Wellbutrin XL Alone??

[runner]

After being off all meds. for the last 8 months, I determined that I once again needed their help to deal with my ADD & depression.
I thought that generic Wellbutrin & generic Ritalin would be a good combination of price & effeciency.
I went to my GP doc, who asked me to try new Wellbutrin XL (newer than SR) samples for 1 month and forgo the Ritalin.
He is concerned about the potential for abuse, even though I had been on both Ritalin & Adderall & dropped both easily, with no 'abuse' problems.
My prior pscrips. for the Adderall & Ritalin were written by a psychiatrist. I currently have no health ins. & am reluctant to go back to the psychiatrist, as I would just end up having to pay another doc., 'out-of-pocket'.
I agreed to give the Wellburtin XL @ 150 mg, a day, for a 1 month try.
Atomix mentioned in his post that his Wellbutrin SR @ 300mg/daily did not do much for his ADD, but helped with his depression.
Does anybody have experience with Wellbutrin XL for ADD?
Or do most of you feel Wellbutrin must be combined with a stimulant to be effective in treating ADD?

[joanrdtobe]

I am not familiar with XL -- only SR....@400 mg/day.......It has worked for both my ADD and depression.....

Combined with a stimulant may work for you.....but actually Wellbutrin although not touted as a stimulant -- does seem to have stimulant - like activity.....So there may be some overstimulant activity.....I would try the one month of Wellbutrin alone idea.....See how it works....Good luck Runner....Let us know how it goes....

[runner]

Thanks for the info.
I'm hoping the Wellbutrin XL alone will help with both the ADD & depression.

[Gregster]

Wellbutrin increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, which is how stimulants work, so it is a "stimulating" drug. But it doesn't work in the same manner as stimulants and it increases noradrenaline and serotonin levels too. You could almost say it's a cross between a stimulant and an antidepressant. It is often used "off-label" for ADHD. I'd give it a try and if it doesn't work or have the effect you need your Dr can always add a stimulant like ritalin to the mix.
Good luck,
Greg

[1civdiv]

As far as wellburtin and its effectiveness for adhd I think that it works well (for me anyway). I have been on it for the last 3 months and have noted that I can better bay attention and sit still longer than without meds. However, if you get WB in your sys and still feel like you are going a million miles a minute, then I think that a stimulant is well worth it. Good Luck

[Wheezie]

i'm going to start out with a huge disclaimer! this is information i got from my psychiatrist. it is from memory (which is fallible) and i don't know where he got this info. i tried to source it, for my own curiosity as well as in the interest of trying to be factual. but, i ended up on e-bay instead ... well, anyway ...

about a month ago, my psychiatrist prescribed wellbutin xl. i've been building up slowly to the full dose. so, i don't know what the full effects will be yet. so, nothing as far as personal experience yet....

he said that wellbutrin helps adhd symptoms in 25% of patients with adhd. like i said, i don't know where he got this figure, but, that's what he said (i think )

[neuroangel]

I've been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg since Mid-febuary. It makes my tics worse (I may have have tourette's, I am going to be seen about that very soon). It didn't help with my depression or ADhD at all for the first four weeks. Now, I have mixed feelings about it. I'm still thinking fast, talking a lot, and can't focus on any one thing, but I'm not quite as fidgety. Wellbutrin also has a sedating effect on me right after I take it. So if I take a nap, which I usually end up doing, I can't sleep at night. *shrug* It's different for everyone, I'm sure.

Cyndi

[runner]

Thank you all for your input & experiences with Wellbutrin.
One book I read mentioned that Wellbutrin was just as effective as Ritalin in controlling ADD.
I have my doubts, based on my past experiences and your comments, but I remain hopeful.
Have not felt any positive effect after one week, except some low-level anxiety, but I think it takes a long time to 'kick-in'.

[Gregster]

150 mg is a pretty low dose, so you might not even feel it's effects at first. Wellbutrin is actually fairly quick acting for an antidepressant - one or two weeks usually.
Bummer that your Dr is reluctant to give you ritalin - maybe once you try the wellbutrin, if it's not quite doing it, he will then give it to you. I wonder how many mid 30's men he's seen abusing ritalin? I had a similar problem with my GP - but he didn't want to give it to me because I am mildly hypertensive and he didn't know how to dose the drug. My ADHD Dr gave me the scrip and sent my GP a letter confirming diagnosis and recommending a treatment strategy. The specialist also said that my BP may actually go down when taking ritalin due to decreased anxiety!
Good luck - sometime you have to be persistent to get what you need - don't give up finding the right medications for you.
Regards,
Greg

[runner]

Thanks for the advice, Gregster!
I feel the same way about my GP forgoing Ritalin & SSRI combo. in favor of Wellbutrin alone.
But, I'll stick it out for 3 more weeks.

I do feel my dosage of 150mg/daily may be too low for my 185 lb. weight.

If I don't start feeling better by the end of this week (2 wks. on med.) I'll see my GP about upping dosage to 300mg./daily.

2 weeks after that, if no improvement on 300/mg. regimen with both the ADD & depression, I'll ask him to give me the SSRI (most likely Lexapro) & stimulant (Ritalin) combo.

Your posting on the effectiveness & pharmacology of ADD meds. was encouraging in so far as Wellbutrin's success is concerned. And others have posted some positive remarks with their experience on Wellbutrin.

But, man, this 'trial-&-error' stuff does take precious time, especially when you've got the blues & have got to get your chaotic life together!

[Gregster]

Tell me about it! The time it took to even get to the trial and error part was hell!
From Initial concept - "Hey maybe I have ADHD" - to prescription - "please fill this Ritalin prescription, Mr Pharmacist" - took 5 1/2 months in my case! That's if you're not counting from 1974 when I was examined and tested for "hyperactivity" (but I guess I was not hyper enough - I kinda "internalize" my hyperactivity).
Sometimes you want to say to the Dr "I'm not getting any younger here!" - but I've held my tongue because I didn't want to seem too eager to get my paws on some stimulants.
And, of course, waiting for an ADDer is like being tortured!
Good Luck,
Greg

[runner]

After almost two weeks on 150mg daily of Wellbutrin XR, I don't feel one whole heck of a lot better. Nor have my ADD symptoms abated.
Best thing I can say - no real side effects.

I don't see the point of waiting another two weeks on 'half of target dosage' just to see what happens.
I'm going back to the doc on Tues. to get him to bring me up to 'full target dose' of 300mg.

Hope he'll do an even swap of my remaining 150mg samples for 300s!

I'll give everyone an update next week!

Thank you all again for your input!

[Gregster]

Keep the samples and double up - waste not want not - in fact, you should ask for more sample packs - you pay so much for these drugs that the drug companies should at least give you enough free samples to get you "hooked"!

[Penultimate]

I was on Welbutrin SR for a couple of years until 2002. I got off everything for almost 2 years. A few months ago I went back on meds. I tried the XL but I could not sleep at all. After three days without sleep I went back and got the SR.

[Penultimate]

By the way you should stick with Welbutrin. It takes a few weeks to kick in 100% but once it does it helps a lot. That's why I went back to it.