On it for 3 weeks and getting sharp pain and dull ache in shoulder and rotator cuff area. Also crying more easily over nothing. Don’t know if it’s related to the drug or not. Wondering if I should try it for one more week.
Wellbutrin SR - Anyone getting muscle pain or tendinitis on Wellbutrin?
Question posted by Retiredandbored on 16 March 2018
Last updated on 11 June 2018
Answers
Suzen725
10 June 2018
I just started taking Wellbutrin (actually filled generically with Bupropion) 6 days ago. The first day was perfect, but the second day, I started to experience terrible muscle and nerve pain. It felt like intense sciatica through my lower spine, hips and legs. I could not sleep it was so bad. I could not even turn over or lay still without intense pain (and I am definitely not a drama queen!) I continued taking the drug for three days and the pain was still terrible. On the fourth day, I called my doctor, who told me to cut the pills in half to see if that helped. I did it for one day, and it did not help. The pain was so intolerable that I did not take any of the drug at all on the sixth day (today, which was a Sunday, so I can’t call the doctor until tomorrow morning.) I am really disappointed about this side effect, because other than that, I already started to feel positive results from the medication. The horrible pain is worse than the depression which led to taking the medication! I will talk with the doctor tomorrow and post any suggestions I can offer to those who might be experiencing the same thing. Be well, friends.
Retiredandbored
11 June 2018
That’s really interesting and distressing for you. I ended up stopping the Wellbutrin as I was getting more depressed. Went back to Effexor. It’s so disappointing when a drug that works well for so many has the opposite effect. I still have the shoulder pain, so it wasn’t the Wellbutrin. I wish you luck in finding a solution. The hunt for the right med is so depressing in itself.
Inactive
11 June 2018
Hi Retiredandbored:
I am sorry that Wellbutrin didn't work for your depression. I want to thank you though, for coming back to post again and report that, after stopping Wellbutrin a while back, you still are suffering from the shoulder pain, so you have stated that it was Not the Wellbutrin that caused that pain. It is important for people to come back and tell when they think a certain medication was Not the cause of certain side effects. Some helpful medications can get a bad rap and keep others from trying one that might otherwise be the right antidepressant to relieve their depression if they would only give it a try.
I happen to be a Wellbutrin (Bupropion) success story. Sometimes switching to another generic can make a huge difference in the possible side effects. Could make the difference of mild (or no) side effects, and those that resolve in a very short time. Let us know how you are doing on your Effexor. Good luck!
Retiredandbored
11 June 2018
G Mc. Thank you for your kind response. I was so hoping that the Wellbutrin would work because it did work for awhile about 15 years ago. But I couldn’t believe the difference this time. I didn’t want to live and it was torture to try it for a month. The Effexor seems to work better, but not without adding Ativan. Dr. wants to cut me off Ativan even though I have taken only 1/2 to one daily for years. She says she’s afraid I will fall and break a hip and it will come back to her for prescribing it. I’m 65 and have excellent balance from years of ballet and weight training. She also says it’s like alcohol in a pill form. I think that her logic is whacked, but it’s impossible to change Drs in our medical system.
Inactive
11 June 2018
Hi again, Retiredandbored: Your comment,~~ "She also says it’s like alcohol in a pill form. I think that her logic is whacked, but it’s impossible to change Drs in our medical system."~~
I totally agree! Ativan is my go-to rescue med for dental procedures such as root canals and crowns, etc. Doctor will only prescribe 5 or 10 at a time. I just had cataracts removed, and my wonderful eye doctor was empathetic and prescribed me ativan to take the night before and the morning of surgery. I wish I could take it more often when I go through these periods of anxiety and panic attacks. But doctors are not complicit. :-(
Wellbutrin causes me extreme start up anxiety initially every time I start back on it, so I have to take Buspar with it to calm myself back down, as that is the only anti anxiety med I can take on a daily basis, without a lot of side effects. But after things calmed back down, the buspar helps in combination with wellbutrin to keep my anxiety/depression under control. I realize now that this is something I will continue to have to contend with off and on for the rest of my life, so it's the best I can come up with for now. Other antidepressants didn't work very well for me. Too many side effects for me personally. Unfortunately we have to take so long on each antidepressant to give it time to find out if it will work or not. It can be a frustrating process.
I am glad you have a med that works for you. Please keep posting!
WildcatVet
16 March 2018
Hi, Retired! These are most likely side effects that generally resolve over a few weeks, but you should contact your prescribing doctor for professional advice.
"Musculoskeletal
Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia, neck pain, pain in extremity"
"Psychiatric
Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, confusion, depression"
Best regards and I hope you're feeling better quickly!
Retiredandbored
17 March 2018
Thank you for answering me! Still not sure what this perhaps pinched nerve is from, but I’m considering trying this drug for one more week and if the crying doesn’t stop I guess I will have to try something else.
Neededsomthing
19 March 2018
Wellbutrin typically adds more pep than other antidepressants.
It is hard that many of them have side effects that are the same as the thing they treat. Talk to your doctor about the changes.
Also massage can help with pain and might be nice self care for you. help
Retiredandbored
19 March 2018
Yes, thank you for reminding me to book a massage.
Related topics
wellbutrin, wellbutrin sr, depression, pain, muscle pain, shoulder, crying, drug
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