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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 akrake on July 31, 2001, at 20:08:03
well, i'm starting my 4th week on wellbutrin....7 day at 150/day and 2 weeks at 150/2xday. some days i do fine...and other days i have this awful rage. my kids were acting up and screaming and i started screaming and slamming cabinet doors. then i stopped and immediately took a klonopin.
i know from what i've read that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to start getting result. i don't have any other side effect (other than the headaches the first few days when i increased the dosage). is the rage normal?
i really don't think i'm depressed....just really NEGATIVE, bitchy and down right irritable. all i do is say SHHH...even to my husband. what gives?
any advice will be appreciated.
ps. i had two out burst today...and the morning one only subsided after i dropped my kids off and saw Planet of the Apes.
amie
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 31, 2001, at 20:11:36
In reply to still raging on wellbutrin, posted by akrake on July 31, 2001, at 20:08:03
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Irritability-from-medicati.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Possible-indications-of-bi.html
Posted by anna on July 31, 2001, at 22:32:32
In reply to still raging on wellbutrin, posted by akrake on July 31, 2001, at 20:08:03
> well, i'm starting my 4th week on wellbutrin....7 day at 150/day and 2 weeks at 150/2xday. some days i do fine...and other days i have this awful rage. my kids were acting up and screaming and i started screaming and slamming cabinet doors. then i stopped and immediately took a klonopin.
>
> i know from what i've read that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to start getting result. i don't have any other side effect (other than the headaches the first few days when i increased the dosage). is the rage normal?
>
> i really don't think i'm depressed....just really NEGATIVE, bitchy and down right irritable. all i do is say SHHH...even to my husband. what gives?
>
> any advice will be appreciated.
>
> ps. i had two out burst today...and the morning one only subsided after i dropped my kids off and saw Planet of the Apes.
>
> amieHi Amie, I have been off and on Wellbutrin in different doses the past couple of years for post partum depression. Each time I would get extremely irritable, especially with my children (heck, they are with me all day, I am a SAHM). I finally got a pdoc this year and he did add klonopin which has helped me some. He also suspects Bipolar II in me though and is trying me on a couple of mood stablizers. I hope they help me, I know it feels awful to be so bitchy to the people you love the most!
Best wishes to you,
Anna, Mom to 3 under age 4-1/2P.S. My MIL is so worried about me that she enrolled my oldest child in K-4 christian school this year (she barely misses kindergarten (YESSSS) I know she will have a blast and I will enjoy the break
Posted by terra miller on July 31, 2001, at 23:47:31
In reply to still raging on wellbutrin, posted by akrake on July 31, 2001, at 20:08:03
well, seeing the Planet of the Apes was probably a good outlet.... :-)
see how you are at 5-6 weeks. that seemed to be the "magic" time frame for me and for others that i read their stories. i had the "rage" really bad and i know what you are describing. it is so bothersome when you explode at your kids (i am a mom as well) when that is not your normal behavior. but during this time i was just bad off!!!
i think it is good that you have klonopin. i relied on ativan, and it was EXTREMELY helpful! give it a couple more weeks??? and maybe explain to your kids that mom is having a hard time right now ("my" kids get that one! *smile*) but it won't be this way forever... kids can be reaaaaally forgiving and understanding!
my personal experience was that it got better post 5-6 weeks. i still have irritable peaks, but i really don't think it's the wellbutrin but actually life stresses. i am not taking ativan, but i do use alcohol on occasion (which doesn't mean much since being on the wellbutrin means 2 sips of wine does me in *s*)
do you have another adult who can "take up some of the slack" for you for the next couple of weeks???? getting on wellbutrin, for me, was so difficult compared to other meds. i've tried. but i'm so glad i gutted it out (and that's exactly what it was... "gutting" it out.)
my understanding- terra
Posted by Riff Brown on August 1, 2001, at 0:44:08
In reply to still raging on wellbutrin, posted by akrake on July 31, 2001, at 20:08:03
> well, i'm starting my 4th week on wellbutrin....7 day at 150/day and 2 weeks at 150/2xday. some days i do fine...and other days i have this awful rage.
> i know from what i've read that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to start getting result. i don't have any other side effect (other than the headaches the first few days when i increased the dosage). is the rage normal?
Very common, I noticed this myself when I started several years ago, just couldn't let any little thing GO - everything stuck in my craw. I discovered that it did go away in a couple weeks, but noticed it would crop up again (delayed by a day or so) whenever I would miss a dose or be going up or down in dosage. I returned to normal once I maintained a dose for a while, so I would give it another week or two at 150 2x day and just make sure to be very regular about when you take your doses. If it doesn't fade in another week or two, then consider trying something else.
PS - Sometimes I don't even realize I'm being irrational - it takes my wife to say, "Um, have you missed a does lately?" for me to recognize I'm being a jerk. Good luck
Posted by terra miller on August 1, 2001, at 10:23:49
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin, posted by Riff Brown on August 1, 2001, at 0:44:08
>I discovered that it did go away in a couple weeks, but noticed it would crop up again (delayed by a day or so) whenever I would miss a dose or be going up or down in dosage. I returned to normal once I maintained a dose for a while, so I would give it another week or two at 150 2x day and just make sure to be very regular about when you take your doses.
That's a really good point. When I was still using the sustained release, I found that after 5 hours I was getting really crabby and had to wait until I could take the next dose. It was ugly. On the sustained release I would take a dose and feel it punch in within a couple hours and then it would just fall off after that (it didn't maintain a stable level for me) That's when I switched over to the immediate release. Now I've got it down because it's like clockwork that if I get to the 5 hour mark and haven't taken my next dose I am tired, irritable, crabby, and feeling like I'm not coping. I take my dose and all of that is erased. Every time. I stay steady as long as I don't go longer than 5 hours between dosages during the day (i don't dose at night but you probably figured that out.) all that is to say, watch the intervals between doses. -terra
Posted by akrake on August 1, 2001, at 16:29:49
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin » akrake, posted by anna on July 31, 2001, at 22:32:32
> > well, i'm starting my 4th week on wellbutrin....7 day at 150/day and 2 weeks at 150/2xday. some days i do fine...and other days i have this awful rage. my kids were acting up and screaming and i started screaming and slamming cabinet doors. then i stopped and immediately took a klonopin.
> >
> > i know from what i've read that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to start getting result. i don't have any other side effect (other than the headaches the first few days when i increased the dosage). is the rage normal?
> >
> > i really don't think i'm depressed....just really NEGATIVE, bitchy and down right irritable. all i do is say SHHH...even to my husband. what gives?
> >
> > any advice will be appreciated.
> >
> > ps. i had two out burst today...and the morning one only subsided after i dropped my kids off and saw Planet of the Apes.
> >
> > amie
>
> Hi Amie, I have been off and on Wellbutrin in different doses the past couple of years for post partum depression. Each time I would get extremely irritable, especially with my children (heck, they are with me all day, I am a SAHM). I finally got a pdoc this year and he did add klonopin which has helped me some. He also suspects Bipolar II in me though and is trying me on a couple of mood stablizers. I hope they help me, I know it feels awful to be so bitchy to the people you love the most!
> Best wishes to you,
> Anna, Mom to 3 under age 4-1/2
>
> P.S. My MIL is so worried about me that she enrolled my oldest child in K-4 christian school this year (she barely misses kindergarten (YESSSS) I know she will have a blast and I will enjoy the breakhi. thanks for the info. i don't know about mood stabilizers...i guess i really need to find a real doctor.....not just the gyn doc. the klonopin worked yesterday...i feel asleep by 9p last night....but still felt a little irritable. i don't know...is it pms too?
i hate this.
Posted by akrake on August 1, 2001, at 16:34:22
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin » akrake, posted by terra miller on July 31, 2001, at 23:47:31
> well, seeing the Planet of the Apes was probably a good outlet.... :-)
>
> see how you are at 5-6 weeks. that seemed to be the "magic" time frame for me and for others that i read their stories. i had the "rage" really bad and i know what you are describing. it is so bothersome when you explode at your kids (i am a mom as well) when that is not your normal behavior. but during this time i was just bad off!!!
>
> i think it is good that you have klonopin. i relied on ativan, and it was EXTREMELY helpful! give it a couple more weeks??? and maybe explain to your kids that mom is having a hard time right now ("my" kids get that one! *smile*) but it won't be this way forever... kids can be reaaaaally forgiving and understanding!
>
> my personal experience was that it got better post 5-6 weeks. i still have irritable peaks, but i really don't think it's the wellbutrin but actually life stresses. i am not taking ativan, but i do use alcohol on occasion (which doesn't mean much since being on the wellbutrin means 2 sips of wine does me in *s*)
>
> do you have another adult who can "take up some of the slack" for you for the next couple of weeks???? getting on wellbutrin, for me, was so difficult compared to other meds. i've tried. but i'm so glad i gutted it out (and that's exactly what it was... "gutting" it out.)
>
> my understanding- terrathanks alot. i'm going to keep on it. right now i have my husband trying to get my script refilled...he's a resident and we can get free scripts if a staff signs off on the script...but he's embarrased to do that...i finally put my foot down and told him to do it or else!
that situation doesn't help things either....but i'm going to keep on keeping on...it's the only thing i can do!
Posted by akrake on August 1, 2001, at 16:39:53
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin » akrake, posted by SalArmy4me on July 31, 2001, at 20:11:36
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Irritability-from-medicati.html
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Possible-indications-of-bi.htmlREALLY intersting! i just thought i had PMDD...and prozac (sarafem) worked but killed my sex drive. maybe i need to explore things further. my kids start school soon & i'll have time for myself.
thanks.
amie
Posted by anna on August 1, 2001, at 23:25:57
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin, posted by akrake on August 1, 2001, at 16:29:49
> > > well, i'm starting my 4th week on wellbutrin....7 day at 150/day and 2 weeks at 150/2xday. some days i do fine...and other days i have this awful rage. my kids were acting up and screaming and i started screaming and slamming cabinet doors. then i stopped and immediately took a klonopin.
> > >
> > > i know from what i've read that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to start getting result. i don't have any other side effect (other than the headaches the first few days when i increased the dosage). is the rage normal?
> > >
> > > i really don't think i'm depressed....just really NEGATIVE, bitchy and down right irritable. all i do is say SHHH...even to my husband. what gives?
> > >
> > > any advice will be appreciated.
> > >
> > > ps. i had two out burst today...and the morning one only subsided after i dropped my kids off and saw Planet of the Apes.
> > >
> > > amie
> >
> > Hi Amie, I have been off and on Wellbutrin in different doses the past couple of years for post partum depression. Each time I would get extremely irritable, especially with my children (heck, they are with me all day, I am a SAHM). I finally got a pdoc this year and he did add klonopin which has helped me some. He also suspects Bipolar II in me though and is trying me on a couple of mood stablizers. I hope they help me, I know it feels awful to be so bitchy to the people you love the most!
> > Best wishes to you,
> > Anna, Mom to 3 under age 4-1/2
> >
> > P.S. My MIL is so worried about me that she enrolled my oldest child in K-4 christian school this year (she barely misses kindergarten (YESSSS) I know she will have a blast and I will enjoy the break
>
> hi. thanks for the info. i don't know about mood stabilizers...i guess i really need to find a real doctor.....not just the gyn doc. the klonopin worked yesterday...i feel asleep by 9p last night....but still felt a little irritable. i don't know...is it pms too?
>
> i hate this.I know mine is really worse with PMS! Klonopin is really great though!! But everyone is different. I myself finally gave up and got a pdoc 2 years ago!! Good luck,
Anna
Posted by Mitch on August 2, 2001, at 9:32:11
In reply to Re: taking doses on time, posted by terra miller on August 1, 2001, at 10:23:49
> >I discovered that it did go away in a couple weeks, but noticed it would crop up again (delayed by a day or so) whenever I would miss a dose or be going up or down in dosage. I returned to normal once I maintained a dose for a while, so I would give it another week or two at 150 2x day and just make sure to be very regular about when you take your doses.
>
> That's a really good point. When I was still using the sustained release, I found that after 5 hours I was getting really crabby and had to wait until I could take the next dose. It was ugly. On the sustained release I would take a dose and feel it punch in within a couple hours and then it would just fall off after that (it didn't maintain a stable level for me) That's when I switched over to the immediate release. Now I've got it down because it's like clockwork that if I get to the 5 hour mark and haven't taken my next dose I am tired, irritable, crabby, and feeling like I'm not coping. I take my dose and all of that is erased. Every time. I stay steady as long as I don't go longer than 5 hours between dosages during the day (i don't dose at night but you probably figured that out.) all that is to say, watch the intervals between doses. -terraHey, this is an interesting discussion! I took Wellbutrin last summer for major depressive episode and I noticed that I would also feel *calmer* right after a dose for a few hours and then I would get agitated. The WB has active metabolites while the parent drug (bupropion) has a relatively short life. I wonder if folks that get grouchy on it-would they be better off taking 75mg immediate release 4x a day??
Just wondering,
Mitch
Posted by super on August 3, 2001, at 13:44:52
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin, posted by anna on August 1, 2001, at 23:25:57
Yes, I'd get a real p-doc ASAP. As for Wellbutrin, I found the effects creeped up on me, and I only got the best effect after a year. So, if you can, hold on and don't give up on it yet. I went through some really hard times (including rage like you mention, but also major depression) the first five months or maybe more that I was on Wellbutrin, but I have calmed down significantly. A mood stabilizer might help. I take Depakote.
> > > > well, i'm starting my 4th week on wellbutrin....7 day at 150/day and 2 weeks at 150/2xday. some days i do fine...and other days i have this awful rage. my kids were acting up and screaming and i started screaming and slamming cabinet doors. then i stopped and immediately took a klonopin.
> > > >
> > > > i know from what i've read that it takes a minimum of 4 weeks to start getting result. i don't have any other side effect (other than the headaches the first few days when i increased the dosage). is the rage normal?
> > > >
> > > > i really don't think i'm depressed....just really NEGATIVE, bitchy and down right irritable. all i do is say SHHH...even to my husband. what gives?
> > > >
> > > > any advice will be appreciated.
> > > >
> > > > ps. i had two out burst today...and the morning one only subsided after i dropped my kids off and saw Planet of the Apes.
> > > >
> > > > amie
> > >
> > > Hi Amie, I have been off and on Wellbutrin in different doses the past couple of years for post partum depression. Each time I would get extremely irritable, especially with my children (heck, they are with me all day, I am a SAHM). I finally got a pdoc this year and he did add klonopin which has helped me some. He also suspects Bipolar II in me though and is trying me on a couple of mood stablizers. I hope they help me, I know it feels awful to be so bitchy to the people you love the most!
> > > Best wishes to you,
> > > Anna, Mom to 3 under age 4-1/2
> > >
> > > P.S. My MIL is so worried about me that she enrolled my oldest child in K-4 christian school this year (she barely misses kindergarten (YESSSS) I know she will have a blast and I will enjoy the break
> >
> > hi. thanks for the info. i don't know about mood stabilizers...i guess i really need to find a real doctor.....not just the gyn doc. the klonopin worked yesterday...i feel asleep by 9p last night....but still felt a little irritable. i don't know...is it pms too?
> >
> > i hate this.
>
> I know mine is really worse with PMS! Klonopin is really great though!! But everyone is different. I myself finally gave up and got a pdoc 2 years ago!! Good luck,
> Anna
Posted by paxvox on August 3, 2001, at 19:48:46
In reply to Re: still raging on wellbutrin, posted by super on August 3, 2001, at 13:44:52
OK, I'll throw in my 2 cents...cachinggggg!Wellbutrin w/o a "stabilizer" can be a bit tricky. I vote for the benzos, which, sorry to use the term, "take the edge off" the Wellbutrin rush, yet keep their AD effects active. Those of you that LIKE Depakote... Am I missing something, or am I just too sensitive? I tried the 500mg at night, and it made me feel really crappy all the next day w/o really improving my sleep (which is why Pdoc added it to my Tranzene, that he now wants to take me off of). I will just have to tell him next visit "I like the combo of Wellbutrin and Tranzene". I guess I will have to be adamant about it, because this guy thinks he invented psychopharmacology. Since he doesn't provide therapy, I guess I can ask my GP to give me the meds if Pdoc won't. My GP has known me well for 10 years, and has always listened to me, and trusted my input in MY treatments (which I have not abused).
This is the end of the thread.
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