... anxiety and depression. More so anxiety than depression. I took 100 SR once a day for 7 days and didn’t really feel anything different. I started taking it twice a day and now today I’m 6 days in to that. So far since I’ve been taking it twice a day the side effects are piling up. I’m so tired, no appetite and my anxiety has gotten worse.
I know that Wellbutrin isn’t usually prescribed for anxiety but that it does help some people and I was hoping it would be effective for me. Should I take this uptick in anxiety during my first week of the full dose as a sign that it isn’t going to relieve my anxiety? Or will it settle down like other SSRI’s?
Bupropion - will initial anxiety subside? I was prescribed Wellbutrin 100 SR twice daily for my...
Question posted by Knittergirl on 4 Nov 2023
Last updated on 8 November 2023 by Tgast2
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3 Answers
Tgast2
9 Nov 2023
Find a psychiatric pharmacist, I was on Wellbutrin for years prescribed by an MD. But the correct person to prescribe medicines directly related to your specific issues needs that specialist.
dboothe
5 Nov 2023
You increased the dose too quickly. You need to give it a few weeks before you up the dose. The side effects will subside, but you are putting yourself through unnecessary angst by increasing it so fast. It may feel hard to go backward, but I would go back to one for a while before upping the dose. I'm surprised the doctor didn't give you more specific instructions and a follow up appointment before increasing to twice a day. Best of luck. I have been living with depression for 50 years and anxiety for my whole 71 years.
Knittergirl
5 Nov 2023
Thanks for your input dboothe. I actually went slower than my doc advised. He said 3 days on one pill then go to two. He has now advised me to switch to 150 XL. Hopefully that won’t be as stimulating. I really want Wellbutrin to work but I also don’t want to have to take Klonopin everyday for anxiety.
masso
5 Nov 2023
For you to feel an improvement of your symptoms with this antidepressant it may take 4 to 6 weeks for Bupropion to fully reach its therapeutic effect in most patients.
In some people, as everyone reacts differently to medications it may take more time and at the same time your symptoms may get worse before they get better.
You have been on this AD for only 2 weeks and you are right it is not prescribed for anxiety, having said that, off-label it is prescribed to treat anxiety.
I suggest you give a chance and keep on taking for at least another week to 10 days and if your condition has not improved then inform your Dr. and perhaps have a dose adjustment or discontinue its use and try another AD, btw, Bupropion does not belong to the drug class of SSRIs it belongs to the drug class of Miscellaneous Antidepressants.
Reviews from people taking this med:
https://www.drugs.com/comments/bupropion/
Knittergirl
5 Nov 2023
Thanks Masso. I’m coming from Celexa and I’ve been on lexapro in the past and had increased anxiety with start up of those. But I guess I was hoping to feel some of the positive effects of Wellbutrin by now. I haven’t had the increase in energy that people talk about from Wellbutrin, actually I think it’s done the opposite and made me more tired. And like I said my anxiety seems worse instead of better. But I’ll stick with it and see if things straighten out.
Thanks for your input it’s very much appreciated.
masso
5 Nov 2023
I sincerely wish for this AD to work for you and you are welcome, anytime.
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wellbutrin, depression, anxiety, bupropion, prescription
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