Wellbutrin and wellbutrin xl

I've been on Wellbutrin for 3 years. My hair has been falling out more and more every month. My scalp itches horribly! It feels almost as though bugs are crawling all over it. I am irritable and have dramatic mood swings. The final straw, though, was recently when I had a blood test to find that my white and red blood cell counts had become dangerously low, and my red blood cells were swollen (macrocytic anemia).

I'm now training myself off of Wellbutrin. I tried dropping to a quarter dose and felt flu-like symptoms (chills, extreme tiredness, dizziness) and extraordinary appetite (gaining 10 lbs in week 1). I also became unable to handle simple tasks at work, and excessively negative in demeanor.

I'm now back up to 1 pill and the chills have stopped. I am hoping that I can go back down to 1/2 pill gradually.

Will my hair grow back? Is the liver/blood damage reversible? Has anyone kicked the Wellbutrin habit and recovered fully? Please help.

Thank you in advance.

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'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 have recently been diagnosed with severe depression with ADHD (inattentiveness) which is now suspected to be due to the depression. I also have OCD which I can remember symptoms of, since chilkdhood. I was placed on Paxil, in my early twenties, to treat OCS, and anxiety. It helped with the anxiety at the great expense of a complete loss of sex drive, imagination and ideas, motivation and lethargy. I also put on a nasty amount of weight and lost passion for things. I took myself off Paxil, dangerously, cold turkey. In my late twenties I discovered ephedrine and felt "clear." I went to my doc who promptly switched me to Ritalin, concerned by my self medicating with the infamous and deadly ephedrine cocktails that are commonly used in the fitness industry to drop weight, among other things. The Ritalin, while not as much impact as ephi, seems to help.

Now in my 30's,assuming I, like many of my relatives who have been diagnosed, have adult ADHD, juggling a career, wonderful relationship, friendships and my fitness lifestyle, I was sent to the Psychiatrist again to treat major depression that was exasperated by a recent stressful work situation, a job that I have since quit.

I have been on "trials" with drugs such as Wellbutrin, Dexedrine, and Cipralex. After feeling stoned on my first week of Cipralex, I have been placed on Wellbutrin XL 300mg, and Dexedrine spansules, 20 mg x 2 daily. In the beginning, while feeling "foggier" It showed much promise. My Doctor told me that the brain fog (which I ironically enough have been trying to combat with Ritalin) would subside after about a month or two. Miracles did not occur. I guess I expected one. I thought meds would bring the hop back into my step and song into my heart again. Not the case.

In the beginning, I did notice less downers, less fear of what others thought of me, less obsession with perfection in every eay, and less self blame and shame. I was beginning to feel saved. After 5 months, things went downhill - worse than before I sought out help. It has been 6 months on Wellbutrin and Dexedrine (occasionally switching to Ritalin in hopes of identifying which more successfully lifts the fog) I am miserable... I am losing my confidence with driving - this is creepy - I find that what was normally automatic responsed (ie: Red means stop and Green means go) It now takes me a few seconds to remoind myself what means what as I approch each intersection. Tell me this wouldn't make anyone feel retarded. Last week, I had a hard time organizing 2 identical stacks of 4 papers that needed to be stapled together. I had to recount them, re-arrange them more than once to make for certain that they were as they should be. This freaked me out and now my new employers are beginning to notice my slowness with things, I have also become even more paranoid that others in the office are out to take my job, regret hiring me, or are conspiring to fire me, unhappy with me performance. This hyper-sensitivity became obvious to my employers when they approached me about their deep concern of watching the confident take charge woman they hired for a senior position, "wither away and become overly apologetic and meak." My heart is breaking. I now think of doom, failure and death on a daily basis. I won't harm myself physically but I am tormenting myself emotionally. I can't tell you all how much energy it is taking me to write this. I have NO energy or drive. I lost passion for things including my pets who now just piss me off. I lost a lot my compassion for others, keen imagination and passion that I was known for. I don't care that I have not returned my friends and families phone calls. I am becoming a real loser, so to speak.

My ADHD seems to be at its worst. My brain literally feels like there are cotton balls stuffed behind my forehead, behind my eyes, causing pressure and foggy loss of sharpness, wit and clarity. It feels that if I could just remove the cotton, All the clarity would be "there." Reading an earlier post by someone else describing her symptoms as a "head full of cotton balls," has inspired me to add my own 2 cents.

My doc has added a prescription for Cellexa, that I am to add to my Wellbutrin and Dexedrine cocktail. I feel like what makes me me, is dying. My fiance is concerned that I am become someone else, not me. My employers are wondering where the woman is they hired back in May. I have always struggled with self esteem issues but I have learned to fake confidence until I can build it for myself. Also, I have come to the belief that everyone suffers from some level of vulnerable or low self-esteem. Some are better than others at compensating for it or covering it up behind an armor or wall of false acts of confidence.

I no longer get the highs I once enjoyed when making a sale, creating success for my clients and my company. I no longer feel driven to achieve and grow. The desire is still there, but I can't seem to summon enough motivation or energy to undertake anything as simple as calling a client. I am beginning to feel like I am dead inside. I need to talk to my employers but it is hard to have others understand or empathize when in comes to mental illness. There is still so much prejudice and ignorance associated with it. Those who don't understand it or have experience with it, fear people who have it, presuming that we are unpredictable and dangerous I feel guilty killing a spider...

The weight loss has been great - I went from an athletic 127 lbs at 5' 4" to a very toned 118 lbs. I am hoping that it is more to do with my Yasmin birth control pills that I have also been placed on, 6 months ago. I am now wondering if they have anything to do with it too.

I feel as though pills are being made out to sound like the answer. Here's another pill, and another pill and another one... I fear that the more pills I take, the more lost the real me becomes. I fear that one day I might not be able to get her (me) back.

Anyone else share the above?

God Bless us all, we need it!

Took Wellbutrin XL 150's for 7 days and the dizziness and vertigo was only getting worse day after day. Been off it for 4 days and STILL have dizzy and vertigo feelings. I was doing 100 times better with no meds!! I just wish I knew how long before I can expect this to get out of my system. It cannot be good for you at all.

I am a 34 year old female and have been on wellbutrin for 3 yrs. taking 300mg a day. I have lost a bunch of hair. Half of my hair is gone and that is no exaggeration!!!!!! But the worst part of it is that I had no clue that my medication could be causing it. My mom is a hairdresser and she has been really concerned about my hair loss. We thought maybe we were just frying it with all of the chemicals we put on it---BUT after talking about it we ruled that out because we have ALWAYS done it. It wasn't until after LUCK of stumbling across this info on the net that we put 2 and 2 together. UUHHGG!!! I am sooo mad at my Dr. I even discussed my hair loss with her a YEAR AGO. She had bloodwork done for my thyroid and it came back normal. I have a check-up today concerning my meds. I'm going off it ASAP. Dont want to just stop completely because i heard it can be dangerous. But i recommend to anyone taking wellbutrin that likes having a full head of hair to stop taking it!!! The Dr.'s will tell you that it is not a side effect but believe me---IT IS!!! I can only hope now that mine will grow back.!!!!!

I've been on a lower dose of Wellbutrin XL in combination with Zoloft. Stopped taking Zoloft and upped my dose of WB to 300mg and then to 450mg. I felt good w/no side effects on the 300mg. I'm not sure if it was the WB, but after a couple weeks at 450mg, my head started to feel really weird. Not dizzy, not a headache, just feeling like I need to shake my head to clear it. I dropped back to 300mg and it's been a few days, but I've still got the weird feeling. Can't really focus. Anyone else have this feeling?? I don't know how to describe it other than maybe a head full of cotton balls.

I took Wellbutrin XL for 10 days no problem, finishing an old Rx. Then I started my new SR script, and I noticed an increasing itchiness. Finally, broke out but good, with tiny pimples and major, major itching, mostly in my feet, hands or neck and scalp.

I've been off for over week now, but the itching has not stopped. I have to admit I'm scared and I have no idea why the itching won't stop. It's worse at night and may or may not be felt with a rash.

Anyone else like this?

I took bupropion sr 150 from EON Labs for 10 days before breaking out in hives. Other then that it made me feel wonderful. I really miss how I was feeling on it and am trying to pinpoint if it was the drug itself or the brand or dye used in the tablet. If anyone got hives while taking Wellbutrin, please let me know which one you were taking and the color of the tablet. I hope to get to the bottom of this soon and maybe others will benefit.

I stopped taking wellbutrin xl 150 mg and lamictal 200 mg 3 days ago cold turkey because there is no way to cut thewelbutrin tablet in half and take it safely. The first day wasn't bad at all. I felt better than I have felt in years and years. Then yesterday I felt okay, but not as good as I did on the first day. Today I woke up feeling like I have the flu. Every single bone, joint and muscle in my body aches. I feel fine one minute and the next minute the room feels like it's spinning and the body aches return. My psychiatrist started me on all of this poison,,, oops, I mean, medications 2 years ago. I had lost a child and had gone into a deep depression which led to severe anorrhexia. He started me out on Lamictal and Lexapro and after a year of awful side effects from the lexapro(especially sexual side effects=no desire at all) he finally switched me to the wellbutrin xl and told me that it would help better than the lexapro. At my last appointment, 1 week ago, I asked him when and if I would ever be able to go off of these meds. And he told me that I am probably a "lifer". He refused to hear anything about my stopping or weaning off of these meds. So, after my 3 minute office visit and prescription refills written out I left the office. I did not take the prescription to the pharmacy because I decided then and there that the only reason he and a lot of other psychs put people on these outrageously priced prescriptions(the lamictal is $140 a month and the wellbutrin xl is $170 and that is for the generic per moth) is because they get HUGE incentives from the pharmaceutical companies to keep us on them. I will not go back on the meds ever again. I am tired of living in a drugged up state. I want to feel alive again like I felt before I ever started taking this crap.

help ........... I just now broke a Wellbutrin SR pill in half and took it. .... ** What is going to happen ?? I am scared.

I saw a website that says: "Do not crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablet (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban SR). Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time."

I just now decided to start taking again after 3 years because i have been having anxiety and can't stand it anymore !!

I am a pack a day smoker too. 46 year old male.

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.

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.

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 am also experience hair thinning while on Wellbutrin. I have had blood tests and there is no other detectable cause. The dermatologist said that she was only able to diagnose as possibly hereditary. However, I began noticing it shortly after starting 300mg of Well XL and then noticed increased thinning when I went up to 450mg. I don't take any other medications at all.

I searched the Wellbutrin prescribing information (a pdf on the official Wellbutrin website) and this is all I can find:

Other Events Observed During the Clinical Development and Postmarketing Experience of Buproprion

Adverse events for which frequencies are not provided occurred in clincial trials or postmarketing experience with bupropion. Only those adverse events not previously listed for sustained-release bupropion are included. The extent to which these events may be associated with Wellbutrin XL is unknown.

Skin: Rare was maculopauplar rash. Also observed were alopecia, angioedeme, exfoliative dermatitis and hirsutism.

----------------

Alopecia is hair loss. All that means is it was reported and they didn't do a study that would have produced data with which they could measure the likelihood that it is a Wellbutrin side effect. In other words, people said they were experiencing it but they can't confirm it.

I just dropped down to 300 mg and I'm contacting my shrink about tapering off completely - I feel like dealing with scalp showing through and feeling horribly self-conscious and unattractive because of it is not going to help my depression and self-esteem issues any.

I'm a woman by the way - the number of reports of hair thinning in women seems significant to me. I have no family history of thin hair on the female side that I know of.

Started 9 days ago. 150 once a day.
Haven't smoked. Insomnia teh last 2 days were AWFUL!
Horrendous nightmares when i did fall asleep for 20 minutes.
Anxiety last 2 nights were painfully scary.
Is it really worth it to take this stuff?
Tylenol pm doesn't seem to work well for me when I am on Wellbutrin.
I have had more energy and the eating goes back an forth. One day I will eat anything I can get my hands on. Next day i hardly eat at all.
Email me. ******
Thank you.
Kat

I have been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg/day. I thought I was losing my mind. I too, broke out in hives, all over, felt flush. Then I would get pains in my arms and chest, so it would make me paranoid to the point I would feel like I was having a heart attack. I never realized it was the Wellbutrin because I am allergic to allot of things, so I would attribute it to other things. Has anyone else felt paranoid?

Hi! I've been on Wellbutrin XL since November 2007. It's late February 2008 and I just stopped taking it two days ago. I know I shouldn't go cold turkey, but like others...I'm afraid of the side effects.

I've been having headaches since December. After having my eyes checked (prescription barely changed) and returning to the chiropractor (thinking something may have been pinched in my neck), nothing helped. I have NEVER had migraines until I started taking this medication, which a friend brought to my attention. "When did you start having these headaches? Wasn't it around the time you started Wellbutrin?" He asked because he, too, has had issues finding an anti-depressant that worked for him. On many, he's experienced headaches.

My doctor ended up prescribing a CT Scan and an MRA w/contrast of the brain because I told her that, in addition to the migraines, I also had two occasions where it felt like I was going to have a stroke (like my head was just going to explode and I almost passed out).

I have yet to have the scans due to an insurance issue, but I have stopped taking the Wellbutrin to see if that will help. I'm not looking forward to the depression, but I'm hoping I can take other positive steps (exercise, proper diet, vitamins, etc.) to avoid taking any more anti-depressants. The side effects are NOT worth it, at least at this point. I'm just going to have to find another way to get myself out of bed in the morning! :)

My husband was prescribed 600 mg of Wellbutrin xl. He went into a psychosis. He lost touch with reality, was very agitated, had mixed episodes of mania and depression at the same time, couldn't sleep, he was having hallucinations- thought people were there that were not, heard a womans voice, thought we were penniless, thought I was talking to other men- usually he is very secure, not a jealous person. His head was shaking like he had Parkinson's disease, he had no motor skills. His Dr. told me to call if he went into Mania. I did not know that mania could go into psychosis. This all happened to him during the Christmas holidays and | could not reach the Dr. My husband lost touch w/ reality and broke the law and is now in jail. Please if you take this med, educate your loved ones of these possible side affects and about bipolar. I wish I knew then, what I know now. I also know now that 600mg is twice what the normal dosage and 450mg is the max anyone should take.

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.

I've been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg for 3 days and I've had a splitting headache for 3 days. The evening of the second day came the nausea and crying and disorientation. Maybe the crying is not a side effect as I was doing that before I started the meds. All I want to know is can I take something for the headaches while taking the Wellbutrin. Does anyone know of anything. I guess I should call my doctor.

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for 1 week now and after the severe nausea and diarrhea I feel pretty good. No panic attacks so far. Although the upset stomach is still in full effect. Haven't quit smoking yet or noticed any weight loss. When should I expect it to kick in on the not smoking and weight loss

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 just woke up from the scariest nightmare I have ever had. I repeated the same horrible dream over and over again all night, till I just finally woke up and decided to google if Wellbutrin XL causes nightmares. I just started taking it 7 days ago... wonderful.

I have been on Wellbutrin XL 150mg for 5 days now and have noticed that I am very short with people and experiencing anger. I tend to lash out. Will this go away?

INCREASED APPETITE!! My doctor took me off anxiety medicine and put me on Wellbutrin XL. I've been on it for two days and I have a constant headache, can't get out of bed because I'm so tired, and my appetite was so big that I ate enough calories for 3 adults. I weigh 120 lbs and don't plan on gaining anymore weight. I called my doctor regarding the side effects and he said "stop taking it". Of course I'm not a doctor, but this is the first "depression" medication I've been on and don't feel I am a depressed person. Maybe my doctor is a quack.

I miss me...WB has turned me into a zombie and I'm more depressed than before. I've only been on it for 5 days, but I don't think I want to see if it works out after reading these posts. One of my major complaints about WB are the constant hallucinations. While mild they make me anxious, agitated and a little paranoid. I don't have much in the way of visual hallucinations, mostly hearing sounds and perceiving them to be threats and smelling odd smells that don't exist. I'm also emotionally "flat", have no interest in anything and I'm shaky and feel very cold most of the time. And I've never had anger issues before, but now I don't trust myself around anyone. I just want to be alone. I was told this medication would work for Seasonal Depression and help me to quit smoking, but right now I miss how I normally feel. Has anyone else had hallucinations? Do they go away or should I quit taking WB right away? It doesn't make sense to suffer for a full month when my seasonal depression only lasts for 4 months anyway - does it make sense to hang in there and see what happens? After reading these postings, if WB doesn't work for me, I'll go back to being un-medicated. It doesn't seem so bad now.

I'm taking generic 100mg SR twice a day. After only 5 days, do I have to worry about withdrawals if I quit?

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 have been on 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL for a little more than 3 weeks. I am also taking 100 mg of Lamictal a day just upped that dose yesterday from 50 mg both to treat bipolar disorder (which I am not thoroughly convinced I have!) I can't tell which drug is causing which side effect, they both cause a lot of the same things. I have experienced strange dreams and horrible nightmares, itchy skin, hair loss (which I believe is from the Lamictal), acne on my face, back and shoulders, extreme mood swings and irritability, extreme fatigue, difficulty with hand-eye coordination, difficulty with words (speaking and writing), generally fuzzy headed, dizziness, waking at night with a pounding heart, joint and muscle soreness, heavy period that has lasted a lot longer than normal, stuffy nose, hacking cough and that about does it.

Basically, it sucks and I want to go off at least the Lamictal and see if the Wellbutrin is kinder on it's own. I just don't think this is going to work for me. It's been pretty rough the last few weeks, I hope I can come up with something I can tolerate.

good luck all!
~A

My son and I have both taken Welbutrin. I didn't really notice a lot of side effects. I know that it did not effect my sex drive which other meds did. I lost weight, lost interest in drinking alcohol, lost interest in smoking. Had more energy,
My son has had some different things happen to him. He gets real sharpe headache pains in the left top of his head. They come and go away within about 30 seconds. Has anyone ever had that problem? He tried getting off of the meds and experenced all these body pains. It drove him nuts so he went back on welbutrin. The body pains have gone away, but the head pains came back. The doctor said the head pains would go away if he took his meds regular.

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!

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for only one week right now. I do not feel any difference in my behaviors, but I do feel dizzy when I change positions fast. It feels kinda wierd, but its not like its dibilitating or anything.

I have recently "weaned" myself off Wellbutrin XL, over the course of 3 weeks, per doctors orders. Since then, I have been feeling bouts of hostility and anger. I cry alot. I feel as though I can control a single emotion?! Anyone else have these problems?

I took Wellbutrin XL for two weeks. After a week and a half I felt very depressed-I was very lethargic and just didn't care about anything. I also wanted to die, which is NOT a symptom of my depression. So I decided to stop taking it. A few days later I started itching like crazy. I had had an allergic reaction to sulfameth earlier in the year and this was exactly like that. This time I didn't fool around with Benedryl and calamine lotion but made a drs appt for the next day. The morning of my appt when I woke up I was not only itching horribly, but had a deep red rash on different parts of my body that would disappear and reappear. My right hand was starting to swell and so was my right eye, just like an earlier poster. By the time I got to the doctor the rash had spread up my chest, over my neck. The nurse freaked out when she saw me! But the straw broke when I was in with the doctor--I had a seizure!!! I thought I had just passed out (which was frightening enough) but she said my eyes had rolled back in my head and I convulsed. I had to have a cat scan which came back fine but I am firmly convinced it was the Wellbutrin, and I was just lucky enough to be in the doctor's office at the time I seized. She had never seen the itching or rash with any of her other Wellbutrin patients, but my brother had experienced the same thing when he took it a few years ago for smoking cessation. If you are itching, go to a doctor immediately for relief! That was over a month ago and I still have occasional itching spells. You just never know how certain medicines will react to your body.

I've been on it for about a month now (Wellbutrin XL). What I notice is I seem to have what feels like "caffeine jitters" all the time. Anyone else dealing with that?

I have been taking Lexapro and switched to Wellbutrin due to the sexual side effects and weight gain. However, I took the Wellbutrin for 5 days now and I seem depressed and moody. Will this subside. I thought that if I started the wellbutrin without skipping days between one kind and another that I would not have to wait for results. Can you give me an opinion? I really liked the lexapro just not the side effects. But would rather be happy and little heavier and put up with the sexual side effects than be unhappy.

I can relate to a posting that stated the patient was having trouble distinguishing dreams from reality. I was having this problem too. Had a hard time explaining to my doctor who said that he had never heard of that side effect. It doesn't last long for me, but it's very troubling whe it occurs. I am unable to take the 150mg of Wellbutrin XL. I would prefer an extended release but it is not offered in 50mg. This means that I have to break a 100mg pill, not extended release, in two. The meds then kick in faster and drop off within about 10 hours. The drop off is also unsettling. Hope this post helps someone. Hang in there, guys. Keeping praying.

On wellbutrin xl 300 mg for about a month now... really tired today and took a coworkers' stack 2 (caffeine pill) BIG MISTAKE! Feel like i am having a heart attack, jaw pain arm pain, shoulder pain, some pressure in chest and my heart is just thumpin away as hard as it can! I have been nauseated and have thrown up 3 times. I am never going to take any caffeine while on wellbutrin again. Here is a thing I have not read yet about wellbutrin. I used to sleepwalk as a child, and now I am on it I have started to again! Comments?

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

I have been taking wellbutrin xl-300 mgs for about 7 months now, all of asudden I had butterflys in my stomach, I am overthinking EVERYTHING, I am not happy, I am so moody, then my Dr, told me to add 5 mgs of lexapro, still the same - so i halfed the 300 to 150 wellbutrinxl plus the 5mg of lexapro- still I m having butterflys- not as much, but its there the same , justa milder touch?? Do you think I dont ned it anymore??? please answe this for me, or give me some suggestions as to what is going on.
thanks
melody

never taken wellbutrin xl 300 mg...my plastic surgeron gave it to me to quit smoking......Just by reading this site and all the side effects are scaring me...and yes i drink,,,Should i even consider trying this.?? or just go by the patch..???
theres more neg than pos on this site...

I've been on Wellbutrin XL for about 9 weeks now and I originally started out on 150mg a day and now my dose has been upped to 300mg a day. I was put on wellbutrin to see if it would help me quit smoking and also for depression. Previously I was on Zoloft and Buspar together. (I won't even get into the side effects with those two)

1. After about a week on 150 mg I experienced sharp and short headache pains in different places but that has since gone away.

2. I am on a computer at work for 8 hours a day and sometimes it seems to take me a few seconds to catch up with the words/numbers I'm typing and at times It seems like I'm re-arranging letters or numbers around backwards without really noticing it unless I check it as I type. Hopefully this will go away it seems to be slowly disappearing.

3. I've also noticed an increased sensitivity to light.

4. I've also felt very energetic, pulse racing and keep thinking my heart is going to jump out of my chest and sometimes there is some slight discomfort.

5. The oddest thing to happen and this only started happening 4 days ago is that I've started having heart burn symptoms and I've never really even had heartburn before maybe once or twice in my life. I think it has to be the wellbutrin but I'm not sure if thats a HUGE side effect or happens to most people but I did see a couple of people mention that in the previous posts. It's really starting to make me nervous and I've been taking tums etc. like crazy and I hope this side effect goes away as soon as possible.

6. An additional note to line 5 I've also experienced constipation.

7. I did experience a decrease in appetite for a couple of weeks but that seems to have stopped. I haven't noticed any weight loss or weight gain at all. My weight has stayed the same for the most part give or take a couple of pounds.

8. Sex Drive: orgasms are more intense

9. Dry mouth: that has stopped completely

10. I do drink alcohol and smoke regularly and due to the risks I was told not to suddenly stop drinking etc. due to reverse side effects of the wellbutrin and what could happen and I'm still drinking here and there so maybe thats causing the heart burn along with the wellbutrin; I'm not completely sure.

I have not experienced any joint pain, loss of hearing or ringing in the ears, hives, increase in acne or seizures since I've been on wellbutrin. The only side effect I'm having trouble dealing with is the Heart Burn and it has to be the Wellbutrin since I've never experienced it really before or I could just be getting older. (27) Either way it is has been almost intolerable at times.

All in all it's not a bad drug so far and hopefully as time goes on the side effects will lesson.

If you have experienced heart burn as a side effect feel free to respond I'm very curious to see how common it is.

This site has really given me some insight about this medication.

Best Regards

it made me feel like i was in a box. I had no emotion at all. I did not care about repercussions of ill made desicions. I didnt eat for about 3 weeks at 100mg. my arms shook and i would sweat profusely. I would have a pain so severe in my chest, back and stomach that all i could do was lay on the floor and cry. My anxiety and panic attacks persisted even at 300mg. the shaking stopped and so did the pain but the box has apparently dissolved because of my excessive crying. Everything around me assualts me- apparently wellbutrin XL at 300mg quit doing its job. I slept for 12 hours at a time - sometimes 20, having no recolection of falling asleep or ever waking up. Short term memory is shot - memory in general is shot. My keys, and shoes, and books dissapear on a regular basis because i cant remember if they are on the table or in the bag even though i set them down not 2 minutes ago.

Hi, I've been taking Wellbutrin XL for about 2 weeks. I am less tired and hungry but I am still depressed. I still cry at the drop of a hat. I have had wierd dreams, not nightmares exactly but just wierd. my knees ache and so do my shins. I hope this helps someone else. I am hoping that once the meds kick in my depression will lessen and I can live my life to the fullest.

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for about 2 weeks. I am taking it for depression and as of yesterday still cry at the drop of a hat. I do feel less tired and less hungry. My legs ache especially my knees. I am not really sure if that is from the meds. I sometimes feel a tightening at my tempals, but no head-aches yet. I have had some wierd dreams, I wouldn't call them nightmares exactly. I am hoping that this will help with my deression and if I lose a few pounds I will be happy too. I don't know if this helps anyone but I hope it does.

Two months ago, I was taking 150 mg's of wellbutrin xl, 2 and 3 times a day for ADD. I have severe ringing in my ears which I still have, eventhough I stopped taking it over a month ago. My dr. says it may never stop! It is driving me crazy! I wish I would have never taken it. ( It did nothing for my ADD)

Great site, it has been helpful to see others comments. I have been on Wellbutrin SR 150mg 2x a day for almost 5 years. I hate to say but I have had no side effects up until recently. I took a lower dosage while I was pregnant and had no problems and my child was not effected at all. It is quite possible that I did have some mild side effects over the 5 years, but because the positive effects were so helpful I probably would have not noticed. I had become non-functional prior to going on Wellbutrin. I have refused any suggestions to go on to Wellbutrin XL, and frankly after reading many of the comments I know I will not switch.

I have now found myself with blurred vision. It is serious at times and it comes and goes. I am working with my doctor, but wondered if there are any long term users of Welbutrin who have experienced the same. I also have found myself getting depressed again. Wondering if at a certain point the Welbutrin just stops working. Is it possible for my body to just start to reject the medication.

Any long term users please respond.

Been taking 300mg of Wellbutrin xl for about 1 year. I sleep almost all the time, don't care about anything or anyone. Try not to go outside. This is horrible! I'm going to ask my doctor to wean me off it. I feel suicidal. I was never so depressed in my life. I hate this feeling. Is anyone else tired on this stuff? I also take Ativan and Lortab. I feel as though my mind is lost and I don't care.

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for almost a month now and I feel fine. The first week I took 150 mg. and had problems sleeping a few nights, and felt a little hyper at times and felt pressure in my chest sometimes. After about 5 days I was adjusted and felt ok. Then I upped the dosage to 300 mg (the full dosage) again I felt a little strange and had a horrible migraine like headache for 2 days but again I adjusted after about 5 days. I think this is my 4th week and I feel great! I haven't put on weight with this one and feel totally normal. Really I think this is the best one I've tried and over the past few years I've had to try different ones which side effects I couldn't deal with.