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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
Hi! I've been reading messages here for a while now and decided to enter the fray!
I admire your support and encouragement for others on the board.
I'm supposed to start Wellbutrin (had no success with Paxil, and Celexa knocked me out during the day...) but am concerned about seizure risk.
Any thoughts on that? I know I'm an anxious person, so not sure how much I'm over-worrying. I also know that I need to do something to keep myself together.
I see doc every two or three weeks also.
Thanks for any help!
Posted by mike21 on April 13, 2002, at 9:23:20
In reply to wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
The hype about seizure risk got started in the early days of WB trials when the doses were escalated too high. The risk for seizure is very low in the therapeutic dose range for WB. I believe it is even lower than some of the SSRIs. I wouldn't worry about it.
Mike
> Hi! I've been reading messages here for a while now and decided to enter the fray!
>
> I admire your support and encouragement for others on the board.
>
> I'm supposed to start Wellbutrin (had no success with Paxil, and Celexa knocked me out during the day...) but am concerned about seizure risk.
>
> Any thoughts on that? I know I'm an anxious person, so not sure how much I'm over-worrying. I also know that I need to do something to keep myself together.
>
> I see doc every two or three weeks also.
>
> Thanks for any help!
Posted by Ritch on April 13, 2002, at 10:37:32
In reply to wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
> Hi! I've been reading messages here for a while now and decided to enter the fray!
>
> I admire your support and encouragement for others on the board.
>
> I'm supposed to start Wellbutrin (had no success with Paxil, and Celexa knocked me out during the day...) but am concerned about seizure risk.
>
> Any thoughts on that? I know I'm an anxious person, so not sure how much I'm over-worrying. I also know that I need to do something to keep myself together.
>
> I see doc every two or three weeks also.
>
> Thanks for any help!Hello,
Glad you posted a question. I wouldn't worry about the seizure thing if you don't have any of the things they talk about on the commercials-history of seizure, bulimia, etc. Are you taking the WB for depression or anxiety or both? I ask because WB is a little notorious for not helping much for anxiety-in fact many people squawk about it making it worse. If you have panic disorder it is likely to be worthless, unless you are combining it with something that helps that.
hope your meds work out,
Mitch
Posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 12:37:00
In reply to Re: wellbutrin debate » mopey, posted by Ritch on April 13, 2002, at 10:37:32
Thanks for the feedback!
The only medical thing I'm concerned about is migraines, where I get the distorted vision. However, only get a couple of those a year, and I'm not sure if they're even connected to seizures physiologically.
Doc wants me to take WB for depression -- I do have an anxiety problem too, though.
Have you taken WB? I seem very sensitive to drugs generally, and was on lowest dose of paxil and celexa. I'm also wondering if WB will make me jumpy.... (A tiny bit of coffee sends my heart racing.) Again, although it's not sedating, I'm unclear how "revving-up" it might be.
She's starting me on 100mg, which I guess is pretty low.
Basically, I hate taking medication, and dread not knowing how it'll make me feel.
Thanks for answering!
>
> Hello,
>
> Glad you posted a question. I wouldn't worry about the seizure thing if you don't have any of the things they talk about on the commercials-history of seizure, bulimia, etc. Are you taking the WB for depression or anxiety or both? I ask because WB is a little notorious for not helping much for anxiety-in fact many people squawk about it making it worse. If you have panic disorder it is likely to be worthless, unless you are combining it with something that helps that.
>
> hope your meds work out,
>
> Mitch
Posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 12:38:21
In reply to Re: wellbutrin debate, posted by mike21 on April 13, 2002, at 9:23:20
Thanks for the reassurance, Mike! I appreciate your reply. Will keep you posted...
> The hype about seizure risk got started in the early days of WB trials when the doses were escalated too high. The risk for seizure is very low in the therapeutic dose range for WB. I believe it is even lower than some of the SSRIs. I wouldn't worry about it.
>
> Mike
>
> > Hi! I've been reading messages here for a while now and decided to enter the fray!
> >
> > I admire your support and encouragement for others on the board.
> >
> > I'm supposed to start Wellbutrin (had no success with Paxil, and Celexa knocked me out during the day...) but am concerned about seizure risk.
> >
> > Any thoughts on that? I know I'm an anxious person, so not sure how much I'm over-worrying. I also know that I need to do something to keep myself together.
> >
> > I see doc every two or three weeks also.
> >
> > Thanks for any help!
Posted by Ritch on April 13, 2002, at 13:49:37
In reply to Re: wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 12:37:00
Yes, I have taken WB before with mixed success. I have got recurrent seasonal major depressions and some bipolar thrown in (depending on what meds I take). I couldn't handle the WB due to the anxiety and nausea. I also got somewhat grouchy on it too. If you don't have *panic* attacks, it might be OK after your body adjusts to it (theWB). Depression lifting generally reduces anxiety as well. The trouble with WB is that you might have to be more patient than you would like. You might need to take some Paxil, Celexa, or even something like Xanax or Klonopin with it until your depression lifts.
good luck,
Mitch
> Thanks for the feedback!
>
> The only medical thing I'm concerned about is migraines, where I get the distorted vision. However, only get a couple of those a year, and I'm not sure if they're even connected to seizures physiologically.
>
> Doc wants me to take WB for depression -- I do have an anxiety problem too, though.
>
> Have you taken WB? I seem very sensitive to drugs generally, and was on lowest dose of paxil and celexa. I'm also wondering if WB will make me jumpy.... (A tiny bit of coffee sends my heart racing.) Again, although it's not sedating, I'm unclear how "revving-up" it might be.
>
> She's starting me on 100mg, which I guess is pretty low.
>
> Basically, I hate taking medication, and dread not knowing how it'll make me feel.
>
> Thanks for answering!
>
>
>
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > Glad you posted a question. I wouldn't worry about the seizure thing if you don't have any of the things they talk about on the commercials-history of seizure, bulimia, etc. Are you taking the WB for depression or anxiety or both? I ask because WB is a little notorious for not helping much for anxiety-in fact many people squawk about it making it worse. If you have panic disorder it is likely to be worthless, unless you are combining it with something that helps that.
> >
> > hope your meds work out,
> >
> > Mitch
Posted by mike21 on April 13, 2002, at 15:16:54
In reply to Re: wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 12:37:00
I think it's good that you're starting out at a low dose. I made the mistake of starting out at 300mg. It made anxiety and obsessive thoughts worse for me. Some people report that the start-up anxiety goes away after some time. I didn't take it long enough to find out.
It took a few days for it to really build up in my system. I might compare it to caffeine that doesn't wear off. I think the worst thing about it was that it interfered with my sleep.
I'm not trying to scare you, just give you my experience. A lot of people have success with it.
Good luck with it,
Mike
> Thanks for the feedback!
>
> The only medical thing I'm concerned about is migraines, where I get the distorted vision. However, only get a couple of those a year, and I'm not sure if they're even connected to seizures physiologically.
>
> Doc wants me to take WB for depression -- I do have an anxiety problem too, though.
>
> Have you taken WB? I seem very sensitive to drugs generally, and was on lowest dose of paxil and celexa. I'm also wondering if WB will make me jumpy.... (A tiny bit of coffee sends my heart racing.) Again, although it's not sedating, I'm unclear how "revving-up" it might be.
>
> She's starting me on 100mg, which I guess is pretty low.
>
> Basically, I hate taking medication, and dread not knowing how it'll make me feel.
>
> Thanks for answering!
>
>
>
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > Glad you posted a question. I wouldn't worry about the seizure thing if you don't have any of the things they talk about on the commercials-history of seizure, bulimia, etc. Are you taking the WB for depression or anxiety or both? I ask because WB is a little notorious for not helping much for anxiety-in fact many people squawk about it making it worse. If you have panic disorder it is likely to be worthless, unless you are combining it with something that helps that.
> >
> > hope your meds work out,
> >
> > Mitch
Posted by waterlily on April 13, 2002, at 20:01:14
In reply to wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
I've been on Wellbutrin for 5 years now. I take 300 mg/day, divided into two 150 mg doses. I take the sustained release form. I am generally pleased with the medication and have never had any seizures. I think the seizure risk is pretty low. The only problem or side effect I may have from it is increased anxiety and have experienced some panic attacks. I have tried Paxil, Prozac and Imipramine to offset the anxiety, but none worked well. I'm on Serzone now (in addition to the Wellbutrin) and it seems to be working well for the anxiety. I take Ativan for acute anxiety. I also have some breakthrough seasonal depression, but not enough for me to want to change to a different antidepressant.
Posted by paxvox2000 on April 13, 2002, at 21:02:23
In reply to wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
I'm posting w/o reading the follow-ups. I shared your concerns, but it takes higher than normal doses to present a real risk of seizures..UNLESS you suddenly stop drinking, or benzos etc...
I have taken it for 4 years now.PAX
Posted by sid on April 13, 2002, at 21:35:34
In reply to wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
One note:
Be sure not to consume kava kava (an herb from natural food store which can be found in some natural meds too). Some cases in Europe and in Canada are under investigation where people consumed it at the same time as Wellbutrin or Zyban (same molecule but marketed to help people stop smoking), and died unexpetedly.I always check with both doctors and pharmacists before mixing natural products and meds, as they usually know about the warnings earlier than the average person does.
- sid
Posted by sid on April 13, 2002, at 21:43:53
In reply to wellbutrin debate, posted by mopey on April 13, 2002, at 8:20:53
An alternative would be Effexor XR. I take it for dysthymia and anxiety and it's working well even at low dose. After 4 months now however, I feel physically exhausted, and so I may start to take Wellbutrin in addition to the Effexor XR - to give me back some energy, and also perhaps additional or complementary AD benefits. I am switching to taking my med (Eff XR) with dinner instead of breakfast first, and in a week or so, I'll decide to add the Wellbutrin or not, depending on how I react to the dosage time change.
Many people have lots of side effects on Effexor XR in the beginning, but most of them go away after 4 to 6 weeks. That's what happened ot me. Anyway... I thought I'd share my experience, since it seems like a plausible alternative for you.- sid
Posted by vicky on April 15, 2002, at 17:11:37
In reply to Re: wellbutrin debate » mopey, posted by sid on April 13, 2002, at 21:43:53
I have been on prozac, buspar, and perphenazine for
about 5 years. Very tired with this cocktail. PDoc
added welbutrin sr 100 mg bid, and now I have
energy and my mood has improved tremendously
I hope this welbutrin continues to work this well,
as I now feel the best I've felt in years!!
This is the end of the thread.
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