Wellbutrin and welbutrin xl

Day 21 on Welbutrin XL 150 mg. - prescribed to help stop (light) smoking habit & for depression. I loved it - smoking urges not nearly as strong, more energy, very few emotional outbursts & general sense of calm, happiness & well-being. I haven't felt this good for 4 years. Have tried other meds in past but quit due to weight gain & sexual side-effects. Yesterday I developed HIVES. Damn. Saw nurse practitioner today. She wants me to switch to Lexapro. Told me to start w/ 1/2 a tab @ bedtime tonight. AAaaarrrgh! Anyone have any experience w/ Lexapro?

I have been taking this Welbutrin XL for 2 months. After 4 - 5 days of it, I get nauseus, dizzy and begin dehydration. After being off the medication a couple of days, I feel fine. This last episode, I was in the bed for 4 days napping several times a day and sleeping all night, no appetite, urine became thick and dark. All the while I was forcing fluids, drank Pedialyte to replace electrolytes, and stopped the Welbutrin XL. Didn't whether to go to the ER or try to get to the doctor. Finally gor enough strength to make it to the doctor. Blood tests showed I had come UP to being mildly dehydrated. I'm not taking any more Welbutrin XL.

I've been on welbutrin sr for 8 years. and it has been a miracle drug for me. I have bi-polar disorder, so am limited in terms of types of anti-depressants. Last week I went to have my prescription refilled, and the pharmacy told me it was back-ordered. They suggested I try welbutrin xl, same dosage, but once a day instead of twice a day. My doctor approved it, and I took it for 4 days. I couldn't leave the house, my anxiety was so bad. I couldn't stay awake in the afternoon, and couldn't sleep at night. I had a constant headache, and palpitations. I'm convinced that if I had remained on it, I was headed for a manic episode; the first in 8 years. So I called the drugstore, and they procured my old prescription for me. Anyone else have this kind of experience?

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.

I began taking Welbutrin XL three weeks ago. (I took prozac for years and loved it, but then built up resistance.) Since starting the Welbutrin, I have been extremely aggitated. The smallest things throw me into a rage. I throw things, yell at my kids and hate everything in general. The worst part is that I really do not care if I hurt someone. I am sure that in the last three weeks, my kids have come to hate me or at least hate being around me. I was hoping it would get better, but I do not see that happening. I called my doctor today and she is switching me to Lexapro.

I am inclined to disagree with almsot everything I have read so far. The first three days I was on Welbutrin XL, I was miserable. After 10 am, didn't want to do anything, not eat, not sleep, not be awake, not be alone, but not be around anyone..I was so miserable. After informing the doctor of this, he upped me to 300 mg. He said take 2 150 mg in the morning. Being that my problems were in the middle of the day, I decided to try my own experiment. I took one in the morning and one again at lunch. The result? Completely balanced out. Although I have only been on Wellbutrin XL for 2 weeks, I feel so much better. Big problem, though...if you skip a dose or run out before you pick up your prescription, everyone better stay away....FAR away! The rollercoaster is unbearable. I was lightheaded, vomitting, crying, had severe headaches...all because I went half a day without my medication.
On the positive side, I want to stay on it at least for a while. I keep a journal of my behavior everyday (good and bad) to see if I think I need an adjustment.
So far, I have lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks, have tons of energy, can focus well, have much confidence ( even wear makeup again), and am extremely calm. It is strange though that I am so calm, but my heart beats like a drum in a rock band! Go figure.

Yes, I developed a severe sore throat when I started the Welbutrin. I failed to mention the other side effects that I noticed while I was on Welbutrin XL 300mg. Dizziness, nausea, HEADACHES EVERY DAY!, sore throat, neck pain, back pain, very sore muscles, tunnel vision, I became anxious and nervous, and I think the worst one that I could not handle was this wierd "electrical" feeling that would pulsate throughout my body. It would make me tense up and it felt like my teeth were tingling all the way down to my feet. I am back over to Lexapro 20mg a day and will just have to put up with the weight gain.

I have been on Welbutrin XL 300mg for 3 days now. I switched from Lexapro, which I was on for 2 years, because of weight gain...over 30 lbs in the last 2 years. I am a very active person and have a very active job. This prompted me to talk with the doctor about my weight gain. He recommended the Welbutrin XL, which I take one pill at night before I go to bed. I have been VERY edgy ever since I started it. I dont know if it is withdrawl from Lexapro or switching to Welb. I have also had the common headache all day every day since I started...if anyone has any clues, please post!
Thanks

been on welbutrin XL for 4 days now. If I feel anything at all, it's very subtle. Well I can say that I have noticed a mild sore throat since day 1. This may be unrelated however. I notice some people stating "On the 1st day, so and so, then on the 2nd day, so and so" I was under the impression that it would take a minimum of 1 to 2 weeks before any FX were noticed. I guess everybodies different though. I was 1st on Lexapro, took it for 6 weeks and it did nothing at all for me. I might as well been taking Flintstone vitamins. So 4 days ago started with the Welbutrin XL after turning down the option to go on Paxil. After all the negative horror stories I've heard about Paxil, you couldn't make me try it. I've got high hopes for the Welbutrin XL, and hope I recieve the benefit of it's use and not the hair loss and other ill FX.