Anyone experience severe side effects increasing Bupronion dosage.

Posted by xede @xede, Jun 13 6:32pm

Have taken SSRIs for 34 years. Suffer from RLS, Restless leg syndrome which I believe is a result of long term SSRI use. I have also been diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome. PCP suggested a change to Bupronion, starting with 150mg daily. After a few months she has increased the dose to 300mg daily, still maintaining low dose SSRI (?) The effect is awful : Extreme fatigue, zero motivation, insomnia, balance issues. Interested to know if anyone else has had this experience. Thank you for " listening"

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I take 100 mg of Wellbutrin w 20 mg Viibryd…Wellbutrin alone makes me agitated/wired.

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@lindabp

I have been on and off bupropion for years, was not able to take other antidepressants I tried (I’m now 80 so I’ve had depression most of my adult life). I’ve been on 300 mg for some time. Periodically I feel very agitated and still depressed- discussed changing w my provider but based on my history she thinks I should stay w this. I have found that different generics affect me greatly and have found a small private pharmacy that will continue to order the one generic that seems to work best. CVS/Walgreens etc only gets what the company orders in bulk. I hate this whole thing and sometimes think I might have been better off not to be on any but I think my system has adapted to needing it. Withdrawal is VERY scary and agitating for me even gradually. And I do think it affects my heart rate. Since I have AFib and other heart issues I worry it affects that. I do believe that Years on antidepressants affect your brain chemistry. I feel too old and have other health issues so I just bumble along. (Wow. That sure sounds like I’m depressed doesn’t it?). Very few practitioners in my area and mental health services almost a joke!

Jump to this post

Having had a Lyme tick bite in NY in 1979 and went undiagnosed for 12 yrs, it was necessary to find an antidepressant that helped with the relentless symptoms that by the time I was diagnosed the bacteria had become a full fledge cornucopia of systemic pain and ongoing symptoms I was given trintellex and it was like magic. I went off it gradually as Lyme symptoms lessened with more abx and I thought I was out of the woods. Not so - then onto Wellbutrin genetic. Did absolutely nothing and I persisted for months. Why must we subject ourselves to less than effective meds when clearly they don’t have answers for the originating symptoms in my and perhaps your case? My daughter is a clear cut case of severe mental illness and she’s been given meds that have made her delirious. I don’t think we have a medical establishment that to this day will admit they are “handicapped”. We are pumped full of pills in an effort to quiet us down, hopefully resolve a host of problems yet we continue to suffer from either true clinical or even mood disorders such as mine which is an originating bacterial bite from a tick that still is not recognized by the medical Profession? We are severely under the ongoing presence of doctors who clearly do not know how to listen and prescribe.

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I did notice racing thoughts left , little calmer but no motivation or energy , 150 ml and then added 5 m Lexepro
While in 4-6 mo of burpropion I lost tons of hair
Hadn’t really taken notice , then each night while brushing I’d get a handful of hair . Was only on the added L for a few weeks
Decided to wean off both in two wk period
Within a month or so shedding hair was getting less
I now am on nothing
Hair is back to normal ( research this , some people hair doesn’t grow back ) it’s says possibly but rare
I’ve read so many testimonies that say exactly what I experienced

This might sound CRAZY but I needed to lose weight
I started intermittent fasting
Only on day 10
I do 16/8
8 hrs I eat but I try not to go crazy , still can have anything but I’m still trying more healthy

That fasting time does wonders for your body and your mind , I wasn’t even coming out of my room most days and since I started this , I have energy , motivation , less arthritis pain , I have IBS it’s not there seriously

I’ve read several articles on what the does for you , you’d never think it would but makes total sense .
To me ( OMO) it’s been a life changer !

The pills lightened my thoughts a little but I was constantly tired , fatigued, joints hurt like fibromyalgia and of course the deciding factor was hair loss !

I wish you ALL success and feeling better with whatever works for you … it just KEPT me in that spot .

REPLY
@lindabp

I have been on and off bupropion for years, was not able to take other antidepressants I tried (I’m now 80 so I’ve had depression most of my adult life). I’ve been on 300 mg for some time. Periodically I feel very agitated and still depressed- discussed changing w my provider but based on my history she thinks I should stay w this. I have found that different generics affect me greatly and have found a small private pharmacy that will continue to order the one generic that seems to work best. CVS/Walgreens etc only gets what the company orders in bulk. I hate this whole thing and sometimes think I might have been better off not to be on any but I think my system has adapted to needing it. Withdrawal is VERY scary and agitating for me even gradually. And I do think it affects my heart rate. Since I have AFib and other heart issues I worry it affects that. I do believe that Years on antidepressants affect your brain chemistry. I feel too old and have other health issues so I just bumble along. (Wow. That sure sounds like I’m depressed doesn’t it?). Very few practitioners in my area and mental health services almost a joke!

Jump to this post

Linda I believe the 300mg affected my heart rate as well and it was pretty scary, stayed up most of the night for a few nights to monitor it. I understand the bumbling along due to needing many other medications at my age but will get into my big girl pants and try and deal with this! Another scary reported side effect is hair loss, pure vanity but that I cannot afford. Thank you for your thoughts, I wish you well.

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@justjudy

I did notice racing thoughts left , little calmer but no motivation or energy , 150 ml and then added 5 m Lexepro
While in 4-6 mo of burpropion I lost tons of hair
Hadn’t really taken notice , then each night while brushing I’d get a handful of hair . Was only on the added L for a few weeks
Decided to wean off both in two wk period
Within a month or so shedding hair was getting less
I now am on nothing
Hair is back to normal ( research this , some people hair doesn’t grow back ) it’s says possibly but rare
I’ve read so many testimonies that say exactly what I experienced

This might sound CRAZY but I needed to lose weight
I started intermittent fasting
Only on day 10
I do 16/8
8 hrs I eat but I try not to go crazy , still can have anything but I’m still trying more healthy

That fasting time does wonders for your body and your mind , I wasn’t even coming out of my room most days and since I started this , I have energy , motivation , less arthritis pain , I have IBS it’s not there seriously

I’ve read several articles on what the does for you , you’d never think it would but makes total sense .
To me ( OMO) it’s been a life changer !

The pills lightened my thoughts a little but I was constantly tired , fatigued, joints hurt like fibromyalgia and of course the deciding factor was hair loss !

I wish you ALL success and feeling better with whatever works for you … it just KEPT me in that spot .

Jump to this post

Hair loss is supposed to be a very rare side effect but one that scared me silly as I am already dealing with medication induced thinning hair so I am with you there, it may be the deciding factor. I am so tempted to just stop taking anti depressants but .....
Good luck with you intermittent fasting journey, it sounds as if it has many benefits apart from the weight aspect.

REPLY
@sueborfl

Having had a Lyme tick bite in NY in 1979 and went undiagnosed for 12 yrs, it was necessary to find an antidepressant that helped with the relentless symptoms that by the time I was diagnosed the bacteria had become a full fledge cornucopia of systemic pain and ongoing symptoms I was given trintellex and it was like magic. I went off it gradually as Lyme symptoms lessened with more abx and I thought I was out of the woods. Not so - then onto Wellbutrin genetic. Did absolutely nothing and I persisted for months. Why must we subject ourselves to less than effective meds when clearly they don’t have answers for the originating symptoms in my and perhaps your case? My daughter is a clear cut case of severe mental illness and she’s been given meds that have made her delirious. I don’t think we have a medical establishment that to this day will admit they are “handicapped”. We are pumped full of pills in an effort to quiet us down, hopefully resolve a host of problems yet we continue to suffer from either true clinical or even mood disorders such as mine which is an originating bacterial bite from a tick that still is not recognized by the medical Profession? We are severely under the ongoing presence of doctors who clearly do not know how to listen and prescribe.

Jump to this post

Perhaps an ignorant question but is there any merit to going back to Trintellix? Over and miss- prescribing is a huge concern for me, my sister is a walking pill box at this stage either in zombie mode or manic. I do find a huge difference between the USA and other countries as far as medication is concerned. Far more conservative elsewhere but then that has it's own set of issues. I wish you well and hope you find the common sense help that you need.

REPLY
@xede

Perhaps an ignorant question but is there any merit to going back to Trintellix? Over and miss- prescribing is a huge concern for me, my sister is a walking pill box at this stage either in zombie mode or manic. I do find a huge difference between the USA and other countries as far as medication is concerned. Far more conservative elsewhere but then that has it's own set of issues. I wish you well and hope you find the common sense help that you need.

Jump to this post

Cost. It went from a reasonable $40.00 per month to 349.00 more or less when my husband entered a senior plan in his insurance company. There’s just so many ways one can split the pie….
I’ve tried others when we lost a daughter in 1994 when we lost our our youngest daughter in a car crash. None worked and only caused more agitation.

REPLY
@sueborfl

Cost. It went from a reasonable $40.00 per month to 349.00 more or less when my husband entered a senior plan in his insurance company. There’s just so many ways one can split the pie….
I’ve tried others when we lost a daughter in 1994 when we lost our our youngest daughter in a car crash. None worked and only caused more agitation.

Jump to this post

An indescribable loss for your family. The cost increase is wicked considering your need. I do wish the powers that be come to grips with this highway robbery in the pharmaceutical business. Best wishes to you.

REPLY
@sueborfl

Cost. It went from a reasonable $40.00 per month to 349.00 more or less when my husband entered a senior plan in his insurance company. There’s just so many ways one can split the pie….
I’ve tried others when we lost a daughter in 1994 when we lost our our youngest daughter in a car crash. None worked and only caused more agitation.

Jump to this post

@sueborfl
If dealing with cost problem, check out GoodRx or one of the other discount sites for coupon. I am on Medicare with drug plan and I use the coupon instead of insurance. Last time filled for Wellbutrin I paid around $25 for 90 day supply.

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Thank you - I have, however it still doesn’t reduce enough to fit other medical demands. My husband is on multiple chronic heart disease and COPD meds and I have my Lyme meds. It’s a quandary. But thx for offering suggestions. Trintellex is still brand name. That also makes a difference unless I’m told differently.

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