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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sharons on August 22, 2002, at 15:03:59
I am on 100mg of welbutrin and wanted to slightly increase
my dosage. Does anyone recommend or not recommend breaking a pill in half
so i end up taking 150 mg? Does it not work? has anyone seen any problems?Your suggestions are much appreciated.
Posted by Anyuser on August 22, 2002, at 15:12:13
In reply to Breaking up Welbutrin, posted by sharons on August 22, 2002, at 15:03:59
Since you're taking 100mg, I presume you're taking prompt release, and not sustained release.
You're not supposed to take 100mg prompt release more frequently than once every four hours. This is to reduce the risk of seizures. The question is one of timing. To be on the safe side, you should take your half pill four hours after taking the full pill.
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 22, 2002, at 22:53:15
In reply to Breaking up Welbutrin, posted by sharons on August 22, 2002, at 15:03:59
I've taken 100 mg + half of 100 mg Wellbutrin XR with no problems. Now I just get the 150 mg Wellbutrin XR. I think 150 mg is the max dosage recommended, to avoid seizures, however that is not usally a problem with XR only immediate release.
Posted by terra miller on August 22, 2002, at 23:09:55
In reply to Breaking up Welbutrin, posted by sharons on August 22, 2002, at 15:03:59
hi. i take the 75's. you could think in terms of incorporating those, too.
are you feeling like things aren't staying steady for you, or are you feeling that you need to increase to a higher level? i know with my being on immediate release as well, that sometimes it's really an issue of how often my doses are.
all that to say, i haven't had trouble taking doses 3 or even 2 hours apart. i know you aren't supposes to in theory, but it hasn't been a trouble for me. (i'm taking 75mg, 5 times a day)
also in theory, if you cut your 100's in half it shouldn't matter.
i know when i increased from 4 pills a day to 5 pills a day my pdoc didn't see if it would do anything, but it did. it was that just a bit more boost that got me where it was good. i had a couple weeks adjustment to it, but then it leveled out at a good level for me.
long reply. sorry. hope it's helpful.
terra
Posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 6:57:40
In reply to Re: Breaking up Welbutrin » sharons, posted by terra miller on August 22, 2002, at 23:09:55
I appreciatye your time
Posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 7:03:12
In reply to Re: Breaking up Welbutrin » sharons, posted by terra miller on August 22, 2002, at 23:09:55
i have been on the meds for a week and a half and i just don't feel
different..i guess i just feel i need a higher level.i won't be able to see my doc for another 4 weeks because
i am studying for and exam day and night...so i thought i would up it
myself...do you suggest taking the 1 1/2 pill at the same time or spread it out
a little?I have also become VERY Constipated...i take stool softeners, but they aren't always cutting it
...can suggest something else? DON"T apologize for a long answer...i appreciate
all the info i can get!again thank you!
Posted by terra miller on August 23, 2002, at 8:31:41
In reply to terra-in response to you, posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 7:03:12
good morning. are you on this for smoking cessation or mood (you don't have to answer, of course)? also, did you doc discuss with you what level s/he wants you to be at? most docs start you out at one level and then slowly increase up to where they want you to level out. i don't understand why just 100mg. can you clarify that?
>> i have been on the meds for a week and a half and i just don't feel
> differentthis is a short time to feel any significant effects in mood. you should notice something, though. but mostly it would be a feeling that something is different, or you may feel more energized (wellbutrin does that) and have less appetite. if you are looking for help with depressive feelings, that will come with time... probably more at the 4week+ mark. (more or less, everybody is different)
>>..i guess i just feel i need a higher level.i won't be able to see my doc for another 4 weeks because
can you call your doc? i know i have tweaked here and there from time to time. i've tried to do it by educating myself. i feel confident in knowing what my body needs. but i have always checked with my doc to make sure i wasn't doing anything stupid, which is what i would also advise you to do.
>> i am studying for and exam day and night...so i thought i would up it
> myself...do you suggest taking the 1 1/2 pill at the same time or spread it out
> a little?if you are going to increase, i would not take the a 1/2 at the same time. think of the medication in your system as an upward curve: it goes in your body and the curve goes up to a peak and then it comes down the slope. if you take in set intervals your pills, then you theoretically are taking another dose before you come all the way down the slope. this leaves you at a higher set point then when you started, which is what you ultimately want. so, if you choose to add, take the next one 4 hours later. (when in the day is your 100mg dose? morning?) you also will get slightly better results taking on an empty stomach (unless you get nauseated and need to take it with food, which was what i needed to do for several months but now i'm fine.)
>> I have also become VERY Constipated...i take stool softeners, but they aren't always cutting itnow, this is common. a read drag. so, this is what i do. don't do the stool softener thing for too long; it makes your muscles lazy over the long haul. instead, avoid the following foods: carrots, rice, apples, bananas(especially) and white flour(sometimes for some people) all these make you more constipated. eat more veggies and fruits, especially blueberries/strawberries. and make yourself drink more water (you might lose your thirst being on wellbutrin, so you will have to remind yourself to drink... if you don't drink, you will get constipated no matter what you do.) you can also take magnesium (comes in pill form at the healthfood store) supplements. (i take 2 at a time, once a day.)
please also remember that i am not a medical professional at all. :-) this is just information that i have learned from trial and error, advice from this site, reading material, and the advice of my own doc.
terra
Posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 8:50:02
In reply to Re: terra-in response to you » sharons, posted by terra miller on August 23, 2002, at 8:31:41
because i have never taken anti-depressants before...and it is not for smoking
for a despression...not serious, but serious enough
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 23, 2002, at 11:03:26
In reply to terra-in response to you, posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 7:03:12
I did not get an antidepressant effect from Wellbutrin SR, 100 mg/day, for 2 weeks. I was also constipated for a while and continued to have dry mouth.
Posted by terra miller on August 23, 2002, at 12:28:48
In reply to Re: terra-in response to you, posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 8:50:02
hi. i wanted to add that what i told you was based on the thinking that you were taking the immediate release version. if you are taking the sustained release version, then i would tell you something different. you should check to see which it is that you are taking. if you are taking sustained release, then if you are going to break a pill in half you should look more at taking it 6 or so hours after your first dose.
it makes more sense to me that your doc would prescribe 100mg if it was sustained release, probably with the intention of increasing the dose if it is needed and you respond well. you really need to check with your doc.
you probably aren't going to notice an antidepressant effect yet, which is very normal for any antidepressant people try. sometimes it can be tough to wait because that's all you can do is just wait for the days to pass, but that's really all you can do to see if it's going to work for you.
terra
Posted by jane d on August 23, 2002, at 15:40:17
In reply to Re: terra-in response to you, posted by sharons on August 23, 2002, at 8:50:02
Most of this information applies only to Wellbutrin SR (as opposed to just plain Wellbutrin) since that is the only version I have any experience with.
Wellbutrin SR shouldn't be broken. I believe that doing so will defeat the slow release element although I don't know that for sure. Also, those tablets are incredibly bitter once the coating is broken. THAT I do know for sure. My mouth was numb, in a revolting, ate straight baking soda sort of way, for half an hour after that accidental experiment.
The idea behind the slow release version is avoiding having the levels of wellbutrin in your body jump too high right after you take a dose and that's thought to be important because higher levels of Wellbutrin is more likely to cause seizures. So whenever you take more Wellbutrin (and this part applies to the non slow release version too) you want to add more doses instead of taking more at once. I take it twice a day and I think this is standard.
If you do end up taking more the doses should be separated. I believe that the recommended maximums for any one time are 150 mg of Wellbutrin SR or 100 mg of the immediate release version. People do go higher than recommended maximums but that's definately not something to do by yourself - and certainly not this early in the game.I also agree that you should try to call your doctor now. I could be wrong but it seems to me your dose is lower than usual. I'm also not clear from your post whether you agreed with your doctor up front that you would take 100mg for a full six week trial or whether you were supposed to go back sooner and then found you didn't have time to schedule the appointment. It's usual to start a drug like Wellbutrin at a lower dose than you intend to use for a week or two to give you a chance to get used to any side effects. It's also quite possible that there is a good reason for using this dose but the only way you will know is to call and ask.
I wouldn't worry too much about not feeling un depressed this soon. It takes time for these drugs to work even when the dose is high enough. But you are entitled to call up and ask. Don't worry about being a nuisance. The standard six to eight weeks of waiting to know if a drug is working is hard enough to live thru. You don't want to also have to worry that you aren't taking a large enough dose to make the wait worthwhile.
Good luck.
Jane
Posted by viridis on August 23, 2002, at 22:23:57
In reply to Don't break SR version! » sharons, posted by jane d on August 23, 2002, at 15:40:17
I tried Wellbutrin for while -- SR, 150-300 mg/day. I had major anxiety problems (it exacerbated an already-existing anxiety condition) so I called the manufacturer and asked if it was safe to split the tablets. They assured me this was fine, because the slow-release is due to imbedding the chemical in a slowly-dissolving wax (it has nothing to do with the coating). I tried this (after an OK from my pdoc) and didn't notice much in the way of weird tastes etc., just less anxiety (but still more than pre-WB).
I DON'T mean to suggest that all slow/extended release pills can safely be split, just WB -- this is something to check with your Dr. and the company that makes it if necessary.
BTW, I eventually discontinued WB and SSRIs (all of which caused worse effects than the pre-existing depression/anxiety) and am much more stable on a low-dose bzd/adderall/neurontin combo that causes essentially no side effects and has required no dosage increases.
Posted by jane d on August 24, 2002, at 21:47:05
In reply to Re: Don't break SR version!, posted by viridis on August 23, 2002, at 22:23:57
Posted by jane d on August 24, 2002, at 22:09:01
In reply to Thanks for the correction! (nm) » viridis, posted by jane d on August 24, 2002, at 21:47:05
This is the end of the thread.
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