Questions regarding Wellbutrin SR (Brand-Name GlaxoSmithKline)

[windsoul]

Hi, I'm new to Wellbutrin and am now on the 2nd day taking it - Wellbutrin SR 150mg 1x Per Day, Once in the Morning. I'll be taking it for the following 3 weeks before I see my p-doc again.

I think I am ADHD-inattentive. I am depressed and highly unmotivated, which is partly due to my slow moving mind when it comes to conversations and the like, and at the moment feel ashamed to go and get a job or talk to people outside of home because of how slow my mind is moving - and thing is I do not look the part, so it's not a pleasant thing when people start wondering what's with me, where things start to "crumble" from there on.

However, my main question is when increasing the dosage of Wellbutrin SR to 300mg, for those taking it, is it more effective taking 300mg once in the morning, or taking 150mg once in the morning and another in the afternoon or evening?

Is taking 150mg twice a day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon/evening) common practice for p-docs? Or is there a reason in the way the medicine functions when you take it in 2 dosings a day? Will taking the 300mg in one shot in the morning be too strong?

Some of you have mentioned being prescribed by your p-docs 150mg for 4 days, and then increasing to 200mg from day 5 onwards. Now I'm just questioning in my head if my p-doc prescribed me only 150mg for the 3 Weeks just to be "safe", or would it make more sense to have it increased to 200mg by day 5?

Also, I intend to add Concerta to the Wellbutrin. Would it be better to wait for the Wellbutrin to get into my blood more after 10 days to 2 weeks before adding the Concerta? Or is it common to just add the Concerta whenever you please, regardless of whether the Wellbutrin has kicked in.

Thanks

P.S. I have taken Concerta before at 18mg and then 27mg, but it started to make me feel unnatural and non-human - but that was (for a period of time) with an SSRI and another period without any other medication.

[windsoul]

UPDATE

4th Day taking Wellbutrin 150mg SR 1x in the morning. I added an 18mg Concerta to the mix.

Intend to continue 18mg for the next 2 days, and then bump it up to 2x 18mg's = 36mg on the 4th day.


Rgds,
Windsoul

[windsoul]

UPDATE (DAY 7; WEEK 1)

*Took it with 2x 18mg (36mg) Concerta Capsules. (2nd day adding Concerta 36mg to the mix)

*No noticeable positive effects so far. (I'm not expecting any results so soon anyway)

*Sleep Quality Improved; I seem to be more sound asleep, compared to usually having a brain that's burning extra fuel while I'm sleeping, keeping me from having quality sleep.

*No side effects at all since starting (Except for Day 1 alone, my heart was beating slightly faster - but it wasn't a big deal and I didn't really pay much attention to it.)

*Concerta 36mg seems to have 0 effect on me.

I'm being positive about it. I'll be patient and continue the course.

Currently playing Drift 'n' Burn 365 and Drift 'n' Burn 3: World Tour @ Shockwave.com, Primary (Pretty unique and interesting game - I completed the game, all 30 Levels.) @ AddictingGames.com and the 'Acronym Game' within the Add Forums to pass time when needed.

Cheers.

[windsoul]

UPDATE (DAY 17; WEEK 3)

*No changes so far. No noticeable changes in mood. Zero side effects.

*Possibly some irritability (as noted to be one of Wellbutrin's side effects), but nothing drastic. It may be an indication of increased energy, or that the medication is working and might be effecting emotions in its early stages, hence the irritability.

*Probably needs more time, like a month or so. Or the dosage needs to be increased. Seeing my pdoc this week (DAY 20) and will see how that goes.

*Have added Concerta 27mg to the mix, 1x in the morning for the past 4 days.

*Concerta doesn't seem to be effective. Gives me a slightly clearer mind, but other than that it only gives me a buzz through the day, and some anxiety/jittery-ness and overdrive (the have-to-do-something mode). Intend to increase to 36mg this week at the pdoc appointment.

*Feeling a little bummed out that it takes weeks to be in effect (need to move on with Life as with anyone else), but I'll have to wait it out - can't do much about it anyway.

-----------
P.S. I realized to my own dismay, that there weren't many posts about the SR version in the forums. So I decided to update this thread, partly with the intention and hopes that it may give others - newbies/regulars - who're also taking/starting the SR version, a view on it. Perhaps even present to them some "possibilities" for them along the way, should they experience it similarly at the same duration as I did. Cheers.

[Sit-n-Spin]

This is one drug where the generic is not as good as the name brand. I'm not sure if that matters as much if you are taking it twice a day, though. The problem is that it does not release the medication evenly. You have to have your doctor write that name brand is necessary to have insurance cover it. I think it's still a little more, but then if the generic really isn't working then why even take it.

[windsoul]

Originally Posted by Sit-n-Spin

This is one drug where the generic is not as good as the name brand. I'm not sure if that matters as much if you are taking it twice a day, though. The problem is that it does not release the medication evenly. You have to have your doctor write that name brand is necessary to have insurance cover it. I think it's still a little more, but then if the generic really isn't working then why even take it.

Hi Sit-n-Spin,

Thanks for your response. I believe I'm taking the brand-name as stated in the thread's topic. I'm still a little confused as to which is the generic though.. I am aware that Sandoz (dont know the spelling), Watson.. and I think Teva are generics.. but I realised that some people just say "I'm taking 'Bupropion'" and they then follow up that it's a generic.

So for now, all I know is that on wellbutrin aluminium strip, GlaxoSmithKline is printed on it - so I suppose it's brand-name right?

As for the insurance part, I'm not from the US, so it doesn't apply my situation.

[Sit-n-Spin]

I'm not sure what the "aluminum strip" is? Mine have Wellbutrin XL 300 on the white pill.

[windsoul]

oh, that strip that contains the medication - coming in 10's or 20's per strip. The thing that you press to "pop" the tablets out (that's if they're not provided for you in a bottle/container).

I was actually already questioning that part about my own tablets 2 weeks back, as you mentioned yours has Wellbutrin XL 300 on it. Mine has some other letters & number(s) (formula indication?) printed on it - but I'm guessing it's something to do with us from different countries and the way they distribute it.

'Cos it actually does state clearly on the strip GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on the outside of those strips. So I'm pretty sure it's brand-name. I'll check with my doc this week.

[Sit-n-Spin]

You could do an image search on Google and probably find it.

[windsoul]

yea, I thought about that before.. but I'm a bit too lazy to do so now, and it's 2.30am here. Lol. Goodnight!

[Josh_kelly]

wellbutrin is not an SSRI. It does not work on serotonin at all. thats why no sexual side effects or weight gain

it works on dopamine and norepinephrine but in different mechanisms than stimulants. it has to be titrated just like SSRI thou. no immediate effects. because it has to build up in your system.

it is an antidepressant and works for many other conditions. ADHD, smoke cession (under zyban brand name). and now it is combined with another compound and will be used in weight loss under Contrave^®
and Empatic™

http://www.orexigen.com/candidates/c...es_empatic.php


wellbutrin brand was sold by GSK to canadian company biovil

http://www.biovail.com/english/products/default.asp?s=1

company kept GSk on the bottle because people are more familiar with GSK in the US.

before the sale. GSK was selling the brand name under a private label as generic (Watson) authorized generic its called.

But not anymore. watson is making their own version now. GSK no longer manufactures wellbutrin or gives it to watson.

better stick with the brand
if you cant sandoz

[hollywood]

josh kelley,

do you take wellbutrin with your stims? What are your thoughts on wellbutrin as an augment vs intuniv? I've found intuniv to be demotivating, guess I'll stick with the wellbutrin xl gsk. Do you feel that 150 or 300 is more or less beneficial used in co-administration with adhd stimulants?

[windsoul]

@Josh_kelly
Thanks for sharing the info. I already know Wellbutrin is not an SSRI, and it takes time to build up etc. Personally I feel your post is irrelevant to this thread and it could be interesting if you put your own experiences here, regarding dosage. However, the info could help someone else reading this thread.

Cheers!

[Josh_kelly]

"P.S. I have taken Concerta before at 18mg and then 27mg, but it started to make me feel unnatural and non-human - but that was (for a period of time) with an SSRI and another period without any other medication" okay maybe I misunderstood you with wellbutrin average dose is 300 mg max is 450 SR last 4-6 hours XL last 8-12 In my experience you need two doses of SR morning, afternoonor one dose of the XL in the morningI didnt like XL because it starts weakly and feel full effects when I am about to go to sleep. It causd insomnia. SR is midway between IR and XL and works well for me. I take 300 mg with dexedrine IR before that was adderall. wellbutrin smoothes the effects of the stimulant and takes the edge off it. Adding to that makes it last longer But be careful because it adds to the stimulant effects. Because it is a stimulant on its own. I dont like concerta or any other extended release medication. they just vary in their effects with me from day to day. Plus I like to time my doses and tailor them to my schedule. Lets say If I am tired at 5 and need 5 more hours. I Can the instant release knowing that It would be out of my system before bed. I can also split the tablet and play with the dosage. With extended take in the morning and go for the ride. you have no control. plus immediate release are much cheaper. and you have many brand quality ritalin type stims from many companies. extract any part that answers your question. hope that Helps!

[hollywood]

Josh Kelley,

Now thats a good response. You put a little emotion into it as well. Actually for the first time in awhile I understand alot more of how you describe wellbutrin. I take 150xl and it works but I totally agree that it helps many times later in the day, that can be good and bad, bad on the higher more efficient dose of 300xl which destroys my adhd related depression, the wellbutrin lifts my mood and keeps me positive. I have had the brand name tablets the purple ones not used for over a year.. wonder if I can still take them? I am going to take the bottle of xl 150 since I just started back and then go up to 300 sr brand name gsk. Also, I feel the same way you do on ir vs xr meds.... Not totally the same but yes xr meds have a mind of their own and don't help me focus near as well as a well tapered ir dosing regiment. I think at times I have the same issues with concerta but have not adjusted well or given enough time to adderall when I need to... the meds work differently and I stop short of success. I am going to finish the xl go to sr and then try adderall and go from there. I was curious of intuniv but I felt oddly depressive which is unlike me. I felt alot of old feelings of my younger years coming back which is totally bizarre... I'm going to take the sr advice and then go to ir doses of ritalin or adderall . Totally agree they work better that way