Posted by Zannah on February 12, 2001, at 22:31:02
In reply to wellbutrin sideeffect: chestpain??, posted by terra miller on February 11, 2001, at 16:55:57
> i've just started on wellbutrin sr. i was at 150mg and my pdoc dropped me to 100mg for 5 days to decrease the anxiety/irritable features. i have had success with this, but the rage really does kick in about 3pm. hoping this wears off soon.
>
> but the one really bothersome issue is this chest pain right under my sternum. there's some shortness of breathe at times. all this happens in combination with the time when the really shortfuse/rage kicks in. if i lose it and get really verbally mad at someone, then my chest hurts as well.
>
> i have yet to read about anyone else having this sideeffectDear Terra~
I have been on and off Wellbutrin sev'l times in the past 21 months. I have tried sev'l other AD's, but no effect on my depression/motivation, etc. w/the others.
I stopped WB the first time b/c it < always > gave me chest discomfort (markedly so) within 20 minutes of taking it, and I was on the 150 sustained release tabs, so it was very strange. The pain wd. subside within an hour, but I really didn't relish it. And, I had lots of tension in my shoulder muscles, to the point where they were very painfully spasmed~so, I quit. (I gave it at least 6 wks. first tho).I went back to it about 3 or 4 months later, when n/t else worked. At that time, my side-effects were reduced. I went off again (it just wasn't doing enough for me), tried some other drugs, living w/no AD's etc.
I ended up on Remeron last summer. I loved the sleep quality, but it had no effect on my depression/motivation (just really helped my anxiety level & sleep).I remembered how WB had once helped me, briefly, a yr. before, & I began a combo of WB 300mgs., Rem. 30 mgs. Stopped the Rem. after 2 months (due to a voracious appetite). Found myself on WB alone. I am still on it, and, now~no chest pain, no muscle tension & no insomnia. I avoid dosing thw WB after 2pm, however, just to be safe.
I shd. add that I have back problems and take .5 mg-1mg. of clonazepam as needed for muscle spasm. But, the WB does not necessitate my taking the clonaz (gen. Klonopin) daily.
You might benefit from a mood stabilizer to offset the edge of the WB. Propanol, or some other beta-blocker, might also be of help. WB has never helped me much w/anxiety and you sound like you are feeling a bit 'wound up'. Time on the drug could certainly alleviate some of the side effects, too
Also, the SR is, to me, a much smoother experience, so when you titrate up to 150SR, you may feel a bit more serene. (I am assuming the 100mg. dose is immediate release~true?)Good luck~
Zannah
poster:Zannah
thread:53761
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/53847.html