Wellbutrin | ADHD Information

I am currently taking the generic form of Wellbutrin, Bupropion sr 300mg a day. I just started taking it last week. I have weaned myself off of the zoloft that I was taking before for depression. The first two days that I took the "Bupropion", I felt great, like my old self again. But the past few days, I am more depressed than ever.

Anyone with any experience with this drug? Should I hang in there or call my doc to change meds?

[QUOTE=landtheplane] Could you explain to me what an IMHO is? [/QUOTE]

IMHO - In My Humble Opinion.

gee00739105.0056597222

I was just diagnosed with ADHD, and I am taking Wellbutrin. In fact, the doctor prescribed it a while ago, because, as he put it, he was suspicious of ADHD from the start. I don't feel that it's helping me much, but the Shrink doesn't want to switch me to stimulants jyst yet (why?), and so he just upped the Wellbutrin dose to 450mg, and let me tell you: in the last few nights I stayed up until 3-4 AM, wide awake, not knowing what to do with myself.

I had a similar reaction when I first started taking Wellbutrin, but not to such degree.

gee007, is the Wellbutrin helping for your adhd symptoms? Some Doctors don't like to go the stimuant route because of side effects and risk of abuse. I just stopped taking the Wellbutrin and started Lexapro combined with Adderall and klonopin for anxiety/rebound. I'm only on my fourth day of the lexapro, but I can tell you for sure that I'm not as edgy and anxious as I was while taking the Wellbutrin. I'm also sleeping much better. I have heard from many people that Docs try to push Wellbutrin as the first line of treatment. It seems to me, after taking Straterra and Wellbutrin, the only thing that truly works for real ADHD are stimulant meds.

Good luck and let me know your progress.

[QUOTE=integrtydispair]

hi plane...

i am very interested in your experience. 1. i tried both meds. the zoloft does work for the depression for me. the welbutin and its generic did not. neither does anything for my adhd. except that the depression is related to adhd i believe and many books state. i'm going to try an ocd med, anafanil, next year. err, on wednesdday.

2. It often takes weeks for a med to kick in. for me it takes 6 to 8 weeks to reach max benefit w/zoloft.

3. you gotta have IMHO, a doc or pharmasist who you can ask questions about this stuff. one who is interested in you enough to really listen.

please post again when you have more info. OK?

best to you

Hank

[/QUOTE]

I am now off the Wellbutrin as after four weeks of taking it, it made me irritable, edge and no less depressed. I have just started Lexapro as an addition to my Adderall and Klonpin regimen.

Could you explain to me what an IMHO is?

Also, what ADHD meds have you tried? Why are you trying OCD meds? Do you have OCD in addition to ADHD? There are many ADD meds out there. I hope your doc is examining all avenues for you.

Good luck.

Thanks for responding, landtheplane. Do you feel a big diffrence (in ADHD) with your current meds? What are the side effects you mentioned?

I don't think iWellbutrin is helping. As I mentioned, I've been taking it even before the diagnosis, for at least 4-4,5 months now. ...but I think whether I was diagnosed or not, I should have felt some difference, and I can't say that I do. The Dr. now says that we can know for sure whether it works, only after I've been on the maximum dose for at least 4-6 weeks. I am not too excited about the prospect, but he is the one who diagnosed me, and no one ever even suggested the possibility of ADHD, so I guess I need to trust him for now...

[QUOTE=landtheplane]

Good luck and let me know your progress.

[/QUOTE] I can feel a huge difference in the adderall versus the other adhd meds....i.e. strattera, wellbutrin. If you're frustrated and your doc isn't listening to you, maybe switch docs. Good luck.....I feel your pain!

[QUOTE=landtheplane]I'm beginning to think that in order to avoid the rebound deal, you should just take your meds up until like three hours before bed and then, the rebound will happen when you're sleeping. Who knows?[/QUOTE]

Maybe I should just start a separate thread. People! I still don't understand what rebound is!

I'm beginning to think that in order to avoid the rebound deal, you should just take your meds up until like three hours before bed and then, the rebound will happen when you're sleeping.

Who knows?I think rebound is different for different people. Rebound occurs when your stimulant ADHD medications wear off for some people, but not all. For some, they get sleepy, for some, they get hyper, for others, they become irritable, anxious and cranky. Does that help?

Most definitely helps, thanks!

[QUOTE=landtheplane]..... Does that help?[/QUOTE]

The doc lowered the Wellbutrin to 150 (from 450) and gave me a prescription for Ritalin, 5mg, twice a day. I was so edgy and angry on 450... [QUOTE=gee007]The doc lowered the Wellbutrin to 150 (from 450) and gave me a prescription for Ritalin, 5mg, twice a day. I was so edgy and angry on 450... [/QUOTE]

Hi, I'm wondering if Wellbutrin XL is really doing anything for me either. I was at 300 mg for several weeks and didn't feel any difference at all. Doctor bumped me up to 450mg and also got me on Concerta 18mg once a day. I only notice a very mild improvement when I take my Concerta and it only seems to work for about 5-6 hours, after which I feel like my attention and focus get worse than before and also I noticed my irritability index goes up.

Anyway, I was curious about your irritability. How long were you taking 450mg before you noticed your mood change. How bad was it?

I know that my irritability is probably caused by coming down from the Concerta, but it seemed kinda odd since 18mg is such a low dose. Maybe the Wellbutrin is adding to the issue.
[QUOTE=gee007]

Also, can you guys explain to me what does this "rebound effect" mean, I read somuch about here on the forum?

[/QUOTE]

If I am bound with something like confusion, and I take a pill to make it go away, it goes away. But when the medication wearts off, I get re-bound in confusion.

[QUOTE=KIDD_ROCK4444] If I am bound with something like confusion, and I take a pill to make it go away, it goes away. But when the medication wearts off, I get re-bound in confusion.[/QUOTE]

LOL, KIDD_ROCK, I totally didn't get it what you said. I guess I am still "bound with confusion" about the rebound effect's meaning...

hepcats, thumbs up for quitting smoking! I was a smoker once and I know how hard it is to quit. I think it was Mark Twain who said, "Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world - I did it at least a hundred times."

I am curious to know how you'll feel on whatever you get instead of Wellbutrin. ...and your "energy goes down the tubes around 5 pm" even with Concerta? How long since you've been dx'd and started taking a stimulant?

Also, can you guys explain to me what does this "rebound effect" mean, I read somuch about here on the forum?

gee007, I've only been on Concerta for about 2 weeks now and was dx'd a little over two months ago. I take my Concerta at around 10am, and feel that it wears off within 6 hours or so. Actually the term "wearing off" is a bit incorrect because I don't actually feel like it's really doing all that much during those 6 hours anyway (low 18mg dose), except calm me down a tiny bit. Anyway, around 5 oclock I start feeling pretty crumby. It's hard to describe because some days at that time I feel like my ADHD gets worse, some days I become highly irritable, and some days I feel depressed and want to crawl into a hole. But the consistent theme is that I always question if maybe I was better off before the dx and the meds, and get tempted to stop taking the meds.

On a positive note though, I expiremented with my Concerta dosage the other day and took 2 x 18mg just to see what might happen. Again, didn't notice too much in the way of helping with my attention deficit, but I found that it calmed me to the point where I was able to stay seated in my office for several hours at a time, and was therefore able to get through my workload more efficiently (previously I wouldn't be able to sit in one place for more than 15 minutes). Best of all, I didn't feel bad at 5pm, in fact I felt pretty even keeled until I went to bed, at which point it took me all of 5 seconds to fall asleep (i.e. no insomnia).

[QUOTE=gee007]Hepcats, I got very edgy, irritable, and even mean, I would say, as soon as I went to
450. I am now down to 300, instead 150 because I wasn't able to fill my Ritalin rx. The doctor wrote 2006 instead of 2007, and they wouldn't fill it without a new paper hard copy prescription.

I might be wrong, but I have a feeling that Wellbutrin actually makes me more depressed and down. I've always been someone to jump up and go do something, looking for that excitement, I guess, but now I just want to be left alone, sit in the corner, and watch TV. [/QUOTE]

I went ahead and dropped my Wellbutrin dosage down to 300mg and definitely feel that it has helped decrease my irritability, along with a decrease in headaches and dizziness. I knew 300mg would be ok since that was where I was at for a while before getting supplemented with Concerta. My doctor will likely switch me to something else on my next visit (either Cymbalta or Effexor). Hey, on a positive note, at least the Wellbutrin helped me to quit smoking (about a month ago).

gee007, I also get a bit depressed but that usually happens towards the end of the day and I'm guessing it's likely because of a slight rebound effect from the Concerta. I'm like you also... always an optimist, high-energy / motor, thrill seeker, etc. But all that goes down the tubes around 5pm or so.

My x doctor gave me Wellbutrin in the past and it did not work for me. I did not know why until I read Dr. Amen's book.

He classifies ADHD types in 6 different kind, and Wellbutrin is only the drug of choice if one has Type 5 ADD in his classification. He calls is Limbic ADD. Primary symptoms: Add inattentive + Chronic low grade depression, negativity, glass-half empty syndrome, low energy and frequent feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness.

So basically, it's someone that has ADHD inattentive and some depression, then wellbutrin is the drug of choice.

It will not work well for the other 5 types which are:

#1 ADHD Hyperactive Only

#2 ADHD In-attentive Only

#3 ADHD(could be #1 or #2) + OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) the hyperfocus type

#4 ADHD(could be #1 or #2) + Bipolar (the moody type)

and the #6th one which is the worst which he calls ring of fire that is a combination of 1 or 2 + 3 and 4

Now some doctors mistake #3 with #5 and give the patient Welbutrine . Reason is in general, OCD people can benefit from a ANti-depressent too, and since Wellbutrine is stimulant/antidepressant, they give it to the patient. But the anti-depressant in Welbutrin does not work well for type 3. According to him Type #3 people should either try a drug called Effexor, or a stimulant + a anti depressant like prozac.

My suggestion would be to find out what type of ADHD u have first.

My current docotor is really good.(this is the 3rd one I have changed to!) He found out that I have ADHD-inattentive along with OCD and mild bipolar on our first session. Once I got on the right drugs which later I changed to supplements I was feeling great...

But not all ADHD is the same! and not all doctors are traind well to find out the exact type of ADHD one has quickly.....they just experiment for months or years until finding something by luck! ;)

Dr. Amen does have a list of doctors in the back of his book that are trained by him. And btw, my current docotor accepts my insurance and gives me the right diagnosis. My previous doctor was wrong and wanted 0 cash for every visit!! lol u live and learn i guess!

mashtee200339110.9885648148

gee007 wrote:

Can you take Effexor and a stimulant together?

well, u should ask ur doctor,.... but i am reading on Pg 246 of Amen's book about effexor...... he says if one has what he calls Type 3 ADHD(which is ADHD + OCD)then they can ask their doctor about effexor on its own, because effexor boosts both Dopamin(like a Stimulant) and Seratonin(like a SSRI), and if it does not work, then stop the effexor and try a stimulant with a SSRI together. Also, he cautions that one must make sure they do not also have bipolar... because in that case they need something for that too, or they will get agressive and angry feelings from the SSRI.

I had also read people who have bipolar and ADHD can get bad headaches and possibly seizures from taking just stimulants without bipolar medication.

mashtee200339110.9966435185

her's my 2 cents worth: wellbutrin did not do it for me...i tried to firure my type from amens boook and decided i was a combination not listed by him. i think he is great but not on the types, not for me anywa y. i have found no drug to help w my adhd sx that do now have side effects, like high blood p..

i am almost ready to give up. my best doc warned me that i probamly wouldn't get too much benefit no matter what drug i found. i've kinda accepted that. i am 62 and got thru life pretty good...but damn. if i'd known back as a child....oh well.

Hepcats, I got very edgy, irritable, and even mean, I would say, as soon as I went to
450. I am now down to 300, instead 150 because I wasn't able to fill my Ritalin rx. The doctor wrote 2006 instead of 2007, and they wouldn't fill it without a new paper hard copy prescription.

I might be wrong, but I have a feeling that Wellbutrin actually makes me more depressed and down. I've always been someone to jump up and go do something, looking for that excitement, I guess, but now I just want to be left alone, sit in the corner, and watch TV.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. Mashtee, I've read what I could on and by Dr Amen, and I am a little bit on the fence about some stuff he writes, though maybe in my case the correct typing is the issue.

landtheplane, it's too soon to think of switching doctors, he's been actually receptive to what I said, though now I want to get off Wellbutrin completely.

Can you take Effexor and a stimulant together?

integrtydispair, don't give up. I am just starting this myself, and I am not a teenager either. I also feel angry that I only found out now... But we should keep looking for help, to make the coming years much better, right? :)
Thats too bad that you are not having luck with it. Hopefully your dr. will be able to help. We have to use the brand because the generic gives my dd awful headaches. I hope you find what works for you!

hi plane...

2. It often takes weeks for a med to kick in. for me it takes 6 to 8 weeks to reach max benefit w/zoloft.

3. you gotta have IMHO, a doc or pharmasist who you can ask questions about this stuff. one who is interested in you enough to really listen.

please post again when you have more info. OK?

best to you

Hank

I am taking ADHD meds, adderall ir. I take the wellbutrin for depression. The problem is that I had to wean myself off the zoloft as I started the wellbutrin, so the first couple of days that I was taking less of the zoloft, I felt great! But, now, I'm having withdrawal from the zoloft, I guess. I've heard that zoloft has a pretty short half life??

Anyway, I'm only on day 10 and my Doctor said that I shouldn't really see any benefits for at least two to four weeks. Maybe by the end of the week, I'll start feeling better. Also, my doc changed my anxiety meds from xanax to klonopin. Maybe part of my problem is withdrawal from both xanax and zoloft??? Although, I still take a zanax everynight to help me relax to go to sleep.

My head feels the same way it did when I came off the zoloft years ago when I became pregnant with one of my children. Anyone know how long the withdrawal side effects last?

Thanks for everyone's support! You all are wonderful!

Wellbutrin didn't sit well with me either, it wasn't prescribed for ADHD in my case (more or less had a spell of heart problems due to a potassium deficit that caused some 'aftershock' effects in my brain). It did make me smoke a LOT less but my mood didn't change and it made my temper even worse. So, i stopped taking it.

For my ADHD i take 25mg of Adderall XR, supplemented by 3x 1mg of Klonopin (the Adderall XR causes panic attacks for me, the Klonopin fixes that) as well as Lexapro (which is an anti-depressant, SSRI, but used for me as a way to remove most of my explosive temper). Lexapro has been MUCH better than Wellbutrin ever was.

Of course, all three of these combined SERIOUSLY affect my sex drive so i have to take VERY expensive meds for that as well when we want to hit the haystack for a round whoopie.

mashtee,

I don't know if that's what you call it, but I usually have to take some sort of sleep aid to get to sleep at night and I too take Wellbutrin and Adderall. These are stimulant medications so you have to be careful how late in the day you take them. Do you take Wellbutrin XR or IR? If you take two doses, maybe you're taking it too late. Hope it stops. Lack of sleep just seems to exagerate everything! Good luck.

anyone ever got insomnia from Wellbutrin?

mashtee200339090.0423611111Good deal farmer..Glad it works! Could be you took it for a different condition/reasons, maybe I'm the Limbic type, I was already feeling like that and worse; overstressed, depression anxiety attacks, couldn't sleep, nothing was going to change that quickly, short of assuming room temp. I started working out, sometimes twice a day, because I couldn't sleep. I had already changed my diet because of type 2 diabetes, the wellbutrin helped me lose 15-20 pounds. It helped my ADD, didn't sedate me like effexor, I'm feeling much bettter now, it fit my needs, but there are other reasons I'm making progress. farmer39133.9932638889I simply could not tolerate eight weeks of that anxious, completely edgy, irritable feeling for eight weeks. No matter how great it works. Good for you for sticking it out, farmer. You're a better man/woman than I. Rock on!I must be the only one who gets along with Wellbutrin,for depression, starting it about 4 months ago, while continuing the ritalin. It takes eight weeks for it to settle down,and it got a little wierd while i adjusted to it, but am happy I stuck it out, it helps with the attention as well. 450mg can cause seizures and because I had some in the past it was a issue, so I'm at 300mg. I have been taking ritalin for over 8 years, at first with effexor, which shut down my sex drive, wellbutrin helped that somewhat, but since I lost my wife while on the effexor it doesn't do me much good.

I believe that people and their docs are mistaken to give up on a med way to soon, it takes the body time to adjust. When they change to a different med. the early results are a combination of adjusting from one med to the other, so after a while the early results change, adding to the confusion, but what do I know? farmer39133.695474537