![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 13:13:56
I've been on Wellbutrin for about five weeks and I've been having this weird sensation several times a day (perhaps about once an hour on average). It's kind of like dizziness but I feel sort of like I'm floating or about float away and it's accompanied by a sort of rapid heartbeat or heart palpitation or something. It's a little fun and a little scary.Has anyone else ever experienced this with Wellbutrin? Should I be alarmed?
I just had a fight with my pdoc and now I hate him and I hate all pdocs so I'm really feeling stuck. I called my T but she couldn't help me figure out what to do. So I'm trying to be my own pdoc (my T didn't like this idea but I don't know what else to do -- they all make me very, very upset -- but that's another story).
Right now I'm just looking for feedback about the side effect. Please let me know your thoughts.
Posted by HappyGirl on February 4, 2005, at 14:23:01
In reply to Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP, posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 13:13:56
Hi:
At what dosage of WB you've been on?Normally, the problems about which you're describing is fairly 'common' side-effects from taking 'higher dosage' of WB sr? In my case, I did lower-down from 450 mg. to 300 mg. that resolved the problem. In the beginning of WB sr tx., most of the WB takers have few S.E.s, if not 'several' or 'serious' form. At least, you're NOT alone in this regard.
In my suggestion through the experience along the reading the others, ... most of S.E.s get alleviated by cutting down the dosage. If there is NO 'relief' even at 'smaller-dosage,' then probably WB sr is NOT for you. Because, one 'MAJOR' problem is said to be 'seizure,' particularly you have 'epilepsy' tendency in your family.
H.G.
Posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 15:18:16
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP, posted by HappyGirl on February 4, 2005, at 14:23:01
i just read on webmd that if you have heart palpitations you should cease taking it IMMEDIATELY and then call you doctor. For most se's they tell you to keep taking it and call your doctor (since stopping suddenly can be dangerous i think) so this is alarming.i don't know what to do.
Posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 15:43:01
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP, posted by HappyGirl on February 4, 2005, at 14:23:01
Thanks, HG. I started out on 100 mg of the SR every morning. Then I added 100 mg at night. Then we took away the night one (because of the SEs) so now I'm back on 100 mg in the morning.Not very much, right? But I'm usually very sensitive to drugs. I don't know how alarmed to be about the heart racing stuff.
Posted by HappyGirl on February 4, 2005, at 15:55:34
In reply to scary thing, posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 15:18:16
Hi:
Just 'five' weeks on WB sr with small-dosage, like the 150 mg. - 200 mg., ... then there is NO 'dependency'development in your system (I just forgot a proper techinical language for this at this moment, ...), then I don't think that you need to concern 'too' much as to 'stopping' WB sr, as long as you take at 'slow-pace.' However, if you've been on the higher dosage, around 300 mg. - 450 mg. for the past two to three weeks, then you may need to be alamred. A bad thing is you seem NO doctor to consult over your concern as having read your previous post. Then, I quite understand you try to put an 'end' to your worry, however just looking over the Internet(including WEBmed.), there are some descrepancies from people to people. Just my view on this tho', ...As to its 'sudden' discontinuation, ... I am, too very skeptical, *if* you're on higher/closer than 300 mg. First off, ... try to 'lower-down' dosage, ... i.e., if you're on 300 mg. currently, take the 250 mg. next day, ... and gradually wean-off for the next few weeks.
In regard to 'hear-palpitation,' ... I did experience when I took the 450 mg. for a couple of days and afterwards cut it down with a good result. For me, on the 300 mg., there are NO prominent S.E.s as of today.
In my suggestion, ... if you have a family doctor/G.P., try to contact and get an opinion from there. If nothing is available, then you must be 'REALLY' cautious about a plan of WB discontinuation, particularly if you've been on higher-dosage.
H.G.
Posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 16:43:41
In reply to Re: scary thing, posted by HappyGirl on February 4, 2005, at 15:55:34
i'm alarmed about staying on it, not discontinuing. maybe i was unclear.
Posted by ghost on February 4, 2005, at 16:57:39
In reply to Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP, posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 13:13:56
i just started wellbutrin and i've had this side effect, but not as often as you describe.
you might want to see a general MD :(
be careful.
ghost
Posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 20:10:15
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP » crushedout, posted by ghost on February 4, 2005, at 16:57:39
well, that's a relief, ghost, to hear that you're having it, too. i'm much calmer now. i talked to a very nice pharmacist. she doesn't think it's life-threatening but also thinks i should see a doctor on monday. she was very reasonable, reassuring, and seemed smart. so i won't go to the hospital, i won't panic, but i will try to take care of this soon.
i also might have found a new pdoc.
(i ranted today about pdocs on the psych board. dinah talked a little sense into me. that dinah. what would i do without her?)
Posted by vicwa on February 5, 2005, at 20:35:44
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP » ghost, posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 20:10:15
Hey crushed, I am somewhat new to the meds, but had been on Wellbutrin for 4 weeks (150) then went to 300mg for a couple of weeks beyond that. At 300mg I felt a kind of chest tightness. It was really concerning. I waited it out through a weekend , spoke to my doc on Monday who told me to go off it immediately. He didn't like the idea of the chest pain. Which I did. (according to him, no need to ween off Wellbutrin. I have heard that it is out of your system in 48hours). Anyway, all was fine. I since have started taking it again, along with lexapro, but am sticking to the 150mg, so far so good. Not sure if this helps at all, but if you need to stop I think it is OK. I did not feel anything negative.
Posted by ghost on February 5, 2005, at 22:10:20
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP » ghost, posted by crushedout on February 4, 2005, at 20:10:15
hurray for the new pdoc maybe!
i'm glad you talked to a pharmacist... they're usually very knowledgable about side effects n stuff.
ghost
Posted by Optimist on February 6, 2005, at 15:02:12
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP » crushedout, posted by ghost on February 5, 2005, at 22:10:20
I had chest pain, heart palpitations, and dizziness after increasing my dosage of Wellbutrin SR from 300mg to 450mg. It lasted only about a week then all the side effects went away and never came back. It really concerned me at first as I had never had those side effects at the lower dosages, but after I read up that it was a common side effect on here my worry quickly went away.
By the way if anyones interested. I've been tapering my Wellbutrin dosages over the last week to washout for my Parnate trial starting in a week and I'm having no problems what so ever with discontinuation withdrawals. I went from 450mg to 300mg for 4 days then, to 150mg for another 4 days and all is well. :)
Brian
Posted by ed_uk on February 6, 2005, at 16:32:02
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin dizzy heart palps -- Please HELP, posted by Optimist on February 6, 2005, at 15:02:12
Here is a list of some of the bupropion side effects which have been reported to the UK government
The brand name Wellbutrin in not available in the UK. Bupropion is available in the form of Zyban, which is approved as an aid to smokong cessation. The maximum dose of Zyban is 300mg/day. In the UK, bupropion is not used to treat depression. The high incidence of psychiatric side effects from bupropion is revealing, particularly considering that most people who were prescribed Zyban would not have had any major mental health problems. Bear in mind that most UK doctors very rarely report side effects, only a small fraction of sdie effects ever get reported. The figures reported for buproprion are therefore quite high.
A few of the 'physical' side effects of bupropion.......
Palpitations (259 cases)
Myocardial infarction ie. 'heart attack' (36 cases)
Hypertension (63 cases)
Stroke (19 cases)
Anaphylactic reaction (41 cases)
Ulcerative stomatitis (82 cases)
Chest pain (381 cases)
Loss of consciousness NOS (44 cases)
Convulsions NOS (109 cases)
Grand mal convulsion (75 cases)
Urticaria (1079 cases)Some neurological and psychiatric reaction.......
Depression (484 cases!!!!!!!!)
Suicidal Ideation (75 cases!!!!!!!!!)
Amnesia (44 cases)
Memory impairment (39 cases)
Aggression (104 cases)
Hallucinations (112 cases)
Panic reaction (150 cases)
Nervousness (85 cases)
Confusion (109 cases)
Irritability (118 cases)
Insomnia (1063 cases)
Dizziness (800 cases)
Concentration impairment (154 cases)
Paranoia (35 cases)
Mood swings (68 cases)
Psychosis (14 cases)
Disorientation (62 cases)
Depressed mood (30 cases)
Anxiety (343 cases)
Agitation (220 cases)
Emotional instability (122 cases)To see all reported side effect see........
http://www.yellowcard.gov.uk/dapdocs/bupropion.txtEd.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.