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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ivoovi on November 21, 2001, at 21:05:07
Hi, I have been on wellbutrin for almost 3 weeks. At around 2 weeks, I started to feel good -- much better than I had been feeling, almost "normal." Well, low and behold, 4 days later, i feel like crap again. Suicidal thoughts, lack of motivation, avoiding social contact at all costs...all of that. It only lasted for 4 days!! Why? Will it come back!! I'm on 300mg!
-Chris
Posted by Cam W. on November 22, 2001, at 4:18:10
In reply to After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout?, posted by ivoovi on November 21, 2001, at 21:05:07
Chris - Unfortunately, that great feeling was actually a start-up side effect. The actually antidepressant activity should be apparent within the next couple of weeks, though. You may not feel as good as you had in the last couple of weeks, but the depressive symptoms should lift. Therefore, this is not an actual poop-out, just the loss of a start-up side effect (albeit a pleasant start-up side effect). - Cam
Posted by pat c. on November 22, 2001, at 8:36:29
In reply to Re: After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout? » ivoovi, posted by Cam W. on November 22, 2001, at 4:18:10
> Cam,
Will the agitation/anxiety caused by Wellbutrin lessen?
Hell, I took one 100mg tablet yesterday, and I woke up this morning all strung out.
Thanks.
Pat
Posted by Cam W. on November 22, 2001, at 10:42:05
In reply to Re: After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout? » Cam W., posted by pat c. on November 22, 2001, at 8:36:29
Pat - Yes, the anxiety and irritability does disappear. Actually, I found that there is 2 phases of this with Wellbutrin™ (bupropion). The first is when you start taking the drug (ie. a start-up side effect). This is where you seem to vibrate about an inch off of your chair and get annoyed fairly easily. This usually ends within 3 weeks of when you begin the drug, and is one of the main reasons that you start by taking only one tablet daily for the first 7 days.
The second bout of anxiety and irritability seems to occur between 3 to 6 weeks after starting the twice a day dosing. In this instance, the onset is incidious and you really don't realize it's happening until you blow up at people, for little to no reason. This doesn't happen to everyone.
I like to tell people about this second incidence because I find that it is one of the major reasons for people stopping Wellbutrin therapy. I found that when this happened to me, I would intentionally look for people to piss me off in traffic, just so that I could yell at them. You might find yourself yelling at (ie. over-reacting to) little things that your spouse or children do.
The main reason I talk about this second phase of irritability is that, if you know that it may occur, you can watch for it and take measures to minimize the adverse effects it may have on those around you. Tell people close to you that you may yell at them for no reason and that it is the drug, not you. Tell them that this phase WILL end.
•••For most people this phase lasts a week, usually no more than two weeks.•••
It can be quite embarrassing, and you do ask yourself why you exploded at a trivial incident.
Just remember, it does end; and the anxiety does fade, as well.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
Posted by pat c. on November 23, 2001, at 11:44:30
In reply to Re: After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout? » pat c., posted by Cam W. on November 22, 2001, at 10:42:05
Cam,
Any thoughts on whether Wellbutrin is effective against atypical depression (social phobia, panic attacks, depression)?
Lately, depression aspect has been getting worse --"double depression" = mix of atypical and hard-core clinical (extreme sadness and no appetite).
Thanks.
Pat
Posted by Cam W. on November 23, 2001, at 18:29:46
In reply to Re: After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout? » Cam W., posted by pat c. on November 23, 2001, at 11:44:30
Pat - I wouldn't say that it won't work, but most pdocs I know will only try it if nothing else works, and then they use it many times in combination with an SSRI (that is, if the SSRI has given some relief). Wellbutrin may be worth a trial, and I have seen a few articles with it being tried in atypical depression. Success rates have not been that high, if I recall correctly.
Sorry that I am not much help on this. - Cam
Posted by Katey on November 25, 2001, at 9:42:50
In reply to Re: After 4 days -- Wellbutrin poopout? » pat c., posted by Cam W. on November 22, 2001, at 10:42:05
i didnt even realize that i was just coming off the first phase, i thought the welbutrin was starting to poop out the way everything else had. but now im willing to hold out for the rest of this. thank you so much for the info, i had no clue.
This is the end of the thread.
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