Posted by Tony P on February 16, 2003, at 13:23:22
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin effectiveness, posted by Ricardo on December 31, 2002, at 4:18:51
I also couldn't take Paxil. I have tried Wellbutrin a couple of times in the past year. It is so strongly activating that I experimented at one point with just 75mg once a day. I am now on 100mg XR 1/day and that seems to be the best for me - still have problems with sleep, and even stopping "doing things" long enough to take other meds and go to bed - Instead I get into keeping busy compulsively (like posting on the computer)! YYMV.
Wellbutrin is so different from the SSRI's (plus atypical SRIs like Serzone) that it's hard to compare. Techically, Wb strongly boosts DA (dopamine) and NE (norepinephrine), but has little effect on 5-HT (serotonin) receptors, while SRI's have strong effects on 5-HT and moderate effect on NE, varying with different drugs.
Wellbutrin certainly gives me a sense of wellbeing, zest for life, and enthusiasm for getting things done. But alone it may not be enough to deal with depression. I take Serzone (SRI) as well - some extra side-efects, but they're bearable.
Tony P
tonyp@shaw.ca
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> Hi!
>
> Paxil did help me with my depression, but the side-effects were terrible. When my doc put me on Wellbutrin, I was really worried about having a relapse. So far, it hasn't happened. I still feel as emotionally stable, or even more, as I was when I got off Paxil, and I haven't had any panic attacks ever since I made the change (I had had a few while on Paxil). For one thing, I DO want Wellbutrin to work out for me. At the moment, I just can't afford the side-effects of an SSRI. I would be willing to try some other AD, but that would have to be one that didn't interphere in my sex life, didn't put me to sleep and, above all, didn't have me put on weight. Wellbutrin has been doing the trick so far. By the way, my doctor put me on a very low dose (150mg once a day). Does anybody here know whether it's possible to do well on this dose or will I have to increase it eventually?
poster:Tony P
thread:91687
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030214/msgs/200909.html