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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by James_glasgow on March 23, 2007, at 4:53:54
Hello, I tried Wellbutrin for the first time on Monday. I took one 150mg SR tablet and it did make me feel like I had more energy after a few hours (I also take fluoxetine 20mg daily). At about 10pm while in bed I started to get this odd sensation from my waist down and after half an hour I took one 5mg diazepam tablet and I feel asleep. Next day I had forgotten all about the legs thing and took another 150mg Wellbutrin, but this time at 10pm the sensation in my legs came back and was so strong and disturbing I could hardly beleive it, I have never felt anything like it in my life. It was like the sensation you get before you sneeze but deep inside both legs and I could not sit still. It took 15mg of diazepam to get it to stop and 3 hours of pacing up and down. Has anybody else experienced anything like this, and does it go away if you persist with the medicine. I would really like to try and give it a go for SSRI induced fatigue and sexual dysfunction, as modafinil did not do much for me.
Any help at all would be appreciated.
Regards
James
Posted by FredPotter on March 23, 2007, at 8:34:40
In reply to Wellbutrin and Restless Legs, posted by James_glasgow on March 23, 2007, at 4:53:54
James it's an awful thing. As akathisia it can effect far more than just the legs too. It has been the habit in mental hospitals to treat psychotic patients with enough Haloperidol or other neuroleptic drug to induce whole body restlessness. It's an awful thing to see. The belief used to be that unless they got akathisia the dose wasn't high enough.
I had it in arms and legs when on Prothiaden (dothiepin) years ago, to the point where I was throwing things around the bedroom.
Now how about treatment? I've heard benzodiazepines can help (I've also heard that Wellbutrin can too, as it works the opposite as regards dopamine to the neuroleptics). I wonder if the antihistamines like Periactin can help, or perhaps Bromocryptine. Perhaps someone else has more information. I don't know how old you are, but it's said to increase in prevalence with age. A good sleeping pill might be best.
Do some googling on it. I think it's the worst of all side-effects of psych drugs. It's worse than pain in my opinion.
Good luck. Keep us informed of your progress
Fred
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2007, at 10:58:46
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Restless Legs » James_glasgow, posted by FredPotter on March 23, 2007, at 8:34:40
How strange as the thread above is Racer reaching remission on a similar cocktail. Maybe ask a question on that thread? Love Phlllipa ps my legs twitch as I go to sleep.
Posted by James_glasgow on March 24, 2007, at 4:58:43
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Restless Legs » FredPotter, posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2007, at 10:58:46
Thanks for that Phillipa.
I was really hoping for this combination to work too as it about the only thing I have not tried. I am in the UK and although I have an excellent GP who has even given me Nardil, and Parnate (I think because I have a degree in Chemistry and sound like I know what I am talking about, he has let me try them), but he would never let me try two anti-depressants at the same time (except for one time when he gave me trazodone with paroxetine for sleep) so I bought the Wellbutrin (as an indian generic). I have also never tried Ritalin, or any other stimultant (expect Progivil as it is not a controlled drug here in the UK).
I also have a good pdoc, who rather oddly recently recommended I carry on taking the Continental European equivalent of Ambien CR (Stilnox CR) not available in the UK, but can be prescribed in France, you can only get the regular release one here, and midazolam in tablet form, a product made by Roche called Dormicum(again similar situation to Ambien but here midazolam is only available for injection or as a liquid to control epilepsy). I think this is going to have to change though as he gave me his blessing to import them, but if something changes and I for whatever reason cannot do it anymore, I am frankly up the creek without a paddle. So I want to go back and get it put of a formal footing with a UK prescription, and take the medicine you can get on the NHS (this is because I have severe chronic insomnia and nothing really works).
Sorry, I am rambling on a bit.
Take care.
James
Posted by James_glasgow on March 24, 2007, at 5:11:44
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Restless Legs » James_glasgow, posted by FredPotter on March 23, 2007, at 8:34:40
> James it's an awful thing. As akathisia it can effect far more than just the legs too. It has been the habit in mental hospitals to treat psychotic patients with enough Haloperidol or other neuroleptic drug to induce whole body restlessness. It's an awful thing to see. The belief used to be that unless they got akathisia the dose wasn't high enough.
>
> I had it in arms and legs when on Prothiaden (dothiepin) years ago, to the point where I was throwing things around the bedroom.
>
> Now how about treatment? I've heard benzodiazepines can help (I've also heard that Wellbutrin can too, as it works the opposite as regards dopamine to the neuroleptics). I wonder if the antihistamines like Periactin can help, or perhaps Bromocryptine. Perhaps someone else has more information. I don't know how old you are, but it's said to increase in prevalence with age. A good sleeping pill might be best.
>
> Do some googling on it. I think it's the worst of all side-effects of psych drugs. It's worse than pain in my opinion.
>
> Good luck. Keep us informed of your progress
> Fred
Hi Fred, thanks for replying to my message.I am slightly worried about trying them again as the reaction was so strong, as you say it is a horrific experience. I did a search on Google and found a case report from Korea of exactly the same thing happening and they used 0.5mg of Clonazepam to treat the problem and carried on with the Wellbutrin. I was suprised it happened in the first place as I had read in the past that Wellbutrin is used to treat Restless Legs, as you say maybe it was akathisia I was experiencing as opposed to drug induced RLS. I have taken Clonazepam in the past and found it does wonders for my social phobia, especially in combination with paroxetine, but after a few days I start getting depressed again. I will give it some thought and let you know, I am particularly intrigued by the Periactin, as you can buy it over the counter here, and it causes drowsieness so it will help with my insomina.
Thanks again.
James
Posted by notfred on March 24, 2007, at 15:22:29
In reply to Wellbutrin and Restless Legs, posted by James_glasgow on March 23, 2007, at 4:53:54
Have you checked with your doc to get this diagnosed ? Akathisia and RLS are specific conditions requiring different treatments. Or it could be something else. Once you get this checked out you will be in a better position to decide if this side effect is managable or that Wellbutrin is not for you.
This is the end of the thread.
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