A month in on bupropion, tremors still? Cause for concern?
Question posted by sirensiren on 29 March 2013
Last updated on 22 December 2017 by rdtanori
I am at the one month mark to the day on Bupropion 300 xl (started much smaller of course) and though most of the side effects have gone away- one has become more prominent- body tremors and a hard (but not rapid) heart beat!
My GP simply says "this stuff has side effects for a while, it may take 2 months to feel the benefits without the side effects". Though I know the obvious thing would be to tell me to see a psychiatrist, I am not covered by insurance to see a psych and it would be out of pocket and extremely expensive. I'd really like feedback so I don't panic!
Typically, later in the day I feel a bit of a "tremble" (tremor) in my upper body and head, and my heart beat seems to be a bit more pronounced to the extend that I feel like my head is bobbing a bit. This used to happen as a result of anxiety to me, but now it's present without anxiety. It's not horrific, but I'd like to know if perhaps this is an indicator or too high or a dose or something truly alarming. My GP is working with my psychologist, but no one here is truly an expert on this drug.
In good news, though it's quite been up and down I feel slightly better now. I am hoping that is an indication this will work for me!
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6 Answers
RD
rdtanori
22 Dec 2017
Hi sirensiren, I have the same side effect. I have had tremors when at rest in my whole body since increasing my dose of bupropion SR from 150mg. to 300 mg. The dosage change was 2 months ago. It seems like when I concentrate and use major muscle groups, the tremor stops. I was worried about EPS, but after doing some research on clinical trials, up to 21% of patients reported tremors, and it is listed as a very common side effect. I feel better knowing that, and I called my provider to report the side effect. I haven't heard back from her yet, but I will post again with an update.
Votes: +1
TE
Teakay
4 Oct 2017
I have the exact same side effects going from 150 to 300 on Wellbutrin. I get shoulder and head shakes and sometimes my back muscles just tense up. It only started when I upped the dose and I'm having insomnia with it too.
Votes: +0
MI
Micahd1995
23 Oct 2017
I had insomnia with Wellbutrin as well, and started taking vistaril with it. My doctor said it should work and a week in it's working WONDERS. It treats insomnia and anxiety. It doesn't make you loopy, or all those other side effect like xanax does, it just relaxes you and makes you kinda sleepy. Reminds me of Benadryl actually!! You should try it.
TO
tom42
26 May 2017
I find I get very slight hand tremors taking 300 mg a day of bupropion SR, but they seem to come on only after drinking a caffein-containing beverage, such as Pepsi. I stopped drinking coffee shortly after starting bupropion 6 months ago.
As a side benefit, I was bothered with occasional visual migraines for years but they have totally stopped since taking bupropion. (I'm taking it for depression). After trying several SSRI type medicines, which didn't help, bupropion is slowly helping to relieve the depression.
Votes: +0
SW
Swisher33
31 March 2013
I was put on Wellbutrin XL for S.A.D and concentration. I would start one thing leave it start another. IN the beginning September I found along with my zoloft it helped a lot concentration wise after being on it till December I have no clue I became lazy didn't want to do anything all day and What really scared me was I could be in mid sentence of a conversation and stop talking and if you asked me go on I couldn't remember WTf I was talking about. Memory loss is a rare but on of the side effects. I told my dr. I am still on my zoloft but he added Effexor.Everyone is different my S.I.L takes Wellbutrin and works wondersfor her. JUST TELL YOUR DR ANY SIDE EFFECT OR FEELING YOU ARE HAVING. BE HONEST DON'T FEEL ASHAMED WE ALL DID NOT ASK FOR THESE ISSUES IT JUST HAPPENS.
Votes: +1
SI
sirensiren
31 March 2013
Thanks Swisher! I am open to combining bupropion with an SSRI if need be, but I am hoping that this medication alone will provide me the tool I need to overcome depression and anxiety. I find that there are lots of weird side effects, but fortunately if you google them, you'll find someone else with that very effect. It stands to reason if hand tremors are common, my upper body tremors are likely related to what causes the hand tremors- I find now that I've avoided caffeine for 2 days they have lessened. I hope that in a month or so I can enjoy moderate amounts of caffeine again!
SW
Swisher33
3 April 2013
I also get hand shaking but I know mine is from severe aniexty. I get very nervous if someone is watching me.I just say I've 40 why is this happening now? For some reason zoloft worked quick and agreed with me everybody is different. Try keeping a log or remember when you start feeling bad so you can tell your Dr. Best Swishes!!
JA
jagry1999
29 March 2013
Sirensiren: Good for you that you are feeling some relief. My sense is that looking at another GP might be advisable. As discribed by you the GP appears to be more focused on pill pushing. Adjusting dosage on your own may not be in your best interest & is not easily done.
Votes: +0
SI
sirensiren
30 March 2013
Thanks! I saw my GP today, and he said that these are fairly normal onset symptoms but if they persist another 3 weeks that we will lower the dose, and that 4 weeks is too soon to tell. I am not deeply disturbed by them, but I do want to know if perhaps it is an indication that 300 xl may be too much for me. I'm a 110 pound female- don't know if that affects things though.
JA
jagry1999
30 March 2013
Bravo sirensiren! Its not an easy battle. You have to keep focused - just as you are.
SI
sirensiren
30 March 2013
Thank you :) Fortunately, with the internet I can realize quickly I'm not alone in weird tremor like symptoms- I am going to avoid coffee until they stop as well. It really helps to hear words of encouragement from people out there, I am hoping the slight relief I've had is an indicator that this is working for me.
JA
jagry1999
30 March 2013
Sirensiren: On your list of stuff to avoid, add tea & soda with caffeine; and of course all booze.
SI
sirensiren
30 March 2013
Thank you, I'm now avoiding all caffeine! Will I ever be able to enjoy coffee again, or is this physical anxiety crap likely temporary during the onset?
JA
jagry1999
30 March 2013
Siren: Its temporary - that's the good news. The bad? Be careful of chocolate also. Bummer. Hmmmm. The good smooth taste of a nice dark chocolate.
SI
sirensiren
31 March 2013
I loooove dark chocolate and would miss it, but not as much as I won't miss my depression! I'm happy to hear the caffeine sensitivity is temporary, why is dark chocolate something bupropion users must avoid?
JA
jagry1999
31 March 2013
siren: your response [love of dark chocolate] is firm scientific proof that you are depressed; not crazy. depression is often ignored by md & victim. chocolate one of the basic food groups [white has been sent here by aliens from venus to confuse us humans]. while dark chocolate is best [i admire your taste] it does have higher caffeine. if you are longing for some coffee; adding milk does not remove any of the caffeine [as i have heard said] - however [here is some good news] the darker the roast the less the caffeine. the roasting discombobulate the caffeine molecules rendering some ineffective; not removing it; just reducing the amount the body could absorb. you know siren - if you were going to pick a disease [if i may suggest] you should have picked split ends. they are easier to fix.
SI
sirensiren
31 March 2013
You're a wealth of knowledge, and you're hilarious jagry- thank you! :)
I am trying out herbal tea as a substitute for my morning coffee. Unfortunately, I cannot find a decaf coffee that is truly void of caffeine.
I am a huge fan of deep dark chocolate, my sister just brought me some from Europe. It's very hard to resist, and I'm thin and could use the extra calories, but I am holding off. I am truly hoping that things will start to get better and this slightttt lift I feel isn't "that's as good as it gets!", I really do not want to combine this with an SSRI or other AD unless truly necessary.
JA
jagry1999
31 March 2013
Siren: Now when you said I'm a wealth of knowledge - is that another way of saying I'm full of it? Hmmm. Imagine that. You know me so quickly. How insightful you are. Must be the result of eating good dark chocolate. One of the major side effects of chocolate is the added wisdom - as you know.
The reason you can't find true decaf coffee is because the water process used is not fully efficient. They are using genetic engineering to make coffee beans that contain no caffeine. The problems they have hit so far are the beans are either sterile or lack of flavor when roasted. And then there's Postum. Postum is a powdered roasted grain stuff used as a coffee substitute; sold near instant coffee; taste is a half step below BBQ sawdust. (And that is most likely more than you EVER had any interest in knowing - but too late now isn't it.)
Back to the reality: The "good as its going to get" stuff I'll bet will be pretty good. A nickel's worth of advice I'd like to share with you: Don't borrow trouble from the future. Worry about as good stuff when you're there. (This is NOT intended to be condensing or insulting. Sorry if it comes across that way.)
By the way - if you'd care to "dialogue" (no such verb) directly with me you can at jagry1999 at AOL. I promise not to take your personally imported stash.
SI
sirensiren
1 April 2013
No sarcasm! I truly meant it- you really do seem to know a lot, and I am glad. Who knew a sudden sensitivity to caffeine during the onset of this medication would happen?! Not me. Caffeine is something I've had 0 sensitivity to for over a decade, when I had a massive panic attack after a strong cup of coffee 1 week into using bupropion, I was stunned and it ruined my romantic weekend with my husband.
My sense is that if my only side effects now are slightly less sleep, some signs of physical anxiety, and occasional tremors, that 300 XL is not terribly off from where I need to be. I hope these side effects lessen, as they seem to do for others.
It's good to know that coffee replacement taste like saw dust- I almost googled it and ordered it when you mentioned it until I read that part ;)
I am doing red chai tea (herbal, naturally caffeine free) while I (with much jealousy) make my husband his delicious pot of coffee each morning. I am wondering how long this sensitivity will last, but in part it makes me happy- it means I am still experiencing the onset and it's not at the "this is it!" point. Perhaps, I have a shot at being happy again.
Hello sirensiren. I believe that it is the drug. I would lower the dose, and if still prominent (symptoms) have your doctor prescribe a replacement. Regards pledge
Votes: +1
SI
sirensiren
30 March 2013
Thanks pledge! At just shy of a month in, my GP thinks it's too soon to change my dose and thinks it's not something to worry about, but if it persists I may just be insistant. It's challenging with the XL because you cannot lower the dose simply by splitting pills.
