Wellbutrin and anxiety

I've been on Welbutrin for about six months, along with Zoloft. I had tried it because of the lack of motivation and the lithergy I was feeling (I suspect) as a result of the Zoloft. I came across this site after a search for memory loss connected with Welbutrin. I believe I'm having that problem. I don't seem to have the quick grasp of words I did. In a phone conversation today, I could not remember a certain medical term that I have been using rather frequently over the past six months. There are some other cases, but that incident put me on the trail of memory loss research. I actually suspected that it was the Ambien I had been taking for sleep (I have not completely ruled that drug out). But all the posts here seem to indicate that the welbutrin could be at fault.

I'm on 150mg, twice daily. However, in the morning, I will actually take one and a half pills (225mg) to get me going. I have noticed CONSIDERABLE jitters, hand tremors, enough that if I'm doing delicate work of some type, I have difficulty continuing ti complete the task. At the 225mg, I do seem to become over amped a bit, but it improves my motivation. A St. Johns Wart capsule will usually calm that, but you see the problem of one drug, helping one problem, but causing another, so you take a third! I have tried numerous other antidepressants and they all caused more side effects than they were worth.
Celexa cause an eventual complete lack of ANY motivation! Plus SERIOUS sexual side effects. Zoloft has been the best with the least side effects and I have always returned to it. But the sleepiness can just be extreme with me.

I have run out of Welbutrin and the result is return of the lithergy. I also believe that the Welbutrin may be causing my occasional up tick in anger. Possibly spreading the dosage will help. Not mixing it with caffiene may also help because caffiene can make me explosive if I don't limit my intake to about a cup of coffee. Most of you know that Zoloft, Prozac and the like increase the available seritonin in your brain, a calming neurotransmitter. Welbutrin increases the available norepinephrine, a stimulating neurotransmitter, akin to adrenalin. (Research for yourselves those facts, remember, I posting this because of a problem with MEMORY! :) So it makes perfect sense that people can become overstimulated with Welbutrin. The memory aspects of it, I don't yet understand. I'm going to experiment with dosage reduction and possibly replacing the Welbutrin with the amino acid L-phenylalanine. I hope this little post can help some of you as much as the other posts here have helped me!

Burt

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW THANKFUL I AM THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS THIS WEB SITE. UNDERSTAND THAT WE GO THROUGH LIFE WITH MAJOR UPS AND DOWNS AND SOMETIMES WE NEED SOMETHING TO HELP US OUT. BUT AT WHAT COST? EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. AND PERHAPS WITH FAMILY HISTORY AND WHAT NOT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED MEDS TO HELP THEM OUT. I FIRST BEGAN TAKING YASMIN ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON BC MOST OF MY LIFE DUE TO BAD PERIODS, WHICH STARTED WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT BOTHER TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE FACT THAT AS YOU GET OLDER YOU'RE BODY CHANGES. SO RATHER THAN GET OFF BC I JUST CONTINUED ON WITH IT 1 TO PREVENT PREGNANCY AND 2 IT HELPED THE BAD PERIOD SYMPTOMS AT THAT TIME. OF COURSE YOU READ ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS, BUT THEY GIVE YOU THE "NOT SO BAD" VERSION OF THEM. ALMOST A YEAR AGO I STARTED GETTING HORRIBLE UNBEARABLE MOOD SWINGS, ANXIETY YOU NAME IT. SO I DECIDED TO GO TO THE DRS. TO FIND OUT WAS WRONG BECAUSE I HAD SIMILAR SYMPTOMS TO A THYRIOD PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BECAUSE MY TONS OF BLOOD WORK I KEPT TAKING CAME BACK FINE. SO THE DR PRESCRIBED WELLBUTRIN AND LEXAPRO. I WAS DESPERATE AND JUST WANTED TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN. THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS WERE ROUGH BECAUSE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS AND THEN THE MEDS STARTED TO WORK AND EASE EVERYTHING UNTIL RECENTLY. I AM BACK TO SQUARE 1! DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING, BASICALLY HAVE ALL THE SYMPTOMS BACK FROM THE SIDE EFFECTS. FROM THE SHAKING TO THE MUSCLE ACHE, MEMORY LOSS, WEIGHT GAIN, THINNING OF THE HAIR(AND IM BLOND AND HAVE FINE HAIR TO BEGIN WITH) WHAT EVERYONE IS AND HAS BEEN FEELING ARE REAL AND NOT JUST STUFF MADE UP IN YOUR HEAD. YOU ARE NOT CRAZY! SO BASICALLY BY JUST TAKING ONE MED LED TO ME TAKING ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. SO BY THE GRACE OF GOD I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS SITE WHEN I HAD GOOGLED MEDS TO HELP WITH SEVERE MOOD BEHAVIOR. AND THE FIRST THING IT CAME TO WAS THE YASMIN SIGHT AND LET ME TELL YOU I WAS IN SHOCK BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT SIDE EFFECTS IT HAD THAT MIMICED ANXIETY, WHICH LED ME AND MY DRS. TO THINK THAT I HAD ANXIETY, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS THE CASE. I BELIEVE THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS STEMMED FROM THE YASMIN. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BE MISERABLE MY WHOLE LIFE. TO SUM IT UP THE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE PILL HAD MADE MY BODY HAVE SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY ETC. NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. SO I HAD CLICKED ON TO WELL BUTRIN AND LEXAPRO BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TAKING 450 OF THE XL AND UP TO 40 ON THE LEXAPRO...HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE! SO I HAVE TO DECIDED TO STOP EVERYTHING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE I CANNOT TAKE THIS CRAPY FEELING ANYMORE. MY DAUGHTER, BOYFRIEND, AND FRIENDS HAVE ALL SUFFERED FROM THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THESE MEDICATIONS. THANK GOD I STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH EVERYONE. EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, BUT I PUT THE BITCH IN BITCH AND NOT PROUD OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHO I AM. HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE READ THROUGH BECAUSE IVE READ EVERY COMMENT ON THIS SITE AND IT HAS DONE ME A WORLD OF GOOD, I FEEL LIKE THEIR IS STILL HOPE TO ACTUALLY WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND NOT FEEL TIRED , HAVE A HEADACHE, NOT BE CONSTIPATED AND THE LIST GOES ON. SO LADIES YOU ARE NOT ALONE, IT IS HAPPENING TO YOU AND HOW YOU CHOOSE TO FIX IT IS ALL UP TO YOU IF IT HELPS THEN STICK WITH IT,BUT IF YOU'RE FED UP AND MISERABLE LIKE ME, RID YOU'RE BODY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I WILL DEFINITELY GIVE AN UPDATE TO WHAT HAPPENS AND IF THE MEDS WERE THE CULPRIT OF MY PROBLEMS.

I started taking wellbutrin sr 150 mg about a week ago. I did okay on it, but my depression wasn't better. My doctor increased my dosage to 300 mg a day (150 mg in am, 150 mg in pm). Since then, I have had 1 panic attack, and I feel like I can't stop moving around. My heart also started to "flutter" a little bit last night. I'm also taking xanax for anxiety, and I admit I've taken more of it the last few days to deal with the anxiety. I think I'm going to go back down to the 150 mg once a day for a while, because this anxiety is killing me.

I've been taking Wellbutrin XL for almost a year the highest dose you can take which is 450 mg. When I first started taking it, the side effects were horrible, first with the memory loss, nausea etc. A few months into the perscription I could notice a change, but as time went on I began to feel not so good anymore. I started getting bad twitches right before I was almost asleep. They became so bad that I would wake myself up because my body would jerk so bad. The ringing of the ears had occurred along with an appetite increase. I felt that it stopped working within the last couple months. There is no point to be on a medication that is not working. Also suffering hair loss and my hair is blond and fine to begin with. I just find it alarming that so many people who are taking this have horrible side effects from it. Side effects are suppose to subside overtime, but not in this case. Besides I was also taking Yasmin which is a whole different story because it could of been causing the anxiety that led to me to have to take this medication. So I'm stopping everything because I feel my body is telling me to let be it free of meds. I strongly believe in medications, but not when one med causes a sympton that leads to another med that causes other problems. Like everyone has been saying listen to your body and don't ignore it. I'm tired of being sick and tired! A medicine that is suppose to make you feel better is only making me feel worse. I'm just going to start from scratch again and see what happens perhaps I never really needed anything at all which upsets me. Since the time I began Yasmin up until The Wellbutrin Xl, I've been living quite the miserable life. I don't want anyone to have to go through this ever. I lost out on alot of time with my daughter and I can't get that back. A lesson to be learned perhaps, study up on meds before taking them or combining them with others, we are fortunate enough to have the technology to do so. So think about how you're feeling and whats going on with your bodies. GOD BLESS!

Was on WB 150 for about 3 years along with Lexapro 20 mg. Quit taking both and found anxiety unbearable. Tried taking both again and anxiety went through the roof. Unable to sleep or function during the day. horrendous anxiety.
Finally went back to doc who put me on Lexapro 20 with Lunesta (no WB) to get me through the nights until it "kicked in" (short term). Whew! What a relief. Much, much better.
Not a fan of WB. Takes away all emotion.

i have been taking wellbutrin to help me deal with anxiety for a little more than a week. i thought it would take more time to have an effect, but i feel very calm. i even stopped smoking right off, which i didn't intend to do. The side effects are worse that i thought they would be. i have lost the ability to spell, my short-term memory is noticeably impaired, and i have trouble paying attention in class/at work. i feel very foggy and disconnected. i've also been having headaches, night sweats, and stomach pains, but they are mild.

I began taking Wellbutrin 2 weeks ago and started on a 150mg dosage. I was on 150mg for one week. The second week, I went up to 300mg per the psychiatrist's instructions. I was feeling really angry some of the time and decided to stop the medication. Prior to the last 2 weeks I was taking 40mg of Paxil, which I stopped after the first week of being on Wellbutrin.
The anger was uncomfortable, I stopped taking the Wellbutrin and within 36-48 hours of being off this drug, my feet began to itch mildly at first. Within about 30 minutes of this "mild" itching, the sensations got worse. My feet felt like they were on fire. The only relief was putting them in hot water in the tub. I was screaming with frustration and pain. I attributed this to the cold turkey stopping of wellbutrin. But since I had been on it only 2 weeks, I didn't think anything would happen. Big mistake. After 2 hours of having feet in tub, on the phone with a 24-hour nurse advice line and pharmacist, I went ahead and took 300 mg. The itching stopped within 2 hours. This was a freaking nightmare ! So I am weaning myself off. The doctor who prescribed this, who I spoke with the following day, said...well..stop taking it. Doesn't make sense because when I stopped that's when the extreme itching happened. It's crazy. I'm weaning myself off and taking Benadryl. I also got some hydrocortisone cream. There are scabs on the top of my foot from scratching. No more. I've been on anti-depressants for over 10 years now and I want to stop ALL OF THEM. Within 2 weeks, I should be "clean". Just know that this itching...was so intense I was crying and screaming because there was no relief.

The first time I went on Wellbutrin, I had a really bad reaction to it. I had insomnia, horrible tremors, apathy, I felt like I was walking around in a cloud. I went on to try other medications. Now I'm taking a combination of Prozac and Wellbutrin and it seems to be working. My depression is under control. I don't have the apathy or zombie feeling anymore, but I do still have the tremors, though they aren't as bad. I get some mild insomnia, but taking it in the morning helped with that, and lately I've found that a little bit of coffee in the morning (not too much, don't need to be MORE shaky) helps with a lot of my side effects. I do have the confusion and concentration issues too. It hasn't caused any severe problems, it only seems to really happen in casual conversation, where I'll completely forget what I wanted to say. It's annoying, but way better than depression, and not severe enough for me to stop.
To those people who are telling others to stay away from this drug, or any drug for that matter, don't forget that there is a reason there are so many different kinds of anti-depressants. Everybody's body chemistry is different, so their gonna react in different ways. Also, the people who don't have issues with side effects rarely go looking for sites like this....
Just something to think about.

help ........... I just now broke a Wellbutrin SR pill in half and took it. .... ** What is going to happen ?? I am scared.

I saw a website that says: "Do not crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablet (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban SR). Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time."

I just now decided to start taking again after 3 years because i have been having anxiety and can't stand it anymore !!

I am a pack a day smoker too. 46 year old male.

Well my experience with Wellbutrin has been better than that with Lexipro which i was on for a month as well . I have been taking Wellbutrin for about a month now at 150 mg's. I am 15 years old and am on it for ptsd,depression,and anxiety I've been experiencing really vivid and horrific nightmare, mostly centered around cuts on my body and hurting my loved ones, it was really concerning me so I asked my psychiatrist about it, he recommended that I switch to different med's . So if any of you are experiencing what I am you might want to concider that option. Wish me luck on my path to a long awaited relief

Has anyone had long term side effects after taking Wellbutrin. I was on ot for two years it helped with my anxiety and energy levels a lot. When the doctor put my dose to 300 mg I had severe muscle pain and swelling in hands, feet, ankles, legs it went down after I went back to 150mg. I tried to up my dose but the same thing happened. After two years of wellbutrin I developed severe headaches feels more like head pressure so I went off wellbutrin. would still have muscle pain and swelling from time to time. started developing severe pain in legs and now everywhere along with muscle twitches and muscle loss. I now am 32 and have severe memory problems and no doctor knows what is going on with me. Has anyone had anything like this or heard of anyone with these problems.

I have been taking Wellbutrin 200mg daily for about 2 weeks. I have taken prozac, which made me very violent, I've taken paxil and quit taking it when I got pregnant, and I've taken Zoloft, which worked wonderfully for me. Then, there is the Wellbutrin. When I first started it, I was tired and out-of-it. I figured I would give it a few days for my body to adjust. Now, I am tired, out-of-it, restless, annoyed at everyone, don't want to be touched, nervous, scared, emotional roller coaster, constant headache, muscle aches, stomach upset, smells are very pronounced, and to top it off, I thought I could quit smoking....but turns out I want to smoke more, however, they taste like crap, and smell even worse! I think I am going back to the doctor to switch back to zoloft. Wish I would have never started taking Wellbutrin!

Started 9 days ago. 150 once a day.
Haven't smoked. Insomnia teh last 2 days were AWFUL!
Horrendous nightmares when i did fall asleep for 20 minutes.
Anxiety last 2 nights were painfully scary.
Is it really worth it to take this stuff?
Tylenol pm doesn't seem to work well for me when I am on Wellbutrin.
I have had more energy and the eating goes back an forth. One day I will eat anything I can get my hands on. Next day i hardly eat at all.
Email me. ******
Thank you.
Kat

I've been taking Wellbutrin 200 mg at night for migraines, along with a low dose high blood pressure med in morning, these prescribed by my neurologist to combat migraines, which I was getting 15-20- times a month. I don't suffer depression or high blood pressure, but this seemed to work well for first 4-5 months. Only a few migraines in all that time, but she just increased me to 300 mg in morning instead because migraines are back. I had dry mouth, vivid nightmares, rapid heart beat that would wake me up middle of night, startled when I woke up, urgency to pee very often, them have to force it out, and have lost 10 pounds, which I didn't need to lose. Increased energy,less anxiety, and nightmares aren"t as bad, but am afraid will get worse on increased dose. But it worked for my migraines for 4-5 months wonderfully, and I've suffered for 20 years plus. Thought this might be helpful to someone out there>

INCREASED APPETITE!! My doctor took me off anxiety medicine and put me on Wellbutrin XL. I've been on it for two days and I have a constant headache, can't get out of bed because I'm so tired, and my appetite was so big that I ate enough calories for 3 adults. I weigh 120 lbs and don't plan on gaining anymore weight. I called my doctor regarding the side effects and he said "stop taking it". Of course I'm not a doctor, but this is the first "depression" medication I've been on and don't feel I am a depressed person. Maybe my doctor is a quack.

I posted a while back about some terrible hives I had. I continued to take the medication and the hives stopped. I love the way this helps with my anxiety. I do feel a bit forgetful and dreams are odd sometimes. I mentally feel better than I have in 36 years....Didn't realize how full of compulsive behaviors I was. If you get the hives take benedryl. Mine cleared up after a few days.

Oh yeah, the weight loss is subtle. I have been on it about 2 months and have lost a bit of weight but it is the complusions to eat I am free from.

I've been on Wellbutrin with a lot of success for almost 8 years now. It took several weeks of experimenting to find the right dose. Too much or too little had similar effects increasing my anxiety. Missed does constantly exaserbated the problem until I started XL. Shortly after starting I noticed a change in my sexual response --it just took a lot more to "get me going." That subsided somewhat after awhile, but I've also used Viagra about half the time. My mood improved but continued to fluctuate. My Dr. added a small dose of Zoloft a few years ago and I noticed a significant improvement in mood. Finally, a small dose of Ritiln had a major effect on a root ADD problem. I have felt more stable, confident and productive ever since. However, my sexual responses has decreased again in recent months. Viagra has even become unrreliable. I am going to ask the Dr about going off Zoloft, but talk of permanent effects are worrisome. PS; regarding hair--not a big problem, though it is thinner now since 1999. Never mind that i'm 52 now!

I have been taking wellbutrin XL 150mg for two months. I have had a small improvement in that shaky feeling and anxiety. However I had the experience of missing one tablet and that day I felt really weird. I felt like soulless, with no feelings at all, I even told things to my mother I felt guilty about. I know it had to do with the medication. I kept taking it. Right now, I plan to take it one addition al month then stop taking it. My doctor recommended me to start taking it one day in-between for the last month in order to wash it out properly. Let's hope that that soulless feeling doesn't take over...

I have been on Bupropion SR for about a month now. I had severe depression stemming from past incidents that I was unable to get over on my own. I started at 150 mg once a day and the first 2 days I felt nothing. The third day I caught myself grinning and laughing! However, on the 5th day, my doctor upped it to 150 mg twice a day. After the fourth day of that I started feeling irritable and tired. After a week of it I started feeling dizzy, nausea, anxiety, shaky, and just generally weird. I went to a different doctor and told her the symptoms and she reduced me to 100 mg twice a day. The dizziness is gone but the irritability is still present although manageable if I just think before I speak. I also have lost about 5 pounds. I notice that some days I have no appetite and others I am ravenous. The worst side effect so far is the anxiety. I have never had it before and now when the least little event or conflict is present I start getting a churning feeling in my stomach and restlessness. As for insomnia, I do stay up too late but once I force myself into bed I pass right out. I get sleepy around 2:00pm which is when I take the second pill and sometimes can't stop myself from falling asleep at my computer at work. My dreams were more intense and lucid when I was on 300mg a day but they seem to have gone back to normal now.

Took this product for about 2 years. Had terrible problems with insomnia, ringing in ears, anxiety during that time. I liked the fact that I had lost about 2 sizes so I was reluctant to stop. When I did, even though I decreased the dosage very slowly, I had terrble withdrawl symptoms. Extreme hostility, agitation, up for days, suicidal thoughts (which I'd never felt before). The doctor had no idea what would help. I called Narcotics Anonymous and was told to drink lots of water, cranberry juice, walk, take hot baths and above all pray. It has been about three weeks now and the worst has passed, but my life was hell for about two of those weeks. I don't believe doctors give you the proper counseling when you get on/off these or any other meds. They are too busy writing prescritions and keeping the drug manufacturers fat and happy!

I've been on welbutrin sr for 8 years. and it has been a miracle drug for me. I have bi-polar disorder, so am limited in terms of types of anti-depressants. Last week I went to have my prescription refilled, and the pharmacy told me it was back-ordered. They suggested I try welbutrin xl, same dosage, but once a day instead of twice a day. My doctor approved it, and I took it for 4 days. I couldn't leave the house, my anxiety was so bad. I couldn't stay awake in the afternoon, and couldn't sleep at night. I had a constant headache, and palpitations. I'm convinced that if I had remained on it, I was headed for a manic episode; the first in 8 years. So I called the drugstore, and they procured my old prescription for me. Anyone else have this kind of experience?

I had been taking Wellbutrin SR 150 mg for about a month and two days ago I funneled one beer at a football game (I am in college) and i had a seizure. It was really scary. Before that, I was expiriencing very bad anxiety, ringing ears, and felt out of my element. It wasn't for me. But everyone has different expiriences. I just know mine wasnt a positive one.

it made me feel like i was in a box. I had no emotion at all. I did not care about repercussions of ill made desicions. I didnt eat for about 3 weeks at 100mg. my arms shook and i would sweat profusely. I would have a pain so severe in my chest, back and stomach that all i could do was lay on the floor and cry. My anxiety and panic attacks persisted even at 300mg. the shaking stopped and so did the pain but the box has apparently dissolved because of my excessive crying. Everything around me assualts me- apparently wellbutrin XL at 300mg quit doing its job. I slept for 12 hours at a time - sometimes 20, having no recolection of falling asleep or ever waking up. Short term memory is shot - memory in general is shot. My keys, and shoes, and books dissapear on a regular basis because i cant remember if they are on the table or in the bag even though i set them down not 2 minutes ago.

This drug is making me crazy, but for the first time in years I have energy. I was weaned off of Lexapro (only because we thought it may be the cause of my chronic fatigue)and onto 150 a day of Welbutrin. Supposed to go to 300 mg of Welbutrin there is no way I can increase. I have never had more anxieity in my life. I almost strangled my bird yesterday because he wouldn't shut up. I have heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Can't drink ANY caffeine or I spin out of control. It sure keeps my weight down, and the energy is great, but I was thinking of combining it with the Lexapro to see if the anxiety wanes. Anybody taking both Lexapro & Welbutrin?

I've been taking Effexor XR 75 for over a year. About 6 months ago, Dr added Wellbutrin XL150 to help with some of the sexual side effects Of the Effexor (no point in doing anything sexual as no arousal or orgasm. Minor Improvement with Wellbutrin, very minor. But began doubting benefit of Effexor so the DR had me cease taking Effexor (SLowly) and increased Wellbutrin XL to 300. I've been doing this for about 2weeks and have had only 3 days with no Effexor at all. Started having some nausea and headache but thought it was because I was quitting Effexor. Now that the Effexor is all gone, the nausea is almost continual getting worse as the day goes on. Have the dizziness and weird vision like another said "your eyes take a second to catch up to you". This is bad and I'm on this for axiety and depression. If anything is causing me anxiety its the way I'm feeling now with the drugs!! Its very depressing too.

This is my 3rd day of taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg prescribed for stress related anxiety. I am experiencing nausea, headache, very bad heartburn. I'm supposed to be on this for 7 days and then increase the dosage to 300mg. Gosh-- I don't think I'll be able to get out of bed. I think I'm more out of control now that I was before.

This is my 3rd day of taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg prescribed for stress related anxiety. I am experiencing nausea, headache, very bad heartburn. I'm supposed to be on this for 7 days and then increase the dosage to 300mg. Gosh-- I don't think I'll be able to get out of bad. I have also been prescribed Ambien to help me sleep.

I have been taking Wellbutrin generic 75mg for 5 days. Today...WOW!! I feel like I did 10 lines of cocaine. I feel so speedy and upbeat. I don't have any other bad side effects. I notice at night, I feel the need to stretch out my legs because I feel agitated. SO far so good. I think this stuff is a lot better then the SSRI's. I had horrible side effects and suicidal thoughts. My only curiousity is, why would my DR. put me on this if I have anxiety and not depression? Weird. I have an appointment with him today and I think I want to stay on this dose and see how it works for me. I don't want this Dr shrinking my brain. LOL I'm really scared about drinking on this.

Was on Lexapro for 1year, and gained weight, so I have been on 150mg for a week, I go to 300mg tomorrow. I am uncontrollably crying for no reason. (I am on this for Anxiety not depression.)I have a lack of concentration, forgetfullness, I have problems talking correctly. I feel sicky. My finace is going to move out I am driving him crazy. I feel worse than ever. My Dr. said I have to give it another week.

Hello-
I am new to these postings. I am very please to finally come across some informative information regarding Wellbutrin products and their side affects. I feel very compelled to share my experiences with you, as I am also a true believer that this medicine despite the side affects can still make me feel amazing!!
First, I am very sensitive to medications, even certain vitamins. I started out with Wellbutrin (Reg/75 mg twice a day), loved it, felt alert not depressed, worked very fast but also wore off very fast, I could not stay awake in between dosages. So, they tried me on Wellbutrin SR (150 mg once a day), a few times over the course of four years, I never felt so alive, confident, energized in my life!!! Not to mention the weight loss and no more grogginess from SSRI's. But, after time yes, those nasty bed ridden headaches came, and living on Tylenol/Advil Migraine just wasn't the answer. Loved it though! With all the positives it gave me. (weight loss, being alert, anxiety gone, depression gone). But, it always came to those headaches and the hot flashes, and sometimes flu like symptoms!!! I would always convince myself that it was going to be different and these won't occur this time around, but it always did. Now, facing the withdrawel affects from the SR medication was horrifying!!! (no more confidence, headaches, overwhelming feelings of anxiety, more so than ever before, ringing in my ears for days, nightmares).
My recent trail has been with Wellbutrin XL (150 mg daily). My doctor and pharmacist said I would love it! Everyone who's tried it has really enjoyed this new version. So, afraid to death of trying it do to those headaches and the thought of going through withdrawel again scared me so badly!!
My pharmacist said start out with 150 mg every other day to see if your system can tolerate it, so I did and thought WOW it's really working (keep in mind with Reg and SR versions I could feel a positive affect immediately) then take it daily, but by the eighth day, my head started to hurt so I ran for the Advil.
Something I found very interesting and scary was I exhausted, very slowed down, by evening couldn't eat enough food, ringing or more like pulling down sensation on my ear lobes, by the fourth day I seemed like I gained about 7-8 lbs. still more tired than before, and by the eighth day I had problems talking correctly and had no ambition of getting off the couch, all I do is sleep, sleep, sleep, or stare at my children and husband like I was all fogged up in "no man's land", and by the tenth day all of any heavy feeling in my head went to my left side of my head, face, lips, arm, leg, I have a continuous numbness on my left side of my body so I decided enough is enough!! It has been five days since I went cold turkey (which I know is not the smartest move) but this numbness scares me, I almost feel as if I went to the dentist to have a few fillings put in and they gave me way to much of their stuff! I actually feel a little better each day, all aside from the withdrawel flu-like symtoms I'm having. I have to lay down a few times a day to rest my head, only the left side has occasional shooting pain through it and the numbness is still on my left side of my body down to my toes. I pray this feeling will go away soon! Yet, I know the emotional withdrawel portion of taking XL verison is still ahead of me, I just cannot bare the thought of all those extreme side affects.
I would gladly deal with Wellbutrin (Reg) and feel alert, and sleepy in between dosages rather than this. Hell, I would gladly go back on Wellbutrin SR and really feel alive even with the headaches than to ever take a chance with Wellbutrin XL EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (heck, I would go back to Prozac and deal with the spaciness, and weight gain, sexual side affects!)
*******PLEASE, PLEASE, IF THERE IS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL ASAP*******
Thank for your time & sharing your experiences. I would love to hear from anyone who has had experience on these products, I still believe in them, but for whatever reason my brain/body cannot tolerate them............
Sincerely,
Tallie

my main side effect that i notice, and is also the most upsetting is my loss of creativity. I am an artist, and i have very little drive and
inspiration vor creating art. I use to have great mental images and detailed thoughts but now it is a lot harder for me. please email me if you have noticed the same effect that welbutrin has given you.

other side effects include-

light headedness on higher doses

a feeling of dissasosiation on higher doeses

lack of concentration on higher doeses

upset stomach on higher doses.

harder to fall asleep on higher doses, and combined with caffiene slight anxiety is present,

thats about all i can think of, but i am no longer depressed, which is great. I just wish i was my old self, and could be inspired to make art again.

that kinda sums it up

I have been on Wellbutrin for approx. 2 weeks. I was prescribed 150 mgs of Xl per day for major depression which I take before going to sleep. I have had some odd but not too severe side effects including vivid dreams (many extremely odd), bouts of nausea which can be severe and seem to last about 1-2 hrs. I have not noticed too much anxiety but some agitation upon waking int he morning. No memory loss or fatigue and my sleep seems to be ok. I have also had a few mild headaches.

Have been on Wellbutrin, extended release , 150-300mg day. I had experienced minimal side effects but other than that the drug was great. However, I have recently been experiencing confusion, anxiety, dry mouth, shaking, disorientation, numbness and insomnia.
It would be good for anyone taking this medication to read studies on it. I was really suprised by some of the side effects. Good Luck to everyone

Been on Wellbutrin for almost six weeks. Started off with XL150 for the first two weeks and the last 3.5 weeks on xl 300. Have had a few side effects such as minor weight loss, cigarettes are starting to taste really foul, and over all I have a much better mood and attitude towards life. My doctor also prescribed me Xanax 0.5 for anxiety. I'm really enjoying the combo of the two. The last two weeks I've been under the care of a psychiatrist for severe depressive disorder. I'm starting to feel hopeful that I can once again feel good. I've been in a deep depression for the past two years since the death of my mother.