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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 carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
I am having trouble finding positive/good experiences people have
had with Wellbutrin SR. I do understand that negative side effects
do occur, and I am not minimizing that information.I want to read what I have to look forward too, for I am anticipating
this to work. I have all the info of what bad to expect and I am
trying to not let this color my world. Please give me info of
good to also influence my world.Thank you very much everyone.
Posted by SalArmy4me on May 25, 2001, at 12:51:43
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
I took Wellbutrin for a month and a half. I had no side-effects.
Here is why Wellbutrin is a good deal:
*It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
*It has few, if any sexual side-effects. In fact, it may even improve sex drive and alleviate anorgasmia for some.
*Wellbutrin interacts negatively with few drugs, thus one could add most antidepressants to it (if need be).
*People like the stimulating effect of it.
*The new SR formulation can be taken 2 times a day instead of 3 times a day.
*No blood tests are needed.
*Wellbutrin IR is not as expensive as the SSRI's, mirtazapine, or venlafaxine.I hope you do very well on Wellbutrin....
Posted by Paige on May 25, 2001, at 19:22:52
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
>I had very good experiences on Wellbutrin for the
last year, but concurrently sleep difficulty which
drove me off of it. I am re-considering it again
and it is the only one I have re-considered.Good side effects....many, but primarily...
1) more focused
2) better cognition
3) more energy, more upbeat
4) no weight gain
5) easy to withdraw fromno weirdness feeling like I had with SSRIs and such
others. It is a good drug. It doesn't have, or
did not with me, strange side effects.Good luck.
Paige
Posted by Waterlily on May 26, 2001, at 16:48:33
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
I've been on Wellbutrin SR for about 4 years. I've never had a bit of trouble with it. I tried to go off of it last year, but turned into a bear a couple of weeks into it. Now I'm back to 150 mg twice a day and doing well.
Posted by terra miller on May 27, 2001, at 21:40:02
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
i'm taking the immediate release version because i have that hypothermia side-effect (you have to look hard in the fine print to find that one, but it's there. *s*)
i take 75mg 4x a day. focus. energy. motivation. taking a dose at bedtime actually helps me get off to sleep (go figure that one! *s*) weight maintenance to weight loss. it has kept me moving when it would otherwise be extremely difficult to get moving. i have an extra edge of patience when dealing with anger. i stopped smoking.
terra.
Posted by sl on May 28, 2001, at 16:08:41
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
Wellbutrin is Wonderful. :)
Energy, motivation, focus...it pretty much put the color back in my life. I recommend it to everyone who doesn't respond to regular SSRIs or who finds them to have unacceptable side effects.
Also, it took YEARS to poop out, and I suspect when I try again after 3-6 months break, it'll work fine again. :)BUT...if you don't respond so well on SR, try regular. It seems I responded much better to immediate release than SR. :)
sl
> I want to read what I have to look forward too, for I am anticipating
> this to work.
Posted by Wendy B. on May 30, 2001, at 12:43:20
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by carolwl on May 25, 2001, at 11:34:02
Hi Carol,
I've been on Wellbutrin SR, 200 mg in the am, 100 in the pm, for several months. I love it, too.
I was put on it after almost 4 years on Zoloft, which pooped out after 3 yrs., I think.
Then did a 2-month trial of Effexor, where, if my clouded brain remembers, I spent most of my time on the couch, unable to get up or motivated for *anything*. I mean it, it was terrible...
So then did a ssllloooowwww withdrawal off Effexor, thanks to the advice of the many good people on this bulletin board, or I wouldn't have known it was necessary, and that worked fine except for some bad nausea, and started Wellbutrin as I withdrew.
It has been very helpful for me, kicks me in the ass and gets me motivated to do things. I have had no side effects with it.
I have been able to work again, and get out of the house at 7:45 am. Amazing, since I've hardly ever been able to do this with any consistency in my adult life!
The other great thing about Wellbutrin is that it has made me stop obsessing about food- I don't always have to have some tidbit or other.
I used to sit at the computer with coffee and some terribly fattening thing like chocolate croissants or one of those huge muffins.
Since Wellbutrin is the same drug as the anti-smoking drug (can't remember its name now), this makes sense, it keeps away the obsessive thoughts of putting something (cigarettes, food) in your mouth all day.
So I lost 25 lbs. of the 30 I gained while on the Zoloft. I feel so much better about myself, and that really helps the depressed side of my bipolar-ity (is that a word?).
I'm also on a mood-stabilizer (Neurontin), along with the Wellbutrin.
Anyway, I'd highly recommend it... And best of luck,Wendy
> I am having trouble finding positive/good experiences people have
> had with Wellbutrin SR. I do understand that negative side effects
> do occur, and I am not minimizing that information.
>
> I want to read what I have to look forward too, for I am anticipating
> this to work. I have all the info of what bad to expect and I am
> trying to not let this color my world. Please give me info of
> good to also influence my world.
>
> Thank you very much everyone.
Posted by super on May 30, 2001, at 15:12:31
In reply to Re: Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by Wendy B. on May 30, 2001, at 12:43:20
Gosh, I wish Wellbutrin kept me from obsessing about food. I've taken Wellbutrin for a couple years and I'm hungry all the time!
> Hi Carol,
> I've been on Wellbutrin SR, 200 mg in the am, 100 in the pm, for several months. I love it, too.
> I was put on it after almost 4 years on Zoloft, which pooped out after 3 yrs., I think.
> Then did a 2-month trial of Effexor, where, if my clouded brain remembers, I spent most of my time on the couch, unable to get up or motivated for *anything*. I mean it, it was terrible...
> So then did a ssllloooowwww withdrawal off Effexor, thanks to the advice of the many good people on this bulletin board, or I wouldn't have known it was necessary, and that worked fine except for some bad nausea, and started Wellbutrin as I withdrew.
> It has been very helpful for me, kicks me in the ass and gets me motivated to do things. I have had no side effects with it.
> I have been able to work again, and get out of the house at 7:45 am. Amazing, since I've hardly ever been able to do this with any consistency in my adult life!
> The other great thing about Wellbutrin is that it has made me stop obsessing about food- I don't always have to have some tidbit or other.
> I used to sit at the computer with coffee and some terribly fattening thing like chocolate croissants or one of those huge muffins.
> Since Wellbutrin is the same drug as the anti-smoking drug (can't remember its name now), this makes sense, it keeps away the obsessive thoughts of putting something (cigarettes, food) in your mouth all day.
> So I lost 25 lbs. of the 30 I gained while on the Zoloft. I feel so much better about myself, and that really helps the depressed side of my bipolar-ity (is that a word?).
> I'm also on a mood-stabilizer (Neurontin), along with the Wellbutrin.
> Anyway, I'd highly recommend it... And best of luck,
>
> Wendy
>
>
> > I am having trouble finding positive/good experiences people have
> > had with Wellbutrin SR. I do understand that negative side effects
> > do occur, and I am not minimizing that information.
> >
> > I want to read what I have to look forward too, for I am anticipating
> > this to work. I have all the info of what bad to expect and I am
> > trying to not let this color my world. Please give me info of
> > good to also influence my world.
> >
> > Thank you very much everyone.
Posted by pellmell on May 30, 2001, at 16:04:30
In reply to Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by super on May 30, 2001, at 15:12:31
> Gosh, I wish Wellbutrin kept me from obsessing about food. I've taken Wellbutrin for a couple years and I'm hungry all the time!
>It did the same thing to me, too...but I think that's 'cause it exacerbated my anxeity. On that note, I think if you're still feeling anxious on Wellbutrin after a couple of weeks, you should probably try something else.
I'm eating less and obsessing less about food on Remeron (a notorious appetite stimulator) than I did on Wellbutrin SR.
-k
Posted by Wendy B. on May 31, 2001, at 15:38:11
In reply to Re: Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR , posted by pellmell on May 30, 2001, at 16:04:30
> > Gosh, I wish Wellbutrin kept me from obsessing about food. I've taken Wellbutrin for a couple years and I'm hungry all the time!
> >
>
> It did the same thing to me, too...but I think that's 'cause it exacerbated my anxeity. On that note, I think if you're still feeling anxious on Wellbutrin after a couple of weeks, you should probably try something else.
>
> I'm eating less and obsessing less about food on Remeron (a notorious appetite stimulator) than I did on Wellbutrin SR.
>
> -k
Hi K and Super:Well, keep in mind the ol' Dr. Bob quip: Your Mileage May Vary. Otherwise known on this Board as "YMMV." I can imagine people who are more "wired" than I am, might indeed be pushed into an anxiety reaction, and perhaps turn to food to numb that effect.
Since I am at the other end of Bipolar II, & went through a major depressive episode this spring (my man took a hike), my pdoc wisely prescribed Wellbutrin, which brought me up and out of it.
Carol, I did a search on "smoking" (if you've never done it, always look at the bottom of any screen on Babble, and type it in the little box that says "search"), and got a lot more info on Wellbutrin, and its twin Zyban. This was the name of the smoking cessation drug I couldn't remember the name of yesterday. You may find out more than you ever wanted to know about Wellbutrin by doing a couple of searches...
I still maintain, and this theory may hold absolutely no water, scientifically speaking, that Wellbutrin helps with compulsions, and with obsessive activities like smoking and over-eating and ruminating...Nice to share experiences with you,
Wendy
Posted by pellmell on June 1, 2001, at 14:33:09
In reply to Re: Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR » pellmell, posted by Wendy B. on May 31, 2001, at 15:38:11
> I still maintain, and this theory may hold absolutely no water, scientifically speaking, that Wellbutrin helps with compulsions, and with obsessive activities like smoking and over-eating and ruminating...
>Yes, yes, YMMV. I didn't mean to imply that one should generalize from my experience, just that sometimes in some people these drugs don't do what they're supposed to (something that any frequenter of this board knows).
I think the most delinquent neurotransmitter in my brain is serotonin, which it seems Wellbutrin compensates for only obliquely (and in my case insufficently).
Yeah, I really wanted it to work for me, and because of it's benign side-effect profile I'm somewhat jealous of anyone for whom it works. :)
So far so good on Remeron, though (i'm on my second week, and the positive effects have started to kick in).
-pm
Posted by super on June 1, 2001, at 23:12:36
In reply to Re: Postive experiences with Wellbutrin SR » Wendy B., posted by pellmell on June 1, 2001, at 14:33:09
I also take Depakote, which may counteract the weight-controlling nature of Wellbutrin. Who knows--maybe I would have gained 50 points if not for the Wellbutrin...
> > I still maintain, and this theory may hold absolutely no water, scientifically speaking, that Wellbutrin helps with compulsions, and with obsessive activities like smoking and over-eating and ruminating...
> >
>
> Yes, yes, YMMV. I didn't mean to imply that one should generalize from my experience, just that sometimes in some people these drugs don't do what they're supposed to (something that any frequenter of this board knows).
>
> I think the most delinquent neurotransmitter in my brain is serotonin, which it seems Wellbutrin compensates for only obliquely (and in my case insufficently).
>
> Yeah, I really wanted it to work for me, and because of it's benign side-effect profile I'm somewhat jealous of anyone for whom it works. :)
>
> So far so good on Remeron, though (i'm on my second week, and the positive effects have started to kick in).
>
> -pm
This is the end of the thread.
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