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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 Joe Schmoe on July 31, 2001, at 15:32:01
It is curious how often people here, including me, have complained of chest pains on Wellbutrin, yet it is not listed in the included literature as a possible side effect. I have had none of the listed side effects.
Was supposed to see a pdoc today but the appointment got postponed. I could not take the chest pains anymore from the 150 SR 2/day I was taking of Wellbutrin so I got my general doc to call in a script for 100 SR Wellbutrin. What I am wondering is, should I drop to 100 2/day, or should I go in between and take one 100 and one 150 each day?
Posted by terra miller on July 31, 2001, at 23:39:52
In reply to Wellbutrin and chest pains - dosage, posted by Joe Schmoe on July 31, 2001, at 15:32:01
i am not a doc..... blablabla :-)
i would drop to the 100mg and take that twice a day. that is specifically what my pdoc did for me. i did that for a week, which i would recommend to you (i am not a doc......).
i really think that dropping down and going more slowly will cause the side-effects to diminish. 1. maybe you need to increase slower as you shoot for a higher maintainance dose 2. maybe your body is telling you that you will do fine at a dose lower than "the recommended level."
for me in my personal experience, i did all this adjusting. it seemed to take longer to "arrive" at that "therapeutic level".... you know, when "they" say you are where you need to be chemically. i really think that has to do with wellbutrin being a "weak" chemical whatever compared to stronger/more specific meds. anyway, i just can feel it in my body. 1. i "just know" that i've arrived at the maintainance dose. 2. my side-effects do not exist at this level. 3. it took some tweaking with the level and dosages (and a pdoc who was rooting for me against what seemed to be side-effects that weren't listed or rare) and patience.
same disclaimer about not being a doc,.... but it seems that you are doing such a good job sticking the wellbutrin out and giving it a chance. i am really rooting for you. i "will" tell you that it took some searching to find "my" side-effects.... if you look under that "immediate-release" section of the rx-list you might find it perhaps. in my body, i react completely oppositely so that i get the i.r. side-effects if i am taking the s.r. pills, and i get the s.r. sice-effects if i am taking the i.r. pills.... that's how i was able to understand the hypothermia i was experiencing....
ok, all that is to say... i would drop to taking 100mg tabs twice a day.
of further questioning: are you noticing peaks and valleys on the s.r. pills at all? or does that seem to be steady or unnoticable for you? also: i would also try to notice what difference it makes dropping to the 100mg tabs, that is what different physical symptoms do you notice. if there is a lessening, for example, but not enough, you can drop to 75 i.r. for example. but if you are otherwise doing well on the s.r. ..... there are all these factors, aren't there??? bottom line: i'd take 100mg 2xdaily, and i think you are really giving this med the trial it deserves in order to see if it works for you. (i think it takes some weeks to know before you abandon it totally, and it seems that you are staying strong. i applaud your efforts.)
sincerely cheering you- terra "ra-ra"
Posted by Joe Schmoe on August 2, 2001, at 23:37:46
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and chest pains - dosage » Joe Schmoe, posted by terra miller on July 31, 2001, at 23:39:52
Well the experience continues. After four weeks at 150 SR 2/day, the chest pains, which did not show up for several weeks, were now unbearable. I got a script for some 100 SRs and took 100 SR 2/day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Still had chest pains. Today (Thursday) I took one 100 SR this morning, and still have chest pains. I will try 100 SR 1/day for a few more days to see if the pains go away. This is pretty annoying, I was really liking the way I felt on Wellbutrin and then these chest pains showed up. Now I am feeling a little depressed with the greatly decreased dosage.
I am also feeling more tired from the Klonopin now that the Wellbutrin is not speeding me up.
Posted by terra miller on August 3, 2001, at 12:46:21
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and chest pains - dosage » terra miller, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 2, 2001, at 23:37:46
> I am also feeling more tired from the Klonopin now that the Wellbutrin is not speeding me up.
did you talk to your pdoc? (sorry that i can't remember if you did that or not) i don't like that you are feeling slowed and stuff. talk to your pdoc because s/he should be able to give you something else instead of the wellbutrin if that is necessary... or they might adjust the klonopin accordingly etc. it always seems so complicated when you are making your own med. cocktail to get the amount right for each med.
i don't know if switching from the s.r. to the i.r. would be helpful for the chestpains or not. i really don't know. but that is also another option. if could be that taking more doses through the day would allow you to stay at a higher daily level (ie: 300mg). it could be that the s.r. is hitting you hard initially??? do you notice any correlation between when the chest pains bother you, or do they just seem to be constant??? the i.r. comes in 75mg and 100mg. talk to your pdoc. the problem with chestpains is i think they can make themselves worse, that is: you feel them, so you become more conscious of them, then you worry, which causes you to have chest pain, and the cycle goes on and on. it's hard sometimes to know if it's a med thing or a panic thing or some combination. (i'm talking too much, sorry.) call your pdoc. :-) understanding, -terra
Posted by paxvox on August 3, 2001, at 19:35:25
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and chest pains - dosage » Joe Schmoe, posted by terra miller on August 3, 2001, at 12:46:21
The chest pain issue with Wellbutrin is clearly dose-related, and some acclimate to certain doses better that others do. I am fine at 150 SR bid, however when Pdoc tried to push me to 300, then back to 200 bid, I had the bad chest pains. When I went back to the 150, all was well. I guess he could pop in a small dose of IR between my SR doses, but the threshold between medical efficacy and untoward effects is very narrow with Wellbutrin. SalArmy4me posted some excellent references on that subject by a doc who participated in the development of the med back in the late 70's! I like Wellbutrin as a AD, however it does have its problems (speedy-puppy and the no-sleep poopies). It is a good mood lifter.
Posted by Joe Schmoe on August 3, 2001, at 21:33:36
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and chest pains - dosage, posted by paxvox on August 3, 2001, at 19:35:25
Well, I am down to 100 SR once a day and I still get chest pains. Will I get used to this medicine, or will I always get chest pains at any dose? It is impossible to go any lower. If they never go away at a given dose then I will not be able to use this medicine.
I do not get any other negative side effects from Wellbutrin, I guess because Klonopin is masking them, so it seems the perfect drug except for these damned chest pains!
Since I reduced dosage by the way I have developed intermittent diarrhea.
> The chest pain issue with Wellbutrin is clearly dose-related, and some acclimate to certain doses better that others do. I am fine at 150 SR bid, however when Pdoc tried to push me to 300, then back to 200 bid, I had the bad chest pains. When I went back to the 150, all was well. I guess he could pop in a small dose of IR between my SR doses, but the threshold between medical efficacy and untoward effects is very narrow with Wellbutrin. SalArmy4me posted some excellent references on that subject by a doc who participated in the development of the med back in the late 70's! I like Wellbutrin as a AD, however it does have its problems (speedy-puppy and the no-sleep poopies). It is a good mood lifter.
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