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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 18:24:18
Hi Cam!
Hope you are well and have a moment to advise me regarding Wellbutrin. I am considering it as Celexa hasn't quite helped due to the insomnia aspect (I think it is a very good drug though and it helped me in so many other ways), so I researching Wellbutrin. The physicians assistant who prescribes meds for me is not for it because of the "seizure" issue. The therapist I see is not well versed in meds, but is concerned that 1/3 of people et insomnia from it. My question, given that I am one of those people who gets the "rare" side effects, is there anyway of determining the likelihood based on that particular aspect of my chemistry? It is a shot in the dark question, that, albeit, deserves a shot in the dark answer. I am very willing to try this med given what I have read, but it appears the powers that be would (phys. asst. not therapist at thispoint) prefer me on what doesn't work for me which is ssri? I would like to switch to sdri. Anything I should suggest to the doctors to get them to at least let me try it? Thanks, Cam. Any advice I would be grateful. Best, jacquie
Posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 0:20:18
In reply to Wellbutrin info...Cam?, posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 18:24:18
Jacquie - I have only heard of a few people getting sleepy while taking Wellbutrin. If you are having insomnia problems with Celexa, you quite probably have them with Wellbutrin, but this is only a generalization. I have seen seizures with Wellbutrin and if you are at all predisposed to them, I'd advise against taking it.How long have you been taking the Celexa? Initial insomnia is common (first couple months). It would be a shame to throw away a drug that works in so many other areas.
Taking antidepressants is a real crap shoot. The only way to tell how you will react to one is to try it. Explain your situation to your doctor and therapist. Ask them how they are going to help you with your insomnia. Ask their advise on non-drug methods to battle the insomnia, as well as medications. The less medication, the better.
Sorry that I cannot give any more advice than that. I hope you and your treatment team come to some workable agreement. - Cam W.
Posted by jacquie on May 3, 2000, at 3:50:29
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin info...Jacquie, posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 0:20:18
> Hi Cam- thanks so much for the advice. Unfortunately, I have weaned myself off the Celexa. I was almost into 2 months with still waking 3x per night like clockwork 11,1 and 3. Very strange. Upped the dose to 40mg and I did feelbetter and not as gloomy on it, but the sleep was getting absurd and I dirve alot to and from job sights and I was starting to get very distracted and my driving wasn't so great as well as struggling to put words and thoughts together, but in many ways the Celexa helped me. The sleep problem couldn't be rectified. I don't have a history of seizures at all. And wondered even if I am one to have rare side effects would I also be one of those people that wowuld have a seizure-given that it is a rare side effect. I probably would get the insomnia isuppose and that would deter me again from a possible good medicine. I generally sleep through and have never had ongoing problems with sleeping. I love sleep and that is why the problem was becoming and obsession I believe. Anyway, ther e it is and thanks very much for taking the time to give me some advice. Take good care, Cam. Best, Jacquie
> Jacquie - I have only heard of a few people getting sleepy while taking Wellbutrin. If you are having insomnia problems with Celexa, you quite probably have them with Wellbutrin, but this is only a generalization. I have seen seizures with Wellbutrin and if you are at all predisposed to them, I'd advise against taking it.
>
> How long have you been taking the Celexa? Initial insomnia is common (first couple months). It would be a shame to throw away a drug that works in so many other areas.
>
> Taking antidepressants is a real crap shoot. The only way to tell how you will react to one is to try it. Explain your situation to your doctor and therapist. Ask them how they are going to help you with your insomnia. Ask their advise on non-drug methods to battle the insomnia, as well as medications. The less medication, the better.
>
> Sorry that I cannot give any more advice than that. I hope you and your treatment team come to some workable agreement. - Cam W.
Posted by allisonm on May 3, 2000, at 20:37:05
In reply to Wellbutrin info...Cam?, posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 18:24:18
Cam,
This might sound dumb, but I've never seen anyone having a seizure, nor have I ever had one. What happens? How long do they last? Can a person feel one coming on? What happens later? I'm up to 400mg Wellbutrin, as I mentioned before, so it has me wondering.Thanks.
Posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 21:31:01
In reply to Seizures -- Cam, posted by allisonm on May 3, 2000, at 20:37:05
Allison - Seizures are an unconscious uncontrollable shaking. Most people who only experience one or two do not usually feel them coming on. They just wake up tired and confused. Most seizures look scarier than they really are, but you can hurt yourself by falling down, etc.I wouldn't worry too much about having a seizure unless you are predisposed to them or are taking a drug that lowers seizure threshold (like the older antipsychotics). The two seizures that I have had clinical experience with while on Wellbutrin were in people who were taking the older, traditional antipsychotics. I have not even heard second hand experiences of people without predispositions having them (but I suppose they have happened).
Chances are you are not at risk or your doctor would not have raised your dose to 400mg daily. I had my dose at 600mg daily for a while (don't tell my doc) but all it did was make me edgy. If you are really concerned, ask your doc about your risk. I would expect he will say that it is low.
Hope this helps - Cam W.
Posted by Sara T on May 3, 2000, at 21:54:31
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin info...Jacquie, posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 0:20:18
>
> Jacquie - I have only heard of a few people getting sleepy while taking Wellbutrin. <I guess I was one of those few people who got sedated after taking WEllbutrin. I think it did everything exactly opposite of what it was intended to do. But the most disturbing thing to me was the memory loss and disorientation I felt from it. Like I'd be driving and come up to an intersection and suddenly not know where I was. It was prescribed to me for depression and ADD and anxiety, (the DAA syndrome - pronounced like DUH?) and I guess it really wasn't for me. I'm trying Zoloft now.
Sara T
Posted by allisonm on May 4, 2000, at 18:46:08
In reply to Wellbutrin info...Cam?, posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 18:24:18
I would be interested to hear from anyone who is having stomach trouble with Wellbutrin. I find that when my stomach is empty, it feels almost as though it is cramping. It hurts. It hurt some before my dose was upped, but now that I find I am at 400 it hurts in the morning when I get up, at noontime and by the time I get home from work. Then when I do eat, it doesn't always go away right away. That's almost worse, cramping with a full stomach. Ick.
This is the end of the thread.
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