[sugahorse1]

Right, so most of you know I'm in a bit of a difficult situation in that my pdoc prescribed 75mg Wellbutrin XL - the consequences are that i need to break the extended release tablet in half, which the package insert clearly states NOT to do.

ANYWAY - My energy levels have picked up drastically, and my depression is no more (I'm also on Lamictin 100mg; I suffer from BP II). I'm actually slightly hypomanic for a change.

I take my 75mg in the morning (7AM) and now battle to fall asleep before midnight (I used to sleep 13 hours!). I am waking up about 20 times in the middle of the night, at times with mild panic attacks (Rapid breathing and heart-rate going through the roof)

I don't like this AT ALL. I have Zopiclone to use as a sleep aid, but if used continuously, it is HIGHLY addictive (Been there, done that!)

Anyone else battled with these symptoms...? Please tell me I'm not alone

[Omers]

Wellbutrin does have a reputation for increasing anxiety. It was one of the reasons why my old Pdoc wouldn't put me on it. I also went from 13+ hours of sleep to a more "normal" sleep pattern but I was not getting up as often as you are. Man the breaking them in half still scares me... but we have had that conversation.
I SO hope you get some help/relief with this soon. It seems like you have been struggling for so long.

[sugahorse1]

Thanks Omers - not sure where to start... or what to do. Or what advice to listen to.

[yagalada]

I have had those similar symptoms on wellbutrin. I would get so agitated, I threw my ashtray across the room because something on tv upset me. I couldn't sleep and felt like I had constant panic and shortness of breath. Within a few days to a week of getting off of the wellbutrin all that went away.

[sunrise]

sugahorse, wellbutrin is an activating anti-depressant and it sounds like you are sure experiencing that. I'm really glad your depression has ben helped. Yay! What does your pdoc say? I recommend telling him/her that you are breaking the XL in half and that it is keeping you up at night. Perhaps he can adjust the prescription so that you can sleep, and so that you don't have to break the pills. For instance, you could get a prescription for regular Wellbutrin and cut the pills to your heart's content.

I don't like the idea of countering the activating effects of one med with a sleep aide.... It seems like then one gets in this conundrum of taking meds not to help with one's mental condition, but to deal with other meds. One med creates the need for another--know what I mean?

[sugahorse1]

@ sunrise. I hear you totally. It seems ridiculous to take one med to counter the affects of another. I really need the energising affects of Wellbutrin, as well as the lack of depression. But the aggitation and lack of sleep is too much. Took a zopiclone to sleep last night because I'd had enough. Well, slept like a log, but woke up a big groggy this morning. Managed to get my solid 6.5 hours of sleep in though.

I think my Wellbutrin should be a full 150mg, and my Lamictin needs to be upped. I'm no doctor, but this is what I think.
Think I'm going back to my original pdoc - this current one frustrates me, and scared me that she lets me cut XL tablets in half (These were her instructions) - she changes my meds at snails pace and says I need to grin and bear it while we struggle through the inception of meds. I understand they take time, but when my depression does not lift, and I'm left with suicidal ideations, something needs to change! Hence the addition of the Wellbutrin in the first place.

Arg - I hate making decisions.