August 20th
2008
1:00 AM
I began taking Wellbutrin 2 weeks ago and started on a 150mg dosage. I was on 150mg for one week. The second week, I went up to 300mg per the psychiatrist's instructions. I was feeling really angry some of the time and decided to stop the medication. Prior to the last 2 weeks I was taking 40mg of Paxil, which I stopped after the first week of being on Wellbutrin.
The anger was uncomfortable, I stopped taking the Wellbutrin and within 36-48 hours of being off this drug, my feet began to itch mildly at first. Within about 30 minutes of this "mild" itching, the sensations got worse. My feet felt like they were on fire. The only relief was putting them in hot water in the tub. I was screaming with frustration and pain. I attributed this to the cold turkey stopping of wellbutrin. But since I had been on it only 2 weeks, I didn't think anything would happen. Big mistake. After 2 hours of having feet in tub, on the phone with a 24-hour nurse advice line and pharmacist, I went ahead and took 300 mg. The itching stopped within 2 hours. This was a freaking nightmare ! So I am weaning myself off. The doctor who prescribed this, who I spoke with the following day, said...well..stop taking it. Doesn't make sense because when I stopped that's when the extreme itching happened. It's crazy. I'm weaning myself off and taking Benadryl. I also got some hydrocortisone cream. There are scabs on the top of my foot from scratching. No more. I've been on anti-depressants for over 10 years now and I want to stop ALL OF THEM. Within 2 weeks, I should be "clean". Just know that this itching...was so intense I was crying and screaming because there was no relief.
June 10th
2008
3:32 PM
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.
-- By myooshka | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
March 22th
2008
10:11 PM
I've been taking WB xl 150mg for 12 days. I also take Effexor XR and Lamictal to treat bipolar. I've been feeling so depressed for about 4 weeks without any cause and I wanted to stop smoking. My doctor thought maybe I was experiencing SAD. I totally withdrew from my friends and would only leave the house to go to work. I just felt numb and like I couldn't get out of bed. I started feeling better almost immediately after starting WB! I did have a splitting headache and neck pain for about a week but now it's completely gone! My smoking cravings were gone within 3-4 days. I have no desire to pick up a cigarette even if I think about it for a while. I feel very calm yet extremely focused and energetic. My numbness is gone and it feels great to be able to cry and experience emotions again. I am LESS angry and I've quit snapping at people - which I used to do constantly. I still wake up several times during the night, which is new, but I try to rest during the day and go to bed earlier. My hunger does go up and down - sometimes I eat everything, other times I have no appetite. Really the only big side effect I have at this point is muscle and joint pain. There is no miracle pill. Sometimes you have to use mind over matter also.
-- By sophieannebug | Reply | Private Message me
March 18th
2008
5:50 PM
I took 300 mg. wellbutrin about 1 1/2 years ago and did not react well to it.
I just quit taking cymbalta after about 3 months because of sexual side effects, but here is the kicker. I started on a lower dose of wellbutrin about a week ago (175 mg xl) after only 3 days I was so screwed up it was a no brainer that I could not take it. It has been 4 days since I quit and I am still getting waves of disorientation and mild panic. How long will this last. Damn I only took it for 3 days and the side effect have lasted 7
December 27th
2007
9:54 AM
I've been taking Wellbutrin for about a year and have switched to the generic Bupropion XL for the last 6 months due to my insurance. After reading all the reviews here I finally realize what is happening to me. I am more depressed than I have ever been. I feel like a zombie, very tired, INCREASED appetite, forgetful, cant think and basically don't feel like talking or being around anyone. I can go a whole day at work without saying a word to anyone (except when I have to of course) I don't want to go out or socialize at all. I started taking only 1/2 a pill to wean myself off slowly. I had tried Lexapro but didn't feel any different. I also took Paxil a few years ago & I think I felt a bit better & also felt more social but it did make me feel like a zombie as well. I kept tripping & running into things as well. Ugh. Is there any medication thats works?
-- By pink64 | Reply | Private Message me
December 18th
2007
1:29 PM
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?
-- By baker2771 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
October 28th
2007
3:02 AM
I've been on Wellbutrin with a lot of success for almost 8 years now. It took several weeks of experimenting to find the right dose. Too much or too little had similar effects increasing my anxiety. Missed does constantly exaserbated the problem until I started XL. Shortly after starting I noticed a change in my sexual response --it just took a lot more to "get me going." That subsided somewhat after awhile, but I've also used Viagra about half the time. My mood improved but continued to fluctuate. My Dr. added a small dose of Zoloft a few years ago and I noticed a significant improvement in mood. Finally, a small dose of Ritiln had a major effect on a root ADD problem. I have felt more stable, confident and productive ever since. However, my sexual responses has decreased again in recent months. Viagra has even become unrreliable. I am going to ask the Dr about going off Zoloft, but talk of permanent effects are worrisome. PS; regarding hair--not a big problem, though it is thinner now since 1999. Never mind that i'm 52 now!
-- By rdadrdr | Reply | Private Message me
July 22th
2007
1:37 PM
I have been taking Wellbutrin SR, 150 mg., once a day for about 5 years now and I love it! I have always been very active my whole life until I had to deal with some very hard family problems. Well, I started getting to where I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning and to fix a meal was more than I could handle. I tried Prozac and just wanted to sleep, so my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin for me. I started feeling like my old self again. My doctor said depression medication should make you feel normal, not out of it or anything like that. Well, I feel normal. You have to listen to your body though. I had a hard time sleeping for the first couple of weeks but that went away. I also notice that if I am starting to feel overwhelmed, I just take an extra one. I'm supposed to take 2 a day, but I only take one in the morning. Every now and then I will take one at noon also. This helps if I'm feeling overwhelmed. You just have to pay attention to your body. If you get headaches, reduce your dose or only take it every other day. I tried the XL and didn't like it. I felt more tired. I really like the SR. It seems just right for me.
-- By bandysarton | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
July 11th
2006
2:00 PM
I have been taking 100mg of XL for about 6 months, I have been feeling terrible, headaches, jittery, can't sleep, irritable,fatigued all the time. I thought it was neurological, had MRI of brain, spine, etc... I also have ringing in my ears, and don't feel like doing anything. I am usually very social and upbeat, but now just the opposite. I hate this anxious shaky feeling all the time. I am going to stop taking it, skip a dose every other day for a week or two. Does anyone have any advice on how to stop taking wellbutrin?? If so please let me know. I want to get off of it ASAP!!!
-- By codyh | Reply | Private Message me
April 17th
2006
3:41 PM
I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS sarava, #21541 I WAS ON THE SAME DOSE, BUT AM NOT BI POLAR...BUT THEY ACCIDENTLY SWITCHED MY SUBSCRIPTION TO THE XL...MY EARS RANG SO BAD I HAD TO GO TO THE DOCS AND THEN HAD TO HAVE A HEARING TEST...ALSO...EVEN BEFORE THAT I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING AND LOTS OF STOMACH PROBS...JUST NOW PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER...AM OFF THE MEDS...PERIOD...
-- By jogirl423 | Reply | Private Message me
July 26th
2005
11:26 AM
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...
July 7th
2005
6:59 PM
I am having the same side effect as Guest, #11307 who asked about the brand vs. generic. (Wellbutrin sr vs. bupropion sr). I was perscribed 150 mg XL and was filled with generic bupropion SR 150. This is my first time taking it so I don't know if the branded one would be different.
I've been taking it for about a month and last week began to have itchy areas on the palms of my hands, my upper back and arms. Oral benadryl was providing relief. However in the last three days I've been suffering actual hives and welts, so I'm going to go off of it until I can talk to my doctor.
I have bi-polar II with ADD and have been on Lamictal and a small dose of Celexa for over a year. Depression got better but not the ADD so he added WB for that. I tried Straterra but it made me feel really wierd.
Other than the hives, I haven't noticed any other side effects from adding WB. I'd really like to find something that can help me with ADD.
Is this an allergic reaction?
-- By cassie900 | Reply | Private Message me
March 19th
2005
11:17 AM
Blurred vision? YES! Although I am on the XL. Had to get reading glasses.
-- By pattypetite | Reply | Private Message me
March 14th
2005
1:29 PM
Have been on xl for almost a week now and feel very irritable and easily agitated. I am so crabby. I have lost about 3 pounds already and that really pleases me but after i lose a few more pounds and if i am not feeling any better i am getting off this drug.
-- By kelliehoge | Reply | Private Message me
January 23th
2005
8:06 AM
I have been taking Wellbutrin 300 XL for a little over a year. My doctor had prescribed it for my persistent anxiety. In general, I felt overwhelmed by the extent of the daily duties I had imposed on myself (which was always more than I could possibly acheive). For the first few months I felt great. I was much more relaxed and focused and the only side effect I experienced was a slight ringing in the ears. But after my third or fourth month on this medication the ringing in my ears grew progressively worse and I started noticing other side effects. I began having recurrent headaches (which, at 33 years of age, I had never before experienced) as well as fatigue, achiness, dizziness, and insomnia. In the past month I have begun to experience tremors and twitching. I tend to feel as though I am jerking my head or hands when I initiate movement and my eyes twitch almost incessantly (which is extremely distracting). The ringing in my ears seems to grow louder each day and my worsening insomnia only intensifies my fatigue and achiness. I have also noticed those old feelings of being anxious and overwhelmed creeping back in. Wellbutrin seems ideal in the short run but over time its benefits begin to wear off while side effects continue to manifest and become more pronounced. My advice to anyone considering taking this drug would be to start on the lowest dose possible and maintain an awareness of the side effects as they appear.
-- By cokers | Reply | Private Message me
January 4th
2005
7:40 AM
I've been taking 30mg of XL for about 2 years. This is an increase of 150mg for about a year prior. Memory loss is the worst! I often go to do something and before I actually do it a minute later, forget what it was I was going to do. I have a very hard time concentrating. I have a job where I have to be mentally fit, and have been going crazy because I haven't been able to concentrate enough to figure out the simplest things. I am losing hair bad, but not sure if I can attribute it to Wellbutrin. I sweat constantly. I wake up in a puddle of sweat and have to turn my pillow repeatedly during the night to find a dry patch. I also sem to urinate a lot more than anyone else. I am up 1 or 2 times every night to use the bathroom. As for keeping me out of depression, it's worked well, but seems to be diminishing. I am feeling more and more depressed lately. My work and relationships are suffering due to my forgetfulness and I am irritable, mostly due to being upset with myself for not being able to concentrate and figure out what should be simple tasks.
I have not found a lot of information about these symptoms online except for this site. Only little blurbs here and there. After reading this, I think it's time to quit and try something else. Does anyone know if the hair grows back and memory comes back or do they just not get any worse after stopping???
-- By csuttman | Reply | Private Message me
November 30th
2004
9:24 AM
Hey i started out taking Wellbutrin 150 SR once a day didnt do anything for me so it was uped to 300 XL once a day in the am i noticed sleeplessness, irrabilty, frequent trips to the bathroom, extream memory loss. I work at Tops i cannot remeber if i have asked my customers how they are today this happens within maybe 5 seconds. i cannot remeber what my car looks like, what time i have to be to work, if i have already taken my meds. Has anyone else experienced this? Please let me know.
-- By rach | Reply | Private Message me
October 31th
2004
3:03 AM
I have been on Wellbutrin for approx. 2 weeks. I was prescribed 150 mgs of Xl per day for major depression which I take before going to sleep. I have had some odd but not too severe side effects including vivid dreams (many extremely odd), bouts of nausea which can be severe and seem to last about 1-2 hrs. I have not noticed too much anxiety but some agitation upon waking int he morning. No memory loss or fatigue and my sleep seems to be ok. I have also had a few mild headaches.
-- By lindsayhope28 | Reply | Private Message me
September 23th
2004
9:38 AM
I am on WB XL and have been for the past year. Before that I was on 150 SR twice a day. Within the last 10 days, I have had severe tension and tight muscles in my jaw (right side only) to the point I could only eat very soft foods. I was in pain when I chewed or tried to open my mouth very far. I didn't make the connection and tho't it was tension. Went to the chiropractor 3 times in 5 days, which gave me some short relief. Went to my acupuncturist who came up with the WB connection. I didn't take my dose Wed night and I awoke this AM with much less tightness. I have an app't with a psychiatrist tomorrow to check out this possible side effect.
I haven't see this in the literature or here.
Like some of you, I also get very tired on WB and thus take it at night. Many think I'm odd because it hypes up most people. I sleep fine. My memory also seems less sharp, but that could also be that I'm getting older! Hard to tell what causes what after age 50!
-- By pugnut47 | Reply | Private Message me
August 27th
2004
7:02 AM
I saw one woman say that she noticed hair loss. I also have noticed hair loss. I am 21 years old and I had such a full head of hair right before i started taking this xl and now my hair is much thinner all within a year. It may be just be genetics, but I found it interesting that somebody else had the same problem.
-- By jad0628 | Reply | Private Message me
August 21th
2004
2:29 PM
I am on wellutrin paxil cr and clonazepam. I have server miagrains ,dizzyness sleeplessness, confusion, forget things, verry emotional, and sex drive has ran out the door. I know all this from all the medications The Drs have had me on. some hair lose itching skin breaking out rash on arms,legsand face they say ok but not When dizzy I can not walk or drive my car and verry hard to take care of family
-- By sassy1971 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 30th
2004
2:28 PM
I HIGHLY SUGGEST NO ALCHOL WHEN TAKING WELLUBUTRIN XL. SERIOUS HEADACHES WITH WINE OR ALCOHOL. 3-4 DAYS OF DEPRESSION AFTER MY EPISODE. I only take 150 mgs a day & had this reaction 3 times now. Now I refrain.
-- By mssharoness | Reply | Private Message me
July 30th
2004
1:59 PM
HAIR LOSS? I think my hair is thinning & I AM A WOMEN! Does anyone know if this is a side effect of Wellubutrin XL?
-- By mssharoness | Reply | Private Message me
July 14th
2004
5:26 PM
been taking wellbutrin for 2 weeks now... first week on 150mg of XL and now im on my 300mg prescription...
i must say that the side effects definatly have changed my mind about this drug.... felt the feelings of a headcold, dizziness, floaty foggy feeling, dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, complete loss of apetite.... now im just waiting for the hives hahaha
June 13th
2004
8:34 AM
Been on Wellbutrin for almost six weeks. Started off with XL150 for the first two weeks and the last 3.5 weeks on xl 300. Have had a few side effects such as minor weight loss, cigarettes are starting to taste really foul, and over all I have a much better mood and attitude towards life. My doctor also prescribed me Xanax 0.5 for anxiety. I'm really enjoying the combo of the two. The last two weeks I've been under the care of a psychiatrist for severe depressive disorder. I'm starting to feel hopeful that I can once again feel good. I've been in a deep depression for the past two years since the death of my mother.
-- By prufrock79 | Reply | Private Message me
October 30th
2008
3:29 PM
I have been taking a generic version of Wellbutrin SR 150mg for almost 2 months now. I also take Zoloft 50mg. Before I started the wellbutrin, I had been taking zoloft for over a year to help with depression. The zoloft was working very well for my depression, but it completely killed my libido and as a newlywed, I felt something had to be done as it was beginning to affect my relationship with my husband.
-- By irenevirag | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message meSo my doctor prescribed the wellbutrin. For the first couple of weeks I experienced a lot of nervous energy, a shortness of breath, a bit of nausea, forgetfulness and confusion. I almost stopped taking it because I didn't feel it was helping my libido either. But I stuck with it and after 3 weeks, it felt like it was definitely having a positive effect on my sex life. My husband noticed it too. He mentioned how much more responsive I had become when we were intimate. After 2 months, I am absolutely convinced that it has changed our lives and our relationship.
It is not, by any means a miracle drug though. I have a few complaints about it, the main one being the CONFUSION that I experience for hours after I take it. I was taking it in the morning before I went to work and everyday I noticed that I was not as sharp and efficient as I usually am. I figured this was a temporary side effect so I kept taking it as usual, but it never went away! I kept forgetting everything, lost focus easily, had dull headaches, and generally felt as if I could not connect to what I was doing.
SO...about a week ago, I thought I would try to take it at night...when it's not as important to be sharp and focused (and more important to be turned on). And it has turned out great! I'm so glad I started to do it. It doesn't affect my sleep...in fact I think I sleep better. And when I wake up in the morning, my dull headache is gone and I feel less foggy. At work, I feel normal again. My short term memory has recovered and I don't get confused as easily.
If you suffer from a lot of memory loss and confusion from this medication, I definitely suggest taking it at night. It has really helped me! Thanks and good luck!