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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ncrainbow on May 20, 2008, at 7:04:25
I am now (as of yesterday) taking Wellbutrin XL 150 2X a day and Konopin 1mg 2x day. My doc personally believes the Wellbutrin XL is better than the SR formula but by my observation, it seems like the impressions on this board of XL versus SR are mixed.
Basically I have been having periods of "stable mood", irritability, mild hypomania, and major apathy, throughout the day. My doc thinks that working towards getting a more consistent level of wellbutrin and klonopin in my system by twice a day dosing might help.
But, here is some context ....my diagnosis is mild cyclothymia - with rapid-cycling throughout the day...basically an inability to regulate my mood or energy level.
Most of my days (for the past 20 years at least) are split between napping, laying around pondering all the things I am not doing, struggling with an inabiliy to actually accomplish anything, and then like a flick of a switch, I am up running around getting things done, hosting playdates, cheerful, and chatting and babbling to my hearts content. Since I NEVER go without needing sleep, even for a day, I have always been considered subthreshold for bipolar disorders. I have been carrying a diagnosis of ADD for about 5 years. Before that I was just considered lazy, disorganized, and addicted to my naps.
Deep in my heart, I am not sure that this is really cyclothymia but since there isn't a DSM code (that I know of) for poor daily mood and energy level regulation besides cyclothymia, it is kind of what I am stuck with. (I do have a lingering narcolepsy diagnosis, confirmed by the lab study, but since the treatment is stimulants, my doc is sort of waiting it out to see if the 300 mg of wellbutrin can offset the lethargy w/o having to add anything that might trigger hypomania.
But back to the original question..... has anyone taken XL on a 2x a day schedule? Did it improve results?
Posted by william puga on May 25, 2008, at 20:16:01
In reply to wellbutrin, klonopin, and dosing? (LONG), posted by ncrainbow on May 20, 2008, at 7:04:25
Random thoughts to consider: Watch for increased cycling with any antidepressant, though Wellbutrin is better and less of a culprit than others. Klonopin has a very long half-life in the body (eg withdrawal, if one is to have them, is 7 to 10 days after stopping the rx) and so once a day or twice a day has modest blood level differences and klonopin can be too sedating to be taken in the daytime for most. bedtime doses of the entire amount is usually just as good and is easier on the daytime fatigue.
Cyclothymia often best responds to the mood stabilizers, consider traditional meds used for bipolar since it is a milder form of bipolar.
Good luck!
This is the end of the thread.
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