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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 11:18:55
i did decide to take a WB XL last night (my first one). today i have a ton of anxiety - much more so than usual- feel on and off panicky. so took 1/2 a xanax - but even w/ xan. still get that roller coaster feeling in stomach at the thought of going anywhere. is this normal? doesnt seem right? am hating it. i also feel like i cant catch my breath...cant breathe
for those of you on WB that HAD anxiety/panic prior to taking it - when you started WB did you still have anxiety/panic first few days that eventually went away? how long before it goes away? thanks - i am hating the way i feel right now. i cant deal w. this everyday for weeks. i would have to take xanax everyday w/ it and it took more xan (a 1/2) than it takes when i am not on WB - i can get away w. 1/4. i just hope the rumors that WB is not the right drug for anxiety are UNtrue
Posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 12:43:20
In reply to WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 11:18:55
> i did decide to take a WB XL last night (my first one). today i have a ton of anxiety - much more so than usual- feel on and off panicky.
I have a diagnosis which includes "300.00 -- Anxiety Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified." And I take Wellbutrin XL, have done for nearly a year now, and it is my friend.
My guess is that you're experiencing increased anxiety because you're concerned that the Wellbutrin will increase your anxiety. Clear as mud, right? I'm not necessarily at my best today. Anyway, your worry about whether it will be the wrong drug may be increasing your vigilence enough to make it feel as though you're going into a panic reaction. If you can find a way to relax about the effects of Wellbutrin, you should get a better idea of how it will work for you.
My own experience is that it increases a sort of restless feeling, which should add up to more energy (other drugs are killing that effect, though), but doesn't increase tension or anxiety. It's also very helpful for my depression.
Hope that helps.
Posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 13:49:06
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help » maddy4, posted by Racer on September 27, 2005, at 12:43:20
when will the WB work? since i am taking it for anxiety only (no depression) i wonder when it will help the anxiety go away instead of making it worse.
i sort of think you (Racer) may be right - that b.c i've found (thru extensive reading and google-ing) that people tend to think WB creates anxiety that i am creating it myself. however - i do still feel 'off'...whether it is ME or the drug.
and is this not the right drug for those w/ only anxiety??? seems like most on WB are on it w/ cocktail of drugs - esp to help ease SEs of an SSRI. not a lot of people w/ just anxiety as symptom (and irritability) are on WB alone. ughhh. 'cept to quit smoking - which i started back doing last week and need to quit asap.
btw - is it ok to take xanax w/ WB? what abt alcohol?
Posted by Glydin on September 27, 2005, at 15:15:32
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 13:49:06
There is good rationale for a spin up feeling Wellbutrin can give. The action of the med itself is to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is basically the body's adrenalin and can produce all the symptoms of getting hits of adrenalin. Which can be very anxiety producing in sensitive individuals.
I agree -- with any anxiety problem it is very difficult to tell if it's our anxiety causing the distressing symptoms or the action of the med or both.
I would talk to my doc again and see if this is a good choice for you. It may very well be and you just need adjustment time. I believe it's fine to use a benzo to help with any startup stuff and I know I have found I did need to up my dose when beginning a med. It was really helpful.
I hope you work this out.
Posted by SeekingAdvice on September 27, 2005, at 16:05:15
In reply to WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 11:18:55
You are not alone! First, I suffer from anxiety, depression and ADD. Wellbutrin is a miracle drug, but for the first 3-4 weeks it has to adjust to your body/brain. My first couple of weeks were pretty bad. I felt like I wanted to punch a hole in the wall at times. I looked at my botttle of Klonopin and noticed my doc said to take 3 .5 mg/day. Well, I was only taking one or two. So, I upped it to three a day and that helped to lessen the panicky/anxious/raging/mad thing. I'm not sure what week I'm in now, but it has made such a difference in my life. Wait it out a few weeks and see how it goes. If you really cannot breathe and are totally out of control I'd call your doc. That sounds pretty serious. Good luck! Love, SeekingAdvice
Posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 18:40:18
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by SeekingAdvice on September 27, 2005, at 16:05:15
thank you all SO MUCH - i just have no one else to ask - and all of the responses really help - maybe i should stick with it for a bit and up my benzo intake to reduce panic - i only took 1/2 a xanax today (.25 mg) so not much. i am SO sensitive to drugs though - i wish the WB XL came lower than 150 mg. i am terrified to take it tonight b/c i have stuff i HAVE to deal w. tomorrow and cannot be freaking out w/ panic or drugged out and having to leave the house - i dont want to go anywhere feeling so weird!
would it be ok to take it every other day? i just cant take it tonight - i cannot afford that panic tom. morning - i have to take ds to pediatrician (i suspect an ear infection) and wont be able to make it out of the door on that stuff panicking.
i literally feel better w/out it and w/ a xan as needed for panic - but at same time - i have got to address this onset of anxiety at a bigger level w. WB (maybe) just dont know WHAT i am doing or supposed to do. is WB hard to come off of? and will it eventually make anxiety GO AWAY?
Posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2005, at 19:35:27
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 18:40:18
I've never heard of it being used only for anxiety. Usually in combination with an AD for more energy, sexual response. I myself tried wellbutrin XL but it RX'd for am not pm. And even with xanax and chloral hydrate to sleep it made me manic. So I was hospitalized and taken off wellbutrin. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 27, 2005, at 21:10:24
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 18:40:18
I think you should really consider ditching the WB. You don't really want to take it AND it is making you feel worse.
However, that said, when I was on generic WB it was the non-time release stuff and it came in 75 mg and 100mg. Maybe you could switch to the non-XL stuff so that you have more control over it and it is not in your system as long. (I think that they still make it non-XL)
Best,
EE
Posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 21:45:02
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help » maddy4, posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 27, 2005, at 21:10:24
maybe i should ditch the idea of a ssri or other (be it lexapro or WB or whatever) and go back to xanax ONLY as needed - am just scared b.c the panic attack i had 1.5 weeks ago was out of nowhere and i think i'd be popping a xan daily for fear of another PA like that.
i just want to hear from SOMEONE who has taken WB for panic and irritability ONLY (no depression and not part of a cocktail) where it worked.
...i just NEED to know if it is WORTH going through this WB 'experiment' and in the end - the panic from the WB AND the original panic/anxiety will be gone??? i HATE feeling like a lab rat.
btw- i did not take it tonight. tom. is undecided.
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 27, 2005, at 23:04:22
In reply to WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 11:18:55
I didnt see this before, I almost wrote this on racers thread. Anyway I did not have any anxiety prior to starting (that I am aware of). I can't remember what it was like when I started but looking back I would say that it has lowered my ability to manage stressful situations. So in otherwords I get anxious now when I wouldnt have in the past, that must have to do with WB. Luckily its not enough to disrupt my life. I think it can increase anxiety but not in everyone.
good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on September 27, 2005, at 23:29:32
In reply to Re: WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help » maddy4, posted by rainbowbrite on September 27, 2005, at 23:04:22
No wonder it made me manic. Anxiety was always my primary dx. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on September 30, 2005, at 21:21:10
In reply to WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 11:18:55
> i did decide to take a WB XL last night (my first one). today i have a ton of anxiety - much more so than usual- feel on and off panicky. so took 1/2 a xanax - but even w/ xan. still get that roller coaster feeling in stomach at the thought of going anywhere. is this normal? doesnt seem right? am hating it. i also feel like i cant catch my breath...cant breathe
>
> for those of you on WB that HAD anxiety/panic prior to taking it - when you started WB did you still have anxiety/panic first few days that eventually went away? how long before it goes away? thanks - i am hating the way i feel right now. i cant deal w. this everyday for weeks. i would have to take xanax everyday w/ it and it took more xan (a 1/2) than it takes when i am not on WB - i can get away w. 1/4. i just hope the rumors that WB is not the right drug for anxiety are UNtrueI don't know if this will help but here's my Wellbutrin story. I was on Effexor for anxiety and depression but it had quit working for depression. I was put on Wellbutrin. Within two days, my anxiety level was much higher. It was a feeling like I had to be active just to avoid feeling how I was feeling. It also caused insomnia. I stuck it out for 4-5 weeks and the anxiety never went away.
marsha
Posted by Sebastian on October 5, 2005, at 15:28:26
In reply to WeLlBuTrIn XL + ANXIETY - help, posted by maddy4 on September 27, 2005, at 11:18:55
I've taken wellbutrin sr now for 2 years. Its all anxiety. I'm trying to get off it now and feeling better.
This is the end of the thread.
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