Posted by paxvox2000 on May 10, 2002, at 10:07:14
In reply to What is it like to be on Welbutrin?, posted by Sparrow on May 10, 2002, at 2:20:14
I have been on WB for over three years now. It takes a little while to get used to, and can be VERY individualized as to dose effectiveness and dose sensitivity. For instance, I had taken 150 SR twice daily, then my Pdoc tried to bump it up to 3X, which REALLY casued chest tightness and tachycardia with me. Then backed down to 200 Mg X 2, which still made me uneasy, so back to 150 X 2.
Sometimes WB can make you a bit hyped up, and that's really how it works, as a psycho-stimulant, as opposed to SSRI meds (dopamine vs. serotonin).
Now, I personally need a benzo to help mellow me out a bit with the WB (it can exacerbate insomnia). It can make you twitchy, and jittery, but you get used to that (at least I did) once you realize it's no big deal. You will most likely lose weight unless you are combining it with something like Remeron, which might counter-act that effect. I have lost 30 lbs. personally.
As an AD, WB is pretty good at lifting your mood. It doesn't seem to "poop out" like many SSRI meds do. At VERY high doses, there is increased seizure risk, but I believe that this problem is very uncommon within normal therapeutic treatment levels.
Anyway, check the archives for more info, there is a lot of it available. WB is becoming more widely used as a primary AD, especially for those who have sexual side effects from SSRI AD meds.
Hope that helps.
PAX
poster:paxvox2000
thread:105846
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/105875.html