... experiencing the most horrible side effects. It wasn't 30 minutes after I took it, I became so dizzy I couldn't get up. I have been sick to my stomach, can't eat or sleep, in a complete daze, can't remember anything, don't want to talk to anyone or do anything really. My mouth is dry, my jaws hurt from clenching them, and my ears won't stop ringing. It feels like I'm on speed and I hate it. I have a very fast heartbeat that is controlled with a beta blocker my heart still races on this. Also, I wasn't depressed before and I think it's making me depressed. It seems to be making the anxiety worse too. I know it takes time for meds to work right but I don't know how much more I can take. I can't focus or remember anything at work and I'm afraid I'm going to lose my job if it doesn't go away. I stopped taking it 2 times a day and only take it when I first get up. But the effects last all day. I have called my doctor about it but they haven't called back yet. Should I wait it out and see what happens or should I stop taking it? I have taken these types of meds before and don't ever remember feeling this bad. Please help! I feel like I'm dying!
I was prescribed bupropion SR 150mg 2X daily (Generic for Wellbutrin) a week ago for anxiety. I am?
Question posted by jenn109420 on 27 May 2011
Last updated on 17 April 2023
8 Answers
you are not dying. Hang in there. The feelings you have are normal. At least for me that's how it was at first. I felt worst than what I had wich was a bad depression. The feelings lasted about 2 weeks them gradually subsided. Then I got my life back. Hope all is well for you now.
i have been on the same thing for a week now and it made things worse for me to . to the point where my wife is ready to leave me it's that bad . i was on larizapan for about a month 2 years ago for the same thing and it realy helped . with this med im afrade to leave my house or do anything and thats not me i have high blood presher to so thats probly not helping .
sounds like you jumped in too quickly. im starting out with one 150 every OTHER day for a week, then one 150 daily for two weeks before progressing to 300 per day. i'm only at the end of my first week so i can't say much about its effectiveness but im sure not experiencing any ill effects [yet].
Hi jenn, i am experiencing the same exact side effects but i am on 300mg xl once a day now for 3 weeks. I am still being told this will level out, but i cant take it either i also think i am going to lose my job. Please tell me how u have progressed?? Have you got better? I really do wish u the best and please keepnme posted
I had to quit taking it. I gave it almost 2 weeks and I just couldn't take it anymore. I have never felt so horrible in my life and as soon as I stopped taking it, I felt great. No side effects at all from stopping it. And my beta blockers started working again as soon as I stopped the wellbutrin. The funny thing about it is that I began calling my doctor about my symptoms 4 days into it and my doctor JUST NOW called back Friday. (a month later) I told them I stopped taking it and they actually said they were happy I did. (That could be because it was aggravating my heart problems). It may work for some people but I would definitely not recommend it for anxiety or anyone with heart problems. It just makes them worse. So far, the best thing I've ever taken for a daily anxiety remedy was Cymbalta. Xanax, Klonipin, and Valium are good for sudden symptoms but the side effects can be overwhelming if you're at work. Call your doctor as many times as you have to and let them know what's going on but if your feeling as bad as I was, stop taking it now.
Hi jenn109,
Drugs.com recommends adding details with questions(specific details help responders understand your problem more,and they'll give you more benefitial answers!!If you don't mind answering these questions:1.Did you tell your doc about your great suffering from the side effects of bupropion when he added the 2dose?There was no way that he would have done so!2.Have you had been through bad experiences such as 'speed abuse',for you mentioned if I'm not wrong the'feeling like'?3.Why did they take you off Cymbalta and what was it for?And is there any meds you are on now other than what you stated?Please don't take my questions personal or think them as interrogations;they're simply innocent ones,your answers can help others answer you.Remember,no matter what weekends or holidays Emergency help is always 24hrs..ace_rick
So this is why I have ringing in my ears so bad.. Well button SR 150 twice A-day
Almost all of what you are describing are side effects of the drug. This is probably not the right drug for you. It is the holiday weekend so you may have trouble getting a hold of the Drs office. They often close early on Fridays before holiday weekends if they can. You have only been on it a week so I dont think you will have a problem just stopping the medicine if you want to. You can then contact the office on Tuesday and let them know you cant tolerate the side effects. If you can tolerate one pill a day you could go that route too. Whichever you feel most comfortable with. This medicine can sometimes increase depression or cause depression in people who never had depression especially if you are teenaged or a young adult. It can also aggravate tachycardia or rapid heart rate, clenching your jaw is also a side effect. If it were me I'd probably just stop taking it but you do what you feel is best for you. There are a lot of other medicines out there.
There is no sense in taking something that makes you feel worse than you already feel! Be sure you contact the Drs office as soon as possible next week after the holiday. Have a good weekend and I hope you feel better soon!
I am 27 and can usually tolerate side effects to these medicines well but not in this case. And unfortunately with it being the holiday weekend, you're right about the doctor's office. The only reason I am having 2nd thoughts about stopping it completely is that it has helped with smoking which is great. But I'm not sure if it's worth everything else I'm going through. Hopefully, I will hear from the doctor before they close today. Thanks for your help and have a great weekend as well!
Well, only you can decide if it is worth it or not! You have to be the one to decide if the side effects are worth putting up with. I dont think at this point it will hurt you to stop it as you have only been on it a week or so.
Ok... well MY question is... dont the side effect DECREASE over time?? Im having the same reaction, but only been on em for 2 days.
I have depression and anxiety, and I take generic Wellbuetin to great effect. Perhaps you need to tell your doctor to prescribe Wellbuetin - not the generic.
that medication is one of the worst for anxiety it actually causes it i took it it did me like you i felt terrible and wired up,scared to go out,have you asked your doc abou a low dose of xanax or klonipini take well both i take klonipin mainly for seizures xanax is mainly for anxiety.im not saying stay on them foreverbut until you find antidepressant that can help with anxiety ,lexapro is a good one.anyway i hope you find the right one if you have another question im here my name is james.
Hi James,
I haven't been able to get ahold of my doctor yet. And because of the holiday weekend, I will probably not here from him until Tuesday. I used to take Xanax and Klonipin, but these were prescribed by a different doctor. My current doctor had me on Cymbalta a few months ago and I loved it. He took me off because he was going to start me on Chantix to quit smoking. Never began the Chantix and haven't been on any meds besides my heart pills until now. I have been on quite a few anti depressants in the past and none of them made me feel this bad. And I'm pretty sure it has made the anxiety a lot worse than it was to begin with. If he insists that I stay on this medicine, I will ask him about the xanax or klonipin to help with the anxiety. Thanks for your help!
So he probably put you on the Wellbutrin hoping it would help you stop smoking as it is sometimes prescribed for smoking cessation too. I dont like to see people with anxiety using Xanax or klonipin as they are very addictive and can actually exacerbate anxiety when you are not taking them. Kind of a rebound anxiety effect and that is what ends up getting you hooked on them. If Cymbalta worked well I'm not sure why he took you off. There are a lot of other meds out there.
Hi Jenn and everyone,
I've just got to agree with James on this! Wellbutrin (or so I was told by one of the top shrinks in my state) is one of the worse antidepressants for people with anxiety issues. I took it for a few days, and the panic attacks were so horrid I couldn't function.
Keep calling that doc Jenn, and as James said, a benzo may help out until this stuff is out of your system. I do have a good friend that takes Wellbutrin, and he has anxiety attacks, and is doing great on it, so maybe a lower dose is best, like Laurie suggested.
Best wishes to you,
Hey jenn,
It is unusual that the doctor started you on that high of a dose to begin with. Usually started at one 150mg pill a day, then after a couple of weeks increasing to two pills a day. Incidently, I take both of mine in the am with breakfast. You are definitely not responding well to this med. You really need to talk to the doctor though. I can't prescribe medication but I will tell you what I would do. I would stay at the one pill a day until you here from the doctor. If it is beyond manageable then discontinue. I am not a doctor, just speaking from my own experience.
Best wishes,
Laurie
Laurie he actually did start me out on one a day for the first 3 days and then on the 4th day he told me to take 2. I feel horrible. I think I will continue to take one a day until I hear from him but because of the holiday weekend, I won't hear anything until Tuesday. I'll do my best to make it that long. Thanks for your help.
jenn i think youu need to wait dont evr just stop taking without talking to ur doc,but like i said they usually dont put people with anxiety on wellbutrin it causes it it kinda speeds u up well it did me.but you definatly need to get off it in my opinon it is a terrible drug,lexapro,or pristiq they both are good drugs for anxiety,but i think he should put u on low dose of xanax or klonipin until you find one that starts helping
I can only tell you how my doctor did it with me. He kept me at the 1 pill a day for two weeks until he was sure I was ok with it. Since you haven't been on it that long you can discontinue but again I would try the one pill a day in the morning and see what happens over the weekend.
Hey Jenn,
I made a mistake for which I am very sorry. I said I take both of my pills in the am which I do but mine is XL rather than the SR that you are taking. DO NOT take the SR at the same time in the morning but stick to the divided dose if you continue taking them both, ok?
Related topics
wellbutrin, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bupropion, side effect
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