Posted by Minnie-Haha on March 22, 2005, at 15:13:06
In reply to Re: switch from wellbut. to effexor? » Spriggy, posted by fires on March 22, 2005, at 14:35:06
> I was on Effexor XR 75 mg since early 2004 - until late 2004. It brought me out of major dep. Switched to Wellbutrin a few months ago with hopes that it would be better than Effex.. Now I feel I'm sliding back into major dep. I've posted several times about BP II, because it is being considered as a possible new dx.
>
> I have a "problem" with the BP II dx since I was on Parnate for 15 years without any hypomania. I didn't experience any "hypomania" until I took too much Effexor or more than 150 mg Wellbutrin.
You might have what's called Bipolar Type 3 (I think) which is drug induced mania.
> I don't have typical anxiety. What my pdoc calls anxiety = slight to mod. hyperactivity, physical ills, extreme brain tiredness.
>
> When I feel like I do now, I can "go over the edge" without any additional warning(s), just like someone threw a switch. I didn't think I'd get to talk to my pdoc so fast, but they got me an appointment for tomorrow.(Found this out right after my post).
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> This won't make sense to many, but here's the plan(s) of action(s) I prefer in order:
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> 1) continue Wellbutrin 150 mg and add more Klonopin to my 2 mg that I now take.
>
> 2) Switch back to Effexor 75 mg.
>
> 3)increase Wellbutrin to 300 mg, even if I become hypomanic (still not sure if I was really clinically hypomanic, or if it was med induced).
>
> 4)add Abilify to Wellbutrin or Effexor per above.
You're right: I don't get it!
> This is all complicated by the fact that I also have fibromyalgia, RLS/PLMD, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and more.Considering your fibromyalgia and RLS/PLMD, I think Cymbalta might be a good antidepressant for you. I have chronic neck and back pain, and the Cymbalta has been GREAT for that. Others here have also reported excellent pain relief from Cymbalta. (When I was on 60mg, I slept like a baby. I had to cut back to 40mg 'cause my blood pressure went up a little. It's still effective, though not quite AS effective.) It also did wonders for my depression AND anxiety (though some here have reported that it increased their anxiety). I am augmenting the Cymbalta with Wellbutrin XL 150mg, and so far, so good.
I am Bipolar Type 2, so no matter what antidepressants I take, I always take a mood stabilizer. Currently, 300-450mg Trileptal. I used Depakote the first 2-3 years, but gained weight so switched to Trileptal, which has worked well for me, though NOT as a monotherapy.
Please be careful with the Wellbutrin. If you are BP2, it could "activate" you. I wouldn't recommend it as a first-line choice AD for a BP2 type.
Good luck!
poster:Minnie-Haha
thread:473986
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050322/msgs/474084.html