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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by waterfall on October 5, 2005, at 13:54:56
After two years off meds, I went back on Wellbutrin 8 days ago due to mild depression (crying every day, not sleeping through the night for about 7 months, no appetite, no sex drive, etc.). On day 3 or 4 I had a half hour of mild euphoria. Today, about 6 hours after taking a dose, I was downright high. Like I was taking recreational drugs. I took 1/2 mg of Ativan followed by another 1/2 mg an hour after that to try to bring myself down and now, three hours after the whole thing started I'm feeling better but not totally normal. Arrgh. The Wellbutrin was working like a charm on the depression. It worked right away and gave me a feeling of general well-being even though the aggravating factors in my life haven't changed at all (and that was a pretty neat trick boys and girls).
When she prescribed it, my psych was afraid I'd become manic due to past history and now I'm afraid of that same thing too. Anyone else experience a high on Wellbutrin that DIDN'T lead to mania? Don't laugh, but I'm hoping maybe this would be an occasional side effect, y'know, like dry mouth, but not lead to mania. Anyone else experienced with this?
Posted by tbone1 on October 5, 2005, at 14:58:04
In reply to high on Wellbutrin, looking for other's experience, posted by waterfall on October 5, 2005, at 13:54:56
> After two years off meds, I went back on Wellbutrin 8 days ago due to mild depression (crying every day, not sleeping through the night for about 7 months, no appetite, no sex drive, etc.). On day 3 or 4 I had a half hour of mild euphoria. Today, about 6 hours after taking a dose, I was downright high. Like I was taking recreational drugs. I took 1/2 mg of Ativan followed by another 1/2 mg an hour after that to try to bring myself down and now, three hours after the whole thing started I'm feeling better but not totally normal. Arrgh. The Wellbutrin was working like a charm on the depression. It worked right away and gave me a feeling of general well-being even though the aggravating factors in my life haven't changed at all (and that was a pretty neat trick boys and girls).
>
> When she prescribed it, my psych was afraid I'd become manic due to past history and now I'm afraid of that same thing too. Anyone else experience a high on Wellbutrin that DIDN'T lead to mania? Don't laugh, but I'm hoping maybe this would be an occasional side effect, y'know, like dry mouth, but not lead to mania. Anyone else experienced with this?
that is strange because i thought wellbutrin was the one drug you could take that would not cause mania. who knows ? anything could happen
Posted by lunesta on October 5, 2005, at 17:15:50
In reply to Re: high on Wellbutrin, looking for other's experience, posted by tbone1 on October 5, 2005, at 14:58:04
wellbutrin has some weak affinty for dopamine receptors so this makes sense. Sort of like provigil at certain doses also effects dopamine. I would suggest lowering the dose or abandoning it! Wellbutrin can cause seizures too.
Posted by blueberry on October 5, 2005, at 18:54:33
In reply to high on Wellbutrin, looking for other's experience, posted by waterfall on October 5, 2005, at 13:54:56
Depakote 500mg to 1000mg (both low doses). Good sleep, enhanced appetite.
I think if someone is taking an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer with even just a hint of hypomania, they are playing with fire. The cycles will only get worse, the manias will get more bizarre, and the antidepressant may stop working or never work. Just my opinion, but I think if there is even the tiniest hint of bipolar, there has to be a mood stabilizer on board. I mentioned depakote because your concerns were sleep and appetite. At the doses I mentioned, there really aren't any side effects except drowsiness for about 8 hours and enhanced appetite. And it will let the antidepressant work without throwing you into cycles.
Just a thought.
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2005, at 19:09:31
In reply to Re: high on Wellbutrin, looking for other's experience, posted by blueberry on October 5, 2005, at 18:54:33
After one week on wellbutrin it made me hypomanic. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tbone1 on October 7, 2005, at 15:49:53
In reply to Re: high on Wellbutrin, looking for other's experience, posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2005, at 19:09:31
> After one week on wellbutrin it made me hypomanic. Fondly, Phillipa
By comparison, antidepressant medications (e.g. Wellbutrin) clearly can make bipolar disorder worse. How often, that's controversial; how much protection against this that one gets from a mood stabilizer, that's not clear either; and when to stop an antidepressant if things are going well, that's controversial too. But that they can in many people, at least 20% and perhaps more like 30 or 40%, depending on circumstances -- that's well agreed upon.
Posted by Sebastian on October 8, 2005, at 15:49:24
In reply to high on Wellbutrin, looking for other's experience, posted by waterfall on October 5, 2005, at 13:54:56
I take zyprexa and geodon for the mania. It counters the side effects of wellburtin. One or the other would work in a small dose.
This is the end of the thread.
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