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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan J on October 20, 2003, at 8:54:23
Hullo,
Sarita on the Social board suggested I look back on psycho-babble for some information on Wellbutrin and concentration problems. So I'm just gonna ask anyone if they've had this problem.
It's hard for me to pinpoint because severe lack of concentration was one of my symptoms of depression, which I never had when I was feeling good. Now, on Wellbutrin (150mg 2x daily), I'm feeling pretty darned good mood-wise, but my concentration is still horrible.
Still from depression? Side-effect of Wellbutrin? Anyone have any advice?
Thanks!
Susan
Posted by Bill LL on October 20, 2003, at 10:32:29
In reply to Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration?, posted by Susan J on October 20, 2003, at 8:54:23
Hard to say. For some people, Wellbutrin increases concentration. Stay on the Wellbutrin no matter what. But you might want to augment with either Ritalin, Adderal, Straterra, or DMAE. The first 3 are prescription drugs. DMAE is available from vitamin stores. I have just started taking Twinlab DMAE which I researched as a good brand. One should start with 100 mg (one pill) and gradually increase to 500 mg per day if needed. I just started last week and now take 200 mg per day. I think I do see an improvement but it's too early to tell for sure. It's suppose to be very safe.
You might want to give it a try for a few weeks. If you don't see an improvement, consider asking your doctor about one of the prescription alternatives.
> Hullo,
>
> Sarita on the Social board suggested I look back on psycho-babble for some information on Wellbutrin and concentration problems. So I'm just gonna ask anyone if they've had this problem.
>
> It's hard for me to pinpoint because severe lack of concentration was one of my symptoms of depression, which I never had when I was feeling good. Now, on Wellbutrin (150mg 2x daily), I'm feeling pretty darned good mood-wise, but my concentration is still horrible.
>
> Still from depression? Side-effect of Wellbutrin? Anyone have any advice?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Susan
Posted by Francesco on October 20, 2003, at 18:25:46
In reply to Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration?, posted by Susan J on October 20, 2003, at 8:54:23
I had very bad problems of concentration on Wellbutrin and for me it was even more difficult to pinpoint because lack of concentration was the reason for whick I took Wellbutrin : )
I was not only unconcentrated, which is normal for me, but also severely distracted. I thought that the causes were blank mind episodes and overfocusing. are you experiencing something similar ?
Posted by Cybele on October 21, 2003, at 13:37:56
In reply to Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration?, posted by Susan J on October 20, 2003, at 8:54:23
Check out this thread:
Posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 13:46:14
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration? » Susan J, posted by Cybele on October 21, 2003, at 13:37:56
> Check out this thread:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991016/msgs/13717.htmlWow, interesting! Thanks for the tip! I write for a living, too, unfortunately. But dag, the WB is *really* helping with depression....
Susan
Posted by Cybele on October 21, 2003, at 14:47:25
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration? » Cybele, posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 13:46:14
Susan, my primary symptom of depression is difficulty concentrating, and Wellbutrin did help me with that 9 years ago. (I also just started back on it 2 weeks ago.) Paxil, which I took for six weeks before trying Wellbutrin the first time, made my concentration problem much, much worse. My doctor (and I agree) believed that Paxil must have been suppressing my REM sleep. (Wellbutrin is supposed to help REM sleep, OTOH.) Anti-depressants work differently with everyone, so do searches on old posts and find people with the same side effects and experiences. I know how crippling it is not being able to get your writing work done. (BTDT!) Right now I am a stay-at-home-mom, so my mental concentration powers are not much in demand and I've learned coping strategies for taking care of most everyday life stuff. Still, my inability to finish a book or magazine article, sort thru and take care of paperwork, constant tiredness, and total lack of a libido are wearing on me and on my marriage. Good luck!
Posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 15:27:40
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration? » Susan J, posted by Cybele on October 21, 2003, at 14:47:25
Hi, again,
>>Paxil, which I took for six weeks before trying Wellbutrin the first time, made my concentration problem much, much worse.
<<I was on Paxil before WB, and I don't know if it interfered with my concentration or not, but I was suffering so many other bad side effects, it didn't matter. The way WB makes me feel, well it's just weird....>>My doctor (and I agree) believed that Paxil must have been suppressing my REM sleep. (Wellbutrin is supposed to help REM sleep, OTOH.)
<<Interesting....I'll look into that.>>I know how crippling it is not being able to get your writing work done. (BTDT!)
<<I'm coping pretty well with the writing stuff (well, I come in on weekends to do what I can't seem to get done during the week). But I used to read sooooo much for pleasure. I used to get lost in books. All kinds, novels, biographies, science books! That pleasure seems lost to me now, and after this depression thing, I've really come to appreciate the little pleasures in life I do find. I'd like the book one back.>> constant tiredness, and total lack of a libido are wearing on me and on my marriage.
<<Those two problems went away for me with Wellbutrin.Good luck to you too!
Susan
Posted by Dawn24 on December 17, 2003, at 18:10:56
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration? » Susan J, posted by Cybele on October 21, 2003, at 14:47:25
I started graduate school this semester and have had a terrible time concentrating on my studies. I work in a computer lab, and I thought the reason I can't seem to do my school work here is because the Internet is right in front of me, and I just can't resist sending emails or searching for web sites just like this one! But maybe my troubles were all related to the Wellbutrin. In the past I've experienced actual feelings of nervousness in my stomach, which I attributed to the drug and just let go by. I dropped my dosage down, but still experience the jitters when in combination with Starbucks. Now I'm wondering if maybe Wellbutrin is not the right drug for me ... Any thoughts?
Posted by RayJ on December 17, 2003, at 19:56:30
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Loss of Concentration?, posted by Dawn24 on December 17, 2003, at 18:10:56
I had terrible concentration problems which started in grad school and went on for many years at work. I was easily distracted by things like the internet (such as it was in the 80's), and the only thing that really focused my attention was self-medicating with amphetamines. (Not recommended).
Turns out I had severe sleep apnea and didn't know it. Getting treated for that cleared up a lot of mental and emotional symptoms for me.
Could be the WB is affecting your sleep patterns, or could be something else unrelated to the WB. I found that WB focused my mind much like amphetamines did, but it had lots of other amphetamine-like qualities which I liked a lot less, so I switched back to Lexapro.
RayJ
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