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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 5 to 29 of 31. Go back in thread:
Posted by ksvt on October 23, 2000, at 19:15:51
In reply to I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?, posted by KARIN C. on October 22, 2000, at 20:08:04
> I AM ON DAY FOUR WITH WELLBUTRIN AFTER A PAINFULL FEW DAYS OF WITHDRAWEL FROM EFFEXOR. I HAVE TO SAY I AM FEELING BETTER THAN I WAS LAST WEEK! THE DIZZINESS AND SPINNING WAS TO MUCH FOR ME. I AM INTERESTED IN OTHERS EXPERIANCES WITH WELLBUTRIN, I AM VERY HOPEFULL THAT THIS MAY BE THE ONE DRUG FOR ME. I HAD TRIED PROZAC THEN EFFEXOR AND NOW MY NEW "WONDER DRUG" WELLBUTRIN!!
Karin - the only thing I would add to what others have said is that it may take you awhile to find a dosage level that provides the best in therapeutic benefits. I quit and then started up again and raised myself incrementally on an as needed basis. It was probably a few months before I really felt it was the right drug. It's no miracle drug for me and i probably need to find something now to augment it, but it's worked better than anything else, and I've tolerated it well. Good luck ksvt
Posted by JackD on October 23, 2000, at 23:34:21
In reply to I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?, posted by KARIN C. on October 22, 2000, at 20:08:04
It seems to get people wired for about a week, and then things settle down. With me, it makes me more awake, need less sleep, and not want to smoke cigarettes.
Posted by laural on October 26, 2000, at 15:27:38
In reply to Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?, posted by JackD on October 23, 2000, at 23:34:21
first time i took it was not in addition to any other AD and it was i think in high dosage--i became incredibly angry. you could not talk to me without severe hostility
second time again i went on them too fast in addition to my paxil and got this weird burning in the back of my head and that feeling that it will drive you crazy if you have to be still--i couldn't sit or lay down, had to wait 7 hours after this started for it to subside, pacing the entire time--cut my dosage in half and it worked as everyone has generally said
third time i was afraid to start out at a high dose and my doc prescribed an increase in increments, seems to work smoothly, except for a much shorter duration of sleep and then a crash an hour or so later for more hours of sleep--laural
Posted by Emmanuela on October 29, 2000, at 1:42:44
In reply to I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?, posted by KARIN C. on October 22, 2000, at 20:08:04
Karin - I've been on Wellbutrin for a long time,
and am very happy with it. I love having no
sexual side effects, and the only thing that I
have to watch out for is remembering to eat...it
pretty much knocks out my appetite when I'm on a
higher dose.Good luck!
Emmanuela
Posted by Belinda on October 31, 2000, at 11:51:41
In reply to Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT? » KARIN C., posted by chdurie2 on October 22, 2000, at 20:24:05
I have been taking Welbutrin 300mg for several months, Lately I have been experiencing some 'break through' depression. My doctor has added 10mg of citalopram/Celexa daily. Anyone had any experience or information regarding this combination?
Posted by ksvt on October 31, 2000, at 21:05:26
In reply to Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?, posted by Belinda on October 31, 2000, at 11:51:41
>
No, but it's a combination I've considered, but never tried, myself. I'd love to hear how this works for you and about possible side effects as time goes by. ksvt
I have been taking Welbutrin 300mg for several months, Lately I have been experiencing some 'break through' depression. My doctor has added 10mg of citalopram/Celexa daily. Anyone had any experience or information regarding this combination?
Posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 9:23:06
In reply to Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN~ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?, posted by ksvt on October 31, 2000, at 21:05:26
Hi
I've been on Wellbutrin now for about a week. In the last 2 days, I've noticed that my hands are shaking, I get really hot at night, I can't sleep really well. I feel a little light headed too. My other concern is that I feel this muscle tightness in my jaw, at the back -where the jaw bones hinge. I remember having this same feeling years ago when I was taking meds for menstrual cramps that had amphetamine in it [the amphetamines cause this uncomfortable feeling].
I am feeling pretty chipper! Which considering I'm taking it to relieve stress and mood swings with irrational anger outbursts, is a plus for me! OH i hope I don't lose my hair! IT's one of the few things on my body i DON'T have complaints about. Losing weight would be a bennie for me;-)
Has anyone had any changes in libido with this drug- good or bad? Paxil was BAD news for me- killed my libido and did nothing for the mood swings.
I am concerned that many say it makes the angrier- that would be really, really bad for me. so far it's made me a pretty happy girl. it's 9 days. i'm feeling really shakey today anddon't like it...kinda spacey too which at work is not good.
WILL THESE SYMPTOMS GO AWAY SOON??? ANYONE KNOW?
Posted by Rainwoman on November 2, 2000, at 9:46:36
In reply to PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 9:23:06
> Hi
> I've been on Wellbutrin now for about a week. In the last 2 days, I've noticed that my hands are shaking, I get really hot at night, I can't sleep really well. I feel a little light headed too. My other concern is that I feel this muscle tightness in my jaw, at the back -where the jaw bones hinge. I remember having this same feeling years ago when I was taking meds for menstrual cramps that had amphetamine in it [the amphetamines cause this uncomfortable feeling].
> I am feeling pretty chipper! Which considering I'm taking it to relieve stress and mood swings with irrational anger outbursts, is a plus for me! OH i hope I don't lose my hair! IT's one of the few things on my body i DON'T have complaints about. Losing weight would be a bennie for me;-)
> Has anyone had any changes in libido with this drug- good or bad? Paxil was BAD news for me- killed my libido and did nothing for the mood swings.
> I am concerned that many say it makes the angrier- that would be really, really bad for me. so far it's made me a pretty happy girl. it's 9 days. i'm feeling really shakey today anddon't like it...kinda spacey too which at work is not good.
> WILL THESE SYMPTOMS GO AWAY SOON??? ANYONE KNOW?Kathryn--
What is your dosage? I've been on wellbutrin for awhile, and I had some of the same symptoms. They do go away, but in the meantime, I found that taking it with food and not letting myself get too hungry helped. Also, cut down or avoid things with caffeine for awhile. If you are experiencing insomnia, maybe you could take it earlier in the day? You shouldn't loose your hair, but weight loss could occur. It is common with Wellbutrin. Especially if you are feeling better, because that gives one more motivation to exercise! Giveit a little time, and if it doesn't go away, le tyour doc know, maybe you need to cut your dosage. Good Luck!
Posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 10:00:39
In reply to Re: PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Rainwoman on November 2, 2000, at 9:46:36
Hi Rainwoman [what a great user name!]
She started me on 150 for 3 days and then 150 2x a day. I've been taking it first thing in the morning and then after dinner/before bed.
so you're right- maybe i should take it earlier to avoid insomnia which i was having anyway! i stillhaven't heard anyone else say anything about the jaw tightness? have you?
i do have a call in to the doc to ask her if i should do anything else. it seems to have the worst side effects late in the afternoon--real shakey, kind of hyper, jittery- i don't like the physical stuff but i do feel so 'up' that i like that and hate to give that part up. will the 'good feelings' go away as well? it sounds as if some say they do. do youknow anyone taking it for anger management?> > Hi
> > I've been on Wellbutrin now for about a week. In the last 2 days, I've noticed that my hands are shaking, I get really hot at night, I can't sleep really well. I feel a little light headed too. My other concern is that I feel this muscle tightness in my jaw, at the back -where the jaw bones hinge. I remember having this same feeling years ago when I was taking meds for menstrual cramps that had amphetamine in it [the amphetamines cause this uncomfortable feeling].
> > I am feeling pretty chipper! Which considering I'm taking it to relieve stress and mood swings with irrational anger outbursts, is a plus for me! OH i hope I don't lose my hair! IT's one of the few things on my body i DON'T have complaints about. Losing weight would be a bennie for me;-)
> > Has anyone had any changes in libido with this drug- good or bad? Paxil was BAD news for me- killed my libido and did nothing for the mood swings.
> > I am concerned that many say it makes the angrier- that would be really, really bad for me. so far it's made me a pretty happy girl. it's 9 days. i'm feeling really shakey today anddon't like it...kinda spacey too which at work is not good.
> > WILL THESE SYMPTOMS GO AWAY SOON??? ANYONE KNOW?
>
> Kathryn--
> What is your dosage? I've been on wellbutrin for awhile, and I had some of the same symptoms. They do go away, but in the meantime, I found that taking it with food and not letting myself get too hungry helped. Also, cut down or avoid things with caffeine for awhile. If you are experiencing insomnia, maybe you could take it earlier in the day? You shouldn't loose your hair, but weight loss could occur. It is common with Wellbutrin. Especially if you are feeling better, because that gives one more motivation to exercise! Giveit a little time, and if it doesn't go away, le tyour doc know, maybe you need to cut your dosage. Good Luck!
Posted by Rainwoman on November 2, 2000, at 11:09:43
In reply to Re: PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 10:00:39
> Hi Rainwoman [what a great user name!]
> She started me on 150 for 3 days and then 150 2x a day. I've been taking it first thing in the morning and then after dinner/before bed.
> so you're right- maybe i should take it earlier to avoid insomnia which i was having anyway! i stillhaven't heard anyone else say anything about the jaw tightness? have you?
> i do have a call in to the doc to ask her if i should do anything else. it seems to have the worst side effects late in the afternoon--real shakey, kind of hyper, jittery- i don't like the physical stuff but i do feel so 'up' that i like that and hate to give that part up. will the 'good feelings' go away as well? it sounds as if some say they do. do youknow anyone taking it for anger management?
>
> > > Hi
> > > I've been on Wellbutrin now for about a week. In the last 2 days, I've noticed that my hands are shaking, I get really hot at night, I can't sleep really well. I feel a little light headed too. My other concern is that I feel this muscle tightness in my jaw, at the back -where the jaw bones hinge. I remember having this same feeling years ago when I was taking meds for menstrual cramps that had amphetamine in it [the amphetamines cause this uncomfortable feeling].
> > > I am feeling pretty chipper! Which considering I'm taking it to relieve stress and mood swings with irrational anger outbursts, is a plus for me! OH i hope I don't lose my hair! IT's one of the few things on my body i DON'T have complaints about. Losing weight would be a bennie for me;-)
> > > Has anyone had any changes in libido with this drug- good or bad? Paxil was BAD news for me- killed my libido and did nothing for the mood swings.
> > > I am concerned that many say it makes the angrier- that would be really, really bad for me. so far it's made me a pretty happy girl. it's 9 days. i'm feeling really shakey today anddon't like it...kinda spacey too which at work is not good.
> > > WILL THESE SYMPTOMS GO AWAY SOON??? ANYONE KNOW?
> >
> > Kathryn--
> > What is your dosage? I've been on wellbutrin for awhile, and I had some of the same symptoms. They do go away, but in the meantime, I found that taking it with food and not letting myself get too hungry helped. Also, cut down or avoid things with caffeine for awhile. If you are experiencing insomnia, maybe you could take it earlier in the day? You shouldn't loose your hair, but weight loss could occur. It is common with Wellbutrin. Especially if you are feeling better, because that gives one more motivation to exercise! Giveit a little time, and if it doesn't go away, le tyour doc know, maybe you need to cut your dosage. Good Luck!Hi Kathryn-
It's Rainwoman because Rain is part of my last name. Great for a depressed person, huh? Thanks! I personally did not have the jaw tightning, however, but I have definitely heard others say they do. As far as anger management, that is a puzzler. My next door neighbor and a couple others I have read feel more prone to anger on this drug. But, everybody is different, and if you are feeling better, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. If you notice those feelings increasing, I would then worry about it. The other things you mentioned should go away.
When I was taking 300 mg. I would take my first dose at 7:30 and then my second around 11:30 to avoid the insomnia thing. You might have to space out more than that right now though, until your side effects die down. I went down to one dose when I started Ritalin for ADD, and I still seem OK for the time being. I'm trying a few other things too. Good Luck and let me know how you make out! Oh, and definitely pay attention to the caffiene thing. Even the amount in a diet soda got me shakey when I first started.
Michele
Posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 13:04:41
In reply to Re: PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Rainwoman on November 2, 2000, at 11:09:43
Hi Michele
Thanks for responding. i'm at work so i can't always answer right away and i just ran out to grab some lunch. it's weird- i'm hungry but not at the same time!
Well i blew it- i had 3 cups of coffee this morning...no wonder i'm shakey now. i can hardly type and this is causing problems. i work with software all day!
anyway- it's good to know there are workarounds till this settles down a bit- i hope. these afternoons tend to be the worst for me- i actually feel a little bit out of control almost- very fidgety, like i just need to get out of here and i just came back
Posted by ksvt on November 2, 2000, at 19:23:17
In reply to Re: PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 13:04:41
>Kathryn - when I started out on WB, I increased my dosage at much smaller increments than you describe. 150 mg increase seems like alot to me. I used to go up in 50 mg increments and I always had side effects for a few days anyway even with those smaller increases. My pdoc's theory about that is that it may take you longer to reach the optimal therapeutic level, but you're more likely to stick with it long enough to get there if you're not overwhelmed with bad side effects. This has been true for me. Also, you don't say whether you're taking regular WB or the time release WB SR. I take 300 mgs of the regular WB at 100 mg, 3 times a day. Usually I take it when I first wake up, at lunch and before dinner. I used to take 400 mgs with that extra 100 mgs at bedtime. It didn't interfere with my sleep altho I generally take a small amount of klonopin at night anyway. Dosing myself 3 or 4 times a day was/is a pain and I do forget to take it sometimes, but I did try the WB SR for awhile and for some reason I reacted differently to that. good luck ksvt
Hi Michele
> Thanks for responding. i'm at work so i can't always answer right away and i just ran out to grab some lunch. it's weird- i'm hungry but not at the same time!
> Well i blew it- i had 3 cups of coffee this morning...no wonder i'm shakey now. i can hardly type and this is causing problems. i work with software all day!
> anyway- it's good to know there are workarounds till this settles down a bit- i hope. these afternoons tend to be the worst for me- i actually feel a little bit out of control almost- very fidgety, like i just need to get out of here and i just came back
Posted by allisonm on November 2, 2000, at 21:42:54
In reply to PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 9:23:06
Hi Kathryn,
I have been on Wellbutrin SR for almost a year and a half. I take 400mg/day -- 200mg in the am and 200mg at 3 pm. If you are having trouble sleeping, I would not take it later than mid afternoon. As it is, I was on Remeron with the Wellbutrin and now that I'm off the Remeron, I am having trouble sleeping again.You will find the energizing effect will go away, as will any irritability. My hand tremor went away, but it may be because I eliminated all caffeine from my diet. I have to be careful or the caffeine will make me scattered and jittery and not able to get any work done.
You might visit the egroups site on Wellbutrin:
http://www.egroups.com/links/psycho-babble-tips/Wellbutrin_SR_000963633280/
It has a lot of information. Good luck.Allison
Posted by Emmanuela on November 3, 2000, at 1:20:22
In reply to PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 9:23:06
Hi Kathryn -
I've been on Wellbutrin for quite a while, and I remember the initial shakiness - right now I'm on 450 mg. daily, but I never take any dose after 5 p.m., because I don't like being bright-eyed and bushy tailed at 3 a.m. I have eliminated caffeine from my life, and after an initial increase (50 mg. at a time over some days) some hand tremor is there, but soon goes away. The sexual side effects you asked about are only good news. Often Wellbutrin is added to SSRIs because of those s/e. Good luck! I understand that of all the AD, Wellbutrin is least likely to trigger hypomania, but we can only hope...just joshing...Keep in touch and let me know how you're doing. BestEmmanuela
Posted by Kathryn on November 6, 2000, at 17:39:38
In reply to Re: PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Emmanuela on November 3, 2000, at 1:20:22
Hi Emmanuela and all others
I was so upset this past weekend...1/2 my beautiful thick hair fell out as I shampooed it. It probably sounds stupid to some, but I am devastated by this- my hair is one of the few things that I liked about my physical self these days or ageing, overweight, anxiety and wrinkles ;-)....now to have to deal with thin [not THINNING- BUT THIN!] hair is panicking me. my doctor said i could stop the Wellbutrin right now. i had reduced back down to 150 for 3 days anyway and have not noticed any huge side effects since stopping cold- but i am saddened,but don't think it's depression so much as having dealt with all these side effects for a week and a half. i could deal with the jaw clenching, sweating, tremors,ears ringing, dry mouth- BUT hair loss that's NOT stopping - NO WAY.
has anyone else had this? does it STOP? did you keep taking it and stop losing hair or did youhave to stop the meds too? what's the prognosis here- will i get my hair back? how long? god- i'm a mess... i feel like a fat bald chick [and i'm neither bald nor that fat- but i feel as if everyone can see my thin hair where before everyone noticed my thick hair!] and my husband has always loved my hair as have my children and everyone else..it's a real bummer guys--HELP PLEASE! KATHRYN
Posted by allisonm on November 6, 2000, at 21:19:08
In reply to OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 6, 2000, at 17:39:38
I take 400mg/day and I've never had that side effect so cannot help much. What did your doctor say would happen regarding your hair growing back?
Posted by Erinn on November 6, 2000, at 23:12:14
In reply to Re: OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by allisonm on November 6, 2000, at 21:19:08
Try taking zinc and selenium supplements (one tablet each) daily. I don't take Wellbutin, but Effexor XR caused me to have the same problem and this is what everyone told me to do. It worked although it took a couple of weeks.
Posted by Emmanuela on November 6, 2000, at 23:50:39
In reply to OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 6, 2000, at 17:39:38
Hi sweetie -
I've also never heard of hair loss, and I can't find any info about it in the sheets the Rx gives out. Did you look it up as a side effect on internet? I've been on 450 mg. and it's never happened to me. Are you sure it's the wellbutrin? What's your Doc say?
I'm so sorry you have that to contend with also - it's enough just having the feelings in the first place that necessitate the Wellbutrin. Please let me know what the Doc says. I remember the jaw clenching and yawning with Zoloft, but never with Wellbutrin. Here's a hug for you < < < < Kathryn > > > >.
Keep in touch.
Emmanuela
Posted by Trinitee on November 12, 2000, at 12:51:47
In reply to Re: PLEASE RESPOND!Re: I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 2, 2000, at 10:00:39
so you're right- maybe i should take it earlier to avoid insomnia which i was having anyway! i stillhaven't heard anyone else say anything about the jaw tightness? have you?
I had that w/effexor xr. like i wanted to clench up my jaw....i'm in the process of switching to wellbutrina nd i'm quite optomisitc but getting off the efffexor is proving to be quite the bitch (sorry). has anyone just switched from one to another. i'm down to 37.5 mg of effexor a day and tried goign w/out yesterday but felt so bad i had to take one (i have two small children)
ames
Posted by Kathryn on November 12, 2000, at 19:46:33
In reply to was i'm new to wellbutrin now effexor questions al, posted by Trinitee on November 12, 2000, at 12:51:47
hi
i finally found a 'side effect' to wellbutrin listed as 'bruxism' which means 'grinding teeth' especially at night...which of course leads to the awful feeling in your jaws that you've clenched them for so long that you feel compelled to open as wide as you can, but it hurts at the same time and just aches when you're doing nothing.
i have been off wellbutrin for a week now. i had awful side effects coming off as well. horrible palpitations for hours on end without a break- they took my breath away. itching, especially my scalp. AND my hair is still falling out. it has me so depressed. i can;t really talk about it without crying. i'm not really a depressed person. i started this med to help me with stress, anxiety and the mood swings of maybe starting the menopause [i'm 53]. NOW i feel worse than ever and with thin hair to add to my feeling unbalanced.
i am NOT going to take anything again- maybe never again.
i hope you have so much better luck than i. i know that many have taken this and other drugs quite successfully. But i have had rotten luck. prozac did nothing. paxil took away all my orgasms for 8 months- ya it took me that long to realize it was the drug! and now i have had all these horrible side effects from the wellbutrin...that's it for me!
Posted by KARIN C. on November 14, 2000, at 19:55:06
In reply to was i'm new to wellbutrin now effexor questions al, posted by Trinitee on November 12, 2000, at 12:51:47
> so you're right- maybe i should take it earlier to avoid insomnia which i was having anyway! i stillhaven't heard anyone else say anything about the jaw tightness? have you?
>
> I had that w/effexor xr. like i wanted to clench up my jaw....i'm in the process of switching to wellbutrina nd i'm quite optomisitc but getting off the efffexor is proving to be quite the bitch (sorry). has anyone just switched from one to another. i'm down to 37.5 mg of effexor a day and tried goign w/out yesterday but felt so bad i had to take one (i have two small children)
>
> amesHI KATHRYN, I DID EXACTLY THE SAME AS YOU ARE DOING NOW, WENT FROM EFFEXOR TO WELLBUTRIN. COMING OFF OF EFFEXOR WAS TERRIBLE AND I THOUGHT I COULD BE "DRUG FREE" FOR AWHILE. BOY WAS I WRONG!! I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET ON THE WELLBUTRIN, I TOO WAS A BITCH AND MY KIDS DIDN'T DESERVE TO HAVE A MOM LIKE THAT. I HAVE BEEN ON WELLBUTRIN FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND FELLING GREAT! I HEAR MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT ON WELLBUTRIN, I'M STILL WAITING!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU & HANG IN THERE! KARIN
Posted by Victoria on February 17, 2001, at 1:19:49
In reply to OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Kathryn on November 6, 2000, at 17:39:38
I have been meaning to write on the board about how I have been on W for over 6 weeks with no side effects and some improvement on 75 to start and then 150 and now to 225. But today I discovered this big (inch by and inch) spot of missing hair right in the crown of my hair! I looked at the WellButrin site and found alocepia listed as one of the rare reactions. I am so freaking out. Does anyone know if in general alopecia is permanent or not?!Thanks!
> Hi Emmanuela and all others
> I was so upset this past weekend...1/2 my beautiful thick hair fell out as I shampooed it. It probably sounds stupid to some, but I am devastated by this- my hair is one of the few things that I liked about my physical self these days or ageing, overweight, anxiety and wrinkles ;-)....now to have to deal with thin [not THINNING- BUT THIN!] hair is panicking me. my doctor said i could stop the Wellbutrin right now. i had reduced back down to 150 for 3 days anyway and have not noticed any huge side effects since stopping cold- but i am saddened,but don't think it's depression so much as having dealt with all these side effects for a week and a half. i could deal with the jaw clenching, sweating, tremors,ears ringing, dry mouth- BUT hair loss that's NOT stopping - NO WAY.
> has anyone else had this? does it STOP? did you keep taking it and stop losing hair or did youhave to stop the meds too? what's the prognosis here- will i get my hair back? how long? god- i'm a mess... i feel like a fat bald chick [and i'm neither bald nor that fat- but i feel as if everyone can see my thin hair where before everyone noticed my thick hair!] and my husband has always loved my hair as have my children and everyone else..it's a real bummer guys--HELP PLEASE! KATHRYN
Posted by Lorraine on February 17, 2001, at 11:34:40
In reply to Re: OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Victoria on February 17, 2001, at 1:19:49
Here's some info:
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an immune disease that affects almost 2% of the population in the US. This type of hair loss appears in various degrees of severity from small, round patches of hair loss that regrow without medical treatment to chronic, extensive hair loss that can involve the loss of all hair on the scalp or body hair. This type of hair loss affects both genders equally and can occur at any age, although it occurs most often in children and young adults.
Treatment of this type of hair loss includes immunomodulating therapies such as glucocorticoids, topical immunotherapy, or anthralin, or biologic-responce modifiers such as Minoxidil. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's age, as well as the extent of hair loss. Milder cases will see a greater improvement with treatment that will severe cases. In no case will treatment restore full hair in patients with 100% scalp or body hair loss.
from http://womenshealth.about.com/health/womenshealth/library/weekly/aa092799.htm?rnk=r3&terms=Hair+Loss
> I have been meaning to write on the board about how I have been on W for over 6 weeks with no side effects and some improvement on 75 to start and then 150 and now to 225. But today I discovered this big (inch by and inch) spot of missing hair right in the crown of my hair! I looked at the WellButrin site and found alocepia listed as one of the rare reactions. I am so freaking out. Does anyone know if in general alopecia is permanent or not?!Thanks!
>
>
>
>
> > Hi Emmanuela and all others
> > I was so upset this past weekend...1/2 my beautiful thick hair fell out as I shampooed it. It probably sounds stupid to some, but I am devastated by this- my hair is one of the few things that I liked about my physical self these days or ageing, overweight, anxiety and wrinkles ;-)....now to have to deal with thin [not THINNING- BUT THIN!] hair is panicking me. my doctor said i could stop the Wellbutrin right now. i had reduced back down to 150 for 3 days anyway and have not noticed any huge side effects since stopping cold- but i am saddened,but don't think it's depression so much as having dealt with all these side effects for a week and a half. i could deal with the jaw clenching, sweating, tremors,ears ringing, dry mouth- BUT hair loss that's NOT stopping - NO WAY.
> > has anyone else had this? does it STOP? did you keep taking it and stop losing hair or did youhave to stop the meds too? what's the prognosis here- will i get my hair back? how long? god- i'm a mess... i feel like a fat bald chick [and i'm neither bald nor that fat- but i feel as if everyone can see my thin hair where before everyone noticed my thick hair!] and my husband has always loved my hair as have my children and everyone else..it's a real bummer guys--HELP PLEASE! KATHRYN
Posted by sundog on February 17, 2001, at 12:03:49
In reply to Re: OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by Victoria on February 17, 2001, at 1:19:49
I've been on WB for about 9 months, mostly at 400 mg, recently lowered to 300 with the addition of Celexa for augmentation. The only side effect I've experienced is steady hair loss, definitely much greater than usual, but not all at once in a patch like you describe. I had a lot of hair to start with, so I've been tolerating it as long as it didn't get worse. The rate of hair loss seems to have slowed recently, probably since about the same time my WB dose was lowered, though I'd also started taking extra vitamin E and selenium around the same time. Most likely it was the dose reduction. Your reaction sounds more like alopecia, more dramatic, and I don't know if it results from the same process as my milder (but very noticeable) hair loss. The only thing I can offer is that my problem does seem to be improving with the dose decrease, so I'm hoping that means it will reverse itself if and when I go off WB.
Posted by Victoria on April 8, 2001, at 23:18:50
In reply to Re: OH NO! NOW IT'S HAIR LOSS **I'M NEW TO WELLBUTRIN, posted by sundog on February 17, 2001, at 12:03:49
Here is an update. I haven't had any more loss in one spot and the hairs are SLOWLY coming back one at a time. I don't know if it will totally return to normal or not but I am encouraged. I am also not sure if I am losing hair all over. Its not coming out alot but maybe its not growing back? I started taking selenium and zinc and maybe this is helping but who knows. My doctor told the nurse to tell me to stop taking the meds (he didn't have time...) But I wanted to be sure since I realized that my son had pulled really hard on that spot the night or two before so...who knows, coincidence? I will let you know if anything else happens, but I think this may be more common than is stated on the literature.
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