![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mariarp on February 3, 2004, at 19:15:52
Once I started Wellbutrin I almost immediately quit smoking (not by choice). Now everytime I smell cigarette smoke I have to get away or I begin to gag. Even before I smoked I didn't mind the smell.
It is not only cigarette smoke that causes the gag reflex. If I see someone elses toothbrush (clean or not). The smell of certain people (i kid you not), brushing my tongue (never bothered me before)... seeing smooshed spiders (once again a new thing)... seeing a toilet (even when it is clean)... even touching things that feel a little bit unclean will make me gag. These are just a few things I can think of at the moment.
Has anyone else experienced such side-effects from WB, or is it just me?
Posted by noa on February 3, 2004, at 20:06:47
In reply to gagging because of wellbutrin?, posted by mariarp on February 3, 2004, at 19:15:52
I think my gag reflex is exaggerated by Effexor, but not to the extent you are experiencing it. However, if you've also just quit smoking, I wonder if the gag reflex problem might be worse because you are now able to smell more things, too. Maybe your smell/disgust sensory system needs to take a while to get desensitized a bit to normal smells that you haven't really smelled that well in a while because of the smoking?
Posted by noa on February 3, 2004, at 20:08:58
In reply to Re: gagging because of wellbutrin? » mariarp, posted by noa on February 3, 2004, at 20:06:47
PS--an example of how my gag reflex is stronger on meds---if I have a cough, I have to be careful when I'm coughing sometimes to consciously supress the gag reflex. Also, smells, etc. can trigger the reflex much more readily than they used to.
Posted by mariarp on February 3, 2004, at 23:24:59
In reply to Re: gagging because of wellbutrin? » noa, posted by noa on February 3, 2004, at 20:08:58
You are probably right. Everyday I am in a terrible smoke environment. My bf smokes his dad smokes... In fact I have banned his dad from my car because of the way he smells. (I am afraid it will seep into the seats) Luckily my bf doesn't have a smoke cloud hovering around him all the time. eugh
I feel bad if I gag because his dad stinks though. Anyway I think you have a very good point. I am beginning to smell things I never noticed and somethings I wish I couldn't. Thanks for bringing that up... I appreciate the information
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 4, 2004, at 15:53:34
In reply to gagging because of wellbutrin?, posted by mariarp on February 3, 2004, at 19:15:52
> Once I started Wellbutrin I almost immediately quit smoking (not by choice). Now everytime I smell cigarette smoke I have to get away or I begin to gag. Even before I smoked I didn't mind the smell.
----------I feel like WB has intensified my sense of smell. I rarely commented on odors before I started it, but at least once a day now I remark about something I smell.
Posted by blondemomints on February 4, 2004, at 17:35:38
In reply to Re: gagging because of wellbutrin? » mariarp, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 4, 2004, at 15:53:34
Wow, I thought I was the only one! I have been on Wellbutrin XL for 3 months and my sense of smell has become extremely sensitive. I too have started gagging when I smell the faint smell of smoke and have even had to leave restaurants because of the smell. But not only with smoke, I can smell other foul things and I feel as though I can't breathe and almost like my throat is going to close up. How weird! I'm on it for depression (never was a smoker) but it's not doing anything but make me an angry, anxious person. I'm going to see my doc tomorrow and hopefully she'll either change my cocktail all together or add something to the Wellbutrin to help me with the unwanted side effects.
(sighs....if we could only live normally, how wonderful would this world be?)
Posted by mariarp on February 4, 2004, at 23:06:37
In reply to Re: gagging because of wellbutrin?, posted by blondemomints on February 4, 2004, at 17:35:38
Well WB has helped me on everything from depression, to quit smoking, even to weight loss, but I am having a hard time dealing with my normal life because of the places I hang out, and the intense smells. Even when my cat comes up to me I can tell he has been in his litterbox... and I could never tell before.
I am glad I am not the only one though. I like having my senses back, but I am going to have to find a way to cope without getting off this med... I am convinced it is the best for me.
Posted by MB on February 7, 2004, at 18:46:22
In reply to gagging because of wellbutrin?, posted by mariarp on February 3, 2004, at 19:15:52
> Once I started Wellbutrin I almost immediately quit smoking (not by choice). Now everytime I smell cigarette smoke I have to get away or I begin to gag. Even before I smoked I didn't mind the smell.
After a few weeks on Wellbutrin I just stopped wanting cigarettes. I lit one up and thought, "why am I doing this? I don't want this."
I haven't had the gag reflex, though. I have been more of a jerk, though, since I've started the Wellbutrin. I feel so indignant.
MB
Posted by KarmaFairy on February 8, 2004, at 0:37:00
In reply to Re: gagging because of wellbutrin? » mariarp, posted by MB on February 7, 2004, at 18:46:22
I remember after quitting smoking...I constantly commented on smells. I don't remember Wellbutrin contributing to that, but I never gagged either.
Posted by KimberlyDi on February 9, 2004, at 14:49:28
In reply to Re: gagging because of wellbutrin? » mariarp, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 4, 2004, at 15:53:34
Stopping smoking will bring a person's sense of smell back to life.
> > Once I started Wellbutrin I almost immediately quit smoking (not by choice). Now everytime I smell cigarette smoke I have to get away or I begin to gag. Even before I smoked I didn't mind the smell.
> ----------
>
> I feel like WB has intensified my sense of smell. I rarely commented on odors before I started it, but at least once a day now I remark about something I smell.
>
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.