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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 Karolina on September 24, 2006, at 12:19:58
Hi everyone,
I usually post in the therapy forum but I have a question regarding my medication and its side effects.
I've been on Wellbutrin XL at 300 mgs for 3 years and it's really been about the only one that's worked for me. The only thing is that I started to experience something weird in my sleep. It only seems to happen when I am over-tired or stressed out. But lately I seem to be experiencing it every other week.
This is how I'd best describe it: At first I just hear things. Birds outside. Or my air conditioner running. Sometimes I can open my eyes. Then usually I will try to move. But it's like I *can't*.
Every movement I make causes excruciating pain. Then I panic because I realize all this time I haven't been breathing. And my mouth is open. I'll try to scream for help but nothing comes out. Then I will start to shake and can't stop. Then finally I seem to snap out of it, but wake up in a fog. Everything is still blurry, and I am completely confused for about 30 minutes and have the absolute worst headache.
I am on some other medications (not of the anti-depressant/SSRI group though) but I've been on and off them and this thing still happens in my sleep regardless. It's just a really scary feeling. But I feel so hesitant to talk to my pdoc because I don't want him to take me off of it or even try to lower my dosage to 150 mg.
I guess what I am asking is if this sounds like a seizure of some sort, and if it should be of concern. Thanks so much,
-Karolina-
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 13:27:32
In reply to wellbutrin xl and seizures?, posted by Karolina on September 24, 2006, at 12:19:58
Sleep paralysis? Love Phillipa
Posted by notfred on September 24, 2006, at 13:44:58
In reply to Re: wellbutrin xl and seizures? » Karolina, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 13:27:32
> Sleep paralysis? Love Phillipa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis
Some report that various factors increase the likelihood of both paralysis and hallucinations. These include: [2]
* Sleeping in a supine position (facing upwards)
* Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
* Increased stress
* Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes
* A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode. Also conscious induction of sleep paralysis is a common technique to enter a state of lucid dreams.
* Artificial sleeping aids or antihistamines
Posted by Jost on September 24, 2006, at 13:52:14
In reply to Re: wellbutrin xl and seizures?, posted by notfred on September 24, 2006, at 13:44:58
This seems as if it's possibly sleep paralysis.
I had some manifestations of that sometimes on Parnate.. I would be sleeping, but know that I had to wake up, and yet be unable to move. It was terrifying, as I would struggle to wake up (I was still in my dream, but I knew I needed to pull myself out of it-- of had that sense-- by waking up).
After struggling against the inabilty to move, or waken, I would eventually seem to break out of the dream into wakefulness--to my tremendous relief--although often affected by a lot of residual anxiety.
According to Wiki (notfred's link):
"More often than not, sleep paralysis is believed by the person affected by it to be no more than a dream. This is the reason why there are many dream recountings which describe the person lying frozen and unable to move. The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as simply a dream, as one might see completely fanciful objects in a room alongside the normal vision one can see."
You could be experiencing objects or sounds around you, perhaps in an unreal way-- or in a hyper-intense way.
Does this sound at all like what could be happening?
Jost
Posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 16:34:53
In reply to Re: wellbutrin xl and seizures? » Karolina, posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2006, at 13:27:32
> Sleep paralysis? Love Phillipa
Still got that nurse thing going on.
- Scott
Posted by Karolina on September 24, 2006, at 22:38:30
In reply to Re: wellbutrin xl and seizures? » Phillipa, posted by SLS on September 24, 2006, at 16:34:53
Thanks so much Phillipa, notfred, Jost and SLS for your responses.
I've heard of sleep paralysis before but wasn't sure if it was a real thing. I plan to look more into the topic. I've also been reading some about seizures that occur in sleep and I also read that one of Wellbutrin's side effects is seizures. So it could be that, or the sleep paralysis thing.
I think what concerns me most is the feeling that I can't breathe and then how badly I shake during it, then how afterwards I have such an excruciating headache, sometimes to the point where my vision is blurred.
Thanks for the information, I am going to try and get in touch with my doctor this week.
-Karolina-
Posted by Jost on September 26, 2006, at 10:43:54
In reply to Re: wellbutrin xl and seizures?, posted by Karolina on September 24, 2006, at 22:38:30
Hi, Karolina.
Of course, consulting your doctor is the thing to do.
I'm not so well versed in wellbutrin, but the dose you're taking isn't in the range where your seizure threshold would be likely to be compromised. Unless you have a particular tendency.
But, it's definitely a symptom to be checked out. If only to rule it out, and try to prevent its happening, even if it has other causes.
Good luck. And if you get a chance, let us know how it goes.
Jost
This is the end of the thread.
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