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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Robbie on August 30, 2000, at 18:18:53
I am on my third day of Wellbutrin at 150 mgs. and even when I am asleep I remember nothing but vivid nightmares. I hardly rest but I do function during the day till I get home. Then, I drink to try to calm down. I am really scared. I read the intructions on the drug and this is really contraindicated. What do I do? I take it at 6:00am, and I still am anxious, will it go away? Tommorrow I am suppose to up the dose to 150mgs in the morning and 150mgs. in the evening. Please hear me, I feel like someone knows the answer to what I should do next.
Posted by JackD on August 30, 2000, at 18:45:03
In reply to Wellbutrin, anxious, can't sleep , drinking, Cam, posted by Robbie on August 30, 2000, at 18:18:53
I experienced a lot of anxiety when I first started adjusting to Wellbutrin. It should pass. I would highly recommend that you wait at least until you feel completely adjusted before you up the dose. Maybe another two weeks.
I don't think drinking on Wellbutrin is such a big deal. If you've experimented with it, and had ok results, then it shouldn't be too risky. I myself drink as I would normally while on it. The only thing is that alcohol can magnify Wellbutrin's effects while drinking and then lower your body's Wellbutrin levels significantly afterwards. Wait until you adjust before you start going crazy with the alcohol.
Posted by allisonm on August 30, 2000, at 22:06:13
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, anxious, can't sleep , drinking, Cam, posted by JackD on August 30, 2000, at 18:45:03
I agree. I'd keep with the 150 for a time until the anxiousness wears off, and it will. Or you might ask for the 100mg tablets and take 100 in the a.m., get used to that, then up again with 100mg in the afternoon. That's how I did it. I'm on 400mg --200mg a.m., 200mg p.m.
Re' drinking, I avoid it. It is contraindicated, and I also have read that it can increase your risk of seizures. I also find that alcohol bothers my stomach more now that I'm on Wellbutrin. And, of course, alcohol causes me to gain weight. If I'm already gaining weight with ADs, the alcohol makes it worse (Remeron made me gain, Wellbutrin helped me lose weight so maybe I'm even. I still avoid alcohol, though, because of the calories and the seizure risk and because I don't think I want to use alcohol to alter my mood -- it's a depressant, ya know).
If the anxiety is bothersome enough that you are self-medicating, you might ask your doc for something at night. I would think he'd rather help in that way than have you drinking to relax, which isn't healthy. Also, alcohol can impede sleep. Serzone or Remeron can help with sleep. Some here take Remeron in smaller doses for sleep. Remeron top dose is 45 mg. I take 15mg now, but some here take as little as 7.5mg.
Also, if you are drinking caffeinated beverages while trying to get used to the Wellbutrin, you might want to cut those out at least for a time. I have had to switch to decaf coffee and caffeine-free diet soda because with the Wellbutrin, I get the shakes and my mind will race. If you cut it out, you can slowly add it back later when you're feeling less jittery.
Just some thoughts.
Take care.
Allison
Posted by Sigolene on August 31, 2000, at 7:50:57
In reply to Wellbutrin, anxious, can't sleep , drinking, Cam, posted by Robbie on August 30, 2000, at 18:18:53
The only thing which helped me when I was too anxious with beginning a new med, was to go outside in the forest, and walk, walk, walk.
And of course you must try to find a good medication to sleep, for me the best and non addictive are: trazodone 25 mg, or mianserine 15 mg. Drinking alcool is the worst thing to do in your case, it depress the nervous system.
Good luck.
Sigolene.> I am on my third day of Wellbutrin at 150 mgs. and even when I am asleep I remember nothing but vivid nightmares. I hardly rest but I do function during the day till I get home. Then, I drink to try to calm down. I am really scared. I read the intructions on the drug and this is really contraindicated. What do I do? I take it at 6:00am, and I still am anxious, will it go away? Tommorrow I am suppose to up the dose to 150mgs in the morning and 150mgs. in the evening. Please hear me, I feel like someone knows the answer to what I should do next.
Posted by Robbie on August 31, 2000, at 15:58:22
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, anxious, can't sleep , drinking, Cam, posted by allisonm on August 30, 2000, at 22:06:13
Thanks everyone for responding. I won't up the dose until the anxiety gets tolerable, it is good to know that it will. Serzone, for some reason, sent me up the wall. I only took one tablet. I am hoping to lessen the effects I've gotten off of other SSRI's(sexual). Walking or exercising is also a good choice. I don't drink caffeinated beverages. > What fascinated me was, drinking was something I rarely do. And, it really frightened me that I wanted a glass of wine badly. I don't drink but rarely. That is why I wrote. I felt like my behavior was so unlike me. Knowing that it's OK to go slowly and also that this side-effect dissapates helps so much. Thank you for sharing these suggestions with me. It makes me feel this is merely a transition period to deal with accordinly.
Thanks,
Robbie
Posted by allisonm on August 31, 2000, at 21:08:08
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin, anxious, can't sleep , drinking, Cam, posted by Robbie on August 31, 2000, at 15:58:22
Robbie,
That's interesting that you found you crave alcohol more on Wellbutrin. I have had just the opposite effect. I used to want a glass of wine (or more) most every night. Now I don't, or hardly ever do.
Also, as I mentioned, alcohol is more likely to upset my stomach now that I'm on the Well. I have been physically sick twice because of this (vomiting, dry heaves). Maybe that's why it's not attractive anymore, but it seems more to be me forgetting that it's there than me thinking I want it and remembering the physical pain/reaction.
Also, I found that I had no interest in eating meat anymore once my Wellbutrin dose got upped, so I stopped that too. I've been meat-free since March. It just doesn't appeal. Kinda strange, but I don't mind and actually prefer it. Now I can't see ever going back. I think meat would wreak havoc on my system. I tried eating a hamburger in late May and suffered all the rest of the day. Never doing that again...
So as I said, I think it's interesting to hear how the same drug can affect each individual so differently. That's why I like this board so much.
Thanks for your input.
Allison
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