Wellbutrin - Why do I succeed on such a small dose.

I take 75 mg. of instant release Wellbutrin daily and it seems to do the trick for me. I understand that 300 mg. is the "recommended" dose. I have tried increasing my dosages in the past and it hasn't worked out. Anyone else taking a small dosage?

Sally

Hi Sally,

Welcome to the forums! I think that's great that you can benefit from a lower dose. Everyone's different, so meds effect everyone differently. I don't think I'd worry about it, though. And whatever you do, do not increase your dosage without your doctor's consent. If it's working for you where it's at, I'd leave it at that dosage.

Take care,

splash

The way I look at it, the lower the effective dose the better. I wish I didn't need such high dosages. Lord knows what affect it will have long term in my body. I prefer not to dwell on it though.
Zen<font color=blue>

Progress is nothing but the victory of laughter over dogma.--Benjamin De Casseres

Hey, maybe the long term effect of all these psych.drugs on all of us will be of an "anti-aging" nature, now wouldn't that be something??? ha!ha! (forever young) I know, bad humor again just thought I'd my 2 cents, take care now.
"darkeyes"

I recently went down on Wellbutrin--from the "normal" 300mg dose to the new 200mg dose--
I really wouldn't worry--about being on a small dose--
I hadn't heard of people being on the instant release instead of the timed release
I think that they are very different---so I guess you really can't compare the two types
well take care and I hope every thing works out for you
moonlight

<font color=purple> Whatever you can do, or believe you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Goethe </font color=purple>

Hey Darkeyes,
That is what I am counting on all the food preservatives to do. Surely if they can make a box of cereal stay on the shelf for 3 years and still taste good they must be able to make me stay on the shelf a little bit longer. Right?
Zen<font color=blue>

"Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers."--Tennyson

Sally,

I read your post last night and called a friend who is also on a 75mg dose and has been for 2 months. He says it's been working great and he and his pdoc have no plans to increase at this time. The recommended dose is 300, and I have heard of some going as high as 400 a day. But the way I see it, the fewer chemicals you can put in your body the better. I was on WB a few years ago at 150mgs, but it stopped working for me and I had to move on to something else. Everyone's body is different and this may just be the ideal dose for you. Hopefully when Cam sees this he can give you a better explanation of what's happening with you. He works some pretty strange hours these days and can only check in every 3 or 4 days or so.

Good luck with the WB and welcome to the forums!

bptoo

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was
'committed'."

BP2:

Thanks for your reply and welcome.

Oh no! Wellbutrin stopped working? What's up with that? How long were you on Wellbutrin before it stopped "working" - what happened? Did you get depressed again? Is that why you were taking the Wellbutrin?

Cool about your friend. He and I are probably the ONLY two that do so well on not much meds. Yea, you are right, the less chemicals the better.

Thanks again.

Sally

Sally,

Med "poop-out" isn't uncommon for some people. But that doesn't mean it's going to happen to you so you shouldn't worry. I was on it for about 8 weeks before it stopped working. I didn't get real depressed, but I could definitely tell it had lost it's effect. I have Bipolar II disorder and WB probably wasn't the most ideal med for me anyway. I take Zyprexa (anti-psychotic) and Topamax (mood stabilizer) now (for about two years) and they work great.

I hope you can stay on a low dose. Maybe someday you wont need it at all, now that would be a success story!

bp

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was
'committed'."

BP:

THANK YOU for your reply. Poop out after 8 weeks. Okay, whew, I don't have to worry. I have been on Wellbutrin this time for a few months already.

I hope to one day stop medication; however, really feel inside that I will always need a small amount of something. I know I have chemicals in my brain that are not in harmony. It's a trip, I take only the Wellbutrin, I have valium (which I don't like) as a backup, but don't want to take it because of the addiction issues. I feel more fortuante all the time getting relief from such a small dosage of meds.

Thanks again for your reply and, yes, I feel at ease now that my meds. won't poop!

Regards,

Sally

acorn711 if you do experience "poop" out don't despair, if this is any consolation to you there is a whole lot more good meds out there that also may be of help to you, depending on what they are being prescribed to you for. Years ago I had, Zoloft, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Remeron, etc. naturally not all at the same time and from trial and error Celexa seem to have worked out the best so far, so don't get too discouraged if "poop" out does occur, in other words don't give up. I hope we have all been of some help to you and that you will drop by from time to time and say "hi" and let us know how you are making out.
Take care now,
"darkeyes"

Hi Dark:

I feel like my meds.. pooped out today. I am really down, and, then I came back to this room and saw your post. Thank you for your kind wishes and support. I feel very alone and sad and being noticed and someone caring enough to post to me means a lot.

I am going to let things ride for awhile with my current dosage and not get discouraged because of this bad day I am experiencing.

I want to become an active member in this forum because people in here can RELATE to my pain, which those who don't suffer from depression don't understand.

G-d bless you and everyone else involved in this Forum.

Warmest regards,

Sally Z.

Sally,

It's not uncommon to have an off day or two on any med, I have them on mine. Try not to get too upset over this. It could be that even just talking about this has had a subliminal effect on you, seriously. And remember, you have a lot of room to increase the dose if it becomes necessary.

And as Lady "eyes" said, there are a world of meds that await you, exciting isn't it?

Hang in there and keep talking,
bp

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was
'committed'."

I understand depression all too well, unfortunately, 2 almost 3 years ago a marital thing triggered me into being diagnosed as Bipolar II (mild), previous to that I just use to get bouts of depression which my family doc would try antidepressants with me and they'd work and then I would no longer need them, it was always during times like moves or deaths in the family, reactive depressions. Now my life has been stable and I am happy with things and how they've worked out but still have dark times and psychiatrist says that is due to being bipolar, the depressive side of this illness is a *****! I still take meds, in fact we just switched again with hope we'll hit directly on the depression cause I really do not have manic episodes, the most ever consisted of not sleeping and obsessions with hobbies and shopping, never violence like you'd find in Bipolar I . I can tell you depression is rough, but hang tough, stay close to your therapists and doctors, never try to cure yourself if the depression lasts more than 2 weeks and 2 weeks if that is mild if it is intense get your butt to the doc, okay? I could tell you more but I'd be here all night, you don't want to hear about suicide and all that crap, and don't even consider that show either, promise? Always feel free to come here and talk to us, especially if you are feeling down, come to the Depression section or General, unless it is a Drug related conversation then come here. Try to relax, time is your best friend though at times it seems like an enemy when your down, but there are times now I look back and I'm happy I stuck it out, cause I am here today to talk about it
Take care,
"hugs to you"
"darkeyes"

BPTOO:

Ahhhhh, glad to hear your comment about a "bad" day here and there........I am feeling worlds better today. Yes, maybe some of yesterday's feelings were subliminal because of the topic. Although I am still feeling depressed, it's not the same. This Forum is a positive thing for me and I feel a part of something. Thanks for your replies everyone, and I hope in the future to help you too with what I know and have experienced.

DARK:

Thank you for sharing your history and experience with me. Yea, I know about the suicide thing. I tried at 12, I swollowed 100 aspirins. Hospital was shocked that I survived. I know I survived to somehow give back to the world. Depression can trigger Bipolar? Ugh. So, you are on meds. now successfully?

Thanks everyone for caring.

Sally

Don't forget that everybody experiences highs and lows even those supposedly "normal" people out there (who I think are just a charectors in a folktale). It is the affect it has over a period of time. If you feel rotten for a day or two it is no big deal other then feelling sh**y.
Take care,
Zen<font color=blue>

"Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers."--Tennyson

Hi Sally...I take twice a day 2 75mg but originally to help quit smoking. Along with the patch, I have been smoke free for several months. I think I have had a slight depression problem my whole life, (I am 75) and since taking the generic brand of Wellbutrin, I do not have these mood swings.
Camd

Sally, I take 100 mg of the SR Wellbutrin and it is enough for me. At one time I took 300 mg, then decreased to 150 mg, then to 100. I tried to quit completely for 3 months, but had trouble, so went back to 100 mg. Originally, I was supposed to take the 100 mg in the AM, but I take it right before bed, and yet it is still helpful.

When I was 19 I also over dosed on unbuffered aspirin. Took a couple hundred. Woke up in really bad shape and almost didn't make it.

My pdoc just started me on wellbutrin SR 200 mg a day. Hoping it pulls me out of my funk.

I have been on Wellbutrin for 1 week. I take SR 150mg before my breakfast. I am feeling like my balance is hampered and feel spaced out. I am tired and after 1 hr nap after lunch I feel much better. I was wondering if anyone took this before bedtime. I also take Trazadone before bed. Any suggestions? Thanks so much.

I just started 75mg myself. ONCE a day in the morning. The 150xl was way to much for me.

Just curious.... are u still taking this? I just started.