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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 Shell on August 22, 2006, at 12:26:30
I have both GAD and ADD. I no longer take Concerta, as my new insurance company requires a lot of paperwork to prescribe it for adults. I really do miss that medicine -- it actually seemed to work for both the ADD AND the anxiety.
My doctor started me on Effexor, added Wellbutrin, then added Klonopin, and finally added Buspar to treat the anxiety. With the exception of the Klonopin, I don’t really feel that any of it seems to be helping. I hate to keep complaining that I don’t feel any better – I feel like the “bad” patient that is being “difficult,” but I honestly seem to be getting worse.
What I’m wondering is how common is it to use Wellbutrin to treat anxiety? I can’t seem to find too much that mentions it as a treatment for anxiety; in fact, most of what I have read seems to indicate that it is more likely to cause, or at least worsen, anxiety.
Has anyone else been prescribed Wellbutrin for anxiety? It seems an unusual choice, but I assume my doctor knows what he is doing. Could it be making the anxiety worse instead of better?
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 22, 2006, at 12:43:34
In reply to Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by Shell on August 22, 2006, at 12:26:30
Hello shell
I tried taking wellbutrin for a while. All I can say is that it increased my anxiety ALOT. But I took the wellbutrin on its own. I don't think its used to treat anxiety at all really. Maybe your doc is using it to counteract the side effects of some of the other medications that you're talking? Its a common augument to SSRIs.
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by bassman on August 22, 2006, at 17:40:26
In reply to Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by Shell on August 22, 2006, at 12:26:30
I was prescribed Wellbutrin for anxiety and it made me very fearful-it took me months to figure out it was the medication. I take it at 150 mg now with Prozac, and that works O.K. But 300 mg Wellbutrin XL/day made this panic disorder person much worse.
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 19:00:14
In reply to Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by Shell on August 22, 2006, at 12:26:30
I am right there with you sympton wise...at least for the anxiety...yes Klonopin helps...Wellbutrin...did you get that from a circus clown? I just dumped Wellbutrin XL for depression.......regular wellbutrin was awful for anxiety symptons..as was trying to up the XL for depression...Buspar is worthless......I don't believe any of the new antidepressant/ crossover meds help with anxiety......maybe in lab rats.....
e
Posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2006, at 19:30:38
In reply to Re: Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 19:00:14
I was on wellbutrin for one week with xanax and chloral hydrate for sleep and it caused severe anxiety. Love Phillipa
Posted by nickguy on August 22, 2006, at 22:24:58
In reply to Re: Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2006, at 19:30:38
while wellbutrin may cause anxiety for people with anxiety disorders, concerta is twice as likely to cause it. Therefore, your doctors reasoning for wellbutrin may be that dopamine (something increased by concerta, as well as wellbutrin, although concerta much more) is something that you lack and causes anxiety.
Posted by Racer on August 23, 2006, at 2:09:52
In reply to Re: Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by invisibleman15010 on August 22, 2006, at 19:00:14
> Buspar is worthless..
Actually, Buspar was the very best anti-anxiety medication I ever found. Treated my anxiety with minimal adverse effects, and didn't make me feel horrid.
Unfortunately, one of the adverse effects was that it increased depression, so I had to stop it. But for the anxiety, it was a dream drug.
Why am I telling you this? Only because such general statements always worry me -- maybe someone will choose not to try a medication that might be the right drug, just because of reading something here that says the drug is useless, or horrible, or whatever.
Just my two cents worth, and cheap at half the price...
Posted by jealibeanz on August 23, 2006, at 3:50:14
In reply to Re: Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by nickguy on August 22, 2006, at 22:24:58
I did. I'm honestly not sure whether or not it helped much, maybe a little, maybe not at all. My doctor just tried it because I wasn't tolerating the others we tried initially. Wellbutrin does have some potential if you do lack dopamine. Even though it can be stimulating, it may help because your insufficiency is being corrected. I personally feel less anxiety while using stimulants. They're soothing.
Posted by invisibleman15010 on August 23, 2006, at 8:29:31
In reply to Re: Anyone else take WELLBUTRIN for ANXIETY?, posted by jealibeanz on August 23, 2006, at 3:50:14
Ok sorry about making general statements. Yes, the Buspar was worthless for me and most others that I have read the posts on and have spoken with, but not for you. That's good.
Again, this is more and more like Russian Roulette, a med crap shoot.
E
This is the end of the thread.
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