Wellbutrin and memory problems

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.

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 62, have been on one or another anti depressant for 20 years,was on prozac for about last 3 years It seemed not to be doing the job,therapist started me on wellbutrin, the generic Bupropion,sex life was better,BUT I would rather have hair on my head than having orgasm. been taking 200 mg about 2 weeks,hands full of hair after washing my hair.I have noticed SOME memory problems,thought it was my age,ALWAYS have had a good memory, going off slowly,100 mg a day for 7 days then nothing,I also take anxiety meds,going to see if that may be all I need .If not back to the prozac

I took Wellbutrin SR 2 years ago and never had a problem. Started taking it again and have a number of side effects. I have been on it for over a month (150 MG 2 times daily). Since being on it, I have had severe headaches and migraines (had problems with migraines before, but not like the ones now), severe insomnia, memory problems, dry mouth and frequent loss of appetite. I have always been able to take prescription meds or Excedrin Migraine for headaches and they always helped. Now I can't get rid of my headaches since being on Wellbutrin. I have been taking Ambien 10MG for the insomnia, but that only helps for about 5-6 hours. Without the Ambien, I could go 2 days without sleeping.

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

Right now I am a total mess from taking Wellbutrin, sr. I started at 150 mgs last summer. I am now up to 450mgs a day, plus 80 mgs of Prozac a day. The doc cut my Prozac dosage in half, without telling me, and for the last week, I feel like I'm going out of mind. I am going to the doc tomorrow to have a PET scan, just to make sure I don't have a brain tumor, but I am pretty sure I know what is causing all these symptoms. I don't know if dropping the Prozac dose set me off or what, but some of the symptoms I have are; the worst headache I have ever had, dry mouth, ears ringing, heart palpitations, stumbling (I fell down 5 times in the last 2 weeks, enough to send me to the ER) I feel like I have no co-ordination, I tremble and jerk uncontrollably, and I am totally brain dead. I can't remember from one day to the next what I did, or was doing. Heck, in the last few days, I can't even remeber what I did 15 minutes ago. I start something, and walk away from it, and then I think about it later, although so far I have let the sink over flow a couple of times, and let food burn. I have been married and taking care of my family for 33 years, and now I can't even get my kids', my grandkids', and the dogs' name straight! I forget a word I know that I know, and it makes me so frustrated. I have outbursts of crying, the other day I had a meltdown because I couldn't find the leftover ham bone to make soup. I talk real fast, and sometimes get the words all mixed up. I do impulsive stuff, like I maxed out the credit card during Christmas. My husband is going nuts, too, because he says it's like living with another person. Today I have felt like I could barf at any minute, my head is pounding, my heart is pounding, and I could stay awake forever, and then in an hour I'm so tired I have to take naps every day! I never took naps, since I was 5!! I had a similar experience when I was on Paxil. Prozac has worked for me since it first came on the market, but since my doc added the Wellbutrin, I just don't know. It was working fine until she cut the Prozac dose in half, so maybe that set it off, I don't know. I wish I could get off all the crap, but due to PTSD, I have to take at least the Prozac. I hope I get some answers tomorrow!

I have been taking Wellbutrin Since April of 2005. My doctor prescribed it to help with overall stable moods (but I was not depressed and I told my doctor this) and for help in losing weight. I started with 150mg and experienced the following side effects:
Dizziness
Feelings like I had an urinary track infection.
My libido stinks anyway but it didn't seem to help or complicate anything sexual aspects.

I began taking 300mg about a week later. All of the above continued but the dizziness and urinary track infection feeling went away about a month later. However, these are the things I notice now that may be attributed to the Wellbutrin XL:

1. Extreme fatique that increases as the day goes on-I take my pill in the morning.
2. Difficulty concentrating and focusing. Mental clarity problems. I feel this affects my ability to work because I do a lot of writing. Memory problems. One example: left my keys in the car running until my husband noticed.
3. Sensitivity to light.
4. No wieght loss (as this was the reason I am on it), I feel like I am eating more and more often.
5. Physical weakness.
Among other things.

I must say that I am unsure as to whether all this can be contributed to the Wellbutrin XL. I had blood work done because of all the fatique and mental concentration problems. I was told that given the blood work that I might have arthritis, then I was told that I have a reactivation of MONO. Then I was told that I may have Lyme disease. Do I think it is the Wellbutrin XL? Right now I am weening myself off the drug. Taking half a pill until I reach my doctor to discuss this. Since taking less of a dose, I feel much better with more energy (not completing my self) and I feel I can concentrate.

We will see if the above side effects are in fact the Wellbutrin.

Good luck to all. For me, I am better off not taking Wellbutrin.

Regards,
Beth

Been about two months now. Mostly good effects regarding mood, appetite, cravings. Sleep pretty good except for occasional weird nightmares. Constipation is managable. Lost sex drive (from Prozac) is back, some memory problems; not bad. However, I am having hair loss so scary I'm going off it- the Wellbutrin, that is.

Have been taking the Wellbutrin to quit smoking. It worked great for that. Had a real bad mood episode though when I took a herbal supplement called Rosavin while on the Wellbutrin. It wore off in a few hours. Later, I read the Rosavin label and it said not to combine with antidepressants. Maybe will try Rosavin alone.