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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 31. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 11:19:58
Hi.....
I've been thinking of trying Wellbutrin to see if it would treat my fatigue. I'm worried that it might make me aggressive though, people have often reported that Wellbutrin makes them angry or irritable.
I must admit that I am prone occasional impulsive outbursts of anger and I don't like the idea of taking something that might get me arrested!
A college friend once told me that she knew a man who was given Zyban (Wellbutrin/bupropion) to help him quit smoking. Anyway, shortly after he started Zyban he went into a violent rage and killed himself. He had never been depressed previously and he'd never acted like that when he'd tried to stop smoking before.
Did Wellbutrin make *you* aggressive? If it did, have you ever become aggressive on any other meds?
Ed.
Posted by anneL on December 31, 2004, at 12:25:16
In reply to Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 11:19:58
Hi Ed.
First off, let me start off by saying that I have always been interested in trying Wellbutrin but was afraid that I would get hopelessly nervous and feel as if I would want to crawl out of my skin. In order to take Effexor, I had to go on Klonopin in order to handle the start-up activation of the Effexor. That being said, I started Wellbutrin 3 weeks ago as I begin to slowly taper off Effexor over approximately a 12 month period (a whole other can of worms). I don't have any rage, but I can be irritable at times. I believe that caffeine exacerbates the "edginess". I feel the peak effects of Wellbutrin in the morning after my 2 cups of coffe. Slightly uncomfortable, as if I could get anxious, but don't. I believe that any anxiousness is probably alleviated by the fact that I take Klonopin 1 mg. at bedtime for sleep.
I liked the energy that the Wellbutrin provided when I was on my regular dose of Effexor. I now notice that the Wellbutrin does not have the same "kick" and I believe my fatigue to be related to my Effexor taper.So, all-in-all, I have not felt any rage, but would have to say that Wellbutrin for me is not a "clean" energizer. I believe that I have less patience for things that I would normally brush off, but have not snapped at anyone or gone into any rages. Lamictal, on the other hand, made me feel "angry" 24/7. I would take on any issue and pursue it like a fiend. I am sure that my colleagues at work found my behavior to be highly annoying and very strange. It ended within 2 days of stopping Lamictal. You could always try Wellbutrin and see if you develop any irritableness and/or anxiety and after giving it a fair trial (I think one should know within 30 days on Wellbutrin), either keep it in the mix or nix it altogether. anneL
Posted by Sebastian on December 31, 2004, at 13:44:26
In reply to Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 11:19:58
If you take it with other meds, the right ones, it won't make you angry. Not everone gets the anger, it can actualy lift your moods, by itself.
Posted by Mr.Scott on December 31, 2004, at 14:28:58
In reply to Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 11:19:58
No psychiatric drug has ever caused my so many problems of anxiety, anger, and awful despair then Wellbutrin! I tend towards those problems myself and Wellbutrin worsened all of them.
Scott
Posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 14:37:58
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Mr.Scott on December 31, 2004, at 14:28:58
Hello Scott,
I'm sorry to hear that you had such an awful experience. Please can you describe what happened after you took Wellbutrin in a bit more detail.
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by stresser on December 31, 2004, at 15:15:59
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » Mr.Scott, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 14:37:58
I have posted before that I think Wellbutrin makes me a bit more "nasty" than usual. Rage? Yes. -L
Posted by Ritch on December 31, 2004, at 18:12:59
In reply to Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 11:19:58
Yep, WB, Buspar, and Remeron (and oddly..Zonegran) were the worst offenders for me. Anything that is yohimbine like (alpha-2 antagonism) really flips me out.
Posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 18:26:44
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Ritch on December 31, 2004, at 18:12:59
Hi Ritch!
What happened when you took Remeron?
What happened when you took Buspar?
Zonegran also made you aggressive?Thank you,
Ed.
Posted by yellowbrickroad on December 31, 2004, at 22:47:49
In reply to Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 11:19:58
I was on meds for five years. Tried Prozac, Paxil, and Celexa long-term. They helped but made me sooooooo stupid. Paxil worked the longest until I started sleeping 12+ hours/day and still felt exhausted.
I started Wellbutrin. It was the first thing that allowed me to remember my SAT words and didn't kill my sex drive (on Prozac..."Men? what men? no, I wouldn't do THAT with a man, would I? you're joking, surely"...On Celexa, "what were we talking about?...look, I have HANDS!!!").
However, I started having crying jags while on Wellbutrin alone, so my doctor added lithium. Worked like magic.
Two years later, I started thinking that my neighbors were all talking about me, especially if they had the irritating habit of conversing in a language I didn't speak. Even strangers on the Metro MUST be talking about me, looking at me, laughing at me, thinking bad things about me.
I had a friend who'd also taken it, and about the third time she mentioned having been kept up at night by the "people who were trying to break into her apartment", it occurred to me that the Wellbutrin might have a hand in my own paranoid fantasies. I researched this problem on the net and found that some people do get a little nutty on the drug.
I told my doctor. He was dismissive. I said I would take myself off of it cold turkey or he could help me find a safer approach. He let me cut my dose to 150 (I had been on 300), and the paranoia WENT AWAY. But the crying came back.
I switched doctors. We went up to 200, and I found my magic bullet again. Enough to keep me stable but not enough to make me nutty. Again, I think it's worth noting that I was taking lithium together with the Wellbutrin. Lithium is said to boost the effectiveness of antidepressants, even for the non-bipolar, when taken together.
I should also mention that my friend and I that had the psychosis problems with the drug are both diagnosed with atypical depression, which in both our cases means that our doctors aren't sure if we have Bipolar II or not. I've never been manic under observation...but I HAVE baked every item in the Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book in a two week period. Hmmm.... And my friend has had some truly interesting shopping and raging experiences. Hmmm....
I'm not on meds at the moment. If I ever have to go back on them, I will consider Wellbutrin before other antidepressants because it is the only one that doesn't seem to lower my IQ or make me completely asexual. But I'm not a brand loyalist. I know that what works one time may not work the next. What works for one person may not work for another. And, if I haven't tried a particular therapy (medication), how do I know that it won't help me?
I like to keep an open mind with medications. And talking to others on those drugs and KEEPING A WRITTEN RECORD of my experiences in invaluable.
Alright, I've made my (very long) contribution.
Hope someone gets something out of it.
YBR
Posted by yellowbrickroad on December 31, 2004, at 22:52:50
In reply to I LOVE to talk about Wellbutrin » ed_uk, posted by yellowbrickroad on December 31, 2004, at 22:47:49
Also,
Happy New Year!!!
YBR
Posted by anastasia56 on January 1, 2005, at 0:29:47
In reply to Re: I LOVE to talk about Wellbutrin, posted by yellowbrickroad on December 31, 2004, at 22:52:50
wellbutrin made me very irritable. my personality on wellbutrin reminded me of when i was in college years ago and taking birth control pills for the first time. Back then they were still the full strength birth control pills so you would get the side effects...or i did anyway...depression, rage, anger, pissiness. wellbutrin brought all that back. not a way i would choose to relive the past so now i avoid wellbutrin.
anastasia
Posted by Ritch on January 1, 2005, at 10:25:28
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » Ritch, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 18:26:44
> Hi Ritch!
>
> What happened when you took Remeron?
> What happened when you took Buspar?
> Zonegran also made you aggressive?
>
> Thank you,
> Ed.Remeron? Just became very hateful and mean, intolerant. The same with the other two. Road rage is probably the best way to describe it, except I wasn't driving. Lots of continuous ruminating hostile thoughts. Zonegran was a surprise. I took 100mg before bedtime and got up the next day (after a lot of weird dreams) and just went off all day long and into the next day.. very odd paradoxical reaction. I had something like that happen from valium, but not clonazepam, lorazepam, etc.
Posted by stresser on January 1, 2005, at 11:56:19
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Ritch on January 1, 2005, at 10:25:28
This is all coming together now for me....thank you for the information from everyone. My daughter is also taking Wellbutrin, and I have noticed that she is behaving very oddly lately. Other than being 16, she is hateful, mean, and just seems to have it in for everyone around her these days. She is also getting the sweats as she did when she took wellbutrin before. I think this drug is making her intolerant as well, and I didn't consider that maybe it was more than just being a teenager and the basic mood swings that are normal. Wellbutrin must affect both of us in the same way......and why not? We are both VERY much alike. I do like Wellbutrin because it is weight neutral, and there are no sexual side-effects (for me). What else is there that would be comperable to that?-L
Posted by Ritch on January 1, 2005, at 14:14:05
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by stresser on January 1, 2005, at 11:56:19
> This is all coming together now for me....thank you for the information from everyone. My daughter is also taking Wellbutrin, and I have noticed that she is behaving very oddly lately. Other than being 16, she is hateful, mean, and just seems to have it in for everyone around her these days. She is also getting the sweats as she did when she took wellbutrin before. I think this drug is making her intolerant as well, and I didn't consider that maybe it was more than just being a teenager and the basic mood swings that are normal. Wellbutrin must affect both of us in the same way......and why not? We are both VERY much alike. I do like Wellbutrin because it is weight neutral, and there are no sexual side-effects (for me). What else is there that would be comperable to that?-L
I wished I knew, so I could try it. The only thing that comes to mind, that would fit that desired side effect profile might be moclobemide (the reversible MAOI), or possibly one of the less porkogenic TCA's (maprotiline?). It might be much easier to find a lowered dose of WB that still works (ybr's solution). Perhaps Stratterra? I lost weight on that one-but you might not like it-I didn't get any temper fits that are directly attributable to that one. Classical stimulants never bothered me much that way either.
Posted by ed_uk on January 1, 2005, at 17:21:31
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » stresser, posted by Ritch on January 1, 2005, at 14:14:05
Hi Everyone!
It seems like Wellbutrin really is aggression in pill form!
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by stresser on January 1, 2005, at 20:03:35
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » stresser, posted by Ritch on January 1, 2005, at 14:14:05
Is strattera an anti-depressant?-L
Posted by Optimist on January 2, 2005, at 6:27:54
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage!, posted by ed_uk on January 1, 2005, at 17:21:31
> Hi Everyone!
>
> It seems like Wellbutrin really is aggression in pill form!
>
> Regards,
> Ed.I'm on 450mg of Wellbutrin SR a day and notice no aggression what so ever. If anything I'm less aggressive than before I'd say. due to there being less depression. I haven't noticed any irritability from it either.
Posted by ed_uk on January 2, 2005, at 11:11:47
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Optimist on January 2, 2005, at 6:27:54
Hi Brian!
I didn't mean for EVERYONE :-)
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by Ritch on January 2, 2005, at 11:31:01
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » Ritch, posted by stresser on January 1, 2005, at 20:03:35
> Is strattera an anti-depressant?-L
It's a selective norephinephrine reuptake inhibitor that's used for ADHD. I find it helps my bipolar depressions. I haven't heard much about others having a lot of success using it as an AD however.
Posted by Optimist on January 2, 2005, at 23:12:01
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » Optimist, posted by ed_uk on January 2, 2005, at 11:11:47
> Hi Brian!
>
> I didn't mean for EVERYONE :-)
>
> Regards,
> Ed.I know... I just wanted to make sure people weren't scared away from an otherwise good drug. :)
Posted by banga on January 3, 2005, at 1:40:13
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Ritch on January 1, 2005, at 10:25:28
Shows how different we all are. On trials of Wellbutrin, I did not feel agitation or violent. However, on 20 mg Lexapro, I developed very aggressive thoughts--Im not kidding even towards babies! it was really really disturbing, I am usually pretty meek interpersonally so it was SO different from what I am. It subsided when I dropped the Lexapro lower. One reason I am shying away from SSRIs in my case.
Posted by ed_uk on January 3, 2005, at 17:11:13
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Optimist on January 2, 2005, at 23:12:01
>I just wanted to make sure people weren't scared away from an otherwise good drug. :)
Hi Brian!
Sorry :-)
Ed.
Posted by darkhorse on January 4, 2005, at 8:51:44
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Mr.Scott on December 31, 2004, at 14:28:58
> No psychiatric drug has ever caused my so many problems of anxiety, anger, and awful despair then Wellbutrin! I tend towards those problems myself and Wellbutrin worsened all of them.
>
> ScottI can not agree more except adding Reboxetine,Milnacipran and Sibutramine to the list of pro-aggression/depression medication.
Darkhorse.
Posted by Sebastian on January 4, 2005, at 18:42:46
In reply to Re: I LOVE to talk about Wellbutrin, posted by yellowbrickroad on December 31, 2004, at 22:52:50
Posted by broken on January 7, 2005, at 15:12:56
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Rage! » ed_uk, posted by Optimist on January 2, 2005, at 23:12:01
Just wanted to add in my experience so far. I am on 450mg Welbutrin since August/September and no aggression that I could tell. I spoke to my wife, and she said she wasn't seeing any either.
Different people, different constitutions, different side effects.
> > Hi Brian!
> >
> > I didn't mean for EVERYONE :-)
> >
> > Regards,
> > Ed.
>
> I know... I just wanted to make sure people weren't scared away from an otherwise good drug. :)
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