Wellbutrin/ generic Bupropion SR

Hello all...I have just been prescribed Wellbutrin today. I had a baby 1 year ago and the postpartum depression that I have been battling just isn't getting any better so I decided to go to the doctor.

I have several questions b/c I have been reading side effects etc and I am freaked out now:

1. How many people have had seziures? Did you have previous seziure activity?

2. Did you consume any alcohol while on the meds?

3. Did it help you? What did you feel like before you started taking and now?

4. Did you lose weight? How much and how quickly?

Thank you...

Just searching for information. I know everyone reacts differently to different meds. I am just curious!

 

I was on Welbutrin for a while, but I did have side effects and switched medications because of them. I experienced:

1. Nausea: minor but chronic, and my motion sickness increased

2. Headaches: not 100% sure if the medication caused them though.

3. I felt hyper-alert and trembly.

4. I lost a lot of weight, quickly. This is the main reason my doctor took me off of it. I lost about 20 pounds in a month, which was concerning since I was 15 and not overweight to start with.

It did, however, improve my condition greatly. It gave me tons of energy and lifted the feeling of helplessness.

So, these are my experiences, and I'm not trying to scare you, but I did not react well to it at all. But everyone is different so give it a try at least. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I've been taking Wellbutrin for about a year now.  I'm being treated for anxiety and slight depression.  I did not gain any weight from it.  However I only take 150 mg.  300 makes my hands shake and jaw twitch a bit, but it stopped immediately after changing to 150 mg.  I do drink wine, a couple of glasses here and there.  No affects.   Basically I feel much better.  There are many options. You will know pretty quickly if you don't feel right.

I've been treating with a naturapathic doctor as well as my regular physician.  The ND realized that I had no B-12 in my blood and she told me that this can trigger depression as well as lack of Vit. D.  A routine blood test can tell this.  You might want to try that as well.  So now I take the vitamins and Wellbutrin.  I'm thinking of stopping the Wellbutrin in the Summer when my vitamin levels are normal and see how I feel. 

I hope you feel better.  I had it too, about 8 years ago.  I wasn't medicated, because I didn't really know.  My daughter had silent reflux and cried, etc.  all the time. So I thought I was sad from that.  Anyway the feeling lifted on its own about two years later.  Then I had my second child and I was o.k., so keep your spirits up, I don't think it lasts forever.

These types of drugs are pretty intense so I wouldn't recommend using them just for weight loss.

Hope this helps.

 

1) No seizures, but I became so little (96 lbs) that they had to take me off of it for increased risk of having them -- but I was told DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL on it bc it greatly increases this risk (though I did occasionally and I was ok).

2)  Like above - I had some from time to time, but the alcohol liked me less and less and I got hangovers from small amounts when I hadnt really gotten hangovers b4.

3)  I think it helped in the beginning, but nothing really major 4 months into it.

4) I dropped weight but I also was trying and restricting.  But I do think it helped (at least in the beginning)

I'm now on fluoxetine (prozac).

Thank yall for responding...

I wouldn't lose it for a weight loss drug I was just thinking that it would be nice LOL...

I started taking it today. I take 150mg twice a day...that twice a day business is a pain!

I just hope that I like it...I know you have to wait atleast 2-3 weeks to see what it makes you feel like. There is usually a 2 week trial period...

:)

Thanks again

Hi....I take Wellbutrin AND Topomax....I have never had any side effects with either...I did lose weight, but it was because of dieting and exercise PLUS the meds. I'm not taking it as a weight loss med...it's just a pleasant side effect! The Topomax is actually for seizures, which I don't and never had, but it works well with the Wellbutrin. Unfortunately, I haven't loss the kind of weight the other responders noted....:(

I take 300 mg of Wellbutrin and 200 mg of the Topomax per day....it makes me more positive and therefore I think it makes it easier to stick with diet and exercise plans....I'm not totally convinced that the med alone causes or perpetuates weight loss itself....just my thoughts!

1. No side effects, no seziures, no anything...(i take 150 once a day, and have for almost three years)

2. yes, when im home and not on travel for work, a glass or two of wine a day..or one cocktail of some kind...no issue

3. It helps tremendously...I can tell when I'm not on it...If feels like I'm back in the throws of a break down...Im 100% more positive and I no longer cry myself to sleep every night thinking of how much of a loser I am (or whatever my head decides is the problem that day)...so I try to remember to take it everyday

4. no, but I didnt gain any either because of the meds...its the eating thats the problem

 

Everybody reacts differently to it, you just have to try it and see...hope it goes well for you!

Okay, I am new here, but thought, why not my 2 cents worth about this drug which was prescribed to me last Thursday. My life in the last 2 months. ( yes prior depression 10 years ago. ) February my 2 kids in the hospital with a lung virus for a week, had just started a new job 2 weeks prior, planning a wedding, dealing with my 14 year old son who thinks he's 18, had a wedding dress alteration botched!!! 4 inches to high from the ground, we moved 2 weeks ago into our new home, my alteration lady says to me when trying on the dress after I gave it to her only 3 weeks prior " did you gain weight?" yeah biotch & I grew 4 inches, now mind you yes I may have gained 10 lbs but nothing to warrant the remark to hide "her" screw up on the dress! BREATH!!! laid off from the new job....just didn't fit in they said, why cause I weigh 250...doesn't slow me down, my weight...they could of defined that, oh well who wants to work for people that have a silver spoon in there mouth...all things lead me to the Dr. I have had it. I'm fat & I want to talk to him about Lap Banding..they had me fill out the depression question air,  I said i didn't feel depressed like I did 10 years ago, I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel, he said the magic words. Overwhelmed,  yes thats it, mom of 3 boys 14, 3 & 8 mo. been on the Meds for only a few days & I do not compulsive eat anymore...do have a loss of appetite, do have dry mouth tho, fiance said to me today I look like I am loosing weight, mind you I was trying before I got on the meds. The Dr. also thinks I have ADD...I said that might be true very true. I am feeling more focus around the house & getting things done..anyway  I know it's too soon to really tell is his medication will help me loose weight, but how can one not hope that it will & if it makes me feel better while doing so then "good for me" Thanks for reading....in Oregon ( we never have sunshine here ) LOL

Prozac made my skin break out with hives all over and i felt sick all the time.  NOT GOOD BE CAREFUL!

im on welbutrin no side effects here wish i did lose weight on it.also on cymbalta whcih i have put tons of weight on with the only thing side effect i had with welbutrin is sex the feeling is so much better longer now

I have been on budeprion sr the generic of Wellbutrin and I am taking 100mg. I feel better not a complete 100% but at least 50% better. I'm assuming in another wk when my dose goes up I will get the full benefit of budeprion. Before I started taking it I was sleeping 14hrs now I sleep about 4-7 hrs but not all at once. So to sum it up the meds disturb my sleep but Im not complaining because I am not tired during the day like i used to be. I hated sleeping 14 hrs but I couldnt help it. I noticed one more side effect I lost 6lbs within the first wk. But I figure by time I get to 300mg more side effects will kick in.

From what I have read its not good for children and teenagers anyway. It tends to make them more depressed and suicidal.

Hi there!

I am new to the board and this medicine.  I am hoping that others on here might be able to share experiences and offer advice while I am attempting to understand all this.

I started taking Bupropion SR 150mg (generic Wellbutrin) 5 days ago.  So far the only side effect I have noticed is headaches and embarassingly enough gas.  I have been on other meds and gained weight so I was very hopeful when my doc put me on this one.  Unfortunately I am still experiencing the hunger cravings and obsessive need to "Snack".  I hope that eventually that will go away, but from everything I have read it is supposed to be an automatic side effect.  I really can't afford to gain weight since I have worked so hard to get it off after having my daughter.

Any advice??

Thanks and I look forward to talking with you all!!

Hi...I signed into this forum seeking friendship.  I too had a baby 1 year ago.  My daughter turned 1 yesterday, I have a 3 year old that struggles with things on the Autism Spectrum, and an 8 year old.  My parents recently had to move in with us...due to my mom having her leg amputated...so since Sept...my husband quit his job and became self employed...my dad was hosptialized in oct and doing much better and lives with us...my mom lost her leg in dec...jan they moved in with us...mar we moved to bigger house...boxes everywhere...can I say anxiety!  my daughter is 1 and i am battling anxiety, depression, hopelessness and as i list out this stuff it is NO wonder I feel this way.  I also had the lap band 2 1/2 years ago...lost 80lbs, had the baby...and now only lost 25 lbs since beginning lap band so i have regained...feeling like a failure and struggling so I went to the doc he too put me on wellbutrin.  I am on day 4...so this is the first day I will take 2 tablets.  I felt some commraderie with you so thought if you want to visit via email...we could do that but if not interested....no pressure.

I am not sure of how this will help and nervous of how it will make me feel...

Krystal

I've been on Buproprion (generic for Wellbutrin) for about 18 months and it has been a good experience.  I have struggled with depression and anxiety off and on pretty much since about a year after the birth of my first son, so I can sympathize with your situation! I had previously been on SSRIs (Paxil, Zoloft) but the side effects were intolerable for me - felt sleepy, sluggish, and 'drugged'. When I got the RX for Wellbutrin, I did a lot (maybe too much) reading up on Wellbutrin's side effects before taking it, and was very apprehensive about it.  However, I really wanted to feel better, and I was (to be honest) hopeful about the many anecdotes I'd heard about weight loss being a side effect of the drug, so I kept taking it.  I'm very sensitive to it, and have been comfortable on 150mg/day for a year and a half.  I tried to go up to 300mg but it was just too much for me - made me extremely jumpy and almost out of control (jittery, shaky).  150mg every morning seems to work just fine.

Re:  your questions -

1.  I have had no problems with seizures.  I believe that's more of an issue for those who have a history of seizure activity, which I don't.

2.  I drink occasionally ( maybe a beer or two on a Friday or Saturday night once every 2-3 weeks) and don't have any problem with it.

3.  I did lose weight, but I believe it was because I was feeling more energetic and positive, not because the drug decreased my appetite or anything.  I felt more like getting up and actually doing things instead of just feeling overwhelmed and sitting there.  I started working out regularly again, which also helped to boost my mood and attitude. I felt more like cooking healthy meals, planning healthy menus - you get the drift.  I lost 25 lbs over the course of about 4-5 months, most of which I've kept off.  Of course, I've also kept up with exercising and eating reasonably, too.  Again, I think that's a side effect of feeling more balanced.  

 The most significant side effects I had were feeling a bit jumpy the first week or so, very vivid dreams (not bad, just vivid), and increased sweating.  I actually had night sweats on and off the first few months and was convinced I'd suddenly entered perimenopause, but they slowed down and then eventually disappeared at about the 6- month mark.  I probably do sweat a little more on a daily basis, but it's not anything I can't handle.  No problems sleeping at night as long as I don't forget to take my dose and then remember at 4pm or something - but I know some people have some insomnia.  

 

Everyone responds differently to these drugs, and I've read reviews from people who swear that it's the best thing that's ever happened to them as well as reviews from people who swear it destroyed their lives.  My feeling is that you just have to approach it with an open mind, give it a fair try for a few weeks, and keep in mind that most of the side effects do go away after a while for MOST people.  

Good luck and so glad you're taking steps towards feeling better!

I was on it for ONE day...couldn't handle the side effects...

I felt high, my chest pounded and felt like someone was standing on it...I didn't eat all day...wasn't hungry.

Good luck with it...drugs effect everyone differently.

6lbs in one week

 Thats what I wanna hear!!!!!

No seizures never hade seizures.

 

No Alcohol

 

Not really I took it for 4 months.  It gave me an immense amount of energy and ability to do workouts that i never dreamed possible but i already was obsessed with calories exercise etc so it really wasnt a good thing. 

 Yes i lost weight very quickly i had less of an appetite and worked out way harder it was not a conscious effort it just happend. i went from 144 to 136 in a little over a month i have been off it now for a month and a half and am up at 155 and feeling okay.   Im a little oer 6,2 by the way so 136 was way to light plust i got the flu when i was that lite so i dropped down even further which made the flu so much worse.

 

The only side effect i experienced was ringing in the ears and possible hair thinning (that might have been from the diet or the lexapro i tried for a week a couple months before wellbutrin).  Anywho depression etc is much better now i had b vitamin and zinc deficiencys and started taking them and feel much better glad to not take pills anymroe but if your trying to lost weight i think wellbutrin is a good aide.  although i did not need to nor was trying to lose weight.

I have been on Wellbutrin SR for about a month and a half.  I started out with 150mg in the morning.  Noticed immediate concentration; I was now able to push through the day, even on a bad day.  I am able to "get in the mood" easier, which is initially why I started taking the medicine.  I have recently been diagnosed with GAD, which does not help the libido.  After a few weeks on the medicine, I felt that it was not working as well as it used to; my doctor said that the 150mg is a low dosage, so I have now increased to 150mg 2xday.  I have noticed the beneficial affects again and have little problems with the medicine- it helps with productivity, libido, not eating when not hungry, increased energy.  The unwanted side effects are slight dizziness which is rare, easily wake up when sleeping, sleeping less (may be good or bad), and vivid dreams.  I do sweat more while at the gym, but I do not sweat other times during the day.  No seizures and I have noticed a change in ability to consume alcohol.  I used to be able to drink more, now I have to water down an "Mike's Hard lemondade" with ice and only have 3-4 of those.  I am still able to function though, which is nice.  The effects with alcohol was a lot less than I had anticipated.   If you need an antidepressant or antianxiety medicine, wellbutrin helps.  It does not zombie you out and helps you rationalized your feelings and emotions better.