LymeNet Flash: Wellbutrin

This is topic Wellbutrin - Wonder Drug?? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/63690

Posted by Visual Afterimage Man (Member # 10435) on :

Hey guys,

I just wanted to document some info my my experiences with Wellburtin XL, for those who might search this site for information on this drug.

I know that the antidepressant prescribed for one person may not work for the next person. The same goes for antibiotics as we push our way through this terrible disease.

I also understand that its a bit early in my treatment with Wellbutrin to draw a firm conclusion, but I wanted to get this down before my thoughts fade away in my lyme brain.

So here goes...

I was on 20 mg of Lexipro. Lexipro was making me pretty sleepy and had some sexual side effects that were less desireable. I talked to my doc about being sleepy all the time.

He moved me over to Wellbutrin XL. I haven't been on it very long, but can already feel the difference.

I think the difference is that Wellbutrin is not just an SSRI (selective seritonin reuptake inhibitor), however it works on seritonin, norapenephrin and dopamine. This may be why I feel so much different on this drug vs any other SSRI that I have been on.

I feel pretty good overall. I feel much less brain fogged. I am starting to feel my memory coming back and this drug has been known to actually INCREASE your libedo. Most of of lymies have very little libedo for whatever reason. But I can honestly say that it's making me feel like a 29 year old male should feel like.

It has even helped with my visual afterimages. I think that may be due to the fact that I'm less sleepy. With more energy I feel like my eyes are less fatigued and thus my vision issues are not as bad.

Now for the bad... This drug is a bit of a stimulant. If I take this after 9:00 AM then I have trouble getting to sleep at night. If I take some Meltonin my sleep is better.

Also, if I take this drug and then have a few cups of coffee, then I feel a bit wired. I might even go as far to say that I might experience some mania events. So be careful with mixing those two. Go easy on the coffee until you know how you will react with the two drugs in your system.

Other than that.... I can't think of any negitives. I have no idea the cost, because the doc gave me enough samples to last me a month. I'm sure I'll end up purchasing the drug sometime in the near future.

Again, I'm not trying to make a sales pitch for this drug. By all means, I don't get a dime for being a proponent of it. I just want to share what seems to be working for me. If it helps even one person, then it was well worth the time to type this message.

Feel free to chime in with your experiences with Wellbutrin XL.

Best wishes to you all!

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

I have been on Wellbutrin SR 150mg for over seven years. It saved my life.

My duaghter has been on 450mgXL for the past year. Loves it. She takes it late in the morning, so she needs a boatload of meds to sleep at night. But, the tradeoff for a stable mood has been worth it.

She had to go to a new psychiatrist today because our insurance dumped her. This plan doesn't let her have the XL, but the SR...and she will have to take less, but the doc is supplementing 5-10mg of Lexapro with it.

We are not happy about this, but she doesn't have much of a choice.

Kelmo

Posted by LindaInRhodeIsland (Member # 14727) on :

I had a wonderful experience with Cymbalta after trying Effexor. So glad Wellbutrin worked for you.

Having the assistance with the mental well being has made a HUGE difference in living with this disease.

I hope others can overcome their fear of these drugs and try them. My family says it is nice to have more of the "real" me back!

Linda

Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :

thanks for posting this guys.

ive been considering trying welbutrin again.

i was on it last year and didnt see much of a difference but then again i was really bad then so itd be hard to tell.

thanks again, i am glad this is helping some.

derek

Posted by TexasChaos (Member # 7465) on :

I haven't been on it long enough to notice if it's helping the depression, but it does help my energy. Unfortunately, it causes increased urination and makes me have to use the restroom every half hour, so I don't know if I can stand to stick with it!
TMI? Sorry. [Smile]

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

My daughter liked Cymbalta, too. But, after a year it stopped working for her. (Remember...teenage brain, doesn't mean it won't work for you)

When she was on Mepron, her depression got so bad, she has maxed out Wellbutrin at 450mg. She is afraid to start backing off of it because she knows that she will flare, and she's in the middle of trying to keep college classes.

Maybe over the summer she can start backing off a bit.

Wow...frequent urination...maybe it's irritating your kidneys.

Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :

quote:
Originally posted by LindaInRhodeIsland:

I had a wonderful experience with Cymbalta after trying Effexor.

I actually have a Rx for Cymbalta that I've been too afraid to try since my experience with Effexor-XR.

The Effexor did nothing to help me & I would up battling horrible withdrawal Sx when even slightly late with a dose. IMO, It's a cruel medication to Rx for someone with memory issues. [shake]

I hadn't thought about checking the half-life of the Cymbalta, maybe it's not as evil as the Effexor. ???

I certainly don't need any more problems with my libido. Did you notice any negative/positive effects from the Cymbalta, where libido is concerned? (You can PM me if you don't want to post an answer to that on the board)

[confused]

I wonder if the Wellbutrin might be a better option.

I'm one of those people who's afraid of brain-chemical altering medications. [Eek!]

Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :

I thought is was a wonder drug too but what I found out is that its just cocaine in a different package.

I think that there was a study that said 1/3 of the patients on wellbutrin get a high like that of cocaine.

For me the first time I took it I started with a little sliver. I was on the toilet in the bathroom and my heart started beating so fast and hard and I thought I was going to die.

But since I knew that I was depressed and wanted out of it I started taking a little more each day. I did notice being more awake and alert and colors were brighter and I felt AWAKE!

However I also experienced some insomnia with it. But I continied and worked up to 2 tablets of the XL each day. When I did that I really started to loose sleep. I was going into work after sleeping about 3 hours. I was miserable.

That being said I asked the doc for something to knock me out. He didnt give me anything else other then that Ambien. It didnt work. I wanted Klonopin or something.

One night I ran out of the Ambien and figured that I would just start to take more and more skelaxin and flexirl to sleep.

Every hour I would take a skelaxin, I figured that eventually it would knock me out.

I ended taking 13 skelaxin and 8 flexiril?
I spent the next day vomiting with flu like symptoms. I overdosed.

So long story short at this point I couldnt handle the Wellbutrin because its half-life is to long. I think it stays in the body for more then 24 hours!

Hope this helps.
lh001

Posted by Peacesoul (Member # 13709) on :

I refuse any and all antidepress, though I prob should be taking something b/c I find the days getter worse, but my best friend who suffered from severe depression his entire life started Wellbutrin over a year ago and it saved his life.
He went from being a heavy pot smoker and being in his house all the time to quitting all dope and going to the gym 5 days a week. At this point, I think it's the exercise that's saving him and not the drug, but he did get him out of his "hump"

My boyfriend took it to quit smoking and he was TERRIBLY sick from it. So yeah, it's a hit and miss!

Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lymeHerx001:

For me the first time I took it I started with a little sliver. I was on the toilet in the bathroom and my heart started beating so fast and hard and I thought I was going to die.

I didn't think you were supposed to split the XL or SL because of the way they are formulated. Aren't they formulated for more gradual release?

Maybe that's why you had such a problem starting out?

[confused]

Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :

I tried Wellbutrin and I agree with the poster who said it was similar to cocaine. That's what it felt like and it was a holy nightmare.