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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 13:55:32
I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for the past week with no noticeable side effects. Yesterday I stepped it up to 300 mg in the morning and I spent the rest of the day with a headache, chills and vomiting. Did anyone else have a reaction like this, and how long did it persist? I'm afraid to take 300 mg again because I was so miserable yesterday.
I took Lexapro for a year before starting the
Wellbutrin and I tolerated it well.
Posted by HappyGirl on February 19, 2005, at 15:06:38
In reply to Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 13:55:32
Hi:
Just within a couple of weeks, ... from the 150 mg. to 300 mg. sounds like a 'quick' step. Normally, it takes about 3-4 wks. in between.In my guess, ... you have a tolerance on WB XL, as seeing you have NO prominent S.E.s on the 150 mg. At the beginning of WB, I was only on 100 mg. for about a week or so, then gradually moved up to the 300 mg over the few months' period. I've been taking the WB sr version,... more precisely 'Bupropion ER' 100 mg. On ER version, I do not feel 'too much,' nor 'too little' effectiveness. Besides this fact, its S.E.s seems MUCH reduced to the point where I feel VERY comfortable, knowing my moods has been improved with a good concentration and a fair amount of motivation.
In my suggestion, ... if you're uneasy/intolerable on WB XL, you can switch to the 100 mg. WB sr/Bupropion ER(if you live in USA, because other countries, the ER may not be available). And take the 100 mg. Bupropion ER from the morning with breakfast to the bedtime(or with supper) in order to get maximum effectiveness.
H.G.
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 19, 2005, at 16:19:50
In reply to Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 13:55:32
> I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for the past week with no noticeable side effects...
Sorry to interrupt, but does the "MD" mean you're a medical doctor? Just trying to avoid misunderstandings... Thanks,
Bob
Posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 16:37:03
In reply to Re: MD » ShimmerMD, posted by Dr. Bob on February 19, 2005, at 16:19:50
No, just a medical student.
Posted by Sarah T. on February 19, 2005, at 18:58:44
In reply to Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 13:55:32
Are you taking Lexapro simultaneously with the Wellbutrin XL? If so, you might be experiencing an adverse reaction (possibly serotonin syndrome) due to the combination of the medicines. On the other hand, perhaps you have the flu or another viral illness. Did the symptoms subside when you stopped the Wellbutrin (I'm assuming you stopped it)? As the other poster suggested, going from 150 to 300 mg sounds like too great an increase at one time. I think it's best to increase the dose gradually, especially with a medicine like Wellbutrin. If you resume the Wellbutrin, do it slowly, over a period of weeks. I think you should call your doctor to discuss what you've mentioned here.
Posted by Mildred on February 19, 2005, at 19:12:58
In reply to Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 13:55:32
I am currently on 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL and 5 mg of Lexapro. I had been taking Lexapro (20 mg) by itself for a year or so. When I started experiencing fatigue every day, my pdoc added the Wellbutrin and I had no noticeable side effects. Last month I discontinued the Lexapro after verrrrrry gradually weaning off of it. I got down to 5 mg for 6 weeks and never had a problem as I went down. However, when I discontinued the Lexapro, I developed severe nausea, headaches, chills, etc. - the same symptoms that you are experiencing. I assumed it was a withdrawal reaction from the Lexapro. After 2 weeks of this, the pdoc increased the Wellbutrin from 300 mg to 450 mg, thinking that my symptoms were possibly symptoms of my depression, and that an increased dosage of Wellbutrin might be necessary without the Lexapro. I continued to feel ill. After 2 more awful weeks, I succombed to taking the 5 mg of Lexapro again. I noticed an improvement immediately. Within 3 days, I was feeling great again. Two days later, the symptoms returned with a vengeance. The only thing my pdoc and I were able to guess is that the increased dosage of the Wellbutrin had finally started to take effect, and perhaps my symptoms were SE's of the Wellbutrin and NOT due to the discontinuation of the Lexapro. Apparently, the Lexapro somehow manages to keep the Wellbutrin SE's in check at the dosages I had been on. Seems strange . . . So I lowered the dose of the Wellbutrin back down to the 300 mgs. I immediately felt better. So now I am back to exactly where I was when I started this whole mess. That would be fine, except I am now feeling that these medications are not really effective anymore. I have low motivation, some social anxiety, some minor depression, and frequent headaches. However, I am petrified to mess with the medications again after that experience.
Oh well - sorry for the rambling. Just wanted to let you know that I experienced the same symptoms as you did on the Wellbutrin and that the addition of the Lexapro seemed to keep those symptoms in check.
Good luck -
I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for the past week with no noticeable side effects. Yesterday I stepped it up to 300 mg in the morning and I spent the rest of the day with a headache, chills and vomiting. Did anyone else have a reaction like this, and how long did it persist? I'm afraid to take 300 mg again because I was so miserable yesterday.
>
> I took Lexapro for a year before starting the
> Wellbutrin and I tolerated it well.
Posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 20:40:26
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by Mildred on February 19, 2005, at 19:12:58
I probably should have clarified my history with the Lexapro. I'd been taking 10 mg for a year. There were times when I forgot to take it for days at a time and I never noticed any physical effects because of it. The only time I ever felt bad was when I had not taken it for a full week and I noticed I had a headache and was aggravated. It was pretty minor; after taking a dose I was fine the next day.
So - back to my current dilemna. I cut down to 5 mg of Lexapro when I started the Wellbutrin. I've checked with both a doctor and pharmacist about weaning myself off the Lexapro. Everything seemed fine up until yesterday when I took 300 mg of Wellbutrin.
The prescribing doc said to try 150 morning and night instead of the 300 mg in the morning. I just took the nightly dose, so we'll see if I'm up in three hours visiting my toilet bowl.
I'm really hoping I had some strange 18 hour bug yesterday because I had high hopes of the Wellbutrin working for me. The fever/chills/vomiting is a RARE side effect of Wellbutrin and I'd hate to be the 1 in 1 million people who got it.
Posted by Mildred on February 19, 2005, at 21:13:31
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 20:40:26
I hope your symptoms were due to a bug, too. I'd be interested to hear how you fare -
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 21, 2005, at 13:05:30
In reply to Re: MD, posted by ShimmerMD on February 19, 2005, at 16:37:03
Posted by ST on February 22, 2005, at 3:05:32
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by HappyGirl on February 19, 2005, at 15:06:38
I get this if I don't take my Wellbutrin! My response to AD withdrawal (and specifically the AD Wellbutrin) are the symptoms you mention. Hmmmmm.... I'd say go slowly as you increase your dose, which your pdoc should guide you through.
Good luck!
Posted by ShimmerMD on February 22, 2005, at 7:24:28
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin XL and vomiting, posted by ST on February 22, 2005, at 3:05:32
Just to let everyone know... I think I managed to come down with a virus that day I increased to 300 mg. Funny coincidence. I have been fine since then. I took 150 in the morning and 150 at night for a few days and tolerated it well. Today I'm going back to 300 in the morning. Thanks for all the advice. :)
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