Wellbutrin and stress

I am now weaning off of Wellbutrin after 4 months - I was taking it to quit smoking (I had just been through a very stressful divorce and I was smoking way more than normal.) I did not experience most of what has been discussed here (negative side effects) except for mild headaches. I am posting this simply to tell the few people who have experienced the headaches that I believe this will go away. I (like a dummy) told myself I'd only take 150mg a day rather than the whole 300mg my doctor had prescribed. This didn't work - I needed the whole 300mg, taken at 150mg doses at exactly 12 hour intervals (this makes a huge difference!) About two weeks after beginning this med, I experienced feelings of euphoria (which were quite pleasant!) but feel like I balanced out within a month. One other side effect was a change in menstrual cycle - I'm normally exactly 28 day-predictable, but missed every other month in the four months I've been on this (coincidence? Not sure...) I also drink beer nearly every night (2-4 bottles, sometimes none, sometimes more) and never had any type of seizures. Bottom line...this drug definitely helped me cut way back on smoking - I am a stress smoker and since this alleviated my stress, I didn't smoke hardly at all. Now that I'm weaning off (and yes, I did cut pills in half and have not experienced anything bad) I am curious to see if my desire to smoke will return.

Just wanted to post this out there for anyone who has had similar side effects. Overall, I have been very happy with this drug (but have never taken other Anti Depressants, so can't compare with others).

I have been on Wellbutrin for a couple of years & it has been a life saver. But it is very possible my hair loss is due to it. I have always had a full head of hair & no hair loss in my family at all. I'm also experiencing hearing loss but don't know if this is due to the Wellbutrin as my Father & sister have had hearing loss. My doctor intends to lower my dosage next month & I am going to ask him if air loss is a side effect.

I have been taking only 75 mgs for seven days. It feels wonderful, however I'm pretty sure I experienced a few simple partial seizures at first while my brain was getting used to the drug. I only take it once a day (even though I was prescribed twice),Although the drug wears off around ten pm or so. I still lay awake most of the night unable to sleep. Here and there I will take 1/2 an Ativan to alleviate the stress of this, but on the whole. Wellbutrin has completely removed my acute panic disorder. I no longer sweat, or shake profusely, and I feel competent and confident. I seem to manage on what little sleep I am lucky to get. I do still get the symptoms of my ADD, and OCD, but they are much toned down. I can control my brain if I try hard, whereas before it was a rushing river that I could not focus on. No one should expect anything to be a wonder-drug. You are using your mind as a guinea pig. Don't be scared of seizures, they won't kill you, they might make you more creative, or less depressed( or you might fall into the street)
Even so, Wellbutrin is much better than Prozac.

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 also have experienced much hair loss. it has been about 2 years now after the death of my mom, thought it may be just stress or perimenopause (41) but now after doing some research online I do think that it did all began after starting the Wellbutrin xl. I take 300 mg but i am going to talk to my DR. about going off it and maybe taking something else. I also take Effexor too, to help with my depression. any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Wow! I'm so glad that I'm not thinking these things up in my head. I have been on Wellbutrin for about 2 1/2 months now and I have noticed hair loss but I thought it was just because of stress. However, reading this makes me very nervous about taking my 300 mg. a day. I also feel that I forget things a lot too; where I put my keys, my bag etc. I have also had ringing in my ears and sensitivity with both my eyes and ears. Has anyone else had all of these side effects? And if so, what did you and your doctor do?

Please everyone who suffers from any of these symptoms, I would love an email asap as I feel like I am going crazy.
My dr prescribed buproprion sr 150 mg along with lexapro 20 mg about 3 weeks ago to help combat a major bout of postpartum depression. She had to wean me off of 40 mg of Prozac first from previous depression issues.
Since then, I feel as though I am losing my mind. I cry all of the time, I have pain in the middle of my right abdomen area that feels like a burning/indigestion feeling, I have no appetite at all, totally anxiety, terrible fatigue with even worse insomnia. When I do finally get to sleep, I experience HORRIBLE nightmares that last for hours. In addition, I have had multiple headaches and a few vomiting episodes.
The depression was so horrible that I feared the way I was feeling. Yet the buproprion has given me all of these new feelings and I am really affraid I will never feel normal again.
Should I give these new meds more time to take effect? Has anyone else used them for postpartum depression and felt these symptoms? Please email me at ****** I feel very alone in the ways I am feeling and would love to chat with someone who has had the similiar experiences.
Thanks
Trisha

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

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