... had the worst side effects including insomina, over stimulated, anxiety , super nausea and muscle pain has anyone had this and is there light at the end of the tunnel or should i quit now?
Will this feeling ever go away! On wellbutrin for 7 days now I know I know 7 days isnt long but ive?
Question posted by Panda1980 on 17 July 2016
Last updated on 25 July 2016 by chuck1957
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
8 Answers
chuck1957
26 July 2016
Panda; Yes we are all different when it comes to medications, It is our body chemistry vs the medication's. Normally it is tough for many people for at least the first 7 to 14 days and if the anxiety is to bad some doctors give us something to help get through the start. But your doing everything right but many of these medications it's a trial and error which the doctor prescribes and we have to take them for 6 to 8 weeks to get the full blood level. But if it is just unbearable call your doctor and see if there is something else or have the doctor adjust the dose or add something with it. All of these are very good answers. But most do very well on Wellbutrin it's reaching the blood level that is hard. Please get back to us and let us know how it turns out. best of luck and know you are not alone.
smileyhappy
25 July 2016
My wife started with a smaller dose150mgs for a week then went to 300mgs after that. She s been on it for since the end of June. So about a month or so now. She has anxiety and panic attacks before she started still has them but less severe. The depression is the same but it takes about 6 weeks to see sone results we are told. Talk to your doctor it may help eleviate your anxiety of the medication.
Debbiw55
25 July 2016
When I was put on Wellbutrin I got agitation so bad I thought I was having a panic attack. I happened to be out of town on a business trip which was a really bad place to be because I almost asked the hotel to put me in an ambulance to go to the emergency room, but I suffered through the night and took the first airplane flight home. I was at my doctors by 8:30am. He immediately took me off the Wellbutrin and my solution has been Effexor XR. I've been on it since 2003 without any side effects and with good control of my mental problems. I wish you well with yours but I wouldn't take Wellbutrin.
Inactive
22 July 2016
Robin, And Panda:
Here is my personal experience with wellbutrin (bupropion). I had different side effects on the different generics of wellbutrin. I had problems with the bupropion XL, from irritability, to insomnia, carb cravings, to fatigue, to nausea, headaches, ringing in the ears, worse anxiety, etc etc etc. One of the bupropion XL 300mg brands made me feel so anxious, I felt like I was going crazy! So, I tried something else. I tried different bupropion SR versions of wellbutrin with much better success. XL is time-released over 24 hours, SR is time-released over a 12 hour period. But when I take the SR version, I only take one 150mg tablet a day, and it works better for me, because then it doesn't keep me awake at night, because I take it first thing in the morning.
The ingredients are the same in the generics, but the companies weren't able to duplicate the exact time-release mechanism as the brand name wellbutrin.
So I noticed that some of them dumped out too much at certain times during the day, causing the instant worsening of anxiety, or nausea, or whatever.Then at other times, I would feel like I was falling asleep in the middle of the day!
I ran the table on the generic tablets. I had weight gain on some, as well as the other side effects that I mentioned above. I felt like a human guinea pig, going through all these pills, trying to find one that suited me. During this time, I researched the internet for information on these medications as well.
If you are interested in which one works for me, that is, the one that I get the most relief with, but with the LEAST amount of unwanted side effects, is Bupropion SR made by Mylan Pharmaceuticals. I hope this helps someone else. "G"
Inactive
22 July 2016
Everyone (2-3) people I know who took Wellbutrin experienced significant but acute personality changes related to becoming generally irritable, and having MAGOR ANGER issues, and it was nearly impossible to be around these people, as their Anger issues presented toward others around them - namely me.
janiebme
17 July 2016
Hi Panda-
I am currently on Wellbutrin. You did not say what dose you are on and why you are taking it. I had to start low and work up due to the side effects. It has been 6 months. When I upped it to 150 mg SR 1 weeks ago it has helped the depression but I still have insomnia/anxiety. I did not have muscle pain. I think both the other people that posted had good suggestions. Take it with food and check with your doctor.
Panda1980
17 July 2016
I started taking 150mg sr 1 week ago for depression i have tried taking it with food and in the morning and some side effects got better some like anxiety got more intense. I have been trying to suck it up because i have seen people say after a few weeks it got better but i dont know if thats the case here. Calling dr tomorrow they are closed today
janiebme
17 July 2016
Hi Panda-
Wellbutrin is not for everyone. It can make anxiety worst. Some people with depression and anxiety cannot take it and others can get past the 2-4 week mark and do OK.
If you can tolerate SSRI's you may want to ask your doctor about Lexapro or Celexa. Wellbutrin can help depression but is not always beneficial for anxiety.
If you can, let us know what your doc thinks.
Hope it get better for you soon :)
Panda1980
17 July 2016
Thank you thats what I suspect thats since i have anxiety it is making it worst. I will definitely look into those 2 meds you suggested when i speak with the dr. I can not take ssri's because of the bad reaction so i thought maybe just maybe wellbutrin would work out. I just want some relief
janiebme
17 July 2016
Hi Panda-
I also have bad reactions to SSRI's. I know the feeling of just wanting some relief. There are also the SNRI's. But with all antidepressant they have their pros and cons. There is no easy answer. I hope you have a good doctor that will work with you :)
Panda1980
17 July 2016
This is dr number 3 the others got frustrated with me and pretty much made me to uncomfortable to come back and this one seems to be understanding but i am in search to see a psychiatrist who has a better undwratanding of meds . This has been a struggle at first i was like i dont feel depressed something else got to make me feel this way went to nuuerologist, cardiology,endocrinology, pulmologist u name it ive been there and every dr was like nothing is wrong. I have a apt tomorrow so ill keep a open mind that there has to be something out there for me. Thank you for your support nice to know im not alone
healthy Christina
18 July 2016
Panda
Since you can't take ssri's you might ask about effexor. It is an snri. I too have bad reaction to ssri's. And to some snri's, but effexor or the generic venlafaxine which I currently take has the fewest side effects. It is best to start off on a low dose and work your way up to what works best for for you. And for the anxiety abilify worked good for me until I learned to control it myself. Since you have internet look up a program called wrap. It made a huge difference in my life. I was taking 6 different meds at one point to control my psych feelings and 1 med for side effects from those drugs. I'm now down to a low dose of just the venlafaxine for maintenance. Especially while I still have a lot of physical health issues to deal with and some are chronic, like fibromyalgia and diabetes. Good luck to you.
daryld
17 July 2016
I had these responses as well, as I recall, in some people it overstimulates norepinephrine, and causes something like a panic attack. My doctor said "oops, guess I made a mistake on that one" so maybe you should talk to your doctor?
Panda1980
17 July 2016
Yes very over stimulated! What was the alternative for you?
MeggieGirl
17 July 2016
Obviously you will want to discuss the side effects with your doctor, because maybe this medication isn't right for you and your doctor might have an alternative in mind.
One piece of advice I can give you, however, is to take your medication in the morning with any other a.m. medications you might take.
Wellbutrin is actually a stimulant, so if you take it in the afternoon or evening, it is going to cause insomnia.
Also, if you're feeling nausea, you want might want to make sure that you're taking it with food. So maybe take it with breakfast.
Panda1980
17 July 2016
Thank you i have been taking it first thing in morning with breakfast and still having over stimulation hopefully i can get a hold of dr tomorrow to see if they can change meds.
Related topics
wellbutrin, anxiety, pain, nausea/vomiting, generalized anxiety disorder, muscle pain, side effect, muscle
Further information
- Wellbutrin uses and safety info
- Wellbutrin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Wellbutrin (detailed)
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