Wellbutrin and memory loss

Oh I am so glad I found this thread! I am having severe memory loss. It is so bad I can't even remember if I took my wellbutrin pill XL 5 minutes after I did take it. Sometimes I end up taking too many. I can't remember names, places, dates, I couldn't even remember where my husband worked when filling out a form at the dentist for my kids appointment. If I don't take the pill I am extremely irritated by the smallest things, to the point I feel ridiculously raging mad inside. It really scares the hell out of me. When I drive I feel like I am in a fog mentally. Every once in awhile I think, how am I doing this? I can't believe I haven't had an accident. I am also getting constant headaches. They come on in the morning and go away when I take the pill. Then they come back at night as its all wearing off. Like others, the beginning was euphoria, I was cool with any and everything, easily gave up cigarettes, felt like I could get a lot accomplished but now, it is terrible. I am afraid of the pain of withdrawal. My head hurts so bad now when I don't take it and I am afraid I will have a raging fit in front of my kids. I have not lost weight but gained 15 lbs. I am not sure if that is because I quit smoking or because I am in such a fog when eating that I forget to stop and forget I am full. I am constantly constipated since starting this drug as well. I don't know how I will get away from this but it is definitely my goal to. I feel like if I don't stop taking it, I will end up in a nursing home with my tongue hanging out and drooling. By the way, I am 36, college educated, never had depression...just wanted to quit smoking.

I have definitely experienced major forgetfulness, almost like I'm confused or something. I am middle-aged and not ready to feel old yet because of this memory loss and forgetfulness. But it has helped tremendously with weight loss as it helps control cravings. I was finally able to follow thru and lost 15 pounds. I'm afraid I'd gain it all back if I go off, but don't like feeling forgetful as it doesn't make one confident when at work, etc.

My acne has been HORRIBLE! I never had it as a teenager, and now at 22, it is horrendous. I finally figured out that the acne had its onset about the same time I began Wellbutrin. I am also on Prozac, which I love, but the mix has been really great for my mood and ability to function. Any suggestions for a similar med to Wellbutrin that will eliminate the acne problem? It is comforting to see that I am not the only one with this issue!!!

I have been taking the generic equivalent of Wellbutrin for nearly a year. A few months ago I noticed my hair is thinning on top, in front. It has steadily become worse. I finally did a search on Wellbutrin, hair loss and found this site. I will start weaning myself off it now! Losing my hair will make me more depressed than I was to begin with. Can anyone tell me, does the hair grow back? How long does it take?

Wellbutrin SR 200 mg. two times a day. Intensity. Nervous energy. Inability to focus sometimes. Memory loss. Speech can be disjointed and it's difficult to form complete sentences. I will often struggle to find the right word to complete a thought or trip up and not be able to finish a complete sentence smoothly. If I wait to take my second dose in the middle of the day my speech improves so I'm going to experiment with the time I take the drug whenever I have an important meeting.
From reading these posts I have now realized the hair loss that I have been experiencing is the result of Wellbutrin. I had no idea and have been experiencing this every since I've been on Wellbutrin. The texture of my hair is much courser and I shed hair at a much faster rate.

I have been taking lexapro, lamictal, and wellbutrin for about 2 1/2 years for a lifetime of depression and anxiety/panic disorder. I had tried medication at age 15 and experienced all side effects and no benefits. But then at about age 21, I was so desperate that I gave it another shot...figuring there might be a difference in the past 6 years.

I started off with lexapro...and the first week I was soaring! I was jogging at 1AM and going out and enjoying life! I remember going to the movies with friends and laughing FOR REAL and having REAL fun!

At some point of course you level out and that was fine...but then it wasn't enough anymore so the lamictal and wellbutrin got added on.

Recently, my psych raised my (generic) wellbutrin to 300 XL from 200 SR.

I definitely noticed the difference between the XL and SR.

The real function of wellbutrin for me was getting me up out of bed in the morning. It gives me nervous energy, but that has been better than none at all.

But now I've recently realized some other fun side effects!

Memory loss and motor function impairment.

It's kind of funny because I think it has been going on for a good while, but I just didn't REMEMBER enough of it to piece it together. AHA good one right?

I am a hairdresser. A damn good one I'd say. Or...used to be?
I trained for and alongside of the best educators in the industry. I wrote the haircutting curriculum for one of the top education academies.

Now I feel like a f***ing idiot.

I've cut my fingers more in the past week than in the past 6 years. I find myself getting completely lost while doing someone's hair...like I've never been in that situation before.

Sometimes I have tremors that keep me for being able to hold my comb straight and still. My fingers seem to move more slowly and with less grace or control.
I type sooo much slower now.

I've also gone from having excellent spelling, grammar, and range of vocabulary...to forgetting common words...not being able to finish my sentences...and I find myself trying to sound out a word to figure out how to spell it. This doesn't work out too well.

I feel just plain dumb in general. I can't do relatively simple math in my head without getting confused. I can't process or answer a question under pressure.

Now I'm telling my DR. to stuff it, and try to wean myself off of this madness.

I really hope that these side effects aren't permanent. Then I'm just screwed.

I stopped a few times during this post at a loss for words.

Yeah so it stinks that I have lost my substitute for motivation.

Thanks for sharing everyone...you've made me feel like less of a failure.

OH YEAH!

The original story I was going to post was that today I went to the deli to get lunch and I got everything I was going to get for my coworkers...and forgot to get my sandwich. The check out lady is mean to me so I didn't go back. :\

I have been taking Wellbutrin 150 generic bupropion 2x daily for one month. I have been experiencing very noticeable and disconcerting hair loss (a la 'male pattern baldness'). RAPID. I took the shears to my head because I was going crazy at the amount of hair I was losing (that seems to have slowed the process!)

Also, extreme memory loss. I forget the names of friends and family; sometimes myself. I will call people the wrong name by accident. More than a few times, I've stopped mid-sentence in conversation, forgetting what I was talking about. Almost like I've been put on 'pause' for 15 seconds. The crappy thing is that I'm sure that the person can see that I'm struggling.

I am very scared to drive: 35 mph seems like I'm playing a drugged up video death game. There have been episodes where I feel like I've been sleep-driving. Sort of like an out of body experience. Which freaks me out because I manage to make myself aware of the danger in the situation but the body/brain connection seems impaired.

I am/was an avid reader (3-4 books per month) but I have completely lost interest and the couple times that I have tried, I couldn't read half a page before quitting. I read the same sentence over and over without making any connection. The same with my writing. It has become a chore.

Also, extreme impatience at the smallest things which before I would have not been bothered by. Sometimes even seething anger, which is very out of character. Since I've been on Wellbutrin, I can no longer tolerate the "cuteness of children" antics and such. There are no 'minor' annoyances anymore.

I told the doctor of the symptoms I was having, not attributing them to the Wellbutrin (which I now call 'Zombie') and I was completely dismissed. The hair loss and memory problems he attributed to stress, and he wanted to up the dosage to 300mg and prescribe Xanax (which I call 'Mind Eraser' from previous juvenile dalliances).

I don't like ANY medications...Which reminds me...I forgot why I'm even taking it...the doctor suggested I should take it after telling him I felt like crap after a bout of Lyme Disease. I laugh at the completely unnecessary BS I've put myself through for a month!!!

I feel like I have little choice other than to wean myself off. I will most certainly NOT keep my 3.5 GPA this next semester if I continue taking this drug. I am glad I found this site, because the doctor looked at me like I was crazy when describing the symptoms. Now I know what to blame/quit.

***ON A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE, I WAS ABLE TO QUIT A PACK A DAY CIGARETTE HABIT AFTER TWO WEEKS!!! After 10+ YEARS of trying patches, gums, lozenges, and even chewing tobacco (ick) I've been able to go two weeks without smoking. Wellbutrin has made me FORGET about the habit.

The generic Wellbutrin gave me mild relief from depression. It gave me much needed energy. I was careful to not take it late in the day, as it would interfere with my sleep.

But I am noticing more and more: memory loss and confusion. I find it hard to concentrate and I don't remember the beginning of the current conversation. I can't say for sure that it is the Wellbutrin (generic), but it does seem to coincide.

When I stop taking it, I feel a little more depressed and definitely more sleepy. But i didn't stop for long, so after reading other people's similar problems, I'm going to see if I can give it up. (Currently 100mg twice daily). J.

I've been on Bupropion since February 2008 (100mg twice a day). I have terrible memory loss and I'm talking if you tell me something today, I probably won't remember it tomorrow! I can't find the right words to say. I will be thinking about what I want to say but when I say it, I either can't think of the word I want or use a completely different word that confuses the person I'm speaking with. My anger has increased severely! I have NO patience. Hair loss...OMG! I'm freaking out! I'm afraid to quit taking the drug because I don't want to relapse but sometimes I don't think this damn drug is helping anything! In fact, it's making most things worse! Oh yeah...I am having a really hard time losing weight as well.

I spent 1 month on 150mg Wellbutrin XR, then switched over to 150mg of the SR because my copay was much much cheaper. (Most likely because it's actually Bupropion SR, the generic) I've only been on the SR for 2 weeks now. So a total of 6 weeks all together. I am totally losing hair, and have been for about 4 weeks. The other side effect that really bothers me is my memory loss and confusion. I am having trouble remembering the simplest words when I'm in a conversation with someone. I feel dull and stupid, just not sharp. This is very concerning to me, as I've always been an intelligent, quick witted person. The only other small side effect is I am sometimes just itchy all over. No rash or anything, but just itchy. I am worried about withdrawal symptoms if I stop cold turkey. (Had a bad bout with coming off Zoloft.) Does anyone know if the SR pills can be cut into 1/2's or 1/4's? My pharmacist told me no - but I'm thinking of just doing it anyways. Any suggestions??

I've been on Wellbutrin for about two months. I notice that I am quick to anger, and seem to suffer memory loss. I was beginning to think I was in early stages of Alzheimer (I am 45) as it runs in my family. I couldn't remember names and it terrified me. The doctor subscribed it due to the weight gain I experienced on Prozac, and I have lost weight on Wellbutrin. I have been diagnosed with mild to moderate depression, due to excessive crying that I could not control (especially at work). The Wellbutrin has helped keep my crying under control when crying would be inappropriate. But still feel it is excessive when I am in a more relaxed atmosphere. Prozac was certainly my "happy pill".

People!In short BIOTIN!
Here's my story... I have had severe hair loss from this med and from other causes. Wellbutrin is now causing me anger severe memory loss and itch all over. I have taken it before several times because it has no sexual side effects but the hair loss is a no can do for me. I didn't know it did that until reading recently these posts. I just switched back to it from zoloft because of weight gain and sexual stuff. What I do know is about hair and that mine is falling out. I also know that I have been working on regrowing mine basically from nothing fore the last two years and that BARNONE BIOTIN is the best thing you can take to regrow your hair healthier and faster from the inside out. It takes about one month to see results. You can get it from CVS! Take the highest dose, twice a day at first and then once a day for maintenance. Two hairdressers told me about it and then I said I should try this. So glad I did, because I have great hair genes like so many here and now they are showing. Now to get off this crap medication!! I've

I took Wellbutrin for 2 months. I must say that I loved it initially because it made me feel so HAPPY and I lost like 10 pounds my first month taking it. However, I was always agitated, anxious, and the worse part was I suffered memory loss! I would forget simple words. One day I was driving down the expressway on my way home and all of a sudden I didn't know where I was. I started freaking out. Then my memory came back to me. That was my last day taking it. Now, A YEAR LATER, I still suffer some memory loss occasionally. Not a bad as when I was taking it, but I'm 27 and always seem to be lost for words at times. I can be looking at someone and it takes my brain like 5 seconds to register the correct name for them! Wellbutrin did help my depression and possibly saved my life, but my memory is all screwed up!

To make a long story short (I think). Taking Celexa (20 mg) for more than 4 years definitely caused decreased sexual sensations (numbed nerves), though it did change my life. In October Switched to Wellbutrin XL. Withdrawal from Celexa was not easy but Libido is definitely back. Problem is I am angry ALL the time at my husband. In fact, I've been angry almost from the get go from switching to Wellbutrin. I have also been puzzled by slight hair loss in the back of my head at the hairline. I have of late experienced abrupt halts in thought processes and my periods, though I am 45, have suddenly become irregularly. Frankly I didn't realize that Wellbutrin could likely be the cause of these symptoms until I read some of these posts. I really would like to wean off of this drug (was prescribed 300 mg but have taken 150 mg due to feelings of being 'wigged' out on higher dosage - did up the ante for just over a week to see if that would help but didn't seem to matter)...Nevertheless, I really think Wellbutrin is causing me to feel deep resentment toward my husband. This is not a usual emotion for me and it pretty well started immediately after I began taking Wellbutrin. I really could use your opinions(s). IS THE WELLBUTRIN causing the anger??? Did the Celexa simply MASK existing problems??? Is it a combination of both. Is this depression again or am I in the process of slipping back in??? (anger was not a previous symptom of my depression though black clouds, low esteem, doom and gloom and sadness were) Also, aside from anger and sheer resentment, I feel as if I'm spinning my wheels, that I'm in rut and that no matter how I try to move forward, I can't - I really feel lost and am so angry at my husband and see him in such a different way that it is almost to the point of being ridiculous). THANK-YOU so much for your replies.

Have been on Cymbalta 30mg daily for a year. Started on Wellbutrin 50mg daily about 6 weeks ago to help with attention deficit. About 4 weeks or so ago I started having occasional muscle cramping in hands and feet. Yesterday I started with twitching of left eye. Last time I had the eye twitching it was the beginning of an allergic reaction to Prozac. I'm thinking even the low dose Wellbutrin may be too much. anyone else had this experience? I'm also starting to notice an increase in anxiety. Not sure if it's due to worrying about the cramping and twitching or the Wellbutrin itself. Any thoughts?

I am noticing hair loss. I was on 150mg of XL for a year and then I was on 300mg for 6 months to deal with situational depression that my 150mg dose was not enough for. I lost more weight (because I had no appetite at all) but then slowly got used to the new dose. I have been confused sometimes and fuzzy brained. Often someone can say something to me and I don't even hear them. I have significant memory loss and trouble focusing on 2 things at once. If a radio or TV is on, I can't carry a conversation... even if i am looking directly at the person I am talking to. I have reduced back to 150mg but I am still having these side effects. I just thought I was getting loopy from having been on so many different drugs continually for 6 years. I do love having energy with Welbutrin and losing all excess weight I had but I can't stand losing my hair.

I have been on wellbutrin for about 4-5 years.I thought it was a God send..I was feeling so good and had so much energy at first..then recently Im having a lot of memory loss..thought it was due to getting older,kinda normal..but it has gotten so bad..I cant even remember what I had for dinner,or remember names,or even a conversion,Im having I just forget it in the middle of talking to someone,I cant even read,seems like I read the same sentence over and over...Its gotten to the point my family members,including my own kids are noticing it,I feel like Im dumb,or not even capable of anything anymore.I have gone cold turkey as of Dec.31st..I hope I can have my memory return...I even got so scared,I had an MRI on my brain..thats how bad I am.but it came back normal.....what can I do?..I also suffer form hair loss..I have short hair to begin with,I hurts when people just stare at your thin spots,and know what there thinking.
mgd761

I have had THICK hair all my life. Was on WB XL (300mg) for 2 years went off because of memory loss. Was off for 6 months, felt good, but inevitably depression slowly crept back into my life. Went back on WB XL (150mg for a week, then 300mg). Been back on it for 2 1/2 months and just noticed 2 weeks ago that my hairline is thinning at the corners of my forehead. It's especially noticeable when wet or when the light shines down on my head. I can see my scalp. I have also noticed an increase in dandruff. Yikes! I am a hairdresser and it would be terrible for me to have bad hair while working with clients. Why didn't this hair loss happen when I first started taking WB XL 2 years ago? And why is it flarring up now? Is this a temporary side effect that will work itself out, or do I have to stop taking this drug? I'm glad that I am not the only one and that I am not crazy!

MEMORY LOSS NAUSEA DEPRESSION

WOW! I have been taking wellbutrin for two years now. The first three weeks were spent with nausea, vivid dreams, some jitters and being very tired. By the end of the first month that had all pretty much gone away and I was feeling more energetic, less anxiety and no depression. When I started exhibiting memory loss at first I really didn't notice it since was just articulation & range of descriptive words. Eventually it progressed to common words and sentence endings. Then I began to notice I could no longer do ANYTHING and listen to someone else at the same time, that progressed to not paying attention to what someone was saying period and the lack of ability to remember the plot of books I had read or some movies I had watched. I also began to notice moderate hair loss. Last but not least I was very slowly gaining weight, it was beginning to add up and I didn't seem to be getting the energy boost or feel that great anymore. So I decided I would quit. After a quick taper off I got to experience all the joys of withdrawal, nausea, sleeping fourteen hours and taking a nap in the afternoon, appetite swings, mood swings, diarrhea , sweetooth and the inability to get up and do anything or go anywhere. It was paralyzing. That went on for almost a month. Its been three months now and the improvement in my cognitive function and physical energy was so profound that it made me wonder if my problems over the past two years could be related to the wellbutrin, so I typed in memory loss and wellbutrin and here we are. I really didn't realize it was affecting me (or others)so seriously and I had zero initiative to investigate my condition until after I quit taking it. Dont get me wrong when I started taking wellbuterin I was at the mercy of my emotions and I needed something, but I feel the corruption of my facualtys was very insidious with this drug and by the time I realized I was having problems I didn't readily recognize it and and had no desire to do any thing about it anyway. My husband had even pointed these symptoms out to me and still I didn't/wasn't able to put it together until now. I don't know what the solution for others will be but I have found mine. I guess what bothers me most is that none of the symptoms caused by this drug was expounded upon by my doctor, the focus was all about how much better I would feel, He never once mentioned memory loss or concentration. And in the last two years he has never once mentioned the idea that I would ever be off antidepressants. For most of us it doesn't have to bee forever. I don't know if I had it all to do again if I would take wellbutrin again or ask for something else, but what I do know is that I would be more aware of what I was taking and not take it for nearly the length of time I did. The drug itself kept me from reacting to its effects and I was unable to gage when I was starting to do better emotionally. The process of getting off it made me wonder if I could do it and if I really was better, believe me I thought about reaching for that bottle every day for a month. Ask yourself where you are mentally, talk to your doctor, MAKE HIM TALK TO YOU, and taper off a lot slower than I did so your able to clearly differentiate between recurring depression and withdrawal. I am no longer in the same frame of mind that I was when I started taking wellbutrin and now that I am completely off of it I feel fine. Good Luck and be careful

I have been on wellbutrin for 6 years. I have had problems with memory loss. This past year it has gotten much worse. I can't remember a conversation I had ten minutes before. I also am not recognizing people. I went to a x-mas party and did not recognize people I have known for 22 years. I thought they were complete strangers.

I have been taking a generic version of Wellbutrin SR 150mg for almost 2 months now. I also take Zoloft 50mg. Before I started the wellbutrin, I had been taking zoloft for over a year to help with depression. The zoloft was working very well for my depression, but it completely killed my libido and as a newlywed, I felt something had to be done as it was beginning to affect my relationship with my husband.
So my doctor prescribed the wellbutrin. For the first couple of weeks I experienced a lot of nervous energy, a shortness of breath, a bit of nausea, forgetfulness and confusion. I almost stopped taking it because I didn't feel it was helping my libido either. But I stuck with it and after 3 weeks, it felt like it was definitely having a positive effect on my sex life. My husband noticed it too. He mentioned how much more responsive I had become when we were intimate. After 2 months, I am absolutely convinced that it has changed our lives and our relationship.
It is not, by any means a miracle drug though. I have a few complaints about it, the main one being the CONFUSION that I experience for hours after I take it. I was taking it in the morning before I went to work and everyday I noticed that I was not as sharp and efficient as I usually am. I figured this was a temporary side effect so I kept taking it as usual, but it never went away! I kept forgetting everything, lost focus easily, had dull headaches, and generally felt as if I could not connect to what I was doing.
SO...about a week ago, I thought I would try to take it at night...when it's not as important to be sharp and focused (and more important to be turned on). And it has turned out great! I'm so glad I started to do it. It doesn't affect my sleep...in fact I think I sleep better. And when I wake up in the morning, my dull headache is gone and I feel less foggy. At work, I feel normal again. My short term memory has recovered and I don't get confused as easily.
If you suffer from a lot of memory loss and confusion from this medication, I definitely suggest taking it at night. It has really helped me! Thanks and good luck!

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'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!

I am taking Wellbutrin and it has helped my depression and desire for drugs every day. I have bad ringing in my ears all the time but I can deal with that compared to the good it has done.. The problem is I'm a engineer which requires a lot of concentration that I have lost since I've been on Wellbutrin. I also have memory loss. I can't remember peoples names 2 minutes after they told me. I am a support engineer so I have to tallk to many people every day as well as typing cause and solution. I find myself having to read everything I type over again because I leave out words and sometimes what I type makes no sense at all. Wellbutrin has helped me so much but I think I will have to stop or lose my job. What a choice. Before I started taking Wellbutrin I never felt like I was in tune with the world. Smoking pot worked for me but we all know what the long term effect of that is. Codine also made me feel like I fit in. So Wellbutrin has fixed all those needs and feelings but I just hate the loss of memory, concentration, and ringing in my ears.

I have been on Wellbutrin 300mg for about 5 months now along with Cymbalta 90 mg for postpartum depression. I have had VERY VERY bad memory loss (mostly short term), constant overheating (sweating for no reason), headaches, muscle spasms, trouble urinating, dry mouth, also I have been told by my practitioner that the generic form of Wellbutrin for some reason DOES NOT work as well as the name brand even though they are supposed to be the same thing.

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 am going through my CDL training, and am having a lack of sleep due to studying, but for all I know some of the things happening could be because I've been on Wellbutrin for about two weeks.

-Eyes swollen feeling
-Memory loss
-Rapid heart beat
-Increased my body temperature. I'm usually cold all the time. Now I'm heated well.

I have been taking Wellbutrin 150mg 2x per day since 1996. It has been an absolute lifesaving experience. Yes, I do have some memory loss, but not enough to alter my life at all.

The one serious side effect, and a great one at that, is the heightened feeling of ecstasy during an orgasm. Oh my God, prior to Wellbutrin, I was a 28 year old male, who totaling lost interest in sex, and had almost no pleasure whatsoever when I orgasmed. Now, when I orgasm, the feelings of pleasure are so intense, at times, I honestly think I am going to have heart failure.

It is by far the most incredibly gratifying sensation I have ever had. I stopped Wellbutrin several times over the past 11 years, and each time I was back to my old self with 48 hours. One other positive side effect for me, it has cured my "lactose intolerance". I have been eating all the dairy I could ever want without any problems or discomfort whatsoever. However when I stopped the Wellbutrin, my lactose problem returned within 24 hours.

As I told my doctor, if he were to tell me I would live to be 90 without Wellbutrin and old to 60 with Wellbutrin, I would chose the 60 years. Thats how much more enjoyable life has become for me. I would not ever want to stop taking it. It has saved my life. One last thing, I forgot to mention, it has treated my depression incredibly well also. Again, it saved my life.

Everyone is different. I believe that if you are experienceing bad effects from the Wellbutrin therapy, then you probably don't have a chemical imbalance at all, or you may be taking too much and sending your chemicals out of balance in the otther direction. One must carefully considering perhaps reducing or increasing their dosage depending on their personal situation. Always discuss it with your doctor of course, this drug is nothing to mess around with. I think it is very powerful, and a Godsend.
Best regards to all.

I have memory loss and I'm a teacher. I'm just hoping that the memory loss will not be long term. Does this stuff cause brain damage? It's possible. I will probably get off of this drug soon.

I am participating in a research study for Wellbutrin helping smokers to quit. I am 25 years old. The study is a double blind study so there is a possibility that I am on placebo...but judging from my feelings - I am not. I have been on wellbutrin for 8 days now. I went from 150mg to 300mg in the course of 3 days. My symptoms/side effects include feeling "blah", not having interest in conversation, coordination problems (I have had issues with walking up and down stairs; almost to the point of falling), small episodes of memory loss, and I am thinking possible hair loss. The hair loss is the most devastating to me and I am going to stop taking wellbutrin because of it. I will find another way to quit smoking - there is no sense in taking something that is going to make me feel horrible about myself. Has anyone quit taking it and have their hair grow back?

I have been on Wellbutrin for the past 2 years for the depression and the only side effect i have had has been memory loss, occasionally at work. I start to do something and after a few minutes if a question is asked i'm not able to remember. It felt like i was getting dimentia, but i started to use Gingko Biloba and my memory loss has improved. On Wellbutrin i haven't really had any side effect. It has helped me tremendously with my depression.

I had been taking the brand name Wellbutrin SR (150mg) 2x per day. My doctor changed my dose to 200mg 2x a day, and the pharmacy filled it with the generic Bupropion SR. I have noticed my symptoms have been coming back (depression, etc.). I even have had lots of water retention, which makes me feel terrible. I would love to know if anyone has had the same problems with generic vs. the brand name. I know the pharmacy will tell us it is the SAME, but I wish now I would have requested the brand name, even if I had to wait until they shipped it in (they don't have it in stock).

Thanks!

incredible memory loss,unable to concentrate,on bupropton on and off appox. 6 months,today i had trouble writing my first name.

i'll quit smoking cigarettes cold turkey,no more wellbutrin for me/

I have only been on Wellbutin for about a week. I am new to this. My main side effect is that I am tired all the time. I read how it gives many of you energy. Well not me. I am tired all the time and I to have feeling of just not caring. It's like I fell nothing. No emotions at all. My co-workers asked me what was wrong, because I am normally outgoing, the social butterfly of our office. The past week, I have not felt like being around people. Like it takes up too much of my energy to be social. I have also had a severe lack of concentration and some memory loss. I am ADD but it seems like it is making me worse. I also suffer from insomnia, not due to the medication. But I have found that even when I take my medication for sleep, I can't fall asleep.
If anyone has experienced loss of emotion, you can email me at ******. I am interested in knowing how you dealt with it.

(MEMORY LOSS) I have been on Wellbutrin for close to a year starting with a low dosage-now at 450mg a day. I am not feeling the low dips of depression nor has it elevated me to a normal level of hapiness-minimally at best just functioning. I cannot remember certain things at work in which I should-short term and longer term. This is certainly a problem along with diminished concentration levels leading to mistakes in a job that is highly detailed.

Does every body or some also believe that there are definate side effects of memory loss? ******

Thanks to all who have participated in this site. I started Welbutrin XL about 9 months ago. Very soon after starting, I noticed many of the side effects noted here: vision problems, slight tremors, headaches, difficulty with concentration, memory loss. It did lessen my depression, so I put up w/ the side effects for about 4 months. Then I did ween myself off it. My depression and paranoia worsened, and I cried all the time. So after about 2 months I went back on it. The side effects above were back, and in addition, I developed jaw pain, difficulty w/ sexual arousal, and an overall sense of apathy. And the memory loss. concentration problems and mental fog are worse now more than ever; for lack of a better term, I feel like I'm becoming "dumb." This is starting to be a problem at work. I want to go off, but don't want the depression back. HAS ANYONE FOUND A GOOD ALTERNATIVE??? I've love your input.

Hi I have been taking wellbutrin for over a year and I have had lack of concentration and memory loss so i went to my psycologist and he is upping my dosage of wellbutrin he said it will help with my lack of concentration and memory loss now I am reading this forumn and everybody is saying it is the wellbutrin that is causing these sideeffects. I have beent aking 100mg 1 a day now he wants me to take 150 mg 2 aday does anyone have the experience of going to a higher dose and it helping with their memory loss and concentration problems please email me at ****** with wellbutrin in the subject column thanks for your help.

Extreme short and medium term memory loss, including words, names and ability to finish a sentence without forgetting what I was saying. Concentration and focus at work are impossible.

I am glad to see that there are other people having the same problems as me, memory loss, lack of concentration, headache and I have developed psoriasis since taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I thought it was just me and I was getting really stupid. I don't know if anyone else has experienced psoriasis, but its terrible. If anyone has, please let me know if it subsided once you were off of the drug. The side effects say it can cause skin rash, but I didn't think they meant this.

I've noticed that when I lay down my arms and legs and stomach jerk. Sometimes the movement is so strong that it wakes me up. One time I woke up thinking I was falling. Also, horrible memory loss. One day I was home cleaning my house and I forgot to pick my 8 year old son up from school. Also experience fatigue. My gynecologist has prescribed 300mg Wellbutrin and 80mg of Prozac for my depression and PMS syndrome. I'm concerned because everyone is telling me I should be monitored while being of this medication. Also, I question my decision making. Another thing is I was always scared of rollercoasters -- well, on this medicine I can easily sit in the first seat of a rollercoaster ride and go on it 4 times without being scared.
That also makes me nervous. Headaches, sleeplessness, dizziness and lights are too bright.

I've been taking 30mg of XL for about 2 years. This is an increase of 150mg for about a year prior. Memory loss is the worst! I often go to do something and before I actually do it a minute later, forget what it was I was going to do. I have a very hard time concentrating. I have a job where I have to be mentally fit, and have been going crazy because I haven't been able to concentrate enough to figure out the simplest things. I am losing hair bad, but not sure if I can attribute it to Wellbutrin. I sweat constantly. I wake up in a puddle of sweat and have to turn my pillow repeatedly during the night to find a dry patch. I also sem to urinate a lot more than anyone else. I am up 1 or 2 times every night to use the bathroom. As for keeping me out of depression, it's worked well, but seems to be diminishing. I am feeling more and more depressed lately. My work and relationships are suffering due to my forgetfulness and I am irritable, mostly due to being upset with myself for not being able to concentrate and figure out what should be simple tasks.

I have not found a lot of information about these symptoms online except for this site. Only little blurbs here and there. After reading this, I think it's time to quit and try something else. Does anyone know if the hair grows back and memory comes back or do they just not get any worse after stopping???

Hey i started out taking Wellbutrin 150 SR once a day didnt do anything for me so it was uped to 300 XL once a day in the am i noticed sleeplessness, irrabilty, frequent trips to the bathroom, extream memory loss. I work at Tops i cannot remeber if i have asked my customers how they are today this happens within maybe 5 seconds. i cannot remeber what my car looks like, what time i have to be to work, if i have already taken my meds. Has anyone else experienced this? Please let me know.

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.

You all need to read what has been written...those of you who have inflamed painful joints and memory loss need to go off the drug to see if they improve and ten return to the drug if you find the drug was not the cause. I can't believe so many of you aren't reading these side effects 80% of you all have the same ones (are you clueless)

hi Janeanne, I have taken Wellbutrin for several yrs and seems the best AD for me. I did not notice memory loss, now I have, but is from the Lamictal and Neurontin. Am hoping to get rid of one of them. What you might be interested in is that I began taking the time release300 in AM and felt in a fog-like disconnected for a few hrs in the AM. Went back to the 150 3X a day and went away. Began taking 2 150 in the AM (pdoc thinks the later dose may be adding to not getting to sleep) and 150 later in afternoon and noticed in AM feeling the same way. Had to stop doing it 2 weeks when had to learn some new programs at work and needed to be sharp in AM. Lindagail

I started taking 150 mg Welbutrin for depression. I'm now up to 450 mg and am no longer depressed, but recently I've had some VERY SEVERE lapses in memory, forgetfulness and confusion. Some of the experiences were very funny, like packing my suitcase twice to make sure I didn't forget anything, then picking it up and having everything fall out because I forgot to close the suitcase. Or rolling up my jeans to polish my shoes and then leaving them rolled up all morning because I forgot about them. Boy did I look stupid.

At first I thought all of these incidents were coincidental and meant nothing. But when I started writing them all down, it became serious. I got lost while driving in my rented car, forgot to bring my map with me, forgot where my hotel was, forgot my hotel room key, forgot what room I was in, forgot what floor I was on, left my suitcase at the car rental counter, etc. etc. Not good at all. I've reduced the dose to 150 mg and already my mind is clear and my memory back. There is no question in my mind that the Welbutrin has caused the memory loss and it scares me because a lot of women my age, 56, just assume, like I did, that I was getting older and my mind just wasn't working like it used to.......NOT TRUE!!

Also, a good friend of mine, who is also on Welbutrin, had a 2-3 hour total memory loss. The only thing she could remember was my name and that she was safe with me. The doctors feared she was having a stroke, but that turned out to be wrong. All of the tests showed that she is completely healthy. My guess now is that it was the Welbutrin. This has happened to her twice. Fortunately her memory returned and she wasn't driving at the time.

I'm very curious to hear about any other people with memory loss.

I have been taking Wellbutrin, in one form or another for approx. 5 mos.. Because of cost I started using the SR 100mg because of the cost factor. Now I seem to be having these side effects,memory loss, joint pain, anxiousness. Lately I have been getting flu like symtoms using 300 mg of SR. Anyone else have the flu-like symtoms???

I have been on Welbutrin since May. Since then, I have had an aneurysm. I also have Psorisais. I am taking Lopresor and
Norsvac. My feet has a rash and my buttocks too.

I have gained weight and stay hungry all the time. I seldom
get a good night's sleep. I have memory loss and confustion
cannot focus on important things.

Don't know which drug is causing this.