[Tweetcher]

Hi everyone. Just looking for some advice/experience from those of you who have been prescribed Wellbutrin for anxiety.

A little history ....

I am a 33 year old full-time teacher, full-time student and full-time mom. For a long time, I've been telling myself that my symptoms are a result of being spread too thin (and that may be the case). I've been dealing with them as best I can on my own...until recently.

My anxiety is beginning to err on the side of paranoia... I think everyone is talking about me; I obsess about my hair to the point that I shaved my hair off when I got a bad haircut. I get so agitated that I can't focus on anything... everything is being done half-*** as a result. I find myself yelling at my kids more than loving them which I feel incredibly guilty for.

It got so bad that I started having outbreaks of Shingles every time I got too stressed (I have three occurrences in the last year). My body is beginning to rebel, so I went to my primary for help. She prescribed painkillers for the pain. I did not take more than directed, but I loved how I felt on them. I wasn't loopy or out of it...I was just very patient and much less agitated. Alcohol and drug addiction runs rampant in my family, so I know the dangers of medications like Zanex or Adivan. However, I had tried so many other drugs that offered me nothing but sexual side effects and a flat affect. When I inquired about Zanex or Adivan, I was pretty much shot down. She prescribed 150 mg. of Wellbutrin instead. I just don't think this medication treats the symptoms I am experiencing.

Has anyone successfully (or otherwise) used Wellbutrin to treat anxiety?

[jjm51]

hi tweetcher-

sorry to hear about your anxiety.

this is just my experience w/wellbitrin, so take it for what it is worth...

it caused extreme anxiety in me. it works on dopamine and is a great med for energy, losing weight, no real 'bad' side effects and more. some people really love it. others, like me get very anxious on it.

i'm a little surprised your doc put you on this if your primary issue is anxiety. though you do mention you have tried several other drugs.

also, i have read that if you can get thru the start-up effects of wellbutrin things settle down. i just took it for over a week or so. not a real trial, but it was just too rough for me.

finally, can i suggest seeing a psychiatrist instead of going to your primary doc? i think if you can find a good one they will offer more options that might suit you better.

in the meantime good luck with the wellbutrin. hopefully your experience will be different than mine.

john

[nicoleb2]

Wellbutrin to treat anxiety seems kind of odd. It is known to increase anxiety in a lot of people

[optimize990h]

I am on Wellbutrin 150mg X2 a day. Not recently, but when the dosage was adjusted for best effects, I found the slide effects to be anxiety. One time, the anxiety made it feel like my brains were shaking in my skull. ATM no side effects and I take it for depression. Ps it helps you to stop craving for ciggies, too.

Wellbutrin is generally NOT used to treat people with high anxiety, as it usually causes GREATER anxiety, which is exactly what happened to me. I had heart palpitations from it (not saying you would), and it did not have a good effect on me.
Primary care drs (one also prescribed my Wellbutrin) seem unaware of this Wellbutrin causes MORE anxiety idea, sigh, and I don't think they like prescribing benzos like Ativan, etc...which could be very helpful to you right now. I think you need to speak with a psychiatrist who could at the very least prescribe you something like Ativan short term (which worked for me for a long time, until I had built up resistence to it) and then something else that hopefully will also help without giving you bad sexual side effects or a flat affect. I assume you were probably talking about SSRIs causing those, but there are lots of other drugs out there to try if you get the right dr. ready to look beyond the usual SSRIs.
I wish you the best and I hope you feel better soon.

[Eliza Jane]

Agree with the others. Wellbutrin is known for increasing rather than decreasing anxiety (it can be good for depression, particularly if you are really lethargic and have no energy). I also agree that it would be helpful to talk to a psychiatrist rather than a GP about psych meds. My pdoc just recently went on a rant about how many people have come to him on screwed up meds rx'd by their GP's. GP's have very little training in psych issues and often don't know went to tell their patients that they are in over their heads and they could get better care from a specialist.

Good luck!
EJ

[-jimi-]

It made me more anxious. Generally it is a bad choice for anxiety, guess you might be the exception. Or not.

[cocoabeans]

You're stressed from being spread too thin so you turn to drugs? Really?

Take a vacation. Lighten your work load. Learn to say no. Always pay yourself first.

Yes, your doctor prescribed you something but, that's what they do. They're medical doctors. They're not trained to counsel you when you spread yourself too thin.

[Tweetcher]

Originally Posted by cocoabeans

You're stressed from being spread too thin so you turn to drugs? Really?

Take a vacation. Lighten your work load. Learn to say no. Always pay yourself first.

Yes, your doctor prescribed you something but, that's what they do. They're medical doctors. They're not trained to counsel you when you spread yourself too thin.

So from a few paragraphs, you are able to provide all the answers? Let's see ... Taking a vacation money (have none)....lighten my load (that means I have even less money). Everything I do is to bring in money to pay off bills and stay afloat. So, I guess I could lighten my load. Are you going to so graciously offer a roof for my family to sleep under? Perhaps even pay for us to go on a nice vacation?

Yeah ... Didn't think so.

[loudpipes]

I agree, you definitely need something stronger. Like a xanax or something, do you have a history of drug abuse?

[cocoabeans]

Originally Posted by Tweetcher

So from a few paragraphs, you are able to provide all the answers? Let's see ... Taking a vacation money (have none)....lighten my load (that means I have even less money). Everything I do is to bring in money to pay off bills and stay afloat. So, I guess I could lighten my load. Are you going to so graciously offer a roof for my family to sleep under? Perhaps even pay for us to go on a nice vacation?

Yeah ... Didn't think so.

Obviously not, your poor choices to live beyond your means, have a family you can't afford and over work yourself are not my responsibility.

My point was that drugs won't fix your budget nor help you when your stress is the result of choosing to be spreading yourself too thin and came only after you asked for advice about whether Wellnutrin would help or not.

Psychiatric medications are for real psychiatric disorders not disordered finances, dysfunctional relationships and lack of a work life balance.

[Tweetcher]

Originally Posted by cocoabeans

Obviously not, your poor choices to live beyond your means, have a family you can't afford and over work yourself are not my responsibility.

My point was that drugs won't fix your budget nor help you when your stress is the result of choosing to be spreading yourself too thin and came only after you asked for advice about whether Wellnutrin would help or not.

Psychiatric medications are for real psychiatric disorders not disordered finances, dysfunctional relationships and lack of a work life balance.

If my poor choices include my husband (who was the primary source of income at the time) getting laid off and me taking whatever job I can in addition to the job I already had until he can find another then I guess you're right ... Thanks for all the advice and support.