... full of anxiety, the second day i felt my anxiety lift a bit and I had a brain zap and then a burst of energy that was kind oof uncontrolable.. I managed. then i felt very anxious and brain was speedy. then later on that night I had a feeling of needing to keep yawning and swallowing like my throat was the size of a pea. then I had feelings that i needed to scream and cry. then it happened I went into a bout of crying with incredible shakiness, couldnt even hold my glass of water. Then i felt a bit anxious and then i felt fine all in one day. I wnt to bed that night, i was tired... after that day who wouldnt be. I had horrible dreams and then went back to slee and had a good dream. I am confused. my mind is racing faster thatn my body can keep up. I also do not have insurance so i do not have anybody to go over this with, just my pharmacists which tells me to stop taking it. Can sombody tell me if this is going to go away after sometime or has anybody else had these side affects and what did you do? i am very sensative to meds i usally can tell if somthing is going to work in the first few days but this one is confusing to me. I am still depressed
Wellbutrin - I have been on welbutrin SR for 3 days now. The first day I was still depressed and?
Question posted by indianangel1232 on 15 Jan 2011
Last updated on 21 June 2018
9 Answers
This is my 2nd day on it and I feel amazing and full of energy!! I don't know if it really is working or if I just want it to so bad that I've tricked my mind into it!? Any thoughts?
I tried Wellbutrin a few years ago. I had what they call the “honeymoon “ phase & felt great for a couple days. Unfortunately it went downhill from there & I had to stop taking immediately. If you have any anxiety it can make it worse. I was unable to function. But everyone is different, hopefully it continues to work for you!
This is an old thread, but just in case anyone is still reading... I don't tolerate the first week of a new med well, either, but I have learned to just "get thru it" and eventually most, if not all, of the uncomfortable side effects disappear for me. All anti depressants can take weeks to accumulate in your body, so that you can't really see the benefits for at least a few weeks. Until then, you're going on blind faith. I wouldn't say a med is or isn't working with a day or two, or even a week. Give it time to work, if you can get thru the initial side effects. Good luck to you, I know it can be really challenging to switch meds, but it could also help, alot, in the long run !-
Wellbutrin can initially induce Mania, which intensifies everything. Even after titration of dosage you may remain noticeably (to yourself) manic on a more controlled scale. The initial mania exactly feels like your mind is racing.
In my case, after sufferiing all my life, even as a young child, from both GAD and Panic Disorder, both have simply departed since beggining wellbutrin therapy. I don't have panic attacks any more, though I always keep xanax with me, and apart from occasionally "normal" anxiety, the GAD too has gone. So I don't have the experience of Wellbutrin making GAD worse.
I was wondering how you are doing. I am going through very similar reactions and am just lost as to what to do. My dr is not supportive and I dread calling her. When is enough enough with this a/d? I just really would love to know what you are going to do. I have been on 2 weeks today and just don't think I can take it any more. If someone told me just one more day of this awful feeling, I would keep at it. Just now knowing if it will help and wasting the last 2 weeks feeling like poo... just stinks! Hope you are feeling better..
What starting dose are you on tsnhoney? Talk to your doc (take no crap from docs, they took an oath!) about reducing dosage, remember the high mania usually settles down but may require longer than 2 weeks; and also note that wellbutrin is active in the norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitter fields. It has really no serotonin effect, so combination therapy with an ssri like citalopram or lexapro or even Effexor (a partial ssri, with snri activity)
Oh, and is your doc a psychiatrist? If not seek out a psychopharmacologist (a psychiatrist who treats with medicine but no talk therapy). GP's basically only know what the drug reps tell them about psychotropics.
I started with Zoloft which took care of most of the depression and anxiety but was left with little sex drive and sort of zombie like. Started taking along with Wellbutrin and then went totally on Wellbutrin. This did help with sex drive and energy but also resulted in anxiety attacks over a period of a couple of weeks, not the first days. Started taking venlafaxine (effexor) which reduced the anxiety but left me with energy and sex drive. Only problem was that mentally I was ok with sex but physically I have some problems. I am able to live with this now, but it is different for sure. I hope that you will be able to find something that you can live with. Good luck.
listen to sweetlemon, I have anxiety problems and Wellbutrin through me out of whack. I went exactly through what you described! The high anxiety, then depression, crying to excess, and back again. Not good for someone like you and I.
The only thing is, I have no earthly idea what antidepressant will help. Have you spoken with your doctor about what to do next?
I've gotten to the point of giving up hope that my panic/anxiety disorder will be treated properly. The only thing that has helped a little (only at night) is clonidine in small doses.
I was on paxil for years but got tired of the no emotions roller coaster and no sex drive.
Yeah, Paxil was that way for me too-flatlined emotional state, and no sex drive does not a happy Dave make.
Good morning Sweet Lemon, Springer, and Indianangel. caringsonbj is right in that it takes several weeks to feel its' full effects. But if it's anything like Effexor, yes, the "emotional flatline" isn't a good effect, nor the anxiety. That's the problem with the different types of Anti D's, trial and error. It's too bad that for most people, it may take several different tries before finding just the right one (or combination). Try to be patient during this time. There's no one perfect med that fits us all. :-( Maybe Elavil? I'm not sure what class of Anti D this is, but it helped me quite a bit. Good luck on finding the one that suits you best!
Good morning friends!
How about an old tricyclic like Pamelor, that helps with anxiety, or a newer SNRI??? Just a thought. chris is right, takes a while for any anti-D to work.
Yet what you've described sounds horrid indeed.
good luck and do not give up on finding one that works.
Chris, I tried Elavil (tricyclic) years ago. It was the only thing that worked wonders for me. The only problem I had was the weight gain. I gained 30lbs in 6 months. Some may find a little weight gain preferable to the pain of depression and anxiety.
Springer,
I agree that weight gain can be an issue with any SNRI, yet I needed the 5lbs I gained !!! One must watch their diet carefully when taking SNRi's
Lemon Gurl
I must be the oddball out. I didn't gain weight, dropped a lot of weight! But don't think it was due to the Elavil. Started treatment in January 09 weighing ummm too much! Had to stop treatment in August due to $$, had lost at least 15lbs. by then. Then had my accident a month later and dropped another 25lbs. after that. Probably because I couldn't stop ralphing from the pain meds! Not a good way to lose weight. Been the same normal weight for the past whatever. Meds are a funny thing indeed!
chris,
Didn't you crave carbs on an SNRI??? I couldn't even keep carbs in the house girl !!! Still do not eat them. Need to gain a few pds, maybe I should start eating carbs again?
Lemon
What's a carb? If it's in yogurt, yes I did crave it. Carbohydrates, I know :-). But really not craving them. Yogurt, Kraukus ham on whole wheat with tomato (Opps! Almost pulled a Dan Quayle on my tomato!) There IS no E in "Tomatoe!" Dave will get it, not you SL, he was before your time.lol. Now I just crave yogurt. I have to force myself to eat. Not to mention eat right!
chris,
We better start eating or we shall both be a bag o' bones girl !! With no chesitcles to speak of !!
SL
Yes, Chris, i got the Dan Quayle reference. What a bonehead he was, yet provided a lot of laughs. The problem with Elavil making me crave carbs wa sthe wrong carbs. I could consume a whole ckae, pie, or tons of chocolate bars in one sitting. This craving was constant through the day.
Hi IA,
Wellbutrin is not a good antidepressant for people with anxiety issues. It sounds like you may have had a major panic attack.
See a doc and ask for an antidepressant with calming qualities to it.
Best wishes to you,
sweetlemon
I have had friends that were on this medication I haven't been but I do know that it can take up to 4 weeks for the medication to work and in certain people with depression problems they will start this medicine in the fall before winter sets in. If you give it time and you still are not comfortable with the way it makes you feel (or sooner depending on how you feel) have a talk with the doctor the are many SSRI medications what works for one does not always work for another please be safe and take care
Hello. It sounds as if you are allergic to Wellbutrin. You should have been given a "side effects" sheet along with the bottle. Read what it says for side effects. If these apply to you, call dc immediately, he/she will want to know ASAP, especially if you are still depressed.
I was prescribed Wellbutrin SR after a bout of Post Partum Depression. It gave me energy and cleared my head right away. It was my life saver. My doctor said it's a brain "activator" , so you shouldn't be feeling down still.
Only my humble opinion on my experience, I am no expert by any means, keep us informed.
Related topics
wellbutrin, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, sexual dysfunction, ssri induced
Further information
- Wellbutrin uses and safety info
- Wellbutrin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Wellbutrin (detailed)
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