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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 Melina on June 3, 2000, at 13:38:09
I've been on Wellbutrin (150 mg, twice a day) for 18 months and have noticed from the beginning that my period
comes every 28 days (my pre-Wellbutrin cycle was 29-31 days).Any other women notice this?
Lately I have had bad insomnia and have dropped the second dose -- my period has come very early for the last
2 months.My doctor has not heard of this before.
Posted by Cam W. on June 3, 2000, at 18:11:19
In reply to Wellbutrin and menstruation, posted by Melina on June 3, 2000, at 13:38:09
Melina - Wellbutrin has caused women to start menopause and has also caused 'ovarian disorder' (whatever that is), so the drug must be playing with the hormonal system. Also, the body's stress system (HPA axis, which breaks down and leads to depressive symptoms) is closely linked to the body's hormonal system at many different levels.
Whether, in your case, the menstrual regulation is a direct effect of the Wellbutrin or an indirect effect of the relieving of your depression, I don't know. These are two possible considerations you can mention to your doctor. If you relapse into depression within the next month or two because of the drop in Wellbutrin dose, you may be able to assume that the menstrual regulation was due to a relieving of the depression. In a way, this could be good for you in the long run, as you would be able to predict whether an antidepressant is working for you by whether it regulates your menses or not. I doubt this would work for everyone and may not even be the case here. I am just thinking out loud, again.
Hope this helps - Cam
Posted by mom1097 on June 16, 2002, at 17:45:26
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and menstruation, posted by Cam W. on June 3, 2000, at 18:11:19
I have had a completely different problem. I started Wellbutrin SR about a month ago....200mg a day. I just increased it to 300mg a day and have not had my period. It has been 38 days since my last period. I took a pregnancy test this morning and it was negative. My cycle is normally every 35 days so I am about 3 days late. Anyone else had trouble with this??
Posted by DAO on June 16, 2002, at 22:48:15
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and menstruation, posted by mom1097 on June 16, 2002, at 17:45:26
After upping my Wellbutrin dosage to 300 mg., I did not menustrate for 2 months. I did start again after that time.
Posted by melissa on June 20, 2002, at 7:11:30
In reply to Wellbutrin and menstruation, posted by Melina on June 3, 2000, at 13:38:09
I've been on Wellbutrin 100 mg a day for a couple months, in addition to Paxil, which I've been taking for about 6 months. I am also on the pill. My period always came like clockwork while on the pill and Paxil, but was three days late this month with the addition of Wellbutrin.
Posted by mom1097 on June 20, 2002, at 9:47:57
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and menstruation, posted by melissa on June 20, 2002, at 7:11:30
Thanks for the input. I am now a week late and the second test was negative. Looks like I'm not pregnant so it must be the Wellbutrin. Thanks again for the help.
Posted by Coonbi on August 6, 2002, at 21:50:29
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and menstruation, posted by melissa on June 20, 2002, at 7:11:30
3 days late here. 41 and on birth control pill (low dose estrogen). Taking 300 mg Wellbutrin SR daily. Having prolonged PMS (sore breasts, irritability more than normal)
Also packed on about 4 pounds in one week, and not due to overeating. Anyone have any experience with fluid retention on this drug? I'm not looking too good at Weight Watchers!
Posted by mom1097 on August 7, 2002, at 8:35:49
In reply to Wellbutrin, Menstruation, and Fluid retention, posted by Coonbi on August 6, 2002, at 21:50:29
Well, to update you all....I have had two periods since my last post and both were lighter than usual. I did however experience the prolonged PMS and that is driving me crazy. Especially because one of my major depression symptoms is mood swings (I cry all the time) and the PMS makes it worse. My family can hardly stand me anymore! LOL! Anyway, I too have had trouble with fluid retention...for a few days before my last period half of my shoes didn't fit!
Anyone else had these problems?
Posted by terra miller on August 7, 2002, at 10:40:25
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, Menstruation, and Fluid retention, posted by mom1097 on August 7, 2002, at 8:35:49
i've never been on the ball in this area anyway, so skipping a month is not a shock. and sometimes i think it's the aging of my body (which i am in denial about.) i pack on the fluid if i drink any alcohol or caffeine regardless of what time the month is. but it is true that if i skip a month, i hold onto some extra water until i finally do get my period and then i'm a lean machine. :-) so i do wish i was regular all the time for that reason, but i just deal with it. it could very well be the wellbutrin. but it's doing too much good for me personally. (now if you want to start a discussion about hair loss/growth, that's another issue! ugh. this is why i attribute all my symptoms to premenopausal stuff.)
i know lots of people do really well on prozac if the pms is too much to bear. (i roomed with a woman with severe-pms before it was even an issue and she had a doc with enough foresight to put her on prozac before it was even considered "the new thing to do for pms"... in other words, it saved her life.) just a suggestion.
terra
Posted by mom1097 on August 8, 2002, at 0:58:33
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, Menstruation, and Fluid retention, posted by terra miller on August 7, 2002, at 10:40:25
Thanks for the input. I'm with you....Wellbutrin is doing me too much good for a little extra PMS to bother me. At least (when I'm not retaining water) I am LOSING weight instead of gaining! I don't even get the munchies as bad during my period as I used to. I used to go on a chocolate binge during my period. I still eat the chocolate (PMS would be unbearable without it:) but I don't stuff my face or munch on junk all day. Actually, I eat healthier now and my nicotine cravings are easier to handle. That was another habit that seemed to grow with PMS...I used to smoke twice as much during my period. Now that I have been working on quitting, I have found that the Wellbutrin helps.
Sorry this is so long winded...LOL! I really appreciate everyone's comments. This community has been a big help!
Posted by Christina on August 8, 2002, at 12:08:42
In reply to Wellbutrin, Menstruation, and Fluid retention, posted by Coonbi on August 6, 2002, at 21:50:29
I just posted the same message in another thread before reading this one.
I gained 4 lbs in one week on Wellbutrin!
What is the deal?
Posted by fairnymph on August 11, 2002, at 16:00:37
In reply to Wellbutrin, Menstruation, and Fluid retention, posted by Coonbi on August 6, 2002, at 21:50:29
I've been taking Wellbutrin SR (300mg/day) for a month now...and my period came over two weeks early! I also had more severe cramps than usual, although my bleeding was less (in volume).
I freaked because the cramps were so bad and went to see a GYN, who said everything looked just fine and that my periods were just being irregular (I typically have a very regular, every 28 days menstrual cycle).
There is definitely some hormonal stuff going on here...
~fairnymph
btw I am 21 years old.
This is the end of the thread.
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