Hi!

I've been on wellbutrin for just over two weeks now. I had one nice day at the begining, and then felt AWFUL, up until a day or two ago. The startup was really terrible, but I'm used to it from starting other drugs. I had much worse anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and stomach problems. But I always have a very hard time starting medication. The last three days I've noticed a real change though. I have extraordinairly bad deprssion fog where I can't think expect to feel devastated. But that's lifted a little bit, it's not constant through the whole day, but it is definitely something.

I know though, that at times I think this is making my anxiety worse. I do have an anxiety problem, but this does make it sometimes more intense then I've ever experienced. The last few days have been better, but I was very freaked out again last night. And it is making my face break out. How much longer till these side effects go away, or are they here to stay? I wish that I didn't care about acne, but I have to admit that it contributes an irrational amount to my mental health. So if that's going to be a problem then maybe I should quit this drug, because when I had skin problems in the past it really got me down. And the anxiety is bad. I don't want to stop this drug because it does seem to help and I'm having a hard time finding a good one.

Any thoughts you have would be very helpful!

Thanks,

Sara

I can only speak for myself , i have been on WellbutrinXL 300mg for probably 8-9 months. I have not had any of the skin problems you are having. I truly believe that Wellbutrin has increased my anxiety (still to this day).
Greg

Don't get discouraged. Having ups and downs at startup with any AD happens. It goes away (usually) the longer you take it. Try eating a little food before taking it to help your stomach.

Wellbutrin is an "energising" AD. From my own experience with it, my anxiety increased. Consult with your pdoc about the increased anxiety. He/she may prescribe an anti-anxiety med.

I'm not sure if acne is a side-effect of WB. My anxiety, when high ,caused skin problems (acne for one). Fortunately, acne is treatable.
Sheepwoman

Thanks for replying! I have read that Wellbutrin can cause acne, but it's more rare than other side effects. But you're right, whenever my anxiety has been very bad it tends to trigger skin problems. So it is very possible that it's a result of that. The anxiety does seem to be getting better with time, so I guess I'm going to need to wait some more, before contemplating an additional med.

Hi
My anxiety dimished the longer I took Welbutrin. (I'm now at about 4 months, I think) But I do have to add, that my pdoc added Lamictal after 4-5 weeks because the mood component of my depression wasn't getting better. So I don't know if the Lamictal modulated the anxiety from Wellbutrin.
My skin is always bad, didn't seem worse or better. At 47, I still have teenage skin!

Hi Moonlightress,


Was your anxiety from the Wellbutrin, or did you have anxiety prior to starting the drug?

I hear mixed things about Wellbutrin and anxiety. Some people tell me it does treat anxiety, others say it is only for depression. For example, my dr told me it wouldn't too much for anxiety and was more depression, while the pharmicist told me it would treat anxiety more than the last drug I took. So I don't know what to think.

It was from the Wellbutrin. Together with a kind of agitated restlessness. When I'm well, I don't have great anxiety issues, but when depressed I can get very anxious. Then when the depression is under control, the anxiety goes away. So they are kind-of linked: the drug that helps my depression also removes the anxiety I present with, when depressed. Maybe that's what some people mean?

Oh, I'm kind of the same way. Depression is my main problem. But the worse it gets the more anxious I get, so I guess it's kind of secondary. I'm not usually un-depressed and anxious. It certainly is a double-whammy, isn't it? As if one weren't enough. Sometimes I'm like, hey God or whoever, if I could just be ONLY depressed I could handle that.

I've been on Wellbutrin for 2 months now and I don't notice any side effects anymore. Except for the fact that my appetite is reduced, but I am also changing my diet (i only eat fresh things, nothing preserved), so maybe that plays a role. I have acne and actually it's gotten better while being on Wellbutrin, or maybe that's the change in diet. One thing i can recommend for your acne is to wash your face with very hot water to open the pores and then rinse with very cold water to close the back up. that has helped me a lot.

i had a big anxiety problem and now it's gotten a lot better. that could also be due to the fact that i stared psychoanalysis about a month ago. I'm trying to combat the depression head on with multiple things, so it's hard to say which treatment contributes to which effect.

however my start up period on wellbutrin was hell but i rode it out and it has been worth it. i feel that my mood is stabilized. i still get annoyed or feel lonely but for the past few weeks i haven't had to stay home because the depression becomes that awful.

Light therapy is supposed to help too, I am going to get a light box and start that soon. it should be at least 10,000 Lux and you are supposed to sit in front of it early in the morning and do this consistently. a lot of depressed people have messed up circadian rhythms,. that's why we can't sleep. society imposes its norm of everyone having to get up early but there is a contingent of people who have a different internal clock. I have heard that some Scandinavian countries take this into account and let these people show up to work later and leave later!

I would recommend doing whatever it takes to manage this chronic disease. that's how we have to see it. it's like having high blood pressure or something. you have to be consistent in management. then when a depressive episode comes on you can separate yourself emotionally from it a bit better.

here's my treatment plan:

Wellbutrin 300 mg extended release
psychoanalysis 3x/week
1 hour cardio 3x/week, weights and sauna 1x/week
healthy diet, no smoking, no alcohol
minimum of 8 hours sleep a night, trying to cut back on caffeine to sleep better
light therapy box (will be getting this soon)


whatever works, go for it as long as it's not harmful !!!

Hey~

It's great to know that your anxiety went down after awhile on the drug, for whatever reason. I definitely agree that it's best to try all methods But I'm a little wore out after 4 years of this; I did do a LOT with alternative therapies and diet modification because I was so reluctant to go on drugs. I am also going to add Reservatrol and see if that helps. I know this drug can help me, because last week there were a few days were I felt like myself, and that helps me recover my inititative.