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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by n@oise on April 15, 2005, at 12:08:57
I've been on effexor for nearly a year to look after depression. i'm itching to come off it asap due to its hellish withdrawl symptoms. i'd really like to try wellbutrin as i've heard good things about it. my pdoc wants to keep me on effexor...he says wellbutrin is not recommended for bipolars b/c it causes irritability...i was under the impression that it had anti-anxiety effects...? then the diagnostic pdoc i saw had recommended it as a good anti-depressant. hows that for mixed messages?!
any BP's with experience on wellbutrin out there? i'd love to hear what you've got to say about it.
thanks! :-)
Posted by lydia on April 15, 2005, at 14:17:31
In reply to Wellbutrin Bipolar...?, posted by n@oise on April 15, 2005, at 12:08:57
I'm bipolar and when I was put on wellbutrin had terrible anxiety; I had almost NONE while on SSRIs. from what I've read this isn't uncommon.
BUT my mother is bipolar, and Wellbutrin seems to be the only antidepressant that helps her mood; she takes benzos to deal with the anxiety.
what exactly are you experiencing that makes you want to switch from effexor? does it improve your depression?
Posted by D minor on April 16, 2005, at 12:08:11
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Bipolar...? » n@oise, posted by lydia on April 15, 2005, at 14:17:31
Hi,
my pdoc told me Wellbutrin was often used for Bipolar. I was on it for over a year and it worked well for me until about three weeks ago (I don't know if it pooped out or if it was an effect of not having a mood stabilizer). But I never got anxiety on it and it never made me hypomanic (Cymbalta did). I was good for giving me some energy when I was down in the dumps. Overall I think it's a good med. But I would go with whatever your pdoc says.Goodluck!
dm
Posted by Spriggy on April 16, 2005, at 18:37:52
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Bipolar...?, posted by D minor on April 16, 2005, at 12:08:11
It depends.. Wellbutrin tends to be a bit better as far as rapid cycling goes if you are BP BUT if you have a lot of anxiety, Wellbutrin can definitely increase it.
I couldn't sleep or eat on it. I had horrific anxiety on Wellbutrin.
But I have heard other people say it actually helped their anxiety so who knows?
Posted by Maxime on April 16, 2005, at 22:07:54
In reply to Wellbutrin Bipolar...?, posted by n@oise on April 15, 2005, at 12:08:57
I went psychotic on Wellbutrin TWICE. That is because doctor number 2 thought that because HE was prescribing it wouldn't have that effect on me (that's my theory anyway). I ended up in the ER and then up to the psych ward for a week.
Okay so that's not the type of story you want to hear.
But Wellbutrin is suppose to be one the AD less likely to cause hypomanic unless you are a rapid cycler.
There is really only one way to find out ....
Good luck!
Maxime
> I've been on effexor for nearly a year to look after depression. i'm itching to come off it asap due to its hellish withdrawl symptoms. i'd really like to try wellbutrin as i've heard good things about it. my pdoc wants to keep me on effexor...he says wellbutrin is not recommended for bipolars b/c it causes irritability...i was under the impression that it had anti-anxiety effects...? then the diagnostic pdoc i saw had recommended it as a good anti-depressant. hows that for mixed messages?!
>
> any BP's with experience on wellbutrin out there? i'd love to hear what you've got to say about it.
>
> thanks! :-)
This is the end of the thread.
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