![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Peter on July 11, 2001, at 18:56:32
I started Wellbutrin 6 days ago. I didn't feel anything until today (my 2nd day of 100 mg dose). It all began when I started exercising at the gym. I started feeling really wierd - very charged up but also spacey at the same time - nervous and drunk feeling. My hand-eye coordination got a little out of sync. These wierd feelings have stayed with me throughout the day. I'm just really spacey, energetic (sometimes feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin), and I've had some waves of nausea. I saw my doctor today, and he said to just hang in there and stay on the 100mg pill each day, instead of upping it to 150mg (2x75), which was the original plan. He said if the side-effects wear off, I might get beneficial effects from only 100mg per day. But man, this feels wierd. I also take 875mg depakote at night and a total of .75 to 1.25 mg klonopin each day (history of panic, SP,hypomania, and depressive episodes). I've tried SRI's, but they tend to produce cravings for drugs/alcohol in me. Anyone been through anything similar or have any suggestions? Thanks.
Posted by Janelle on July 11, 2001, at 19:42:28
In reply to Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Peter on July 11, 2001, at 18:56:32
This is fascinating - what you describe seems so consistent with a lot of what I've read on here and heard from people who've been on it or know someone who has about Wellbutrin making people feel wired, edgy, jumpy, agitated, etc. It's all over this board (in different wordings), and I felt it while on Wellbutrin for a very brief time (irritable, edgy). You are NOT alone with this stuff from Wellbutrin.
But then it did wonders for a relative of mine, who had NONE of the wired, jumpy stuff at all and came out of a major depression on Wellbutrin, stopped it eventually and has been fine ever since (and this is YEARS now). Go figure!
I'd say hang in a bit longer to see if these side effects dissipate; if not, get with your pdoc!
Posted by pellmell on July 11, 2001, at 20:14:36
In reply to Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Peter on July 11, 2001, at 18:56:32
I'd say if those side-effects don't dissapate and you don't start feeling at least marginally better ten days from now, consider dropping the drug.
I lost a whole month to the anxiety and irritability Wellbutrin SR caused in me, waiting for it to do something good. It never did.
From my experience with antidepressants, I think you can tell whether a drug might be doing you good by the end of an eight week trial after having taken it for only two.
-pm
> I started Wellbutrin 6 days ago. I didn't feel anything until today (my 2nd day of 100 mg dose). It all began when I started exercising at the gym. I started feeling really wierd - very charged up but also spacey at the same time - nervous and drunk feeling. My hand-eye coordination got a little out of sync. These wierd feelings have stayed with me throughout the day. I'm just really spacey, energetic (sometimes feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin), and I've had some waves of nausea. I saw my doctor today, and he said to just hang in there and stay on the 100mg pill each day, instead of upping it to 150mg (2x75), which was the original plan. He said if the side-effects wear off, I might get beneficial effects from only 100mg per day. But man, this feels wierd. I also take 875mg depakote at night and a total of .75 to 1.25 mg klonopin each day (history of panic, SP,hypomania, and depressive episodes). I've tried SRI's, but they tend to produce cravings for drugs/alcohol in me. Anyone been through anything similar or have any suggestions? Thanks.
Posted by terra miller on July 11, 2001, at 20:21:02
In reply to Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Peter on July 11, 2001, at 18:56:32
> I started Wellbutrin 6 days ago. I didn't feel anything until today (my 2nd day of 100 mg dose). It all began when I started exercising at the gym. I started feeling really wierd - very charged up but also spacey at the same time - nervous and drunk feeling. My hand-eye coordination got a little out of sync. These wierd feelings have stayed with me throughout the day. I'm just really spacey, energetic (sometimes feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin), and I've had some waves of nausea. I saw my doctor today, and he said to just hang in there and stay on the 100mg pill each day, instead of upping it to 150mg (2x75), which was the original plan. He said if the side-effects wear off, I might get beneficial effects from only 100mg per day.
Peter,
This was extremely well described. Whenever I vary my dosage on Wellbutrin, this is exactly what happens to me: a combination of the "spaciness; feeling this startrek out-of-phase weirdness" and the "shaky, agitated, a bit crazed feeling."
Your pdoc was very wise to keep you going slow. My pdoc slowed me down as well initially (we backed down from 150 to 100 for a bit and that did the trick.)
Many people seem to report nausea, but this is not typical for me. I've read of others who find it necessary to take it with food. (Me: I can wash it down with a cup of coffee no problem! *s*)
The high energy is common in the first months. There are a variety of doses that are effective. It took me a while to settle down on the right dose, but once I found it things have gone very well. (When I got too high, I re-experienced the spacy/energy combo. That's how I found my best level.) Immediate Release works best for me as well, but I think I'm the only one here who would say that *s*. Most people tolerate the Sustained Release better.
I found the first 4-5 weeks to be tough, but worth the perseverence.
Sincerely, Terra
Posted by Roxk on July 12, 2001, at 9:43:27
In reply to Re: Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!? » Peter, posted by terra miller on July 11, 2001, at 20:21:02
> > I started Wellbutrin 6 days ago. I didn't feel anything until today (my 2nd day of 100 mg dose). It all began when I started exercising at the gym. I started feeling really wierd - very charged up but also spacey at the same time - nervous and drunk feeling. My hand-eye coordination got a little out of sync. These wierd feelings have stayed with me throughout the day. I'm just really spacey, energetic (sometimes feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin), and I've had some waves of nausea. I saw my doctor today, and he said to just hang in there and stay on the 100mg pill each day, instead of upping it to 150mg (2x75), which was the original plan. He said if the side-effects wear off, I might get beneficial effects from only 100mg per day.
>
> Peter,
>
> This was extremely well described. Whenever I vary my dosage on Wellbutrin, this is exactly what happens to me: a combination of the "spaciness; feeling this startrek out-of-phase weirdness" and the "shaky, agitated, a bit crazed feeling."
>
> Your pdoc was very wise to keep you going slow. My pdoc slowed me down as well initially (we backed down from 150 to 100 for a bit and that did the trick.)
>
> Many people seem to report nausea, but this is not typical for me. I've read of others who find it necessary to take it with food. (Me: I can wash it down with a cup of coffee no problem! *s*)
>
> The high energy is common in the first months. There are a variety of doses that are effective. It took me a while to settle down on the right dose, but once I found it things have gone very well. (When I got too high, I re-experienced the spacy/energy combo. That's how I found my best level.) Immediate Release works best for me as well, but I think I'm the only one here who would say that *s*. Most people tolerate the Sustained Release better.
>
> I found the first 4-5 weeks to be tough, but worth the perseverence.
>
> Sincerely, TerraI also started Wellbutrin from Effexor about 2 weeks ago. I was started at 300mg the first day. From reading this it's no wonder i was throwing up and dizzy beyond belief. I also started getting migraines about 5 days ago. They were so bad that i went down to 150mg. I am still feeling shaky and really weird. It's only been two days since dropping my dose but i'm still having headaches. What dose does your doc want you at? are you having headaches too?
Posted by sl on July 12, 2001, at 10:31:43
In reply to Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Peter on July 11, 2001, at 18:56:32
Yup. That's how it works. You have to adjust. I'm currently doing it myself, going BACK on wellbutrin after 2-3 months off. All you can do is pour the energy into something constructive, and try not to have too many people around cuz sometimes you may be irritable.
It will probably fade off after a little while, if it doesn't and you don't like that feeling, you could ask your doctor to put you on the sustained-release version which doesn't do that as much.sl
> I started Wellbutrin 6 days ago. I didn't feel anything until today (my 2nd day of 100 mg dose). It all began when I started exercising at the gym. I started feeling really wierd - very charged up but also spacey at the same time - nervous and drunk feeling. My hand-eye coordination got a little out of sync. These wierd feelings have stayed with me throughout the day. I'm just really spacey, energetic (sometimes feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin), and I've had some waves of nausea. I saw my doctor today, and he said to just hang in there and stay on the 100mg pill each day, instead of upping it to 150mg (2x75), which was the original plan. He said if the side-effects wear off, I might get beneficial effects from only 100mg per day. But man, this feels wierd. I also take 875mg depakote at night and a total of .75 to 1.25 mg klonopin each day (history of panic, SP,hypomania, and depressive episodes). I've tried SRI's, but they tend to produce cravings for drugs/alcohol in me. Anyone been through anything similar or have any suggestions? Thanks.
Posted by Peter on July 12, 2001, at 11:43:36
In reply to Re: Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Roxk on July 12, 2001, at 9:43:27
Wow, Roxk, that must have been pretty crazy starting at 300mg!! But it's good you've reduced it to 150. I would think that you'll begin to feel alot better soon since it has only been 2 days since the dose reduction. Oh, and in answer to your wuestion, yes - I did just start to experience headaches, and I'm only on day 7 of 100mg Wellbutrin; it's more preasure in the head than any major migraine and it wears off fairly quickly. Your migraines are probably just another side-effect of the high dose, and will therefore subside soon.
GOOD LUCK!
Posted by terra miller on July 12, 2001, at 21:25:45
In reply to Re: Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Roxk on July 12, 2001, at 9:43:27
>I also started Wellbutrin from Effexor about 2 weeks ago. I was started at 300mg the first day. From reading this it's no wonder i was throwing up and dizzy beyond belief. I also started getting migraines about 5 days ago. They were so bad that i went down to 150mg. I am still feeling shaky and really weird. It's only been two days since dropping my dose but i'm still having headaches. What dose does your doc want you at? are you having headaches too?
OH, MY. Are you ok? I just wanted to send some support your way. In my experience this med is just plain tough at the first. Go slow and you'll notice the shaky and weird feelings aren't so tough, and same with the headaches. A big increase in dose brings on big headaches. But if you go slow, you still might notice things shaky and spacy for a couple days with each increase. But you shouldn't feel knocked off your feet. (If it helps I started at 100mg SR version twice a day I think for a week and then upped to 150mg SR version twice a day and it ended up being too fast for me. My pdoc dropped me back to the 100mg for another week so I could adjust. I've settled in at 300mg total a day, but that came after a significant ... about 2 months?.... settling in period.)
Someone suggested keeping yourself occupied and I think that was extremely useful advice. If you can go slow and ride it out at first, I found it to be worth it. I hope your head it feeling better.
Sincerely, Terra
Posted by Jane D on July 14, 2001, at 0:48:44
In reply to Re: Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!? » Peter, posted by terra miller on July 11, 2001, at 20:21:02
> Many people seem to report nausea, but this is not typical for me. I've read of others who find it necessary to take it with food. (Me: I can wash it down with a cup of coffee no problem! *s*)
You mean there's another way? Coffee with wellbutrin chaser. Mmm. (Just don't bite down on the wellbutrin - ever).
Posted by Jane D on July 14, 2001, at 0:59:32
In reply to Just started Wellbutrin - what is going on!?!?!?, posted by Peter on July 11, 2001, at 18:56:32
Peter,
Your description is great! FWIW I had almost the exact same feelings at the end of my first week (150 mg SR). I raised the dose anyway. The feelings went away within a week and never returned. I don't have panic, anxiety (except when I start new drugs) or hypomania so YMMV.
Jane
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.