Posted by jane d on August 23, 2002, at 15:40:17
In reply to Re: terra-in response to you, posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 8:50:02
Most of this information applies only to Wellbutrin SR (as opposed to just plain Wellbutrin) since that is the only version I have any experience with.
Wellbutrin SR shouldn't be broken. I believe that doing so will defeat the slow release element although I don't know that for sure. Also, those tablets are incredibly bitter once the coating is broken. THAT I do know for sure. My mouth was numb, in a revolting, ate straight baking soda sort of way, for half an hour after that accidental experiment.
The idea behind the slow release version is avoiding having the levels of wellbutrin in your body jump too high right after you take a dose and that's thought to be important because higher levels of Wellbutrin is more likely to cause seizures. So whenever you take more Wellbutrin (and this part applies to the non slow release version too) you want to add more doses instead of taking more at once. I take it twice a day and I think this is standard.
If you do end up taking more the doses should be separated. I believe that the recommended maximums for any one time are 150 mg of Wellbutrin SR or 100 mg of the immediate release version. People do go higher than recommended maximums but that's definately not something to do by yourself - and certainly not this early in the game.I also agree that you should try to call your doctor now. I could be wrong but it seems to me your dose is lower than usual. I'm also not clear from your post whether you agreed with your doctor up front that you would take 100mg for a full six week trial or whether you were supposed to go back sooner and then found you didn't have time to schedule the appointment. It's usual to start a drug like Wellbutrin at a lower dose than you intend to use for a week or two to give you a chance to get used to any side effects. It's also quite possible that there is a good reason for using this dose but the only way you will know is to call and ask.
I wouldn't worry too much about not feeling un depressed this soon. It takes time for these drugs to work even when the dose is high enough. But you are entitled to call up and ask. Don't worry about being a nuisance. The standard six to eight weeks of waiting to know if a drug is working is hard enough to live thru. You don't want to also have to worry that you aren't taking a large enough dose to make the wait worthwhile.
Good luck.
Jane
poster:jane d
thread:117408
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020821/msgs/117549.html