I am supposed to be starting out at 100 mg for first few days and increase to 200 mg if well tolerated. I ended up breaking the pills in half and only taking 50 mg for first two days because I am terrified of having a seizure. I am already feeling side effects on this low dose, jittery, tremors, restlessness but feel tired at the same time. Is this normal? Also, is anyone taking this as a migraine preventive? That is why I am taking it as well as being depressed.
Has anybody experienced seizures with bupropion (wellbutrin)?
Question posted by arcahigas on 6 Dec 2013
Last updated on 20 March 2024
35 Answers Page 3
I have had a seizure while taking it. And I've heard of two other people (one a good friend) also had seizures while on it. I have since stopped using it.
Wellbutrin is a dangerous drug. I took it for two weeks and had three seizures and ended up in the ER. The neurologist says I can't drive for 6 months and I just finished my nursing degree and am looking for a job. No one should ever take Wellbutrin, it is not worth the risk!
Wellbutrin is a dangerous drug. I took it for two weeks and had three seizures and ended up in the ER. The neurologist says I can't drive for 6 months and I just finished my nursing degree and am looking for a job. No one should ever take Wellbutrin, it is not worth the risk!
Ive been taking it for the past 2 weeks. On this past monday i woke up to a paramedic standing over me. I had a seizure... I never had seizures in my life.. How do i quit this drug safely?
It's horrible! My daughter graduated from college and two weeks later had a seizure. No driving for her now and self esteem is gone.
Can this drug cause long term seizure activity in the brain even if the person has been off for over a month. The EEG came back abnormal.
I had one 7/31/17. 2 weeks prior to the seizure, my doctor increased my dose from 300 to 450mg XL daily. I am down to 150mg and am still contemplating going off of it completely.
I had a seizure last week after being on it a year. My doctors in the emergency room told me to wean off of it and be put on something else. I can't drive for 6 months either and I just got a new car! It really made me upset.
I just had seizures this past weekend. If I had been by myself, I never would have known that I had the seizures. Confusion and lost hours culminated in 2 seizures for me this past weekend. I've been on Wellbutrin 300mg for about 2 months. Two years ago I wrecked my car and looking back at the symptoms I think I had a seizure back then as well.
I've had the brain zaps with withdrawal from other medicines so I don't know if that was a precursor to seizures and I just didn't know it.
I'm writing this so anyone out there looking knows that it is a serious risk and to take the side effects of the drugs they are on seriously.
I have been on welbutrin for 4 years at a higher dose, 450Mg and have not had any seizures, as I understand the higher the dose the more apt you are to experience this. I am on it for depression. Don't let reported side affects make your scared, there are more Success stories than there are negative. Good luck I hope this helped
:^)
I just had a seizure from Wellbutrin. I've been on it for a while and started taking my entire dose at once (300mg). I lost some weight recently and that may have contributed. Super scary and now I can't drive for 6 months--I stopped taking it immediately after this.
i was on Wellbutrin for over 3 years and was fine. Then started having massive seizures for several years. i decided to wane Wellbutrin and gradually got better. it is really scary,. someone really needs to find out more about this med and to find out for certain how & if it really causes an epileptic seizure. after 2 seizure, they call it an epileptic seizure. i thought my life was over...
I have been taking Wellbutrin for 2 years and they recently raised my dose to the 300 mg Wellbutrin XL. I just had a major Gran Mal Seizure this past Tuesday that had a spasm period lasting over 5 minutes and loss of consciousness/major confusion that I don't remember for almost 17 minutes. I was rushed to the ER and the doctors and Neurologist told me to discontinue use completely. I have not had any prior symptoms or causes for having a seizure. Scared the holy hell out of me.
Dear arcahigas,
I understand that the incidence of seizures with Wellbutrin is quite low. I had the same fear but it was unfounded. I took it for years without problems. You're taking a gamble by fooling with the dosage however. If you have no pre-existing seizure disorder, I think you need not worry about this. Wellbutrin is widely and safely prescribed, with generally good results and few side effects, ( including little weight gain.) Good luck to you.
Frenchie
Thank you. I appreciate the responses. Mine are not time released so it is safe for me to break them in half. I did call and talk to the pharmacist and he said it was fine. I'm a little less nervous about taking them now. I didn't want to have to ask for a lower dose. This prescription cost me enough!!
My husband just started wellbutrin on march 29,2016. For depression. He hasno medical problems at all never has. He started out at one 150mg for the first 4 days then he takes two 150mg every morning. After 3 days of taking two 150mg he went into a seizer with no warning signs he was driving down the road lucky I was with him in the passenger seat to stop the vehicle and call 911. The Dr told him to stop taking the wellbutrin. All that was any symptoms of this medication was a burning sensation in his stomach which the Dr told him was normal until his body was used to it. Please be careful when using this medication!
Brittany, is your father taking two 150mg wellbutrin at the same time, in the morning? That is not a normal regimen. Either 150mg SR, the 12-hour release tablet should be taken twice a day, several hours apart. Or 300mg XL, the 24-hour release tablet should be taken in the morning. it sounds like the dosing is incorrect by taking the two 150mg, because of the time-release mechanism, the two are not to be taken at the same time. That probably caused the problem. Have your doctor check his dosage and how it should be taken. It is a great medication when taken properly.
Brittany, I would like to add that I am so sorry your father suffered a seizure. I hope he is doing well now.
It was my husband and he was taking it just as it says in the bottle. I could show u a pic of what the instructions say on his bottle. I even took it with me to the ER and they confirmed it was taken as directed and his seizure was caused from the medication.
Oh my goodness... that's terrible! I'm so sorry you and he had to go through such a horrible experience. It had to be so frightening. I will take it into consideration now myself. Thank you. "G"
Your welcome. Everyone's body is different and reacts to things differently. I am just posting to make people aware of the experience my husband had. The risk is not worth it. I think they should make a warning label that says "can cause seizures".
Yes, I totally agree with you. I wonder why they haven't been made to put that warning on the box. FDA is usually so particular about that sort of thing when it comes to these meds. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. "G"
I had a grand mal seizure this morning (fell, lost consciousness, convulsed on floor with eyes rolled back in my head then my face went super pale and I made a gurgling sound. I'm at 1 300mg time released a day. I accidentally took another dosage too soon a couple times (I'm moving and also take a few other meds including lorazepam so I Must have gotten mixed up and upped the Wellbutrin dosage and time while taking the lorazepam with too much time in between the latter is short acting and the former is time released so I'm guessing this is what happened as I have no seizure disorder - now I can't remember anything slowly some is coming back to me but I didn't remember where I lived or the month or year my kids ages it was awful. I believe my. Shrink said 2 of his patients had A seizure over 300 mg now he has 3
Oh yes I was lucky my friend was there helping me pack he called 911 becuz he thought I was dead but he caught me and also answered all my questions about what happened and other things pre seizure things I have no recollection of) my 2 kids were both asleep they are 7 years old and 20 months old I can only imagine what would have happened were he not here; I refused to go with the paramedics tho; had to sign something that it went against their advice etc. They thought electrolytes but once they were gone we found my tin of medications and when I was told Wellbutrin I remembered what my shrink said about the seizures. After reading all these accounts from others I think I should ask my friend to come back ASAP as I am Single mom here alone with my kids he was coming back to help me pack and move anyways but a lot of people seem to have a seizure a few hours later
I Have Never Taken Wellbutrin For Migraines But I Have Used Many Different Antidepressant For Preventive. If You Are Having To Many Side Effects Talk To Your Dr About Switching You To Something Else. If You Want To Stick It Out You Might Be Able To Reduce Some Of The Tiredness If You Take It Before Bed. I Personally Take Topamax Now And I Also TAke Limbatrol. Hope This Helped Some... Sorry About All The Caps My Phone Is Going Crazy :)
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I'm thinking I'm going to give it a little more time as this is the fourth or fifth antidepressant I've tried. I was on amitriptyline and it worked fairly well but caused hair loss and weight gain. I'm just really nervous about the possibility of seizures with the bupropion. The others I've tried were prozac, celexa and lexapro. Those weren't beneficial at all.
I Have Taken Celexa And Lexapro Also. Sadly When It Comes To Migraines There Is A Lot Of Trial And Error Until You Find What Works For You. The Side Effects Should Go Away After About A Week Or 2 I Know Seizures Are A Risk But It Does Not Mean You Will Have Them. One More Thing I Don't Think You Are Suppose To Break Them In HalF It Could Affect How They Are Absorbed. They Come In 50Mg Tabs If That's What You Want To Start With Call Your Dr. He Should Have No Problem Calling In A Lower Dose For You. Hope You Get To Feeling Better!
It probably depends on the dosage BUT, I had a seizure on 300mg of Wellbutrin XR. I was extremely foggy minded and was only on that dosage about 2 months before I had my seizure.
I was diagnosed bipolar 2 and was prescribed Lamactil (anti convulsant and for bipolar) and Prozac as well as Valium.
In short, be very careful with this drug. I also had a seizure on Pristiq, so some people may be more prone than others to seizures.
Hi. I just started taking 150mg Wellbutrin (bupropion) too. This is my 6th day. I have not had jitters but I feel like I am floating sometimes. Not in a bad way. Very mellow. So I guess it affects different people in different ways. My Dr. is slowly switching me from Effexor to bupropion. I hope all goes well for you. Keep us posted.
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wellbutrin, seizures, migraine prevention, bupropion
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