Wellbutrin treats Depression with NO sexual side effects, but...

[mopaul]

http://www.wellbutrin-xl.com/?rotation=10696904&banner=143898

...may increase thoughts of suicide. actually says this in their t.v. ad too.

hell, that's quite a decision to make.

Important Safety Information About WELLBUTRIN XL
WELLBUTRIN XL is not for everyone. There is a risk of seizure when taking WELLBUTRIN XL, so don't use if you've had a seizure or eating disorder, or if you abruptly stop using alcohol or sedatives. Don't take with MAOIs, or medicines that contain bupropion. When used with a nicotine patch or alone, there is a risk of increased blood pressure, sometimes severe. To reduce risk of serious side effects, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. Other side effects may include weight loss, dry mouth, nausea, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, or sore throat.

WELLBUTRIN XL is approved only for adults 18 years and over. In some children and teens, antidepressants increase suicidal thoughts or actions. Whether or not you are taking antidepressants, you or your family should call the doctor right away if you have worsening depression, thoughts of suicide, or sudden or severe changes in mood or behavior, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose (see Patient Information: What is important information I should know and share with my family about taking antidepressants?).

[TrogL]

1. I had to go off it because of seizures

[ohio_liberal]

3. Seizures

My 78 year old grandmother was given Wellbutrin by her family physician for mild depression. She had a major seizure while driving (and several smaller ones later) and has been on phenobarbytol ever since.

[rzemanfl]

2. Took some when quitting smoking, it gave me room-clearing

gas. Had to stay off cigarettes to keep from causing an explosion.

[jmowreader]

14. In other words, it worked?

New side effect: "May cause intense fear of detonation."

[chalky]

LOL!

I can't stop cackling....

:rofl:

[expatriate]

17. This could actually be a selling point for it.

"Relatives and neighbors getting you down? Take Wellbutrin - your farts will keep them at bay! No more depression from dealing with your dysfunctional fellow-humans!"

Now I know what my mother's old pit bull was taking all those years he could clear a room with one mighty blast.

[Ilsa]

21. Lexapro can bring that on

in me as well, but not as badly as you describe!

I hope they don't warn of that side effect on TV. My boys will start requesting it.

[Scout1071]

4. I had a terrible experience when I took it to stop smoking.

I had my first ever panic attack and became severely depressed with a healthy dash of anger. I snapped at my Mom one night when visiting for dinner and she made me call my doctor from her house because my pupils were funky looking and my behavior was so weird. I described my reaction to the Wellbutrin and my doc pulled me off of it ASAP. I had only been on it for 7-10 days.

I would never recommend this without serious supervision from a physician.

[demgurl]

9. Scout, are you sure it was the meds that caused the reaction?

A panic attack mixed with depression and anger could be caused by true news article about the * regime.

[jmowreader]

15. In that case, I'm POSITIVE the Wellbutrin was responsible

When was the last time you saw a true news article about the * regime?

[demgurl]

16. Well, it could have been one of them there forien reports.

Note grammar and spelling intentional!

[bamademo]

5. Taking it now...helps with smoking. I'll quit when I quit smoking.

I have had high blood pressure but I would rather have that then the depression I had. Plus, I rarely smoke on it . I work out and eat right. I think it will eventually mellow out.

[etherealtruth]

7. It's the only way I was able to quit smoking ...

... after 24 years of 1-2 packs a day. Good luck! (started taking it again because after 15 months for whatever illogical reason I wanted to smoke again---it's prevented that)

[RickWn]

12. Watch your blood pressure

While depression can lead to killing you (depending on its severity), high blood pressure will surely kill you. And unlike depression, with high blood pressure there won't be hours or days for a life-saving intervention from a concerned family member or friend. Death from a high blood pressure arterial rupture is sudden and almost always fatal.

Given the choice, be grumpy, moody, sneezy, lethargic, lazy or any of the other seven dwarves, but don't be high blood pressure.

I like your posts. Want to see them continue for many election cycles to come. Take your blood pressure meds first and foremost always!!!

<Big smile from an HTML impaired well-wisher>

[NAO]

6. I developed anxiety and OCD contemplating the possibility of seizures...

from taking Wellbutrin. It was all I could think about day and night while I was taking it back in 1992.

All of my anxiety and obsessive thoughts ended when I stopped taking it.

Anyone taking or thinking about taking any kind of anti-depressant medication should be forced to watch the Kids in the Hall movie "Brain Candy".

Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0116768/

Plot Summary:

A team of scientists working for a pharmaceutical company discovers a cure for depression. When the company finds itself in trouble financially, they rush the new drug into production without doing enough testing. Things seem to go fine until some of the users of the drug start slipping into comas. It becomes a race between the scientists who want to tell the world the truth and the company's marketing department who wants to protect their profit margin.

[WatchWhatISay]

8. I too had to get off of it

due to seizures.

Best way to quit smoking is get yourself hospitalized for a few days. Around here all of the hospitals are non smoking (even in the parking lot), so if you go in for a few days your halfway dried-out before you get out. Why go back after not smoking for 4 days?

[ohio_liberal]

10. I stopped smoking

when I got a nasty chest cold two months ago. Best thing I ever did. Now I'm addicted to Tootsie Pops. :D

[havocmom]

11. I had to get off it due to sudden interest in planning my immediate demise

Glad I had a doctor who paid attention and LISTENED.

[dolo amber]

13. I was on Wellbutrin

I quit smoking, lost weight, and was more clear-headed than I've been since Ritalin stopped working for me (10 years ago). To be fair, I was taking it as a sorta experimental ADHD treatment, not for depression...but I never felt better.

[slor]

18. Well, suicide and the resulting death...

is certainly quite a side effect for sex, and everything else.

[Bluerthanblue]

19. suicide is ALWAYS a

risk with anti-depresants, when prescribed to treat depression-

Because when they 'work'- the oppressive weight to do anything - the sluggishness that often accompanies depression begins to lift, and folks often have the 'energy' to 'take action' -- even negative actions- i have 'agitated' depression, so, 'action' is not an issue for me, but self-destructive actions are never 'far off'- when i'm depressed.

Wellbutrin is used alot to help folks stop smoking- it's also one of those SSRI's which tend to decrease appetite, so, if you're bullemic, or anorexic (usually accompanied by depression, or emotional suffering) it's not a great choice.

Given the choice of 'trying wellbutrin'' or continuing to smoke- i'd give the drug a try- Smoking is often just a very slow suicide- Depression is a deadly, life altering disease, the 'cures' aren't without risk, but what is anymore?

Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, and Paxil are all very similar- Effexor is a 'novel' new anti-depressant, as is ...Lexapro i think- i'm on a combination of several different meds-

"Being there" for someone with mental illness is SOOOOO hard for those who love them, but so often is the absolutely best 'medicine' they can ever get-

Hope you find peace- and can hang onto it-


(my sons and i often can't help but 'crack up' in laughter when we hear the 'warnings' about viagria and it's cousins'- some of the side effects are pretty funny when your not the one 'experiencing' them i guess- it's all a matter of choice, chance and 'risk'- just like waking up in the morning is)

[Ladyhawk]

20. It worked for me but gave me heart palpatations, so I can't take it. n/t

[RickWn]

22. Watch out for Buproban

Went to see my doc asking for Zyban to help me quit smoking after seeing some of the glowing commercials on TV and in print.

Was given Buproban by Walgreen's which I trustingly assumed was the same or, at least, an affordable generic.

The caveat about seizures is in bold type everywhere in the literature accompanying the drug.

My HMO doesn't cover the drug, which I thought was strange. Jokingly told my wife I guessed some bean counter had figured out the risk of immediate seizures was greater than the long term risks associated with smoking.

Never took a single pill after reading the lit and still trying to quit smoking. I keep the full pill bottle, for which I paid $88, on the bathroom shelf as a reminder how much the weaker side of me is screaming better sense than the stronger side.

Sad thing, addiction. In any form.

[KayLaw]

23. Gave me night terrors

I dept waking up to see a knife-wielding intruder standing over me or someone climbing through my window. Another time, I saw Paul Revere crouching on my dresser, and once, I ran down the hall screaming because I saw a "hunch-backed squirrel" crawling through my closet. The day I stopped taking the drug, the dreams stopped.

[Sgent]

24. Bupropenin (sp)

is the generic name for Wellbutrin / Zyban.

Most likely your doc was trying to save you money by writing you the script for that -- as most insurance companies won't pay for smoking cesstation aids.

[shugah]

25. wellbutrin was originally pulled off the market

because it could cause seizures. the problem was "fixed" before it was reintroduced - still can cause them, but the liklihood is far lower than it was originally.

regarding the increased liklihood of suicide - that risk is within the first couple of weeks of taking the drug, and any doctor worth anything will let you know that.

[neebob]

26. No, it has a LOW RISK of sexual side effects

and I must say it's nice ... that it has a low risk of sexual side effects. Do I look sexy in this cowboy hat or what?

Forgive me.

[bamademo]

27. I love my Wellbutrin

I took the generic but the Wellbutrin XL makes me totally forget about cigarettes plus it helps my forgetfulness.

[Just Me]

28. It was awesome for quitting smoking,...but, I ended up having an allergic

reaction with 24/7 hives. I was bummed cause that drug made me feel like I could conquer the world.

So, I wonder if all manics feel that good all the time! *LOL*