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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 7:16:06
Hello everyone:
Has anyone had experience with Wellbutrin SR, (time release tablets). I've been taking 150 mg pill at around 7a.m. every morning, and not another pill later in the day as the doctor suggested. I've never had insomnia in my life, and always immediately fall to sleep. I've been taking the Wellbutrin SR for 1 week, and quite honestly have not slept for the past week, matbe an hour a night if that, probably not. Also, from day one of taking the pill I felt "very stupid", confused, and disoriented. I now feel like a walking zombie. My doctor tells me all the above is normal, live with it, and see him in a month and things will get better. I'm thinking of stopping cold turkey as I need to sleep. I've also heard from others that once the insomnia starts its hard to go back to normal again, even after stopping treatment. Why can't I sleept at 11p.m., if I only take a pill so early in the morning? It doesen't make sense. How long does this "crap" stay in your system? If I stop taking when should normal sleep habits return? I'm really thinking of not taking any drugs because the side effects seem to outweigh the "positive" outcome, i.e. who the hell wants to be incompetent, tired, dumb, etc? Any comments/experiences/knowledge to the above would be greatly appreciated. My doctor told me nothing about the side effects, and I only learned from the Internet.
Thank you.
Sam
Posted by Ted on January 31, 2001, at 10:44:18
In reply to Wellbutrin SR , posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 7:16:06
Hi Sam,
Welcome to wellbutrin :-( Actually, it is a really good med for most people. The sleep disturbance is common. I take 150 mg morning & dinnertime. As a result, I have to take ambien (hypnotic-sedative) at bedtime in order to sleep well. Since I have been on the ambien, I have had no problems with sleep. If you get a prescription for ambien, break the tablets into smaller and smaller pieces until you find the *minimum* amount that will work for you. Some people think it may be addictive, so you will have to control your use. DO NOT accept trazodone if your doctor offers it as an alternative -- if you feel like a zombie now, trazodone will really whack you out. Oh, and just in case you are not aware: NO alcohol and NO caffeine while on wellbutrin and ambien.
Ted
> Hello everyone:
> Has anyone had experience with Wellbutrin SR, (time release tablets). I've been taking 150 mg pill at around 7a.m. every morning, and not another pill later in the day as the doctor suggested. I've never had insomnia in my life, and always immediately fall to sleep. I've been taking the Wellbutrin SR for 1 week, and quite honestly have not slept for the past week, matbe an hour a night if that, probably not.
Posted by Jody on January 31, 2001, at 14:17:11
In reply to Wellbutrin SR , posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 7:16:06
Hi Sam,
I have been on regular Wellbutrin for 4+ years now. The PDOC put me on the SR first and I experienced the same things that you are. For some reason the SR did not work for me because of extreme agitation, etc. The regular Wellbutrin has been great. I take a dosage in the AM and a second dosage around 4 or 5 pm. If I take it later than 5, I have trouble "coming down" at bedtime. I also take Trazadone to help me sleep. I have been taking it for 4+ years, also. Ted is correct. It does "knock you out," but if you take it at bedtime with the intension of going to sleep, it can be a good choice. I take it about 15 minutes before I plan on going to sleep. When I first started taking Trazadone, I was very sleepy and dopey in the morning for a while, but I do not experience that now. Anyway, good luck on finding the right med. The right one can be a godsend. I had to try quite a few before the Wellbutrin. Hang in there.
Posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 15:17:16
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR , posted by Jody on January 31, 2001, at 14:17:11
I really appreciate everyone's advice. The issue is that I first tought I was going to take only Wellbutrin, and now it looks like I need sleeping drugs also. I really don't like the idea of all these drugs at this point, considering their side effects. Also, don't want to become dependent for the rest of my life. Besides counseling with a shrink, are their alternatives to using drugs, i.e. herbs, etc. But, I've even heard that Kava Kava, and St Johns Wort create problems too such as sexual. Any advice?
> Hi Sam,
>
> I have been on regular Wellbutrin for 4+ years now. The PDOC put me on the SR first and I experienced the same things that you are. For some reason the SR did not work for me because of extreme agitation, etc. The regular Wellbutrin has been great. I take a dosage in the AM and a second dosage around 4 or 5 pm. If I take it later than 5, I have trouble "coming down" at bedtime. I also take Trazadone to help me sleep. I have been taking it for 4+ years, also. Ted is correct. It does "knock you out," but if you take it at bedtime with the intension of going to sleep, it can be a good choice. I take it about 15 minutes before I plan on going to sleep. When I first started taking Trazadone, I was very sleepy and dopey in the morning for a while, but I do not experience that now. Anyway, good luck on finding the right med. The right one can be a godsend. I had to try quite a few before the Wellbutrin. Hang in there.
Posted by Ted on January 31, 2001, at 18:25:07
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR Sleeping Drugs, St Johns Wort, posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 15:17:16
Saint John's Wort made me more depressed. It is what led to my bipolar disorder rearing its ugly head. (No -- it didn't *cause* BP, but it did lead to symptoms). I suppose if you have really mild depression, especially if it is transient and not chronic, then SJW is a good first try.
Ted
Posted by Craig on February 1, 2001, at 1:03:18
In reply to Wellbutrin SR , posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 7:16:06
When I began taking Wellbutrin SR, I couldn't sleep either. My pdoc prescribed 0.5 mg of Klonopin, which is a tranquilizer and not a sleeping pill. I took it before bed and it worked like a charm. After awhile, when my system had adjusted to Wellbutrin, I didn't need the Klonopin anymore and just quit taking it without any withdrawal problem. I take 400 mg of Wellbutrin SR a day and don't have trouble falling asleep.
*********************************
> Hello everyone:
> Has anyone had experience with Wellbutrin SR, (time release tablets). I've been taking 150 mg pill at around 7a.m. every morning, and not another pill later in the day as the doctor suggested. I've never had insomnia in my life, and always immediately fall to sleep. I've been taking the Wellbutrin SR for 1 week, and quite honestly have not slept for the past week, matbe an hour a night if that, probably not. Also, from day one of taking the pill I felt "very stupid", confused, and disoriented. I now feel like a walking zombie. My doctor tells me all the above is normal, live with it, and see him in a month and things will get better. I'm thinking of stopping cold turkey as I need to sleep. I've also heard from others that once the insomnia starts its hard to go back to normal again, even after stopping treatment. Why can't I sleept at 11p.m., if I only take a pill so early in the morning? It doesen't make sense. How long does this "crap" stay in your system? If I stop taking when should normal sleep habits return? I'm really thinking of not taking any drugs because the side effects seem to outweigh the "positive" outcome, i.e. who the hell wants to be incompetent, tired, dumb, etc? Any comments/experiences/knowledge to the above would be greatly appreciated. My doctor told me nothing about the side effects, and I only learned from the Internet.
> Thank you.
> Sam
Posted by LauraD on February 1, 2001, at 17:27:35
In reply to Wellbutrin SR , posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 7:16:06
I took wellbutrin for a bit. Not only was there insomnia but middle of the night anxiety! It's those times when you wonder if you're really going crazy.
Posted by Sam BlueBell on February 1, 2001, at 18:49:30
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR , posted by LauraD on February 1, 2001, at 17:27:35
What do you mean by Anxiety? One day when I was taking it I cried the whole day/sobbing, for no reason, never did it before the Wellbutrin. Does Wellbutrin cause this? The drug seems to be horrible, can't think, sleep, have sex, creates additional anxiety, possible seizures, other side effects, overall it's NO good no matter what the shrink says to me. I stopped taking it 2 days ago and now I feel better taking nothing. It made matters much worst. I still can't sleep. How long does the stuff take to leave one's body? I took it for total of 8 days, once per day. Did it create permanent damage now that I can't sleep?
> I took wellbutrin for a bit. Not only was there insomnia but middle of the night anxiety! It's those times when you wonder if you're really going crazy.
Posted by Neal on February 2, 2001, at 1:00:11
In reply to Wellbutrin SR , posted by Sam BlueBell on January 31, 2001, at 7:16:06
Sam - You never said why you were prescribed the Wellbutrin. Also, I'd shop for a new pdoc, one that doesn't let you suffer.
Posted by LauraD on February 2, 2001, at 13:32:02
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR ANXIETY. ., posted by Sam BlueBell on February 1, 2001, at 18:49:30
> What do you mean by Anxiety?
I mean waking up in the middle of the night scared to death. Of what? I'm not sure. My heart was pounding and I was sweating from head to toe, accompanied by a strong urge to throw up. (This could just be my form of anxiety though)My Dr. told me that Wellbutrin doesn't do ANYTHING for anxiety... He said he would only supplement my Prozac with it to help sexual dysfunction. And if he knew a patient was suffering anxiety he would not prescribe Wellburtin.
(?)
Posted by JennyR on February 3, 2001, at 21:36:15
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR ANXIETY. ., posted by LauraD on February 2, 2001, at 13:32:02
When I started Wellbutrin I had bad sleep problems. I was prescribed Ambien which would only give me about 4 hours of sleep. Now I take Klonipin for sleep and it helps a lot. I still wake up many times a night, but I go right back to sleep.
I too wanted to quit early on, but after couple of weeks, you do adjust, particularly if you are given something for sleep.
Posted by Lorraine on February 11, 2001, at 18:26:45
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin SR ANXIETY. ., posted by LauraD on February 2, 2001, at 13:32:02
I had to stop taking Wellbutrin because it gave me panic attacks.
> > What do you mean by Anxiety?
> I mean waking up in the middle of the night scared to death. Of what? I'm not sure. My heart was pounding and I was sweating from head to toe, accompanied by a strong urge to throw up. (This could just be my form of anxiety though)
>
> My Dr. told me that Wellbutrin doesn't do ANYTHING for anxiety... He said he would only supplement my Prozac with it to help sexual dysfunction. And if he knew a patient was suffering anxiety he would not prescribe Wellburtin.
> (?)
This is the end of the thread.
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