Wellbutrin XL 300mg feeling effects day 1?

Question

I have never taken an anti- depressant although I probably should have years ago! I battle mild depression and have off and on most of my life. I think I had never told a doctor simply because I have this strange aversion to taking medicine and didnt want him to prescrible anything! I actually went to the doctor for something else completely recently. I told him I wanted to lose weight and stop smoking. He asked me if I had experienced mood swings and I said yes, sometimes. He prescribed Wellbutrin XL 300 mg. and I was nervous. I dont like taking medicine... even for a common cold!!

I was so nervous to start it that I literally waited 20 days after I filled the prescription to begin taking it. So far, so good. No major side effects, here are the ones I have noticed so far:
-I am very thirsty
-a little dizzy but only sometimes
-sometimes my heart rate seems faster and feels weird in my chest- almost like an anxiety attack except I really feel no panic or anxiousness.
-on day two I had some abdominal pain like constipation
-and also on day 2 I was sleepy in the late afternoon

I do not notice these side affects all day, only a few times and not all at once. :)

Today is day 3 and I have a little insomnia but I took the pill later in the day than I did the first two days and I am sure this is why.

I have three questions for other Wellbutrin users:

1. I take the generic, after reading some things online I feel that maybe I should switch to the brand name as soon as possible. What are your thought on this?

2. Starting about 4 hours after I took it on day 1, I started to feel better overall. Cravings for food and nicotine are diminishing (not gone, but diminishing). Is it normal to feel something on day 1 or is this too good to be true?

3. On day 1 and 2 I took my pill at 3pm and today (day 3) I forgot! When I remembered at 7pm I took it. Then it dawned on me that may not have been a good decision and I read my prescription insert that says "If you miss a dose, SKIP it. Do not take more than one pill in 24 hours. This is important". My questtion is- what do I do now? I cannot take these at 7pm going forward because it is 2am right now and I am fully energetic and wide wide awake! lol. In your experience should I take one at 3pm tomorrow (day 4) or is that too close to the last dose? Or should I skip tomorrow (day 4) and start taking them in the morning, say 9am, the next day (day 5) and going forward?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for any HELP you can provide as I seek answers to these three questions. :)

Answer

I just started taking this yesterday & was surprised to find myself with high energy & irritability levels went from an 8 down to a 2! Im quite amazed that this would take effect so quickly. I feel amazing :) I take the lowest dose of 75 mg once a day in the morning.

I've been experiencing very slight heart palpitations which Ive noticed usually occur when I start getting very sleepy/ when my blood pressure lowers from being at rest. Yes, I've had palpitations before every once in awhile throughout my life.

This is the first time Im truly giving medication a chance. Im 35 & have been dealing with anxiety & depression my entire life.

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I also wish i would've started this years ago! However, I too dislike taking any medication. I couldn't take the mood swings & sadness any longer. So grateful I finally gave in! I actually expected the sadness to take over whenever I saw/ heard something that usually triggered the sadness but... I kinda feel numb... & I'll take it over feeling sad 24/7! I have my fingers crossed that this will continue to improve my mental chaos :)

Votes: +1

Answer

I have been taking the generic for three days at 150mg today I am to up it and take two pills. Do I take them at the same time ? Thank you

Answer

I have been taking wellbutrin xl 150 mg for a few months now. I have to admit for the first month my sleeping patterns were all screwed up. I ended up getting perscription sleeping pills so that I was able to sleep but now I am sleeping on my own. I have set my alarm so that I get up at 0600 every day take my meds and if I am tired I try to go back to sleep and usually I am able to do so. This only lasts for the max three hours. I find that I have energy all day. I have actually set the alarm on my blackberry and that has been the best fit for me. I am still having difficulty trying to deal with everything but it is starting to get better. The light at the end of the tunnel is no longer a train.

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I take the wellburtrin brand and my doctor feels that this is the best option for me and I appreciative of it. I had the opposite effect I gained weight but it also had to do with the loss of my dog. I am struggling to get over it and that is why I have upped the dosage. I am now taking 300 mg and hopefully will see a diffference soon

Good Luck and stick with it ... it will help. Look into getting some counselling along side the meds, it is the only way that you will be effectively able to deal with all of the issues. Medication alone is not the fix.

JB

Answer

Dear Swan4,
Hello and welcome to our forum. It his clear you received detailed replies from our gurus, pledge and laurieshay. I will just concur that the side effects on Wellbutrin are known to be minimal and will soon disappear. Many individuals have used it successfully for years to combat depression-I am one of them. I will warn you that if your Dr prescribed for smoking cessation, you may have a little aggravation from the insurance company when they are asked in the future to pay for it as prescribed for depression.
I think you'll soon be feeling much better, and perhaps only then will you realize how your thoughts, your life was actually clouded, even if you beleive you were only mildly depressed.
I wish you well on this journey. We are here to help along your path.
Best Regards,
4N Substances aka Frenchie

Answer

I have just started on wellbutrin hoping to  lose weight . On klonopin too. a little loss of appetite. Taking 300 xl Right off the bat which.made me so nervous, but no side effects.for me so far. Have anxiety also,.but always had it.he sd this works. My doctor told me it will help me focus.and concentrate better.

Answer

i have done this before.. just wait till you get tired.. go to sleep... and yeah take them if you wake up in the morning... i went to sleep at like 12 at night one time i woke up at like 12 noon.. than i took it, and i couldn't go to sleep until around 2 in the morning... i kept on waking up late than i decided to skip a day so that i could go back to regular sleeping schedule...

Answer

I have been on the  generic form  of wellbutrin for 2 weeks taking it in the morning. I am (was) a heavy drinking so i did stop taking it over the weekend and drank about 12 beers and felt somewhat out of it but still able to function so i was off of the pill for 2 days. Today is Monday and I upped my dosage to 300 mg as per doctor. I have to say this is the first 2 weeks I ever slept through the night. I have not lost weight or felt like NOT eating (or drinking). I was hoping it would make me enjoy life without the alcohol and I would find pleasure with my current lot in life (working alot and barely getting by and being tied down with kids) so I drink to NOT think about it, but I am hopeful.

Answer

First let me share that I have been taking Wellbutrin XL (bupropion) 300mg for many years for depression. When I first started taking the jittery feeling is normal. It will subside. Usually this med is prescribed at 150mg for a week before increasing to the 300mg dose, so you maybe experiencing a bit more side effects than usual, but they should subside within the first couple of weeks. Drink plenty of water to combat the constipation and increased thirst.

I have had no problems with the generic. I think you'll find once the medicine has reached theraputic level, takes about a week to build in the blood, you will find it to be effective. I really recommend take it forst thing in the morning rather than later in the day. You will avoid any insomnia this way and it will give you the best control during your waking hours. Since you took it at 7pm, I would skip this morning and start tomorrow morning with the ususal dose.

Just me experience.

Laurie

Votes: +3

Answer

Hello SWAN4. In regards to non generic vs generic. Its a hit and miss. Some folks do well on one, some on the other. It depends on the individual. As to feeling the drug working, in regards to your appetie and nicotine cravings. Possible. It will take in regards to depression, close to a months time for it to work theraputically to its potential. As to the dose, miss the next scheduled time and then take the following one at 3pm. (Not certain if you are on XR that is why I mentioned the 3pm time) Regards, pledge

Wellbutrin XL 300mg feeling effects day 1?

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