Wellbutrin good news + questions | ADHD Information

Hi all, long time to post.

For those who don't know the continuous saga which is my life....

I am 31 and was diagnosed ADD/inattentive a couple months ago after getting dangerously close to failing out of my SENIOR year of veterinay school.

Meds: Concerta + Lexapro = BAD; Adderall= BAD

Now I have been on Wellbutrin (alone) for the last week. They put me on an anti-d after 4 days of crying non-stop with feelings of ultimate dispair and "knowing" that I just was not good enough to become a doc. I know it takes a few weeks for an anti-d to take effect and the first few days were not any better than the previous week, but (here comes the good news) this past sunday it was like a light was turned on in my head. It is a dim light and I have a long way to go, but for the first time in a long time I know I have it in me to succeed. or more importantly I know that I am able to put forth the effort needed without the world crashing on my head. i am still TERRIFFIED and have mini panik attack when I am asked question by the senior clinicians, but that will pass in time and the school is being awsome and understanding about it.

Now the questions:

1. I am having tremors (my hand shakes, not a seizure). This is listed as a common side effect so I am not to worried, but I was wondering if it will go away in time? I hardly notice it most of the time but I am concerned b/c eventually I will be doing surgery (me can you imagine that) and a surgeon with an unsteady hand is not a good idea. (Just ask SheriM and Honey)

2. Ever since I was on the stimulants (never before) I have been grinding my teeth. I am not on any stimulants but I am still doing this. Even when I may an effort not to do it my jaw becomes very sore. Is this also a side effect of Wellbutrin? Will it go away in time?

3. If you are taking immediate release, how do you time your pills. The doctor said to take 150mg 2x/day, but I am wondering if I spread it out more the tremors will go away. I have 75mg pills and can take them 4x, but that is a bit of a pain.

As usual, all help is highly appreciated and thank you in advance for your love and support (you guys/gals are always so good about that

I was just prescribed Wellbutrin by a psychiatrist a few days ago. I haven't had the prescription filled yet, but I already have tremors as it is. Anything that stimulates my nervous system (including the anti-depressant Prozak) makes this problem worse for me. Now that I've read your message I'm wondering if I should stay away from Wellbutrin.

Does anyone have any knowledge about treating ADHD with Wellbutrin?

Everyone is different and if I were you I would make sure the doctor knows your whole history. If he/she does and put you on Wellbutrin anyways then it should be ok. If you are still unsure then fill out only a weeks worth of the perscription and try before spending the money. Wellbutrin is not controlled like the stimulants, so if they work well then you can go back and get the rest w/o doc's approval.

The biggest concern with Wellbutrin is that it lowers the threshold for seizures. If you or a close relative has a seizure disorder or you are on any other med's that lower the seizure threshold then you SHOULD NOT TAKE IT.

here is a link to the package insert. It is long but if you skim it, there is some good info: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/Jan_PI/Wellbutrin_PI .pdf

I don't want you to get the wrong impression of my "tremors" I hardly notice them most of the time, but when I am trying to hold something still and it is small, I can see that it is shaking. Like I said, this is in no way a hinderence and I won't stop taking my med's just for this, but I hope they go away before I am in my surgery rotation because i will need a VERY steady hand.

If you want to know other peoples experience, here is a link to a different forum that has individual threads for many drugs.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=674c49f3f e68d33f3412ecdc16b285bc&f=18

Hope that helps.

I take Welbutrin and love it. It actually works better for me when I take omegas with it. Either one alone doesn't have the same effect.

I have never had tremors with it but I would call my dr and ask if they will go away. The fact that you have had them and they got worse may mean that they aren't the same for you as they would be for someone else.

I would think the teeth grinding is a result of stress and that once the wellbutrin is in your system as it should be, it will go away. You can ask the dr but it is probably one of those things that only time will tell.

I wish I could help with the immediate release question but I take ER. Ask him about going on that instead of the other. It will release a smaller amount for hours rather than a lot at once.

[QUOTE=barb]I take Welbutrin and love it. It actually works better for me when I take omegas with it. [/QUOTE]

What are omegas?

[QUOTE=sdinenno]

[QUOTE=barb]I take Welbutrin and love it. It actually works better for me when I take omegas with it. [/QUOTE]

What are omegas?

[/QUOTE]

Omega3 fatty acids are a supplement that has shown some benefit with ADD. Go to the Alternative and Complementry Medicine Forum, you will find lots of info there.

http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17175& PN=1

this link will take you to: Topic: Omegas, Latest Research and Dosage

 

[QUOTE=doggidoc]Omega3 fatty acids are a supplement that has shown some benefit with ADD. Go to the Alternative and Complementry Medicine Forum, you will find lots of info there.[/QUOTE]

 

You mean the stuff found in fish oil. I thought that's what you meant but I wasn't sure. I've been taking cod liver oil for about six weeks now. A vitamin supplement store owner told me that it's one of the few dietary supplements that seem to show some benefit for ADHD sufferers.

Thanks barb,

Actually the tremors are a new thing and they are very mild so I am not to worried, but i will e-mail the doc, just in case. It has only been a week, but I already feel more awake than I have in a long time and an unsteady hand is not enough to take that away from me.

That is interesting about the Omega's. Do you take W and O for ADD or depression? Is it helping for both. What brand of Omega's are you taking, I have had bad luck with 2 different brands. (GNC - 6/day for req dose/ Papanature - the horse pills are hard plastic and too hard to swollow)

The Wellbutrin so far is working great for depression, but has done nothing for the ADD.

I am taking Adderall XR at a 25 mg dose, and have been clenching and grinding my teeth also.  I am also noticing that I am pushing the tip of my tongue against the back of my lower front teeth constantly, which is also making my jaw sore, and although I am quite aware of this, I can't seem to stop.  My husband is a nurse, and has checked with pharmacists at the hospital where he works, as well as the PDR's.  It is not listed as a side effect anywhere.  I also have tried to look it up on the internet, and can't find anything.  I guess that it is probably all stress related.  The teeth grinding and jaw clenching is nothing new for me.  I've had several bouts with TMJ in the past.  However, the tongue thrust thing is totally new.  I hope that it is not related to the Adderall, as it really seems to help otherwise. 

I don't take any specific brand of Omegas. I started out getting them at the health food store but it is quite a way from my home so I ran out and found that any brand that I trust seems to work. I prefer the plain fish oil and just read the label to make sure its high in omega 3 and does have 6 in it. It took a couple of months to really feel the effect. I get gel capsules but you can get the liquid. I won't take it. I had one dissolve before I got it all the way down and it didn't taste very good.  I threatened to start taking them with tarter sauce.

I take if for both depression and ADHD. It worked good for the depression and somewhat for the ADHD until I started with the omegas. I sound like a one woman ad for omegas, but they have done so much good for me and its hard not to talk them up.

If the tremors just started, they may be a side affect that will go away. I hope so.

I take Wellbutrin, and LOVE it.

Goes well with Ritalin.

I also eat omegas, but for skin dryness reasons.

Can't say I've noticed any difference w/ the o's, but then the RitWell is quite balanced, as it is.

But the o's healed my heels (pun intended), and stopped my hang nails.

I was spending /mo on Avon products just for my hands, including wearing gloves 24/7.

Now I've lost my gloves, and have kicked the Avon habit....