[angelicgoldfish05]

Hi all, I'm thinking about going to get back on wellbutrin again tomorrow. It has been several years (ok, like 10 years at least) since I've been on it, but I recall it being very effective for antidepression. I can't remember how long it takes for it to work (maybe it is 4 weeks?) and I also don't remember what side effects it gave me, if any. I'm wondering if anyone has information or experience about taking Wellbutrin that they would like to share with me. Thank you!

[metamorphosis12]

I do! Are you taking it for depression? and are you taking other meds with it?

[metamorphosis12]

Wellbutrin is obviously different then SSRI's and SNRI's. It is known not to cause sexual side effects or weight gain. It is a NDRI reuptake inhibittor. I have anxiety and moderate to severe depression at times. So it's stimulating side effects can exacberate my SA and GAD but I use it as an adjunct to an anxiolytic med. I can only speak for myself but it has helped immensley with my depression and the somnolence and letargy that comes with it. I take the 300 xl and I would never take the fast release/regular type again. It is just to fast of an inhibitor of my norepinephrine. I get wired and my anxiety( agitation, nervousness) come the forefront. Now on 300xl it works great for my depression. I have been out of it at times and there is a noticeable difference. That isn't the placebo effect. Again I probably couldn't take it without a ant-anxiety med. Also, I make sure I take it in the morning. It's stimulating effects can disrupt my sleep at night. I don't want to make it sound like an amphetamine. For it does not take over DAT and NET attaching and entering the neurons. Then amps will attach to the storage cycling of vmat. Basically flooding the synapse with N.E. and D.A. Though since the formulation of the extended release amps. They are not nearly as aggressive and are released slowly in the brain. Cutting down on the addiction to them to a degree

As a NDRI in its xl form it is a very smooth medication for many. Again depending on the persons physiological makeup and now the emergence of targeting individual genotypes is moving neuropsychiatry forward faster then at a snails pace.
http://www.google.com/patents/US8703191

[angelicgoldfish05]

Originally Posted by metamorphosis12

I do! Are you taking it for depression? and are you taking other meds with it?

Hi Metamorphosis12, thanks for your reply! Yes, I would be taking it for depression (the kind of depression that is of the lacking motivation and tired all the time variety at the moment) and I am currently not on any other meds.

I do drink so I'm not remembering if that is ok with this med or no. Most antidepressants, it is a no-go on mixing with alcohol. But maybe if I were to take the xl form of wellbutrin in the AM, it might still be ok to have a glass of wine after work in the PM, I don't know.

Still trying to work up the nerve to go to the clinic and even try to get the prescription though. Sure hope I can because it seemed to work well for me in the past.

Metamorphosis12, did you start out at 300 mg, or did you work up to that? Thanks again so much for your help

[NowhereUSA]

wellbutrin gives me insomnia and anxiety. but i have a friend that it worked well for.

[angelicgoldfish05]

Originally Posted by NowhereUSA

wellbutrin gives me insomnia and anxiety. but i have a friend that it worked well for.

Nowhere, were you on the xl kind and what mg? Thank you for your reply! I made an appt at the clinic for tomorrow morning. I hope the doc can help and that this is a good med to get back on. I really have no motivation and without motivation I don't want to do anything to help myself get better nd do things that would help, like probably things that would make me feel better or that I used to do no problem, or used to enjoy. It is classic depression, it just doesn't go away or lift. At least I am not suicidal anymore, that was hard and if that can go away, maybe the depression can also with the right med. New t didn't say anything about medication, he is believing meditation is the answer for it and the cure. I don't know how because that sounds an awful lot like being able to "think" yourself out of being depressed. And if you have a chemical imbalance, I don't care what thoughts you try, it is not going to go away.

Thanks for your reply Nowhere, I wish I had something for you for helping your depression. Here is a hug if you want it

[metamorphosis12]

Originally Posted by angelicgoldfish05

Hi Metamorphosis12, thanks for your reply! Yes, I would be taking it for depression (the kind of depression that is of the lacking motivation and tired all the time variety at the moment) and I am currently not on any other meds.

I do drink so I'm not remembering if that is ok with this med or no. Most antidepressants, it is a no-go on mixing with alcohol. But maybe if I were to take the xl form of wellbutrin in the AM, it might still be ok to have a glass of wine after work in the PM, I don't know.

Still trying to work up the nerve to go to the clinic and even try to get the prescription though. Sure hope I can because it seemed to work well for me in the past.

Metamorphosis12, did you start out at 300 mg, or did you work up to that? Thanks again so much for your help

I started at 150mg xl. Then after about two weeks went up to 300mg xl That is the ceiling for Wellbutrin. The key to avoiding insomnia is make sure you take the xl and take it early in the morning not at noon or 1pm ,of course it is very important for people with sleep issues in that regard especially. It will definitely help your lethargy and help with energy . As it is a Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Which is a stimulating neurotransmitter. Also it doesn't affect your appetite and doesn't cause sexual dysfunctions like the SSRI's, SNRI's and other classes of psych meds. do unless you have a rare paradoxical effect.

Drinking a glass or two of wine or beer at night should be fine.
If someone drinks large quantities of alcohol. It will basically negate any benefits from the antidepressant meds and most psychotropic meds that are prescribed.

Why are you worried about the clinic? Do you think they will deny you the medication?

Results of multivariate analyses adjusted for age, gender, and index date support the univariate analyses. Because better persistence and adherence may be associated with less likelihood of relapse and lower depression-associated health care utilization and economic burden, health care providers should consider the potential benefits of initiating treatment with bupropion XL for bupropion candidates and for switching bupropion SR recipients to treatment with bupropion XL.

Persistence with once-daily versus twice-d... [Am J Ther. 2007 May-Jun] - PubMed - NCBI

Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of extended-release bupropion (bupropion XL) in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) with prominent symptoms of decreased energy, pleasure, and interest.

Conclusion:Bupropion XL was effective and well tolerated in MDD patients with decreased energy, pleasure, and interest.

From this abstract:
Extended-release bupropion for patients wi... [J Clin Psychiatry. 2006] - PubMed - NCBI

The full text:

J Clin Psychiatry / Document Archive