Wellbutrin Staten Island Ny, Lack of Motivation, Term Memories, Zest for Life, Lots of Hair
Posted over a year ago
My 2 HUGE issues HAIR AND MEMORY LOSS with Wellbutrin also known generically as Bupropion!!! I have been on Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) 200mg for about 1 year now. I started noticing lots of hair in my towel after showing. Becoming paranoid I started ... more »
My 2 HUGE issues HAIR AND MEMORY LOSS with Wellbutrin also known generically as Bupropion!!!
I have been on Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) 200mg for about 1 year now. I started noticing lots of hair in my towel after showing. Becoming paranoid I started taking notice and realized that I was seeing hair in my hand after rubbing shampoo in my head, blow drying and now on my pillow upon waking. It is only coming from the sides of my head about 3 to 4 fingers above my ear. I can actually see my scalp now and had everyone thinking I was crazy until recently now that it is very noticeable!
I googled hair loss and Wellbutrin and to my amazement it seems like a huge side effect!
My frustration is that no where does it state this as a side effect on the prescription or website or pharmacy. How irresponsible of the drug makers to leave this side effect out of all literature
Second side effect. My memory is totally shot!!! I have trouble recalling conversations and mostly short and intermediate term memories. My long-term seems ok.
The good...The drug has totally helped me with my depression, sadness, lack of motivation and zest for life! The attribute many positive effects this drug has had on my emotional state, relationships with friends and family and work performance.
Now the decision...I will wean myself off slowly with the counseling of my therapist. I will see if maintain my emotional well being or seek something without the two side effects I have listed.
If anyone out there has successfully replaced Wellbutrin with something without the side effects I listed (hair and memory loss) please advice!
Thanks!
TR Staten Island, NY.
Yankees - So interesting you should mention all of this. My Dr said that he has not heard of any past patients who experienced hair loss and I really respect him a physician. However, I have noticed a great deal of thinning---I am very proud of my hair and have quite the head of hair too. I have done transplants before and even worked in the industry, so I know a tremendous amount on hair loss and what causes it. I was first on lexapro and after a few months switched to wellbutrin. True to reports I first noticed loss at about 3 months into taking the meds.
I know I am dealing with stress right now, hence my going on the meds, but now I feel even worse than before. I am going to stop taking the medication, I know it is the cause of my loss. I was on Lexapro for three months and now the wellbutrin for 3 months a total of 6 months between the two. 6 months ago my hair was fine and I was very pleased.
My stress has been over the last 2 years since I lost my job but I am working now just not making as much money so I thought I would take the medication to help. That means I was stressed for 18months prior to taking the meds and experienced no hair loss. Therefore I can only assume that the medication is the reason for my thinning. I hope this helps TR
J Manhattan, NY
Jao - Hair and memory loss here also! Been on Wellbutrin for a few years and did not know what to attribute change in memory to. Beginning to conclude it's the wellbutrin. Hair loss very bad, no bald spots but strands everywhere in little clumps! Hoping to get off wellbutrin in near future but it works so damn well with the depression! Would like to hear about others that had a successful experience w/ wellbutrin but switched and are still pleased with other med.
J, Chicago, IL
Miracle7x7 - Hi! Thanks so much for sharing this, so helpful! I have been on Wellbutrin for 2 months- am at 200 mg. It helps with my depression, but the side-effects are very strong - memory loss - I have had trouble finishing sentences, can't find the words I am looking for. Also, very irritable at times. I am hoping that these symptoms subside. Do they? I haven't had any hair loss yet, as far as I have noticed. Did the hair loss start at the 200 mg dosage or at higher doses? Does the hair loss subside at any point, I wonder? And the biggest question, is there an alternative medication that anybody recommends? I was on Prozac for years - lost weight the first few months and then steadily gained. Thanks, all!
2826okie - About 4 weeks ago I started at 150 MG per day of the generic Wellbutrin, in combination with Celexa which I have been on for about 10 years. I was on 150MG for one week and then increased to 300. I have always had very thick, wavy beautiful hair. Over the past several weeks I have noticed that the hair on the top of my head had become limp and no body to it. Today it hit me that the hair had become very thin. All in a matter of 3 - 4 weeks. I've not experienced clumps falling out, but there has been significant thinning. Decided to research side effects of Wellbutrin and now believe my hair loss is due to the medication. I have also experienced the loss of memory - can't find or remember the right words to complete a sentence or to describe some particular item. Very scary. Has anyone out there had success with the hair growing back to it's original state?
Emeretia - I've been on Wellbutrin for 5 yrs now and agree after trying several antidepressants, Wellbutrin is the one that had me motivated beyond belief! It doesn't work as well as it used to, but still works decent. I have been thinning for 13 mos now and can't seem to find a reason why. Hair loss does not run in my family, I'm a 33 yr old female, who is generally healthy with the exception of my depression and recently diagnosed vitamin D def. I'm wondering if it's possible the Wellbutrin is causing the hair loss. It's all over my head, but really noticable in the temples and at the crown. I want to find out why so it stops!! Any ideas? Stress is not a factor...other than stressing about this, my life is pretty typical.
Rossbob - I too have been on WEllbutrin for afew months and all of a sudden noticing a lot of hair on my comb and brush and all over the white counter top in my bathroom. I've never had that problem before, its not noticable on my head, but it is to me when I touch my hair (and obvious if you see my bathroom sink!). It does help with mood, but I can't be happy if I am bald, nomatter what antidepressant it is!
I think I will stop it after reading these posts.
So glad we have the internet!
Dgirl - Yes, it's the welbutrin! I took it for 8months and noticed thinning about 5-6months into it, along with really bad acne on my back. My doctor tried to tell me it was from stress, but I wasn't having it. I've always had stress and still beautiful hair. I continued to take the welbutrin for a few more months and then finally decided to let it go after reading other hairloss stories. Within a month my acne cleared up and the hairloss slowly stopped. My question is, will my hair ever grow back to what it is or am I stuck with this lifeless thin hair?? Has anyone went through this and had
full regrowth? It's been 5 months and I really want my hair back!
Dgirl - Yes, it's the welbutrin! I took it for 8months and noticed thinning about 5-6months into it, along with really bad acne on my back. My doctor tried to tell me it was from stress, but I wasn't having it. I've always had stress and still beautiful hair. I continued to take the welbutrin for a few more months and then finally decided to let it go after reading other hairloss stories. Within a month my acne cleared up and the hairloss slowly stopped. My question is, will my hair ever grow back to what it is or am I stuck with this lifeless thin hair?? Has anyone went through this and had
full regrowth? It's been 5 months and I really want my hair back!
Eld5707 - At last I realize that I am not loosing my mind. I have been on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg for four and a half years and in the last year or so switched to the generic Buperion - I have noticed significant memory loss and hair loss as well - my hair is thin and lifeless and I cannot recall meeting people or conversations or movies - I thought it was aging but I'm only 48! I am speaking with my doctor and therapist about getting off the meds for a while to see if these things improve . Lately I have had a bout of depression and they want to raise my dose to 450 mg. and I am now really afraid of the side effects increasing. Thank you everyone for your honest answers the pharmaceutical companies do not want us to know the side effects of these medications.
Jl4m3 - Glad I'm not the only one with the memory loss. Was getting kind of scared (early alzheimers?) Had no idea that this was a side effect. Have taken Wellbutrin before, and do not recall any memory loss during that time. I am on the Bupropion SR, 150 mg -- was taking two per day (as prescribed) but have cut back to once a day and feel so much better. Sure hope that I don't lose any hair -- mine has always been thin and baby fine (family trait). Does anyone know if the memory loss will stop after going off the meds, and how long it might take?
Livingdeadgirl - It took a year before wellbutrin starting thinning my hair and then in a couple months or so my hair had thinned about 30 percent. I went off of wellbutrin and my hair was back to normal in month or two. I also found that on wellbutrin I was almost physically unable to cry. Too bad it fed my rage issues.
Mcarthj - I keep reading the same things but no one is answering back on the questions all of us are posting?
1.) Does anyone know if the memory loss/ hair loss stops or will your memory/hair come back after going off the meds?
2.) What the alternatives for depression w/o weight gain?
PS. The Supreme Court recently ruled that you cannot sue the manufacturer of generic drugs over their side effects, because they are following what the brand name manufacturer says are the side effects. The only patients with a case if they have drug side effects are those on the brand name, not generic.
I also have memory loss and hair loss and now will wean myself off of the bupropin. Does anyone know of a natural supplement program support group for depression/ focus problems/ADHD? Dr. Daniel Amen has a natural brain health program which also helps you lose weight and be happy.
12 Replies