Wellbutrin and wellbutrin xl

Taking 150mg of Wellbutrin XL (Brupropion) for a month now and starting to notice quite a few of my hairs in the sink and a slight change in my hairline. Nothing drastic but definitely not good. I have always had a good head of hair so this is disconcerting to say the least. Luckily I googled Wellbutrin side-effects before taking it and saw reports of hair loss so I've put the 2 together before its too late! Who knows if my hair loss is just because I'm a 37 year old male but I'm not taking any chances. I think I'll switch drugs. Its too bad since the drug works quite well for my depression (season affective-ish). Other side-effects include some out-of-the-blue agitation and aggression which was a bit scary around my small kids. This peaked at about 3 weeks into it (along with some dizziness) but seems to be subsiding now. Thanks all for your posts.

I started Wellbutrin XL about a month ago. I had a lot of trouble sleeping after about a week. I didn't feel tired at all. I just saw my doctor a few days ago and he switched me to Wellbutrin SR. He said that it doesn't stay in your system as long so I should be able to sleep. Has anyone tried this? Let me know. Thanks!

About 2 hours after taking my 18th day of generic Wellbutrin XL 150mg. (Sun)the palms of my hands started itching like crazy! No bumps or anything, just intense itching. I immediately applied 1% Hydrocortisone cream to them and after about 10 minutes that pretty much made all the itching go away. I didn't want a replay of that, so I kept applying the HC about every 4 hours all day long, or after washing my hands. That evening everything was okay. Then the next morning, my hands started itching again...so again I applied the HC cream again, and headed off for work...they itched SO bad, and this time it took about half an hour for the HC cream to even begin to work. Then about 20 minutes into the hand itching, the soles of my feet started itching..too wierd! I was driving, so I couldn't apply it to my right foot b/c it was on the gas pedal, but I applied the HC cream to my left foot, ahhhh! Then as soon as I could, I applied it to my right foot. It took about 10 minutes, but it was soon itch free. When it came time to retake my med, I decided not to risk it. I called my prescribing doctor and she was off, and some other doc just said to take Benadryl. Duh, I was at work and #1 didn't have any and #2 it makes me so sleepy, I can't function. Then later on in the day, my wrists got welts on them, then my left elbow got a huge set of welts on it, and itched like crazy...then a few hours later, my left ankle got a huge welt on it and it looked like my ankle was swollen and both my feet and ankles had pin pricking sensations....a few hours after that, my right leg started itching behind my knee...I could feel a welt through my slacks...so again, I went into the ladies room and applied HC cream and it helped. By now I've used 1/2 the new tube of HC cream! When I finally got home, I pulled off my clothes and I had huge welts (hives) all over the back of my right leg. Plus, a big long skinny (horizontal) welt where my bra and wrapped around me. Since I was home, I could take Benadryl...so I took 4 tsp. and jumped into a warm (not hot) bath (they say to use cool water but I couldn't do it) with a cup of baking soda. Felt SOOOO good! By the time I got out they felt much better. I kept taking the Benadryl every 3-4 hours all evening but by the time I went to bed, I had welts on the back of my left leg also and on my buttocks and hips. My head kind of itched here and there in weird places, more like pin pricks but I have really thick hair, so I can't tell if I have any welts there or not. I stayed home from work today to continue on the Benadryl and making sure it doesn't get any worse. It hurts to sit here typing as my panty line is in the middle of a big 3" welt. The Wellbutrin XL seemed to be helping my depression and anger issues, but I assume the MD will put me on something else. I really liked it. It did suppress my appetite during the day but not much at night. Oh well! I'm glad I'm not the only one with these symptoms.

I took Wellbutrin XL 6bvyears ago and experienced weight loss but no other side effects. I recently started again. At the same time, I had the keratin protein treatment that make my curly hair straight. Recently, i noticed a lot of hair loss. I been attributing this to the hair treatment, but when I went to an acupuncturist about hair loss, he immediately said it was the wellbutrin. I couldn't believe it!!! 2 different doctors told me hair loss was not a side effect of Wellbutrin XL (300mg). But after the visit to the acupuncturist, I did a little more digging and found this sight. I can't believe what I'm reading. This wasn't my experience in the past when I took the drug. I will definitely stop this med ASAP. Good luck to you all.

I can basically cut and paste the posting from June 1, 2009. The timing, sequence of events and locations were dead on. It all started after day 10 for me too. No more Wellbutrin XL for me.

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 300MG for 18 months now. It definitely cured my depression but since last couple of months I noticed my hair falling at an alarming rate. I can now see my scalp in several places. It is discouraging. I am going to lower the dose to 150MG and then stop after some time.

I am experiencing severe hair loss - I was on Wellbutrin XL for a year and a half with no side effects, then changed doctors and we prescribed the generic, bupropion. That is when my marked hair loss began. I then switched to Lexapro, but felt like a zombie, and so went back to the bupropion hoping that it was a vitamin deficiency that was causing my hair loss and not the med. But, with all sorts of supplements, my hair continues to thin - I used to have thick, healthy shiny hair, and now cannot bear to touch my head because it is so upsetting to have lost so much hair.
Has anyone else experienced NOT losing hair on the brand name Wellbutrin, then switching to the generic and losing hair? I don't want to give up the med because it has worked so well for my depression, but I don't want to loose my hair either. HELP!!
Thanks!

I have been on generic Wellbutrin for almost two weeks and have not gotten a rash but have noticed that my anxiety has gone up, especially at night. I already have anxiety about not sleeping and normally will take benadryl or lunesta to help that. I also feel like I have this surge of anger, that I am not sure where it came from. Has anyone else had this? I talked to my doctor yesterday and he said to follow up on Friday and see. I am switching from lexapro to wellbutrin because of massive weight gain and to help me quit smoking. Any advice would be grateful, I can deal with it if I know its going to pass shortly!!

i have been taking Wellbutrin xl for 10 days.I broke out with itchy red warm whelps that vary in size all over my body. I started around hairline, neck and wrist. Next day it moved to stomach, under breast and armpits and legs. day 3 its now on my face. Benadryl helps some but as soon as it wears off the rash appears again. I have been experiencing major heartburn as well. Doctor said because it took 10 days to break out , he doesn't believe it is the medicine. I take absolutely nothing else other than 1 a day vitamin.
He prescribed prednisone for rash relief. So we will see if this works , but after this web site , I am going to stop the Wellbutrin. Its not worth the itchy splotchy rash. Driving me Crazy!!!

I am 20 and have been on Wellbutrin XL for the past 3 months but two weeks ago my doc increased my dose to the max which is 450mg. Since then my life has been a mess because I am always nervous (the feeling you get before you do something you are not comfortable with like presentation or exam) and I have this feeling all day it initially started with episodes of this nervousness but this week I am noticing that I am always tense. Does anyone feel this way??

My head is spinning, I feel like this quite often (I am gonna try to explain this) as if your brain is shifting L to R and then everything around you starts spinning like for example I was writing an email earlier today and I started feeling like this I literally felt as if the words I was typing were moving back and forth. Does anyone feel anything close to this.

I was just curious if anyone else could relate to how I am feeling :(

Hello,

I am so happy to find these posts. I started the generic Wellbutrin SR 100 MG in the morning about four months ago. She wanted me to increase my dose but there is no way I can handle it. I am also on Zoloft 50 mg for panic attacks. She added the wellbutrin to give me more energy and help with my low sex drive. It gives me lots of energy but I can not have caffeine or much sugar when I am taking it or I have a panic attacks. Also I am very short of breath, I thought this was just my anxiety but after reading all the other posts I am beginning to wonder if it is the wellbutrin. My sex life is a little better but not much, of course I am taking a very low dose. About a week after I started taking it, my back and neck was killing me. I went for a massage and she said I had knots all over my back and neck, this four months ago, I kept getting massages and they just keep getting bigger and will not go away! I am almost certain the wellbutrin is making me tense and causing these. I decided to call my doctor today and ask to go off of it.

What is funny is I was on it a few years back but it was Wellbutrin XL not generic. It was wonderful! I had the best sex life, I had so much energy and no side effects.

I just wanted to share my story.

I have been on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for about a month and a half. I really do not feel any difference. I was put on it for mild depression and loss of energy, but I still feel like I am floating through my days and can't wait to go home and crawl into bed. I should also mention I am on a very small dose of beta blockers for my atrial fibrillation (which is meant to decrease my heart rate). Should I increase to the 300 mg dose? I am concerned about doing this, as this is my first time on any anti-depressant and I would eventually like to wean myself off.
Also, have any women noticed their periods are late or non-existent? I am a week late in my period, and I am NEVER late. I will be going to get a pregnancy test done, but I am fairly certain I am not pregnant. I also noticed very heavy cramping yesterday that would signal the start of my period, but nothing happened.
I would appreciate any feedback!
Thank you.

Well, after day 6 of horrible hive breakouts, the doctor is taking me off Wellbutrin XL and putting me on Celexa. I'm nervous to try something new. I loved how Wellbutrin makes me feel, minus the excruciating hive break outs. Wish me luck!

I'm 27 years old and finally admitted to myself that I am depressed. My doctor put me on Wellbutrin XL. 150mg for the first week then 300mg ever since. My first week on 300mg I was extremely anxious, shaky, tightness in chest, couldn't sleep for days, etc. I started to split up my does. I took one pill in the morning and one about 5pm. This helped a lot. By week three I felt wonderful and decided to go back to taking both pills at the same time. Again, I felt great. By the Friday of my 3rd week, I began having hives like crazy. I have been living on Benadryl and Ibuprofen for the pain. Today is day 3 of hives and I am once again plastered. I also have extreme pain in my feet, to the point where I can barely walk. My hands (knuckles) and my knees are also tight and sore, but no where's as bad as my feet. I believe that my body may be very sensitive to this drug now. I have experienced just about every other side effect, but I pushed through it and they went away. Wellbutrin has been amazing for my mood and I am very sad at the thought that I may have to go off of it. Are the hives something that I can just push through or is the inevitable about to happen and I will be forced to stop using this drug?

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.

I've been on wellbutrin XL 150mg for just over 1 month. From day 1 I've had all different side effects. The first week my mood was fantastic, as well as my energy. But I hardly slept at all. I have headaches, but that has always been a problem for me. Then I started feeling tired and drowsy and had severe dry mouth. Now, over the past day or two I started feeling really sick. Very dizzy, nauseous, it feels hard to breathe and I have a headache that will not go away with Tylenol or Advil. I'm considering stopping it.

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 can agree with so many of you who've shared your experiences - for about a year I felt more like 'the old me' on Wellbutrin, but in the last six months I've become progressively more fuzzy-minded. It scares me that there are times that I worry that I won't be able to finish a coherent sentence... like I'm speaking in slow motion waiting for individual words to filter through the fog of my brain so that they can be spoken. OK, it's certainly not always like this - and so far only my husband seems to have noticed, but I dread muttering the wrong thing in a business setting. Perhaps worse than this, in the vanity that is our present reality, I've seen significant hair loss from the top of my head - my squeaking clean pate is SHINY in the mirror and I hate it!!! It's winter now, but I can't wear hats all the time, and I just don't happen to work in a 'fashion forward' industry where I might hope to make hats a trend for all to follow. I will be weaning myself off of Wellbutrin and looking into oral and topical arnica b/c I'm nervous about trying Rogaine and begging stuck with that regimen for the rest of my life. The women in my family all have lovely hair; I'm 40, not 80!!

I started Wellbutrin in the beginning of December. Someone very close to me passed away and I developed severe anxiety with some depression. I took some control of it with simply taking Ativan, but the doctor insisted I get on something for depression as well. I didn't really understand why I need to take a pill when I was just fine before this event.... but ok, I agreed.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I was optimistic about it. She said it might improve my focus, give me some energy back, had no sexual side effects.

I took it in the morning, and usually with at least something in my stomach. The first 3 days of taking it, I was severely unstable. I think if I didn't have my boyfriend, I would be dead right now. I would cry uncontrollably, for no reason, pace, have terrible anxiety... I remember going through my closet, throwing things around, looking for a belt, throwing a few on the bed and taking one and tightening it around my neck.. I then walked around and was looking for a place to hang myself.. Luckily my boyfriend got home because he had a bad feeling about what was happening with me... otherwise I, to this day, do not know what I would have done.

After the first 3 days... things sort of calmed down... sometimes I would feel "better" in little spurts the first week.

I also had my sex drive for the first 2 weeks and it was good. I still wasn't "happy" but the medication wasn't doing any significant harm.

In the 3rd week, I lost interest in nearly everything. I didn't want to step foot outside. I stopped talking to my family, stopped answering my phone, I would lay in bed for hours, thinking of depressive things. I began eating, a lot. Constantly. Which shocked me since it is supposedly supposed to suppress appetite. I stopped going to school.

In the 4th week, and last, things gradually, and then quite suddenly just went downhill. It started with me becoming very agitated, snapping at everyone. My mental clarity was out the window. When someone said something, it took me a long time to register it, if I ever did. Sometimes my boyfriend would look at me after saying something and I would realize, oh my god, he said something... I really didn't hear/listen anymore. I was brain dead to everything except these horrible thoughts of just wanting to die. As the days progressed in the 4th week, I became more and more depressed. If I had to describe it, I would say it was a mental breakdown. I would cry hysterically over nothing. Absolutely nothing. I couldn't think of a single reason. I would start to cry while brushing my hair, while eating, sitting, watching a movie... I would cry 20 or more times a day. I really wanted to die because I could not bear it anymore. I felt like this was the end and it was going to end.. I wanted to inflict injury on myself, but focused my thoughts on more "permanent" damage -- suicide. I became obsessed with buying a gun. I swear if I had one, I would not be here. I would hit myself, all over my legs, while sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. Days later my boyfriend would ask where the bruises came from because it would be in such a weird area that there was no way i walked into something... and I would tell him I had no idea, and I didn't..... until later I realized it was me, hitting myself.... I felt very depersonalized. I felt unpredictable and I felt that I was not sure what I was going to do next, I was afraid of myself and very paranoid. I lost my appetite and never wanted to eat, thinking of food made me nauseous. I felt sick to my stomach. My anxiety was through the roof. My mind wouldn't stop spinning with thoughts, repetitive... until eventually it lead to another breakdown.

With my luck, it reached it's worst around the new year when everything was closed and I couldn't get a hold of anybody. I desperately called mental emergency facilities but all they said they could do was commit me for at least 72 hours and I didn't want that. I just wanted this to end, NOW, not be trapped in another hell hole. My mental doctor was closed so I tried to see my primary care and he was too afraid to mess with anything and told me to double my ativan dosage (WHAT! Because of Wellbutrin, I went from taking .5 or less mg of ativan a day to taking 2mg or more and still, it barely did anything!), so I went to the ER, and they did nothing, except tell me that the only way to help me would be if I went to a hospital for 72 hours. I said NO. It is ridiculous to allow someone to get this bad, and to not help them immediately, instead leave it up to them, to either be placed in some state run down mental facility or kill themselves that day.

I got a hold of my doctor the next day and she switched it immediately.

I just wanted to hurry and post this for all of you and anyone else reading these posts. I was having bad hair loss from wellbutrin.It works so good that I did not want to quit so I went to gnc and bought womans ultra nourish hair supplement by gnc just to see what would happen and behold...it works the very same day I took it. I haven't been losing hair at all except the normal 1 or 2 a day6. Please go try this it really worked for me. God speed...

I have been taking 300mg of Wellbutrin XL since 2005. The doctor prescribed it to me due to major depression. Ever since then my hair is thinning, I used to have really thick hair and now its very thin. I have severe ringing of the ears, if I am in a quiet room I can't concentrate. The worst of it all is that I have extreme paranoia. I constantly worry about EVERYTHING! I have to sleep with the lights on and have to have the TV on at night as well. Sometimes I hear things or see things that aren't there. I can not sleep on this medicine what so ever, so they put me on another medicine to help me sleep. I am going to tell my doctor I want off of it now! I can't stand it! I get so worked up over it I feel like I am going to have a heart attack. I also shake like crazy when I get scared. When I go to get my nails done my hands tremble and they ask me to relax when I can't.

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.