dosage, you are less likely to experience a seizure while taking Wellbutrin than with an SSRI.

Originally, Wellbutrin was improperly dosed ( 3 times its current dosage) and caused seizures in 8% of a small group of bulimics. At its current prescribed dosage the incidence of seizure is about 0.4%, less than but about the same as SSRI's.

I think youre experience is pretty typical of getting used to the dopamine and norepinephrine. I also think the 300mg's may be too much too soon.

[allegro]

That is very encouraging! I needed that!

[nivek]

I believe everyone will experience some side effects, I started out on 300 mg and before I went to sleep at night I would close my eyes and see some really weird visual images. One example was a face where the eyes popped out at me. I then started to get the trembles at night hot flashes and my docs cut me back to 150 mg and have been doing really good. I hope to get back to 300 mg level once my body gets used to the changes. I would still let your doc know the symptoms you are having.

[allegro]

Thank you for telling me of your experience. It makes me feel less alone in this.

[sweetheartsok]

Hi I've only been on Wellbutrin for a couple days but I feel like I am on speed part of the day and then I gradually start coming down. I'm in Canada and we only have SR which is not the slow release. Which one are you on? I'm also on 150mg. The only side effect I have so far and it's still early is not being able to sleep well. Anyone else have this problem?

Hope you get some answers.

[waywardclam]

It is common advice too that every ADD drug works differently on every person... Wellbutrin may turn out to not be the right one for you... you might find that it never does work in the end, and that you might be better off with a different one.

I hope it DOES work out for you, but just keep in mind, there are other options.

[allegro]

Sweetheartsok,
I am on Wellbutrin XL. I did back down from 300mg to 150mg. I was just having too much difficulty.

Wayward Clam,
I really like that it makes me calm. I have been tried on just about everything in the last 13 years and I have been really hopeful of this one. I do hope it is the one for me.

Thanks so much. I will keep my progress posted.
Great day to all!

[sweetheartsok]

Today is day 3 on Wellbutrin and I am not feeling as drugged as I did on the first two day. I wasn't quite as happy as I was the first two days either. I am still alot more focused and was able to listen for almost two hours today. I'm sure I have ever done that before. Hope this lasts.

[MillenniumMan]

I'm 5'8 and weigh about 145 lbs.
what would be the best dose if I was to take Wellbutrin.
XL is an extended release form right??? what's best the XL
or the regular???

[woodswoman]

I don't think wellbutrin dosage is based on weight. I believe the dosage is pretty much the same for all adults.

From what I've read, there's 3 types. immediate release (which isn't used much any more) SR and then XL. The difference in the SR and XL is the way it's released I believe. Sr is available in generic, but XL is not (that I know of). that's a big deal for me becuase I can get generic for $5 or brand name for $35.

My dr put me on SR 150mg for a week for my body to figure it out. Then switched to XL 150mg for a week, and then the full 300 mg the third week. So far I've not had any side effects, other than doing some stupid things the first week. It seems some people can not tolerate the 300mg (150 2x per day) and end up going back down to the 150mg.

hope this helps!
woodswoman

[hopefulwithadhd]

Are any of you on stimulant med's as well like adderall? If not, why do you think some people are px both adderall and wellbutrin, both meds that help adhd?

[relvinnian]

You can definately get some weird effects when you begin medications, especially Wellbutrin. Although the effects are probably transient, I would talk to your doctor ASAP. Spacing out is one thing, but not while you're driving. Think about taking the dosage down a notch and giving it several weeks, then increasing if you need.

BTW, "losing time" is a sign of petite mal seizure activity. Wellbutrin DOES cause epileptic activity, although as los said its incidence is at general population level. Nevertheless do not underestimate individual variability. People can be super-sensitive, especially people with a family or personal history of seizures. I seriously doubt it, but it's worrisome nonetheless.

Be safe and good luck