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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 13:38:10
I have ramped up on Wellbutrin from 100mg to 450mg over the last three weeks.I had been feeling some agitation and nervousness during this period, but Klonopin and Neurontin had been doing a decent job offsetting the Wellbutrin side effects.
Buy yesterday and today, I feel like I'm strung out on heroin. The agitation and nervousness in my body is acute. Multiplied by 1000. I am wrapped up so tight I think I'm going to explode. I'm freaking out. I took an extra 1.5 mg of Klonopin and it is not helping.
Wellbutrin does a good job of relieving depression, but it is too much of a stimulant for me. I suffer from "atypical depression", which is very anxiety-sensitive. Recently, "major depression" has entered the picture, so I started taking Wellbutrin, in addition to Klonpoin and Neurontin.
However, the anxiety and nervousness caused by Wellbutrin is too overwhelming and intense. I'm going to have to stop taking it or reduce the dose significantly. This is too painful.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Pat
Posted by jay on December 9, 2001, at 15:04:42
In reply to Acute Wellbutrin Agitation/Nervousness, posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 13:38:10
>
> I have ramped up on Wellbutrin from 100mg to 450mg over the last three weeks.
>
> I had been feeling some agitation and nervousness during this period, but Klonopin and Neurontin had been doing a decent job offsetting the Wellbutrin side effects.
>
> Buy yesterday and today, I feel like I'm strung out on heroin. The agitation and nervousness in my body is acute. Multiplied by 1000. I am wrapped up so tight I think I'm going to explode. I'm freaking out. I took an extra 1.5 mg of Klonopin and it is not helping.
>
> Wellbutrin does a good job of relieving depression, but it is too much of a stimulant for me. I suffer from "atypical depression", which is very anxiety-sensitive. Recently, "major depression" has entered the picture, so I started taking Wellbutrin, in addition to Klonpoin and Neurontin.
>
> However, the anxiety and nervousness caused by Wellbutrin is too overwhelming and intense. I'm going to have to stop taking it or reduce the dose significantly. This is too painful.
>
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
>
> PatPat:
1.5 mg of Klonipin seems a rather low dose for anxiety. That is a starting dose (from www.mentalhealth.com), and people seem to hover around 3-4 mg's per day for anxiety.
Also, Neurontin doesn't seem have much evidence to back it up in usefulness for anxiety/depression, although docs seem to prescribe it rather than adequate benzo doses because of their prejudice around subjective "addiction". Also, nervousness and depression are indicated as side effects of Neurontin.
If you can, I would myself ask for a benzo increase, and a lower taper of the Welbutrin to a dose that feels fine. Go slow and low, as this activating med can really exacerbate agitation and nervousness. The benzo increase should help squelch that, though too. Tweak with the levels until you find what feels comfortable day-to-day.
Best wishes..
Jay
Posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 17:01:16
In reply to Re: Acute Wellbutrin Agitation/Nervousness » pat c., posted by jay on December 9, 2001, at 15:04:42
Thanks Jay.
That's what I'll have to do, at least for now --
increase Klonopin to 2-3mg/day and lower Wellbutrin to 100-150mg/day. This acute agitation/nervousness has exploded out of nowhere.I didn't know depression and anxiety were side effects of Neurontin. I thought Neurontin was supposed to help in these areas. I'll have to check into that.
Thanks so much.
Pat
Posted by JGalt on December 9, 2001, at 21:03:14
In reply to Re: Acute Wellbutrin Agitation/Nervousness » jay, posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 17:01:16
I agree with Jay. Also I thought I would note that Wellbutrin is most commonly prescribed at 300mg's...450 is rather uncommon from what I've read. The clinical trials came to the conclusion that Wellbutrin was no more effective at treating major depression at 450mg's than it was at 300mg's, however, at 450mg's it had a higher incidince of side effects. While it is true that some people may need more for whatever reason, it certainly does not sound like the case with you. Recommend you stay at the normal recommended dose of 300mg's or perhaps less if you tend to be the very anxious type. Don't expect the side effects to go away immediately, wellbutrin's metabolites have fairly long half live's, and thus all but drastic dosage cuts take a while to truly show their difference.
Posted by JohnX2 on December 10, 2001, at 4:01:25
In reply to Acute Wellbutrin Agitation/Nervousness, posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 13:38:10
Wellbutrin actually makes me less anxious, but it
gives me so much damn energy and insomnia,
ergo I am reading this at 4:00 am. ;).I wonder what will happen with Wellbutrin
on this trial. Made me hypomanic my last two.
This time I have lamictal and topomax backing
it up. The topamax greatly releaves agitation.good luck to all,
-john
>
> I have ramped up on Wellbutrin from 100mg to 450mg over the last three weeks.
>
> I had been feeling some agitation and nervousness during this period, but Klonopin and Neurontin had been doing a decent job offsetting the Wellbutrin side effects.
>
> Buy yesterday and today, I feel like I'm strung out on heroin. The agitation and nervousness in my body is acute. Multiplied by 1000. I am wrapped up so tight I think I'm going to explode. I'm freaking out. I took an extra 1.5 mg of Klonopin and it is not helping.
>
> Wellbutrin does a good job of relieving depression, but it is too much of a stimulant for me. I suffer from "atypical depression", which is very anxiety-sensitive. Recently, "major depression" has entered the picture, so I started taking Wellbutrin, in addition to Klonpoin and Neurontin.
>
> However, the anxiety and nervousness caused by Wellbutrin is too overwhelming and intense. I'm going to have to stop taking it or reduce the dose significantly. This is too painful.
>
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Pat
Posted by JohnX2 on December 10, 2001, at 4:03:03
In reply to Acute Wellbutrin Agitation/Nervousness, posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 13:38:10
Wellbutrin actually makes me less anxious, but it
gives me so much damn energy and insomnia,
ergo I am reading this at 4:00 am. ;).I wonder what will happen with Wellbutrin
on this trial. Made me hypomanic my last two.
This time I have lamictal and topamax backing
it up. The topamax greatly releaves agitation.
topamax increases gaba conductance in a manner
similar to klonopin but is not addictive.good luck to all,
-john
>
> I have ramped up on Wellbutrin from 100mg to 450mg over the last three weeks.
>
> I had been feeling some agitation and nervousness during this period, but Klonopin and Neurontin had been doing a decent job offsetting the Wellbutrin side effects.
>
> Buy yesterday and today, I feel like I'm strung out on heroin. The agitation and nervousness in my body is acute. Multiplied by 1000. I am wrapped up so tight I think I'm going to explode. I'm freaking out. I took an extra 1.5 mg of Klonopin and it is not helping.
>
> Wellbutrin does a good job of relieving depression, but it is too much of a stimulant for me. I suffer from "atypical depression", which is very anxiety-sensitive. Recently, "major depression" has entered the picture, so I started taking Wellbutrin, in addition to Klonpoin and Neurontin.
>
> However, the anxiety and nervousness caused by Wellbutrin is too overwhelming and intense. I'm going to have to stop taking it or reduce the dose significantly. This is too painful.
>
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Pat
This is the end of the thread.
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