[RisuNeko]

My pdoc won't prescribe me anything for my adhd symptoms other than wellbutrin because I have bipolar but I've been researching and from what I've found some studies have shown wellbutrin efficacy as compared to placebo is not statistically significant. Others say stimulants are more effective by far. Others say wellbutrin only helps reduce symptoms by 50% in the people who actually respond well to it.

All of this is leading me to question why my pdoc thinks wellbutrin is the only option for me when it's only helping 10% at most. It's barely noticeable. It helps with depression and motivation and energy but not inattention and all of my issues (which are many).

Is it that risky to be on a stimulant or at least strattera if you're bipolar? I see so many people in the bipolar forum with adderall and concert a and determine and all those I'm their signatures and they don't seem to be manic all the time. I'm not drug seeking I'm just really having trouble in work and school because of my symptoms and wellbutrin just isn't cutting it. I just want to have the chance to try something, anything else.

[RisuNeko]

Sorry concerta and dexedrine. Stupid auto correct.

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by RisuNeko

My pdoc won't prescribe me anything for my adhd symptoms other than wellbutrin because I have bipolar but I've been researching and from what I've found some studies have shown wellbutrin efficacy as compared to placebo is not statistically significant. Others say stimulants are more effective by far. Others say wellbutrin only helps reduce symptoms by 50% in the people who actually respond well to it.

All of this is leading me to question why my pdoc thinks wellbutrin is the only option for me when it's only helping 10% at most. It's barely noticeable. It helps with depression and motivation and energy but not inattention and all of my issues (which are many).

Is it that risky to be on a stimulant or at least strattera if you're bipolar? I see so many people in the bipolar forum with adderall and concert a and determine and all those I'm their signatures and they don't seem to be manic all the time. I'm not drug seeking I'm just really having trouble in work and school because of my symptoms and wellbutrin just isn't cutting it. I just want to have the chance to try something, anything else.

I don't know how long you've been on it, but I'd encourage you to at least give it a shot. Almost every study I've read (I'll attach some) shows buproprion definitely has a statistically significant effect. Some may show it's not as effective as stimulants, but it is effective. FYI, a decrease in symptoms of 50% is huge and is way more than necessary for statistical significance, placebos lower symptoms on average of about 20-25%

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/....ajp.158.2.282

The Many Uses of Bupropion and Bupropion Sustained Release (SR) in Adults

Bupropion SR vs. methylphenidate vs. placebo for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults. - PubMed - NCBI - this one showed that neither wellbutrin nor methylphenidate made a statistically significant improvement

An open trial of bupropion for the treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder. - PubMed - NCBI

Bupropion XL in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. - PubMed - NCBI

And there's a lot more. Not saying I think ADD shouldn't be treated with stimulants - I actually think they should be first line, but just to give the buproprion a chance.

[RisuNeko]

I've been on it for 3 months now, is that enough of a chance?

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by RisuNeko

I've been on it for 3 months now, is that enough of a chance?

You've only been on an increased dose for a couple weeks if I remember correctly though, right?

[RisuNeko]

A month yeah. I guess I can wait a while longer but I'm really impatient because I need to pass one of the classes I'm in right now to go to grad school and I'm just not doing well no matter how much time and energy I put into it. I study for 5 times longer than I feel a normal person would. And that's while working full time. It's just wearing me down a lot.