Wellbutrin and buproprion

Everyone should note which brand they are using: Wellbutrin brand name, Budeprion, or Bupropion. I recently started taking Budeprion and about 3 weeks into it, my hair started falling out; every morning after my shower, about 10 strands are in my hand. However, I have taken BUPROPION on 2 occasions over the past 10 years, and I NEVER had any side effects and definitely no hair loss. Walgreens decided to fill my Wellbutrin prescription with Budeprion because that's what they carry. I had to ask them to order BUPROPION from their warehouse (Same dosage, Same price). I am convinced that the hair loss I'm experiencing is from this other generic branch, Budeprion. So you all may want to try a different generic and see what happens. With Budeprion, I have also been having horrible headaches all day; which I don't remember experiencing with the BUPROPION. At any rate, this message board has been a relief and a big help on this issue (I bought some Biotin yesterday to try to regrow some of the hair I've lost over the past 2 weeks).

I am taking the generic Bupropion at 300mg per day. I went up in dosage to 300 last month, I'm about 1 week in to my 2nd refill on the 300mg. I am having TERRIBLE side affects right now. At this moment I'm at work trying to concentrate on even saying the right words on the phone - I have no sick time left so I can't go home - my hearing is jacked up. Things fade out and then come back so loud. I feel as if I'm drifting off to sleep and things get quiet and then WHAM someone will say something to me and it's so loud like someone woke me up from a nap. My vision is a little blurry, and I can't remember things. Fortunately I can get away with this for another day at my job, I started feeling like this yesterday, just today started thinking it was my med. I'm not on any other meds. I'm dizzy too. The worst part is I can't remember conversations. At the time of, I know what I'm saying though slower, but if I'm having a lengthy conversation I will probably forget what you said at the beginning. The confusion is what makes me the most upset. Things that I know, little things like someones phone extension, I can't remember and have to look up. The weird thing is all these symptoms come in waves. I'll have a moment of 'normalness' and then right back into the symptoms. I'm even having trouble typing right now. - I'm not hungry and after reading this site I now know why I'm itching all over.

I got on this website looking for a 'quick fix' like eating a big meal, but see I'm going to have to rough it out another day here in la la land. Wellbutrin was working for me in the beginning, 150 mg for 2 months, increased energy, good attitude etc, then wore off a little so we uped it to 300mg. I'm going to go dwn in dosage, try taking the 150mg tomorrow and see how I feel. I hope this wears off!! I am curious to know if you can cut the dosage of 300mg pill Buproprion to 150 by cutting it in half? I just got that refill so I was wondering. Today is going to be so rough! I went straight to bed yesterday after work and guess I will be doing the same tonight. Oh great, my coworker just asked if I was "ok" because I'm being so quiet. Yikes. I've read this email about 5 times to make sure I don't repeat myself since I can't remember!

I am experiencing severe hair loss - I was on Wellbutrin XL for a year and a half with no side effects, then changed doctors and we prescribed the generic, bupropion. That is when my marked hair loss began. I then switched to Lexapro, but felt like a zombie, and so went back to the bupropion hoping that it was a vitamin deficiency that was causing my hair loss and not the med. But, with all sorts of supplements, my hair continues to thin - I used to have thick, healthy shiny hair, and now cannot bear to touch my head because it is so upsetting to have lost so much hair.
Has anyone else experienced NOT losing hair on the brand name Wellbutrin, then switching to the generic and losing hair? I don't want to give up the med because it has worked so well for my depression, but I don't want to loose my hair either. HELP!!
Thanks!

I've been on Bupropion XL 300 mg (Generic Wellbutrin) for almost 3 months.Overall I feel much better than before.I can cope with lifes issues without freaking,I'm a better mother to my girls.I haven't had any major side effects such as hives or hair loss,however I do notice occasional bouts of anxiety.Tightness in the chest.My libido all but disappeared after having my second child and I'm only 30 years old.I was hoping the Wellbutrin would help but it's really made no difference.Aaargh! But at least I don't have to suffer the depression and guilt due to lack of sex drive and the monotony of everyday living.I'm living my life again...And my hair has never looked better!

Initially, my doc told me to take 300mg every am, initially 150mg for a wk,then increase the dose to 300mg total, 150am/pm. Had the initial wt loss of 5-7lbs, also had headache the first week, insomnia, awake almost 18hrs a day, little rested sleep and constipation.
I continued with xanax, docs didn't want this, Rx'd Remeron, that didn't do anything the 1st night, 2nd night bad sleep with vivid dreams of being buried semi alive with other people and having dirt tossed onto us. we were too weak to climb out of the ditch. Too much news these days. 3rd night w Remeron awake all night, 4th night, nothing, continued Wellbutrin. Remeron was started about 2 wks into the Wellbutrin dose.
I was out of Wellbutrin because the pharmacy would not refill due to insurance and I had to get a new Rx because of the increase in the dose.60 pills you figure. MD rx'd a "purple" buproprion, took 1 of them, stopped that immediately because of the nasty nicotinic taste and my tongue felt burned also. Got another rx for the previous bupropion 150mg to be taken twice daily. I had been off the white (first)pill for about 7-14 days by then.
Restarted white 150mg, again the headache, ear ringing, decreased appetite and agitation stimulus, insomnia and beginning to get fatigued from lack of deep sleep. I have an underlying very serious resp condition that this medication began to make worse because of the above symptoms. All of the above symptoms gradually worsened by the days I continued to take this medication. I began to have nausea and could not even think about taking anymore of the buproprion, the thought of it made me ill. I was rx'd it for depression, I am not a smoker,never have been, don't use illicit drugs and am a Registered Nurse.
It began to incapacitate me as I had no interest in anything, I felt weak from the anorexia, insomnia and dehydration, urine was becoming dark yellow. couldn't stand to have anything in my stomach. I had to throw away food, also.
I began having bilateral jaw pain, felt exhausted and had trouble with fine motor skills, was restless/agitated and very constipated. I had to force myself to eat. I took this med for approximately 3 months, but it never did reach the "therapeutic" stage of 4 wks total until the last month because of the Rx interruptions. I stopped it cold because, the jaw soreness was from bruxism or teeth grinding/clenching and I began having large muscles pains and smaller muscle(eye) twitching, I had itching all over , stinging sensations like little fire crackers in my calves, and all previous sore spots became irritated and inflammed. Stopping this med suddenly is only for the brave and you need other meds to get through the withdrawal. It's supposed to have a 33hr half life. It took 1 month for this junk to get out of my system. I felt better the first few days as I was able to eat, drink and get a better sleep. I had to take xanax for sleep, motrin, tramadol, aspirin alternate with motrin, tylenol XS for the muscle pains. zantac, benedryl for the stomach acidity along with Tums. I requested an Rx for Compazine supp. didn't use initially although had bad nausea, it progressed to vomiting for over a week atleast once daily or for some reason at night. I took prednisone 40mg on a taper dose. My lungs became dry as did urine/bowel. I had to take Colace to ease the constipation. My body readjusted to it's old self and now I'm even more angry. I would have gotten through the depression on my own. The vomiting stopped last week, have regained appetite, although did crave sweets/salty/water/milk/protein and green vegetables, etc I took multi vits, and Kefir yogurt drink to restore gut.The reason I'm here is because I, too, just made the connection, I noticed the hair thinning, not just with texture, but along the hairline and scalp.I bought Women's Rogaine tonight. I experienced the symptoms that others wrote about also. I hope the Rogaine works. I will never take this medication again,the muscle rigidity in my thighs/legs and jaw clenching was so repetitive, I was exhausted, even when I willfully tried relaxation, I noticed very quickly the cycling of the muscle tone and it would get tighter and tighter. you can write to glaxo smith kline or go to wellbutrin.com and the FDA to make a complaint. They pulled this drug off the market once before. There is nothing well about Wellbutrin is what I say.
sunnytoo

Have had two back to back ER visits because of severe hives on Buproprion (generic wellbutrin). Had been taking it for a little over two weeks. Was told that the wellbutrin couldn't be the cause (is the only drug I was taking) and it must be due to my CHRISTMAS TREE...uh-huh. But I'm a good sport, kept taking the drug even on the day I was in the ER. Hives go down by the first evening but after a shot of benadryl and steroids which knocks me out for the rest of the day. Next day I take oral benadryl, clariton, prescribed steroids, and use hydrocortizone cream (all recommended in ER), new hives but little...end of day, can barely walk because feet and thighs are one big hive. Ears, mouth, shoulders, arms, in between fingers....hives. BACK to the ER (lovely Christmas eve) and am told by a new Doc that it was stupid to keep taking the buproprion. This time more shots don't help. The hives keep coming for several more hours. It's the next day and they have gone down some but were so bad that I have been left with dark bruises in various locations. Yuck.

I had had some initial side effects that were pretty mild and all went away after the first nine days (insomnia, headache, dry mouth) but I will not be waiting to see if my airway stops constricting after a few more days of treatment. So...ouch.