Posted by Louisa on January 21, 2000, at 15:28:42
A few months ago, I started treatment with Paxil (eventually 40 mg in the morning) for depression. Just as I was starting to see the fog lift (after a long time -- I think I must be a very slow responder), my mother landed in the hospital, and I ended up nursing her at home for a couple of weeks over the holidays. Given my relationship with my mother, I suppose it's no surprise that my depression returned, worse even than before. I should add that I'm also a graduate student trying desperately to finish a dissertation, and that I'm currently teaching a heavy load. After an appointment where I described my very high level of self-loathing, the pdoc decided to tweak the Paxil with Wellbutrin SR (150 mg, in the morning) to see if that might make a difference.
My side effects with the Paxil were minimal, but still a bit disturbing: a slight tremor, and then complete and utter disinterest in anything remotely sexual. From what I read here and elswhere, the Wellbutrin may help with that, which would make me happy (and my husband too!). Side effects with the Wellbutrin (which I only started on Monday) have been more dramatic. The tremor has increased, and now I get these incredible involuntary muscle spasms when I sleep. This used to happen to me occasionally, especially when I was stressed, but now it's happening many times during the night, and three times this afternoon during a nap. I don't really get enough sleep, which isn't so great, since I'm also recovering from the flu. Today and yesterday, I felt so exhausted by mid afternoon that I completely collapsed and had to nap, which naps were then greatly disturbed by muscle twinges.
I'm not supposed to see the pdoc again for 3 weeks (I've run out of insurance, and can't really afford to keep visiting her). Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't tell if the exhaustion is another side effect of the Wellbutrin, or whether it's the flu, or merely because I'm not getting enough sleep. The twinges are really bugging me -- will they go away? I don't want to give up on the Wellbutrin too soon, but I don't think I'll make it through the quarter if this keeps up. On the other hand, I'm not going to make it through the quarter if the depression doesn't lift sometime soon.
Very discouraged, tired, and wishing I were someone else,
Louisa
poster:Louisa
thread:19356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000112/msgs/19356.html