Posted by DustBuster on December 31, 2004, at 19:10:35
Have any of you experienced an allergic response to an anti-depressant? After my bad experience with Effexor, my doctor agreed that I may be "med sensitive". This week, he gave me a scrip for Wellbutrin XL. I'm to take one 150 mg tablet for two weeks, then go to 300 mg.
I started on Tuesday. Wednesday evening, I realized I had been scratching the back of my hands a lot, and when I looked down, there were raised welts where I had been scratching. I've occationally experienced mild (unknown) food allergies in the past, so I just took some generic benedryl, and tried to stop scratching. Thursday morning, the welts and itch were gone. Then in the early afternoon, after a shower, I noticed more raised welts on my arms and chest where I had scrubbed hard with a (clean) washcloth. But they didn't itch. Today (Friday), I woke from an afternoon nap with wet lungs, coughing hard for a good five or more minutes. Again, after taking a couple of allergy tablets and sitting upright for an hour, I'm feeling just fine again. Of course, I might just be coming down with the flu, since I did go out shopping both Wednesday and Thursday this week. Tis the season and all that.
I really don't want to overreact (I admit that I kind of panic'd with all the effexor side-effects and scary stories on the net), but I'm getting a little nervous. I haven't had any side effects on Wellbutrin, like I did with the Effexor, so I'm really hoping these are unrelated. I thinking that if I continue to have problems tomorrow, I should stop taking the wellbutrin until the "flu" or whatever it is clears up, then try one more time. If the itching and coughing come back a second time, then I'll stop completely and go back to the doctor. Does that sound like a reasonable plan? Another alternative is to keep taking the wellbutrin, and just see if the symptoms get worse or better.
I'm starting to feel a little nervous and worried about this. How long should I continue taking the meds before deciding I'm not just panicing. On page 10 of the Wellbutrin Physician's Prescribing Information Sheet (http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_wellbutrinXL.pdf) they say some people have allergic reactions, and to stop taking it and consult a doctor if you have any allergic reactions. And what I'm experiencing does seem to fit the description of a mild anaphylactic reaction.
What do you think?
poster:DustBuster
thread:436145
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041228/msgs/436145.html