Wellbutrin and hives

I was prescribed generic Wellbutrin two weeks ago today. I took it for 10 days with no problems except mild headache, mostly pressure. I felt great even after only 10 days and had tons of energy. I know it usually takes 3-6 weeks for the full effects but I was already happy after only 10 days. I thought this was a miracle drug. On the 11th day I had a few hives on my inner thighs and on my chest but I didn't think too much of it. On the 12th morning I had tons on my thighs, entire torso from abdomen to chest, shoulders upper arms, neck and back. I even took pictures to show my doc of the ones of my back. I tried to get in touch with my doc which was this past Wednesday 5/27/09 but his office closed early that day. I then called my pharmacist. He told me to go to the ER immediately. He asked if I was having shortness of breath and I told him I couldn't tell if it was related to meds because I am prone it anxiety and I was a bit anxious about the hives all over. I went to the ER and they gave me a shot of Solu-Medrol (a steroid) in the hip and but me on a steroid (prednisone) pack for 6 days. I only took the prednisone that Wednesday night. Yesterday (Thursday the hives were visible but soo much better, and today (Friday) they are completely gone. I am so disappointed that I had this reaction because I loved taking buporion (generic wellbutrin). I wonder if it's just the generic that does it because I read someone else say that the name brand didn't give them hives but the generic did. I will have to check in to that. The ER doc told me to stop taking so my last does was Wednesday morning. (ohhh by the way I was on 150mg once in morning and once at night, so 300mg/day and I was on the wellbutrin SR kind)

Been on Wellbutrin for almost 6 weeks now. Last week I started having a really itchy scalp, no flakes, just itchy and then bumps would appear where I had itched. My vaginal area was also itchy and I treated myself for a yeast infection unknowingly. This past weekend I broke out in what I now know was hives (urticaria angioedema). First my left ankle swelled (3 inches) and looked like it was sprained, but instead it was super itchy and then became achy and painful. Within 24 hours that ankle went down but the other side swelled up so badly that I had pitting edema in my ankle and could leave dents in it. The third day, still with constant scalp and ear itching, i developed hives and large welts on my inner thighs as well as a large welt on my shoulder. I have been taking benadryl, which seems to help the itching for a little, but not for long enough. Yesterday I was at work and my butt started to itch so badly I had to leave. I had developed huge welts in the creases between my leg and butt right were one sits on a chair! Huge 3-4 inches. I was so uncomfortable. My thumb also had swelled up and I could not move my left hand without burning itch and pain. I finally called the doctor and set up an appointment.
I was told to take benadryl 25-50mg, zantac 150mg twice a day, and Zyrtec once a day to control the hives. This has helped a bit.
When I saw the doctor today and we went over everything, the ONLY change in months has been the addition of the Wellbutrin. I am going to stop taking it today and since my story sounds much like the ones below hopefully this will improve before my eyes or throat swell! Thanks for all your posts.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin by my Ob/Gyn for S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The actual prescription allowed for generic and I started out taking 150mg of Bupropion a day. I felt like this was too much as during the day I was fine, but at night I would get very jittery and almost manic. So I called to find out about cutting it down to 75 mg, just once a day instead of twice. I was fine but noticed in the last few days my neck and chin started itching really badly. Yesterday I made the connection that the hives appeared approximately one to two hours after I took my one dose. I took my meds at around 1:00 p.m. and by 5:30 I noticed fairly predominant hives on my neck and chin. I treated it with hydrocortisone cream and it went away. Today I did not take any meds at all and I have no hives or itching of any kind. I am sure it is from the meds because absolutely nothing else has changed in my life (soap, foods, etc.). If there is anything else that gives the same desired results for S.A.D. but without all the crazy side effects please let me know so I can ask my doctor. Thanks.

I started the generic form of wellbutrin 2 weeks ago. Today I have a few hives. To those of you who have had a hive reaction, were you taking wellbutrin or the generic version?

I was prescribed the wellbutrin for anger related to quitting smoking, took it for 10 days with no problem, then BAM.. huge hives all over my body. Broke out on Saturday, Sunday they were worse, Monday it looked like i had Chemical burns over 60 percent of my body. Went to the doctor, was prescribed steroids, zantac, and ataban. within 6 hours of taking the steroids, hives were down, it is now Tuesday, 3 days after first outbreak, my skin is still pink where the hives were. Apparently we are in the 6 percentile that get hives with wellbutrin.

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!

I have been taking Bupropion XL 150mg ("generic" Wellbutrin) once a day as a mood stabilizer everyday for exactly 2 weeks. I suddenly developed severe itching in random different areas on my body. My lower scalp, palms of my hands, and ankles were the first areas that itched but did not have any obvious marks on the skin as to what was causing it. About 3 hours later it became progressively worse and started showing tiny red raised areas in the previously stated places on my body and started to spread to my neck, wrists, mid-chest below my breasts, behind my knees, and upper thighs near the front panty lines, but even worse on my lower back.

I was becoming a bit scared and annoyed by the constant itching and the hives that were forming in those areas. I had never in my life had hives before. The bottoms of my feet were so itchy but they did not have any hives on them, they just itched! I took 2 benadryl and tried to sleep but woke up quite a bit during the night because of itching.

By morning, the hives were worse and especially on the back of my neck where it was swollen and red and I could not even bend my head back. My face was slightly swollen and my eyes were puffy as well. My right palm was so swollen and painful and I could not make a fist.

I called my doctor but he was on vacation, so I had to talk to a message service he had set up in his absence!
I went to the emergency walk-in care center near my home and was evaluated by a physician who concluded that all this was actually due to the Wellbutrin which I myself found hard to believe and wanted to deny it in my mind. He ordered me to stop taking it and prescribed all sorts of drugs to counteract the hives and itching.

I am writing this only about 9 hours after seeing the emergency physician and have had some rest and taken my prescribed medicines, Medrol ( a steroid-type drug) to treat the swelling, Hydroxyz hcl for the itching, Allegra for allergy, and Zantac for the side effects (stomach pain) of all these drugs I now have to take for a while!
The swelling has gone down a bit and itching has subsided somewhat. In conclusion I must note, that it was the pharmacy's decision to substitute the Wellbutrin my doctor had prescribed with a "generic" version (bupropion) that is still so new to the market and is still undergoing studies on human subjects. We are the guinea pigs and did not even know it.

After about three weeks of taking the generic form of Welbutrin, I too broke out in a horrible case of hives. They started on my trunk and migrated all over my body. After two miserable days, I went to a redi med clinic late one night because I couldn't take the itching. The doctor said it wasn't the Wellbutrin, said it might be some type of allergic reaction to something else. They gave me steroid shot and sent me home with a steroid pack of pills to take over the course of a week. Three days later, no sign of the hives going away or becoming less irritated. Found some relief using the Target version of Gold Bond powder and benadryl every four hours. That's when I found this site. I immediately stopped taking the Wellbutrin and guess what? Twelve hours after I skipped my Wellbutrin dose, the hives were 80% gone. Today, 36 hours since the last Wellbutrin pill, the hives are almost all the way gone. This should certainly be listed as a possible side effect! I have never been so miserable in my life with itching!! If you have hives and are on Wellbutrin tell your doctor!

I'm 27 years old and finally admitted to myself that I am depressed. My doctor put me on Wellbutrin XL. 150mg for the first week then 300mg ever since. My first week on 300mg I was extremely anxious, shaky, tightness in chest, couldn't sleep for days, etc. I started to split up my does. I took one pill in the morning and one about 5pm. This helped a lot. By week three I felt wonderful and decided to go back to taking both pills at the same time. Again, I felt great. By the Friday of my 3rd week, I began having hives like crazy. I have been living on Benadryl and Ibuprofen for the pain. Today is day 3 of hives and I am once again plastered. I also have extreme pain in my feet, to the point where I can barely walk. My hands (knuckles) and my knees are also tight and sore, but no where's as bad as my feet. I believe that my body may be very sensitive to this drug now. I have experienced just about every other side effect, but I pushed through it and they went away. Wellbutrin has been amazing for my mood and I am very sad at the thought that I may have to go off of it. Are the hives something that I can just push through or is the inevitable about to happen and I will be forced to stop using this drug?

I started Wellbutrin in the beginning of December. Someone very close to me passed away and I developed severe anxiety with some depression. I took some control of it with simply taking Ativan, but the doctor insisted I get on something for depression as well. I didn't really understand why I need to take a pill when I was just fine before this event.... but ok, I agreed.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I was optimistic about it. She said it might improve my focus, give me some energy back, had no sexual side effects.

I took it in the morning, and usually with at least something in my stomach. The first 3 days of taking it, I was severely unstable. I think if I didn't have my boyfriend, I would be dead right now. I would cry uncontrollably, for no reason, pace, have terrible anxiety... I remember going through my closet, throwing things around, looking for a belt, throwing a few on the bed and taking one and tightening it around my neck.. I then walked around and was looking for a place to hang myself.. Luckily my boyfriend got home because he had a bad feeling about what was happening with me... otherwise I, to this day, do not know what I would have done.

After the first 3 days... things sort of calmed down... sometimes I would feel "better" in little spurts the first week.

I also had my sex drive for the first 2 weeks and it was good. I still wasn't "happy" but the medication wasn't doing any significant harm.

In the 3rd week, I lost interest in nearly everything. I didn't want to step foot outside. I stopped talking to my family, stopped answering my phone, I would lay in bed for hours, thinking of depressive things. I began eating, a lot. Constantly. Which shocked me since it is supposedly supposed to suppress appetite. I stopped going to school.

In the 4th week, and last, things gradually, and then quite suddenly just went downhill. It started with me becoming very agitated, snapping at everyone. My mental clarity was out the window. When someone said something, it took me a long time to register it, if I ever did. Sometimes my boyfriend would look at me after saying something and I would realize, oh my god, he said something... I really didn't hear/listen anymore. I was brain dead to everything except these horrible thoughts of just wanting to die. As the days progressed in the 4th week, I became more and more depressed. If I had to describe it, I would say it was a mental breakdown. I would cry hysterically over nothing. Absolutely nothing. I couldn't think of a single reason. I would start to cry while brushing my hair, while eating, sitting, watching a movie... I would cry 20 or more times a day. I really wanted to die because I could not bear it anymore. I felt like this was the end and it was going to end.. I wanted to inflict injury on myself, but focused my thoughts on more "permanent" damage -- suicide. I became obsessed with buying a gun. I swear if I had one, I would not be here. I would hit myself, all over my legs, while sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. Days later my boyfriend would ask where the bruises came from because it would be in such a weird area that there was no way i walked into something... and I would tell him I had no idea, and I didn't..... until later I realized it was me, hitting myself.... I felt very depersonalized. I felt unpredictable and I felt that I was not sure what I was going to do next, I was afraid of myself and very paranoid. I lost my appetite and never wanted to eat, thinking of food made me nauseous. I felt sick to my stomach. My anxiety was through the roof. My mind wouldn't stop spinning with thoughts, repetitive... until eventually it lead to another breakdown.

With my luck, it reached it's worst around the new year when everything was closed and I couldn't get a hold of anybody. I desperately called mental emergency facilities but all they said they could do was commit me for at least 72 hours and I didn't want that. I just wanted this to end, NOW, not be trapped in another hell hole. My mental doctor was closed so I tried to see my primary care and he was too afraid to mess with anything and told me to double my ativan dosage (WHAT! Because of Wellbutrin, I went from taking .5 or less mg of ativan a day to taking 2mg or more and still, it barely did anything!), so I went to the ER, and they did nothing, except tell me that the only way to help me would be if I went to a hospital for 72 hours. I said NO. It is ridiculous to allow someone to get this bad, and to not help them immediately, instead leave it up to them, to either be placed in some state run down mental facility or kill themselves that day.

I got a hold of my doctor the next day and she switched it immediately.

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.

I have been on Wellbutrin for about 4 weeks for depression. About three days ago, I developed an extremely itchy scalp, which ran down my neck and everywhere else. I have huge welt like hives all over my body and they "move" from area to area. I am going to the doctor tomorrow to find out what is going on with me. My depression is better, but not worth this horrible rash.

After taking wellbutrin xl 150 mg. for 2 weeks, my 13 year old son broke out in large red hives that over the course of the last few days have covered his body from head to toe. He has joint pain and is itching like crazy. Doctor prescribed prednisone and he's also taking benadryl. Doctor thought the hives could be a virus but doesn't seem so given all of these posts. He's stopped taking the wellbutrin today. The wellbutrin was so helpful for his depression but the hives are horrible. Any idea how long the hives will last?

I have been taking the generic form of Wellbutrin (social anxiety with a touch of ADHD) for just over six months and as much as I hate to admit it, I believe that the bad is finally, convincingly, outweighing the good.
The good things that came along with 150mg of the SR every morning at 11:00: Weight loss (but only after an initial one month period of eating every form or carbohydrate I could find), it seems to brighten the whites of my otherwise cloudy eyes, helped me maintain conversations with people that I would have normally cut off early, and possibly--but only possibly--helps me focus (although the hyper focus that I used to get via the ADHD is gone. Completely. Non-existent.)
Which brings me to the bad: This goes against most of what I've read other people experience on Wellbutrin but lethargy has set in. And it feels like it's here to stay. It's not really a sedated lethargy but more of a false contentment that everything is just fine the way it is. No progression, no improvement, and looking to the future is almost impossible through the fog. I too, during the first two or three weeks, had the speedy, productive reaction to the medication. But that has subsided. Next, hair loss has become a concern. I'm in my thirties and it could be just how it goes but I truly doubt it. Mild constipation may seem bearable but I miss regularity more than I have time to describe. Ringing in the ears. Impaired memory. Confusion. Forgetfulness to a fault. Mild hives on the back. Irritability. A marked shortness of breath. After one month on Wellbutrin, I could barely run a mile on the treadmill when I've been accustomed to flying through three to five with ease. I feel weak, vulnerable even. Working out has therefore fallen to the wayside. And last, but probably the worst, this medication has seemed to cultivate a serious craving for other drugs. I can't explain it but I can't take it anymore either.
Like most people on a medication, I have read numerous posts and some people share some of my concerns but mostly, it seems that the people who report in are the speedy folks on day two or week two. That is, in my opinion, only a bit helpful, since these effects are usually short-lived. Wellbutrin started out with promise but while parts of me look into the mirror and see an improvement, underneath it all, I know that it is purely a nicely dressed form of prescribed avoidance.
I haven't posted this to discourage anyone. If it works for you--great. Really. But I also haven't read anyone's experience that matched my own so I figured it might help someone who is going through any of the same. Good luck.

I AM SO RELIEVED TO HEAR ALL OF THIS. MY LIFE HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND SHAKEN UP SO BAD FROM THESE HORRIBLE HIVES. TOOK WELLBUTRIN XL 150MG FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEN WENT UP TO 300MG ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER NOW THIS! I AM SO MISERABLE. MY ARMS HURT, MY HEAD FEELS LIKE I HAVE BUGS ALL OVER IT, AND THE HIVES ARE EVERYWHERE. THINGS THAT ARE HELPING ME COPE- AVEENO OATMEAL BATH IN LUKE WARM WATER (NOT HOT!) BENADRYL CAPSULES, AND BENADRYL CREME. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR TWICE AND WAS AT THE ER LAST NIGHT DUE TO TIGHT CHEST AND THROAT. WAS TOLD I HAD HIVES INSIDE ON MY ASSOPHAGIS (spelling? lol) ALSO. SO SCARY. I AM PRAYING THEY GO AWAY SOON.

I've been on Wellbutrin for about 4 years. I suffer with allergies but have not developed any new ones for about 15 years or so. Now in the last 18 months I've developed 5 new allergies to Latex, adhesives, strawberries, etc. it's very frightening. Now wondering if it's the long-term use of this drug because right away it made my body more "hyper-sensitive" all around like sense of smell, hives and joint pain. Anyone else having, or had, this experience with this drug?

This is the 3rd time I have been on Wellbutrin. Once in 1999, then in 2004, and just started taking it again 3 months ago. The first two times I took it I had joint pain and a lot of muscle inflammation. This go around is different... Just recently, within the past few weeks, I started breaking out with hives, after taking it with no problems for three months! Started on my head and progressively got worse. I break out all over my body, head, legs, back, hands, etc. For some reason it seems to happen more frequently when I lay down in my bed to go to sleep (weird!) One other scary side affect is, I frequently stop breathing when I start to fall asleep, and wake up gasping for air. Has anyone else experienced this?
Since I had never experienced problems with hives the first few times I was on Wellbutrin, I didn't think it was the medication causing the hives. So, I cut my dose in half (50mg/day). The hives didn't go away, so I stopped taking it all together 3 days ago, but still continue to get hives. Does anyone know how long it takes to get it out of your system?

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.

after 3 weeks on the meds(300mg once a day), started itching in the back of my head,which then started behind my arms.I decided to take benedryl,which relieved some. Rash was huge hives,and ictched horribly. I dont think i need a dr. to tell me this isn't workin. after reading these posts I quit, before something else happens. P.s still smokin,and very forgetful!

I have been on wellbutrin for 3 weeks (to quit smoking) broke out with horrible hives went to ER he said it was NOT from wellbutrin. I need to follow up with Doctor but I am afraid they will take me off wellbutrin. Hives are mostly gone. Continue to have some itching. I like the way I have been feeling and starting to smoke less and less.

I've been on Wellbutrin for 8 years. After reading this forum I seriously question wether if I am the forgetful person that I've become. It's been so long since I've been clear-headed, but I know that as a child I had an extrodinary memory. Because this has viably been a side-effect that has existed for 8 years, I learned to believe that it was who I was. 2 years previous to starting Wellburtin failed in an sucicide attempt and thought that it could be from that. But because of overwhelming anxiety and hives,my doctor has upped my dose from 150mg to 300mg daily. Now I'm noticing that I can't remember chuncks of time. Trying to replaying an event in my mind and realize that I don't what happened after...and which roads I drove on to get home. It's a daily occurence. I will set everything out to take to school, but forget to grab the stuff. Laundry takes me days, because I constantly forget to change loads. I get distracted easily and don't know what I was doing or simply forget that I was doing something. 3 times while writing this I forgot what my next sentence was going to be. I always feel like I'm in a brain fog anymore. My greatest fear is that Wellburtin is the only one in it's class. I tried Paxil, Prozac, Effexor and had horrible side effect. So is it Wellbutrin or nothing? Does anyone know or have suggestions of other meds? When someone hurts me, I usually can't remember it long enough to mad ever again. I also have severe migranies, but not sure if thy're are related.

WELL I HAVE BEEN READING EVERYONES SIDE EFFECTS THAT THEY CLAIM TO HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE BEING ON WELLBUTRIN.FIRST OF ALL WELLBUTRIN IS A VERY EFFECTIVE DRUG FOR DEPRESSION AS WELL AS BEING PROVEN TO HAVE SOME OF THE FEWEST SIDE EFFECTS OF ALL ANTI-DEPRESSANTS.THIS DRUG DOES NOT CAUSE SEIZURES,WHAT IT DOES IS LOWER SEIZURE THRESHOLDS,WHICH MEANS IF YOURE PRONE TO SEIZURE(LIKE STOPPING DRINKING WHILE ON IT)YOU MAY HAVE A SEIZURE.IF YOU SEIZURE WHILE ON THIS MED ITS BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE A CONDITION THAT YO ARE EVEN UNAWARE OF THAT MAKES YOU PRONE TO SEIZURES,WHEN AN ALCOHOLIC DRYS OUT THEY ARE PRONE TO SEZIURE SO IF ON THIS MED THEY ARE ACTUALLY TOLD TO NOT STOP DRINKING.EACH PERSON IS DIFFERENT IN CHEMICAL MAKE UP,SO WHAT ONE HAS AS SIDE EFFECTS OTHERS MAY NOT.IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU ALL HAVE READ POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND HAVE CONVIENCED YOUR SELF YOU HAVE THEM.EVERY DRUG HAS A SIDE EFFECT BECAUSE ITS NOT NATURAL IN THE BODY.HOW DO I KNOW?? WEL I AM A PSYCH NURSE IN A PSYCH WARD AND SEE WELLBUTRIN USED AND RECORD AND OBSERVE SUCH MEDS AND THE EFFECTS THEY HAVE ON PEOPLE,AS WELL,I HAVE BEEN ON WELLBUTRIN FOR SOME TIME NOW AND HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE SIDE EFFECTS AND THE ONES I HAVE ARE ANNOYING BUT NOT SERIOUS.I BELEIVE ALOT OF YOU PEOPLE DEPEND ON YOUR MEDS TOO MUCH AND THINK THAT THEY ALONE IS WHAT WILL MAKE YOU BETTER,THEY CAN ONLY HELP YOU,NOT CURE YOU.WELLBUTRIN IS ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN TAKE,JUST TRY TO COME OFF SOME OTHERS OUT THERE AND YOU'LL SEE.IF YOUR ON WELLBUTRIN COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY AND STOP LOOKING FOR THINGS WRONG WITH IT,WORK WITH IT.

My hair has been falling out and is noticably thin on top. Only took the wellbutrin for 3 months , but have lost lots of hair. Have also had a severe rash/hives on my arms and legs, it tingles and burns. Have went to the ER once already because of the hives. Stopped the wellbutrin and the hives and itching went away. But what concerns me the most is the hair loss. Will it grow back? Wish I had know about these side effects before taking the it. I am hoping that there is another medication I can take to go along with my effexor as the wellbutrin did help my depression. Does anyone know any other medication might possibly work with effexor, that won't make me gain weight, grow bald or be miserable with itching? Help!

couple days after starting the med. my scalp became very itchy and a little itchy on other parts of my body i had my scalp checked by hair stylist and he could not find a reason for the itching but he did say he saw some hives. can the side effect of itching be in one area more then others or is their something else wrong with my scalp.

I am having the same side effect as Guest, #11307 who asked about the brand vs. generic. (Wellbutrin sr vs. bupropion sr). I was perscribed 150 mg XL and was filled with generic bupropion SR 150. This is my first time taking it so I don't know if the branded one would be different.

I've been taking it for about a month and last week began to have itchy areas on the palms of my hands, my upper back and arms. Oral benadryl was providing relief. However in the last three days I've been suffering actual hives and welts, so I'm going to go off of it until I can talk to my doctor.

I have bi-polar II with ADD and have been on Lamictal and a small dose of Celexa for over a year. Depression got better but not the ADD so he added WB for that. I tried Straterra but it made me feel really wierd.

Other than the hives, I haven't noticed any other side effects from adding WB. I'd really like to find something that can help me with ADD.

Is this an allergic reaction?

Been on it since summer 2003, 150 twice a day.

Mostly the dizziness, which isn't as bad anymore.

However, it did raise my blood pressure. Not like hypertension, but the high end of normal. I'd always had LOW blood pressure. But when I'm dong more exercise, it's back to normal. My doctor monitors it. also:

Weight Loss: it really reduced my appetite and I was never a big eater and was already thin. But I lost about 10 lbs. That doesn't bother me too much, I do eat normally.

Hard to get to sleep or stay asleep. I have enough trouble with insomnia. It gets rid of depression but jazzes me up. I take ativan if I need to, i.e. if it takes too long to get back to sleep, but of course, I worry about becoming dependent.

I've developed hives recently and my dermatologist suggested it could be wellbutrin. I'll talk to my GP but I don't really want to change to an antipressant which may be worse with side effects, ie sexual, weight GAIN, etc. I don't know how it's possible to determine if it IS wellbutrin causing the hives.

None of the effects are very severe, just uncomfortable like the hives and the insomnia.

Generally I feel okay, and certainly better than when my moods were all over the place.

wellbutrin caused me severe,giant hives..Burning,insane itching....clinic and back to back emergency room visits.treated with prednisone.Get this.Was told by er DRS' that wellbutrin did not cause it. Strange....stop wellbutrin_---- stop hibves peace from Wyoming

Hives, erythema multiforme, swelling of feet, hands, and arms.

Took Wellbutrin 2 years ago to stop smoking, 2 weeks and 3 days after taking I woke up with flu like symptoms so I took some Ibuprofen. I broke out into big wheals and hives all over body. Not sure what caused reaction Wellbutrin or Ibuprofen, but I never got the flu. After reading posts it seems quite common for this to happen on Wellbutrin. However, if you were to ask dr.'s,pharmacists or allergists they say it is more likely ibuprofen. It seems after reading here that they are not very well educated re: side effects. Also have joint pain and swelling that I still have to this day. Good news, I did quit smoking, never want to go through that again. Hives lasted for a month.

I was on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for 10 days. On the tenth day I started itching, breaking out in whelps, then having blisters in my mouth. Dizziness, it's like I would turn my head then in a coupl eof seconds my eyes would catch up. Also I have no appetite. My stomach just stays upset. Well its been almost a month now and I am still having this reaction. I have been a predisone both oral and IM. This past Friday my throat swelled up and had to call 911 and be rushed to the hospital. Was told to take Pepcid (yes the medicine for ulcers) as it is a histamine blocker and would help keep the hives down. I just want to know how much longer can this last. I was told it can last 4-6 weeks after my last dose. Please let me know if anyone else has had this experience.

I just ran across this site and WOW! I am not the only one experiencing these crazy syptoms. I hav been on Wellbutrin for 3 weeks now and noticed lack of concentration, extreme forgetfulness, lack of creativity ( I produce videos so this is a bad one) and just two days ago broke out in hives. The hives are like big welts, 1-4inches in size and very red. They itch like crazy and byt day two it progressed to swelling of my joints. The bottom of my foot swelled, then my wrists with aweful aching pains in the wrists, and then the next day I woke up with my left eyelid swollen almost completely shut! I got up today, day 3, to find trhat my left eyelid is better but is transferred to my right eyelid and now my lips are very swolen and uncomfortable. Syptoms seem to be flu like with lost of aching in my joints. Very frustrating. I was prescribed to take it to help with quiting of smoking and sure never expected this. I have never had any reaction to any medication my whole life and I am almost 40 years old. The only medication I took while on wellbutrin was loratab for back pain. I just read somewhere else taht the two shouldn't be mixed. I told my Doctor I was taking loratabs occaisionally and she made no comment about it.

I just was prescribed predisone for the hives/rash. Hope it helps. Have stopped taking the wellbutrin.

Glad I found this site.

Mary

Took wellbutrin for about 1 year w/no side effects at all. Had
mild depression. Dr. took me off to see how I was. Symptoms
returned so he put me back on 150mg 2 times a day. Today
I had an allergic reaction with hives on my arms, hands, and
stomach. Also had some swelling of the lips. My husband took
me to the ER. Dr. said stop the wellbutrin and put me on
prednisone and benadryl for 5 days. Won't take it again. Had good luck with it, but must have became hypersensitive to it.
Hope to return to zoloft. It worked fine

Like many people I have seen online, I have broken out in large, itchy hives 3-4 weeks into starting on Wellbutrin. I am really bummed becasue I love the drug and it is the 1st one I have been on that hasnt effected my libido (the reason I stopped the other ones). Please, someone out there tell me these go away and I dont have to stop taking it and jump to yet ANOTHER antidepressant??? I am willing to wait a few weeks if thats what it takes!

There seems to be far too many poeple here with bad effects from Wellbutrin. I was on it one week, at first it was great, then I became shakey, then very anxious and angry. My ears started ringing like jets going over, I broke out in hives, and had a panic attack so severe, I though I going to die. I dropped it and I'm so terrified of it, I'm not going to bother with getting off it slowly. I'm Done!
I hope & prey this ringing goes away. Can anyone tell me if it will?

been taking wellbutrin for 2 weeks now... first week on 150mg of XL and now im on my 300mg prescription...
i must say that the side effects definatly have changed my mind about this drug.... felt the feelings of a headcold, dizziness, floaty foggy feeling, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, complete loss of apetite.... now im just waiting for the hives hahaha

I TOOK THE MEDICATION FOR THREE WEEK AND BROKE OUT INTO HIVES. I HAVE HAD THE HIVES FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERE JOINT PAIN. THE PAIN STARTED IN MY KNEE AND HAS SPREAD TO MY TOES, THUMBS, JAW, AND WRIST. MY FAMILY DOCTOR PUT MY ON A DOSE OF STEROIDS, WHICH DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HELPING. I DID APPRECIATE THE ENERGY THAT WELLBUTRIN GAVE ME WHILE I WAS ON IT AND WISH THAT THE SIDE EFFECTS DIDN'T COME UP BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE ENJOYED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TAKING IT.

Hives on arms, back, stomach. Severe Acne.

After 3 weeks on Wellbutrin, I've experienced hives with swelling and joint pain. It took a while to actually start working. Prior to starting Wellbutrin I was on zoloft(50mgs) for a year. I experienced many side effects in the beginning with zoloft but most weared off. The most troublesome effect I got from zoloft was the sexual side effects. This is why I chose Wellbutrin. Can't really say that's it's made a difference as far as that effect is concerned. However I can say that I do feel that it's maintaining my depression from flaring up.

Hives, swelling and pain of joints

Hives (after taking for 3 weeks to the day. Were gone after 48 hrs.), dizziness, confusion, sleeplesness

Itching scalp, ears, eyes, arms, hands, chest, genitals, legs, feet accompanied by rash and hives; indigestion; aching arm muscles; severe and constant ear ringing, sweating