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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 10:05:12
I'm now taking 150mg. Sr wellbutrin and still not getting any relief from depression. I also take xanax, 1.75mg daily.
I started out at 37.5mg. and slowly titrated up to 150mg. SR. My pdoc wants me on 300mg. SR. Is it possible to get a response at 300mg. when so far I have felt nothing? I am getting very discouraged.
I feel that xanax helps my depression more! She prescribed Effexor XR at first but my insurance wouldn't cover it--so BC/BS recomended wellbutrin in its place. I don't understand why? They are two very different ad's. One hits serotonin and norepinephrine(at high doses) and the other (Wellbutrin) soaks your brain in norepinephrine and dopamine. I don't get how an insurance co can dictate what drug I have to take.
Should I give up now on the WB and try something else? The only positive thing on it is increased libido which prozac had totally killed for four years.
Val
Posted by Phillipa on April 24, 2007, at 10:36:46
In reply to Wellbutrin SR not working, posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 10:05:12
See what the others say but I pay out of pocket you at least deserve to do it once. Then if it works maybe the insurance will pay cymbalta is is the same class will they pay for that? Good luck pdoc for me today. Love Phillipa
Posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 12:51:25
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR not working » valene, posted by Phillipa on April 24, 2007, at 10:36:46
Thanks Phillipa. My doctor emailed me that she could get approval for Effexor XR if we want to do that. I just want to know if this wellbutrin will work at 300mg. if it is not doing much of anything at 150mg. I hesitate to try effexor due to the withdrawals.
Posted by KayeBaby on April 24, 2007, at 13:14:01
In reply to Wellbutrin SR not working, posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 10:05:12
How long have you been on it?
When WB worked well for me it took a good month or so at 150mg.Take Care,
Kaye> I'm now taking 150mg. Sr wellbutrin and still not getting any relief from depression. I also take xanax, 1.75mg daily.
>
> I started out at 37.5mg. and slowly titrated up to 150mg. SR. My pdoc wants me on 300mg. SR. Is it possible to get a response at 300mg. when so far I have felt nothing? I am getting very discouraged.
>
> I feel that xanax helps my depression more! She prescribed Effexor XR at first but my insurance wouldn't cover it--so BC/BS recomended wellbutrin in its place. I don't understand why? They are two very different ad's. One hits serotonin and norepinephrine(at high doses) and the other (Wellbutrin) soaks your brain in norepinephrine and dopamine. I don't get how an insurance co can dictate what drug I have to take.
>
> Should I give up now on the WB and try something else? The only positive thing on it is increased libido which prozac had totally killed for four years.
>
> Val
Posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 15:13:11
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR not working » valene, posted by KayeBaby on April 24, 2007, at 13:14:01
Thanks for answering, Kaye. I've been on it since March, but she started me on a baby dose of 37.5mg. IR. I've only been on the 150mg. for a week. Before that was 100mg. for a couple weeks. So there is still hope.
Val
> How long have you been on it?
> When WB worked well for me it took a good month or so at 150mg.
>
> Take Care,
> Kaye
>
Posted by Racer on April 24, 2007, at 15:18:35
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR not working » KayeBaby, posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 15:13:11
> Thanks for answering, Kaye. I've been on it since March, but she started me on a baby dose of 37.5mg. IR. I've only been on the 150mg. for a week. Before that was 100mg. for a couple weeks. So there is still hope.
> Val
>
Yes, there is plenty of hope, if you've only been at 150 for a week! I take 450mg of the XL, and it's fabulous for me. Not quite enough on its own, but quite good for me.XL is a little different than SR, but I started at 150mg and started feeling an improvement after about ten days -- but that was after going up to 300mg. I'd say, go up to the 300, and give that two to four weeks. See how you do.
And, personally, I'd try adding Prozac to the Wellbutrin before I would try Effexor. I've taken Effexor, and it was OK, but you're right -- the withdrawal can be a problem, so you may as well see where this horse takes you before you switch, right?
Good luck with it. If it's near as good for you as it has been for me, I think you'll do well. I really hope so.
Posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 15:35:16
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR not working » valene, posted by Racer on April 24, 2007, at 15:18:35
That's excellent news, Racer. So it began to work for you at 150mg. I just looked at the bottle and yes it was filled on April 16th, so I have a while to go for it to build up in my system.
Funny you mention Prozac - I had been on it for a few years at 20mg. and all it seemed to do was kill my libido. I quit it easily two years ago. But with the WB on board maybe it would be okay. I'm doing fine libido-wise right now, one positive aspect of the WB!
No weight loss though. If anything, I'm hungrier. But not overweight and determined not to be.
Posted by Racer on April 24, 2007, at 17:17:43
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR not working » Racer, posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 15:35:16
> That's excellent news, Racer. So it began to work for you at 150mg.
Actually, I did go up to 300mg before it kicked in, but I was only there a few days, so I don't know if it was the increase or the time on the drug...
> Funny you mention Prozac - I had been on it for a few years at 20mg. and all it seemed to do was kill my libido. I quit it easily two years ago. But with the WB on board maybe it would be okay. I'm doing fine libido-wise right now, one positive aspect of the WB!
Actually, if the WB/Prozac combo is helpful for you, it's very likely you'll only need a small amount of the Prozac. I take 10mg every other day, because the 10mg every day just shuts me down into serotonin apathy. (Although, I'm weird that way, it seems...) And Prozac's half-life in the body is so long there's virtually no discontinuation. It's considered to be almost self-tapering.I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, and hope it works out well. Good luck with it.
Posted by KayeBaby on April 24, 2007, at 19:10:16
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR not working » Racer, posted by valene on April 24, 2007, at 15:35:16
It sounds as though you are cautious with meds. I am too. I thought it worth metioning that while I have had decent results with WB at doses of 150 and below-I had a terrible reaction to WB at 300. It made me absolutely despondant.
I do not make the mistake of basing my expectations on 'typical' results.
I hope you are coming along well.
Peace,
Kaye
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