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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 9:36:07
Sorry if this is a repeat post but I seem to have posted it just as last period ended.
Hoping my chest pains were dosage-related I reduced from 300 mg a day, to 200. Well now I am down to one 100 SR Wellbutrin per day and still having chest pains. Can't go any lower, 100 is the smallest pill they make. I am also on Klonopin, I am surprised the Klonopin does not negate the chest pains (assuming they are an anxiety symptom).
I am wondering, do these Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away with time? Or does this pretty much mean I can't take this medicine and should give it up?
The non-SR version seems like too much of a hassle to deal with.
Posted by Mitch on August 4, 2001, at 11:07:40
In reply to Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away?, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 9:36:07
> Sorry if this is a repeat post but I seem to have posted it just as last period ended.
>
> Hoping my chest pains were dosage-related I reduced from 300 mg a day, to 200. Well now I am down to one 100 SR Wellbutrin per day and still having chest pains. Can't go any lower, 100 is the smallest pill they make. I am also on Klonopin, I am surprised the Klonopin does not negate the chest pains (assuming they are an anxiety symptom).
>
> I am wondering, do these Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away with time? Or does this pretty much mean I can't take this medicine and should give it up?
>
> The non-SR version seems like too much of a hassle to deal with.I just checked the PDR for Wellbutrin and the incidence of chest pain is statistically significant: Placebo showed 1%, 300mg/day 3%, 450mg/day 4%. You could try dividing a 100mg SR tab into two roughly 50mg doses and try that. That makes it IR of course, but maybe the *size* of the dose is contributing somewhat. Does your chest pain get better or worse during the course of the day? i.e.-do you wake up without it and then after you take WB you notice it?
Posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 17:52:50
In reply to Re: Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away? » Joe Schmoe, posted by Mitch on August 4, 2001, at 11:07:40
> I just checked the PDR for Wellbutrin and the incidence of chest pain is statistically significant: Placebo showed 1%, 300mg/day 3%, 450mg/day 4%.
Yeah a lot of people online have complained about chest pains on Wellbutrin. What I can't seem to find out is whether they go away with time, or whether people who get them have to quit the medicine if the pains don't go away with a reduced dosage.
>You could try dividing a 100mg SR tab into two roughly 50mg doses and try that. That makes it IR of course, but maybe the *size* of the dose is contributing somewhat.
I don't like the idea of slicing an SR tablet.
>Does your chest pain get better or worse during the course of the day? i.e.-do you wake up without it and then after you take WB you notice it?
Definitely, seems to come and go starting maybe three hours after I have taken my morning dose and continues throughout the day and night. Wake up without it.
Posted by Mitch on August 4, 2001, at 23:35:32
In reply to Re: Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away?, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 17:52:50
> > I just checked the PDR for Wellbutrin and the incidence of chest pain is statistically significant: Placebo showed 1%, 300mg/day 3%, 450mg/day 4%.
>
> Yeah a lot of people online have complained about chest pains on Wellbutrin. What I can't seem to find out is whether they go away with time, or whether people who get them have to quit the medicine if the pains don't go away with a reduced dosage.
>
> >You could try dividing a 100mg SR tab into two roughly 50mg doses and try that. That makes it IR of course, but maybe the *size* of the dose is contributing somewhat.
>
> I don't like the idea of slicing an SR tablet.
>
> >Does your chest pain get better or worse during the course of the day? i.e.-do you wake up without it and then after you take WB you notice it?
>
> Definitely, seems to come and go starting maybe three hours after I have taken my morning dose and continues throughout the day and night. Wake up without it.Joe,
I think the manufacturer ought to see that there are other uses for Wellbutrin besides depression/nicotine withdrawal and offer some lower dose tabs (hey, what about some 25mg tabs?) But, you know their PATENT is going down the crapper anytime soon (if not already), so forget that idea. I took 2.5mg/day of Prozac for several years (uh...didn't see any 2.5 mg tabs out there...). I would reconsider chopping some tabs Joe.
Posted by terra miller on August 5, 2001, at 23:16:22
In reply to Re: Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away?, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 17:52:50
hey, joe-
sorry if you've already said this and i just don't remember it..... have you tried effexor? it sounds like it's the wellbutrin and all. effexor is similar. or you can wait it out which is a whole boatload of fun (honestly can't remember now if i just waited them out or lowered the dose; it's becoming a blur.) they might go away. i hear you that you don't want to take the i.r..... it really does take some determination, i will admit.
how are you today? sounds like you've been charting or becoming more aware of when they show up (the chest pains).
interested and wanting the best for you, -terra
Posted by Wendy B. on August 7, 2001, at 11:54:22
In reply to Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away?, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 9:36:07
> Sorry if this is a repeat post but I seem to have posted it just as last period ended.
>
> Hoping my chest pains were dosage-related I reduced from 300 mg a day, to 200. Well now I am down to one 100 SR Wellbutrin per day and still having chest pains. Can't go any lower, 100 is the smallest pill they make. I am also on Klonopin, I am surprised the Klonopin does not negate the chest pains (assuming they are an anxiety symptom).
>
> I am wondering, do these Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away with time? Or does this pretty much mean I can't take this medicine and should give it up?
>
> The non-SR version seems like too much of a hassle to deal with.
Hi Joe,I've heard that it's a very bad idea to mess with XR or SR versions of any drug, like cutting it in half. It's really hard to do (they do make pill slicers and crushers), and I know you say you don't want the hassle of the non-SR version... But can I ask why?
Another question: is the Wellbutrin doing what it was prescribed for, i.e., minimizing your depression symptoms, whatever? Because if it is, and you want to keep taking it and lose the chest pains, then you should really look into the non-SR, sorry.
Have you had a heart workup? EKG? etc.? Just worried a little that you might be predisposed to the chest pains, but you're smart, you know what to do...
I think the suggestion to switch to Effexor is well-intentioned, but I've heard: if a med is working for you, and then you go off it to try another, and that DOESN'T work, the first med is likely to work less well the second time around. I don't know if this is supported by research, or only anecdotal, but I've read it enough to mention it here.
BTW, I was on Effexor before I went on Wellbutrin, and it was very bad for me. I lay around like a zombie, couldn't work, think, or do anything, and got more depressed... Just my experience, though.
I've had a lot of success with the Wellbutrin, and I hope your chest pains go away.Yours truly,
Wendy
Posted by KarenB on August 8, 2001, at 15:20:20
In reply to Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away?, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 4, 2001, at 9:36:07
Joe,
You're right - it's not good to slice an SR. Maybe try the regular Wellbutrin instead? Smacking them in two would be a little easier if they weren't coated in LACQUER(!).
I had the same problem with Wellbutrin, plus some really nasty headaches. It was, very simply, muscle spasming and tension. Lowering the dose plus some well placed stretching did help.
Here's an exercise to loosen those muscles and alleviate the pain: Find an open corner of a room in your house (no pictures, etc.). Standing upright and facing the corner, feet approx 1 1/2 ft. from the corner and shoulder width apart, Point your nose directly toward the corner. Place your upper arms extended straight out at shoulder height, resting on the walls. Your lower arms and hands should be pointing straight upward, flat on the walls on either side. Now, lean forward as if your nose is being pulled into the corner. Don't arch your back - just LEAN as far toward the corner as you can go with your feet still FLAT on the floor. You'll feel the muscles in your chest and shoulders being stretched. This is going to hurt but inhale and exhale very deeply and hold the stretch for at least 15-20 full seconds. Do this several times a day and see if you can get some relief. If not, it may be something more serious and you should see someone.
Hope this helps!
Karen
Posted by Mitch on August 9, 2001, at 0:14:48
In reply to Re: Do Wellbutrin chest pains ever go away? » Joe Schmoe, posted by KarenB on August 8, 2001, at 15:20:20
> Joe,
>
> You're right - it's not good to slice an SR. Maybe try the regular Wellbutrin instead? Smacking them in two would be a little easier if they weren't coated in LACQUER(!).
>
> I had the same problem with Wellbutrin, plus some really nasty headaches. It was, very simply, muscle spasming and tension. Lowering the dose plus some well placed stretching did help.
>
> Here's an exercise to loosen those muscles and alleviate the pain: Find an open corner of a room in your house (no pictures, etc.). Standing upright and facing the corner, feet approx 1 1/2 ft. from the corner and shoulder width apart, Point your nose directly toward the corner. Place your upper arms extended straight out at shoulder height, resting on the walls. Your lower arms and hands should be pointing straight upward, flat on the walls on either side. Now, lean forward as if your nose is being pulled into the corner. Don't arch your back - just LEAN as far toward the corner as you can go with your feet still FLAT on the floor. You'll feel the muscles in your chest and shoulders being stretched. This is going to hurt but inhale and exhale very deeply and hold the stretch for at least 15-20 full seconds. Do this several times a day and see if you can get some relief. If not, it may be something more serious and you should see someone.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> KarenJust an FYI, I was chopping 100mg SR tabs of Wellbutrin with a utility knife razor blade (just eyeballing them) and they popped in half rather cleanly and neatly, unlike some generic benzo tabs that I have seen which are scored from the factory (which should tell one yes, go right ahead and easily break this tab in half), which I had to have mechanical help in breaking in half, I couldnt' break them with my fingers no matter how hard I tried!
Mitch
This is the end of the thread.
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