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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 MB on July 11, 2000, at 15:42:31
So, here I am...taking 150mg Wellbutrin in
the morning, 7.5mg BuSpar twice a day, and
15mg Remeron at night. Mood's great durring
the day, sleep well at night, and I'm not
anxious or fatigued. It's like a godsend. Only
thing is this f***ing headache. Kinda feels
vascular...like all the blood's going to my brain
and there's too much pressure. I don't know.If I close off my windpipe, and push up on my
diaphram (like you do when you lift something
heavy, or take a poop), I feel like my head's
going to explode. I want to go ride my mtn.
bike or go to the gym, but am afraid I'm going
to stoke out or something. The problem with starting three meds at once is that I don't know which one is causing it.Why these headaches? Vascular dialation in the brain?
Will it go away? I mean, I don't care, I'll trade misery for a headache any day. Just wondering what's up.
Posted by KarenB on July 11, 2000, at 16:01:39
In reply to Meds and Headaches, posted by MB on July 11, 2000, at 15:42:31
> So, here I am...taking 150mg Wellbutrin in
> the morning, 7.5mg BuSpar twice a day, and
> 15mg Remeron at night. Mood's great durring
> the day, sleep well at night, and I'm not
> anxious or fatigued. It's like a godsend. Only
> thing is this f***ing headache. Kinda feels
> vascular...like all the blood's going to my brain
> and there's too much pressure. I don't know.
>
> If I close off my windpipe, and push up on my
> diaphram (like you do when you lift something
> heavy, or take a poop), I feel like my head's
> going to explode. I want to go ride my mtn.
> bike or go to the gym, but am afraid I'm going
> to stoke out or something. The problem with starting three meds at once is that I don't know which one is causing it.
>
> Why these headaches? Vascular dialation in the brain?
> Will it go away? I mean, I don't care, I'll trade misery for a headache any day. Just wondering what's up.MB:
It's the Wellbutrin - the reason I stopped it several years back. If you take Inderal, a beta blocker, the headache will stop. You need to take it on a regular basis to prevent future attacks...or bail the Wellbutrin and try something else not bound to cause headaches.
Hope your head feels better soon.
Karen
Posted by JaneS on July 12, 2000, at 18:52:53
In reply to Meds and Headaches, posted by MB on July 11, 2000, at 15:42:31
> So, here I am...taking 150mg Wellbutrin in
> the morning, 7.5mg BuSpar twice a day, and
> 15mg Remeron at night. Mood's great durring
> the day, sleep well at night, and I'm not
> anxious or fatigued. It's like a godsend. Only
> thing is this f***ing headache. Kinda feels
> vascular...like all the blood's going to my brain
> and there's too much pressure. I don't know.
>
> If I close off my windpipe, and push up on my
> diaphram (like you do when you lift something
> heavy, or take a poop), I feel like my head's
> going to explode. I want to go ride my mtn.
> bike or go to the gym, but am afraid I'm going
> to stoke out or something. The problem with starting three meds at once is that I don't know which one is causing it.
>
> Why these headaches? Vascular dialation in the brain?
> Will it go away? I mean, I don't care, I'll trade misery for a headache any day. Just wondering what's up.
MB:Well, let's confuse this issue a little. I'm taking 30mg Remeron with Ativan...and I seem to wake up (AM) with vascular type headaches and often have that full-head pressure kind of thing going on. If I decide to take a nap in the afternoon, more often than not I get the same kind of headache. I am a long-term migraineur but I know what you mean when you use the term vascular...that feeling is different.
Also feel like the skin on my legs and hands is going to split from pressure as well. Didn't have this problem with any other med prior to taking Remeron...but I have not taken Wellbutrin...however, tomorrow is my pdoc appt. and I wanted to broach the subject of Wellbutrin augmentation because of daytime sedation with Remeron...but KarenB's post gives me pause.
Jane
Posted by JaneS on July 13, 2000, at 8:42:31
In reply to Re: Meds and Headaches, posted by JaneS on July 12, 2000, at 18:52:53
> > So, here I am...taking 150mg Wellbutrin in
> > the morning, 7.5mg BuSpar twice a day, and
> > 15mg Remeron at night.> Well, let's confuse this issue a little. I'm taking 30mg Remeron with Ativan...and I seem to wake up (AM) with vascular type headaches and often have that full-head pressure kind of thing going on. If I decide to take a nap in the afternoon, more often than not I get the same kind of headache. I am a long-term migraineur but I know what you mean when you use the term vascular...that feeling is different.
>
> Also feel like the skin on my legs and hands is going to split from pressure as well. Didn't have this problem with any other med prior to taking Remeron...but I have not taken Wellbutrin...however, tomorrow is my pdoc appt. and I wanted to broach the subject of Wellbutrin augmentation because of daytime sedation with Remeron...but KarenB's post gives me pause.
>
> Jane
MB:Just had my pdoc appt. this AM and given my history with other AD combos, she felt I would do better to augment Remeron with Wellbutrin so I'm taking 150mg, starting this am. Will let you know how it goes with that vasular thing. Let me know if yours eases up as time passes.
Thanks,
Jane
Posted by Libby on July 13, 2000, at 11:11:18
In reply to Re: Meds and Headaches » MB, posted by KarenB on July 11, 2000, at 16:01:39
Karen said...
> It's the Wellbutrin - the reason I stopped it several years back. If you take Inderal, a beta blocker, the headache will stop. You need to take it on a regular basis to prevent future attacks...or bail the Wellbutrin and try something else not bound to cause headaches.<Karen... Wellbutrin caused migraine headaches for you? What else were you taking at the time? Was there muscular tension also, or just migraines?
Also...if you wouldn't mind... what was your overall experience like on the Wellbutrin?Thanks...
L.
Posted by KarenB on July 20, 2000, at 12:05:07
In reply to Re: Meds and Headaches - Karen, posted by Libby on July 13, 2000, at 11:11:18
> Karen said...
> > It's the Wellbutrin - the reason I stopped it several years back. If you take Inderal, a beta blocker, the headache will stop. You need to take it on a regular basis to prevent future attacks...or bail the Wellbutrin and try something else not bound to cause headaches.
> Karen... Wellbutrin caused migraine headaches for you? What else were you taking at the time? Was there muscular tension also, or just migraines?
> Also...if you wouldn't mind... what was your overall experience like on the Wellbutrin?
>
> Thanks...
> L.Libby,
This was several years ago when I was just being treated for depression and it was the only med I was taking. The side effects were muscle tension, migraine headaches that started as tension headaches and escalated, general "squirmy" feeling and emotional flattening in a "revved up" sort of way. I was not impressed. For me, Adderall plus a low dose neuroleptic is the ticket. I have never tried Wellbutrin with a neuroleptic (like Zyprexa, Sulpiride or Amisulpride) but that may work. It is certainly worth a try. Stimulants alone I find rather raspy and harsh. The neuroleptics smooth out those rough edges and help with ruminating thoughts, anxiety and symptoms of physical fatigue and apathy.
Sorry it took me so long to respond - I don't even remember why I've been so busy (ha ha):) Can you relate to that one?
Karen
Posted by Libby on July 20, 2000, at 17:15:32
In reply to Re: Meds and Headaches » Libby, posted by KarenB on July 20, 2000, at 12:05:07
Karen said...
> Sorry it took me so long to respond - I don't even remember why I've been so busy (ha ha):) Can you relate to that one?<*laughter*
Yes. I don't have to be busy for that to happen...Med Update:
Because you refreshed my memory about the relaxing effect of Beta blockers, I asked specifically for Inderal to help with the tension & headaches and he agreed.He also added a single mid-morning dose of Ritalin SR, 20mg to the 10mg/3X I was already taking. That covers me through those annoying "between dose" crashes. Today is my second day with the new dose & Inderal and I love it! No crashes, no tension, no headache - just calm & clarity.
He also started tapering me off the Effexor XR, which will leave me taking nothing but Ritalin & Inderal... yippee! I went from 150mg to 75mg for the first time today and so far, so good... so I hope I won't need to ask for the Wellbutrin. Thanks for the response, though... It's something to keep in my back pocket if things change...
By the way, since I have been officially diagnosed with ADD, my daughter's therapist is finally willing to have her tested as well. He had resisted it 'til now because she wasn't hyperactive... sound familiar? I know it's probably strange for me to hope my daughter has ADD... but at this point, ADD would be easier to cope with than a "depression" they can't seem to treat. She starts high school in a few weeks and I'm concerned about sending her back to school when she's still suffering from lack of concentration and sleep disturbances... She's a beautiful person - very active, social, and intelligent, but it seems like she consistently has to work five times as hard as everyone else just to keep up...
Anyway, just wanted to let you know about that...
If it happens to be ADD, you'll have helped my entire family a great deal.Thanks again...
L.
Posted by KarenB on July 22, 2000, at 16:59:49
In reply to Re: Meds and Headaches }}Karen B, posted by Libby on July 20, 2000, at 17:15:32
Libby,
Glad to hear the Inderal is working for you!
If even the Ritalin SR is too up and down, Adderall is a good one. That's what I take.
Keep us updated. I wish you and you daughter the best.
Karen
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