Posted by blackjack on February 27, 2001, at 21:50:35
I have been on Wellbutrin for about a year now. It is only the second antidepressant to keep me funtional over a long period of time--the other was Parnate. The problem is, I'm _just_ functional. My sleep is normal; I get up every day and go to work; my energy level is normal. However, I don't enjoy anything. I have no sex drive (I know, very odd for Wellbutrin). I get very little pleasure from anything I do, even things I used to enjoy. I've even stopped enjoying food, and after a lifetime of obesity, find myself havng to force myself to eat enough.
I don't know if this is a side effect of the Wellbutrin, or something the Wellbutrin has failed to do. I certainly experienced this kind of anhedonia during my depressive episodes, but it was always accompanied with dispair and fatigue and anxiety. My mood, really, is fine. I'm not suffering. I just don't want to do anything. I'd probably be parfectly content to stay this way, if it wasn't for the fact that it is afecting my relations with others. I don't want to spend time with my friends, and my girlfriend and I broke up because I wasn't able to show her any physical affection.
The problem is, I'm terrfied to change my meds, because as it is, I can work. I have lost 2 jobs because of my depression, and spent a lot of time unemplyed. I also accrued a huge debt. I simply can't afford to risk not being able to work. Also, I have had little success with other AD's, besides Parnate, which pooped out after 9 months both times I was on it, and withdrawl was so unpleasant I'm reluctant to try MAOI's again.
I have an appointment (after some HMO-wrestling) with my psychiatrist next week. I am wondering if there is anything that I might combine with the Wellbutrin that might alleviate the anhedonia, or if anyone has ever seen Wellbutin affect someone thus.
Background info:
28 years old, "atypical" depressive symptoms since childhood. No mania. Family history of mental illness on both sides. Mother is bipolar.
Medication history:
Paxil--partial response then relapse
Prozac--partial response then relapse
Zoloft--no resopnse
Effexor--partial response, overstimulation, then relapse
Remeron--stopped due to side effects: sedation
Paxil (2 seperate trials)--full response for 9 months, then relapse, accompanied by withdrawl symptoms, even with dose increased past max.
Celexa--partial response. Thyroid, then Dexedrine added to counteract sedative side-effects. Partial response for 4 months, then relapse.
As you can see, I haven't had much success with SSRI's alone, but I thought maybe adding an SSRI to Wellbutrin might come closer to the spectrum of neurtotransmitters affected by Parnate. But I fear my sexual side effect might get worse. Maybe Serzone + Wellbutrin?
Help? Anybody?
poster:blackjack
thread:55049
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010221/msgs/55049.html