Posted by jemma on May 15, 2003, at 13:13:14
In reply to New and Nervous, posted by Tree on May 14, 2003, at 10:47:57
I would definitely start wellbutrin at a low dose - 150 mg max - for at least 5 days, then increase to 300. Wellbutrin may well make your insomnia worse, and cause irritability. Is your depression the anxious, agitated, insomniac kind, or the low-energy, anhedonic, eat-and-sleep-too-much kind? Wellbutrin helps the latter, but might make the former worse.
As for the effexor, different people react differently to different meds. Effexor and paxil, because of their short half-lives, cause terrible withdrawal problems in people who are poor metabolizers of ssri's - about 10% of the population. But for others, the problems don't seem to be nearly so severe. I had a very easy time stopping effexor, as have many others. But my friend had bad dreams for months. On the other hand, I once became addicted to ativan because I couldn't handle the rebound anxiety and insomnia that resulted every time I tried to stop. So I avoid benzos, though I know they've helped a lot of people.
As for 5HT, I had a bad experience with it. I found myself losing my temper easily, had hot flashes, and had trouble sleeping. It may have been interacting with my selegiline, and causing mild seratonin syndrome.
You might consider combining wellbutrin with a "cleaner" ssri, like celexa. The wellbutrin should prevent weight gain, and combine with the celexa to boost dopamine, norepinephrine, and seratonin in your brain.
Good luck with all this. I'm sorry you've had such a rough time. I hope that, after all your hardship, you'll find relief from the depression that has plagued you for so long.
- Jemma
poster:jemma
thread:226557
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030514/msgs/226863.html