Hi there,

I've been on Wellbutrin now for almost 8 weeks -- 300mg / day (150mg SR 2x a day). It has helped with my anxiety, stress related nausea and OCD a little, but hasn't done much for my depression.

My question is..............is there anyone here who didn't have optimal results from 300mg, that had good results at 400 or 450mg?

I have a doctor appointment Thursday and am going to ask him to increase my dosage, but wanted to get feedback here if anyone else experienced positive results at a 400mg or higher dose, when the 300mg did not work.

I cannot take any anti-depressant that contains SSRI because I cannot tolerate the side effects of SSRI's. I was on Zoloft 12 years, Celexa 2 years, and started having panic attacks which went away when I discontinued them. The doctor tried Cymbalta with the Wellbutrin and after 8 days I started having panic attacks so I definitely know that anything that effects Serotonin levels will cause me to have panic attacks.

Also, on 300mg of Wellbutrin, the first 3 weeks I had lots of energy, but after that I am just as tired and unmotivated as before I started it -- I sleep VERY well on Wellbutrin.

Thanks for any tips from those who have experience (good or bad) with higher dosage of Wellbutrin .

J

Per a previous post, I think I said that I was on 400-450mg of WB; however, The increased dosage didn't help me at all. I know there are others here who are on the higher dose who can give you better feedback.

As for non-SSRI ADs, have you tried tricyclics? They're old but have begun to be prescribed more often of late.
Sheepwoman

Hi --

I'm sorry, I forgot you had mentioned the higher dose of Wellbutrin didn't work for you in an earlier post -- guess the Wellbutrin is affecting my memory too!!!

I only tried a tricyclic ones (Pamelor) and slept for 24 hours after the 1st dose and missed work. Since tricyclics also affect Serotonin, my concern is that it may cause panic attacks -- but I guess nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

Guess I'll wait and see what the doc suggests tomorrow -- based on his attitude of late to my treatment, it may very well be the last time I see him -- I'm highly considering finding a new physician that takes more of an interest in my treatment.

J

My dose of Wellbutrin was upped from 300 to 400 mg and I think it helped. It also helped to have a "cocktail" of both Remeron and Wellbutrin. Risperdal helped me for a while, but I would consider it for short-term (6 months or so) use rather than long-term. It has a very calming effect and helped my depression, but side-effects became a concern.

Hope this helps.

ks

Hi KS --

Yes that does help -- did your doctor add the Remeron to help more with the depression or anxiety? I will mention it to him tomorrow.

Thank you

John

I was on 450 mg of XL and had no results - same as 300. I did however have some negative side effects that did not occur at the lower doses.

I'm actually surprised because the change for me between 300 and 350mg has been dramatic. I starting feeling better about 5 days before my 8th week on Wellbutrin, about the same time my doctor upped my dose to 400mg.

So I started taking 200mg AM, 150mg PM and it has made a HUGE difference in my depression. Hard to believe that 50mg would make that big a difference but I'm at a week on 350mg and I feel better (normal, not depressed) than I have in years -- just hope it continues!

I'm not sure if I will go to 400mg until fall when the SAD kicks in. The strange part is I'm taking name brand Wellbutrin at the 200mg dose and Eon/Sandoz evening dose at 150mg. I'll most likely refill each prescription, 1 every other month so I can stay at 350 (and not have to pay 2 copays a month).

I was actually wondering if name brand Wellbutrin I am now taking at 200mg am dose is making a difference over the generic.


Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Nope....well kind of....

what most people don't realize is that the generic version of drugs is EXACTLY the same as the name brand version. It's not like coca-cola & knock-off cola which has minor differences in ingredients. However, the interesting thing is that studies which give the same drug to people and tell one group that it's generic & the other group that it's name brand, find that the 'name brand' drug group has significantly more inprovement. So taking the 'name-brand' drug really is more effective but only because you have a higher expectation of what it will do...aka the placebo effect. Don't get me wrong though, the placebo effects is actually real & has physical effects on people (not just imagined) in 30% of cases. So if you are one of the 30% then by all means go for it. It still doesn't really make any logical sense to me though

The difference between name brand and generic is that they release the drup differently. That is why people normally get better results with name brand becuase it releases the drug more gradually but since they still have a patent for that the generic has to release it in a different way which they have discovered releases quite a bit more at first. It is actually four times the amount! This probably attributes to why some people when they begin the med. fell worse later in the day if they took in the morning. I take generic and I definitely experienced that. I would imagine that the brand stuff probably is helping you better Rattman because of the consistancy. Everyone is different and some people really do better with the brand name and horrible with the generic. I think it really is probabaly better given the more consistant amount that is in your body. I am considering switching but since I seem to be doing alright and don't have a lot of money I havn't.

To read an article about it go to Prevention.com and look for the article "Are Generic Drugs Safe ?" It is on page 2. If you can't find it PM me for the link.

My current regimen of Wellbutrin XL 300 mg doesn't seem to be doing anything. Since some of you seem to have felt improvement with an increase in dose, I'll talk to my doctor about raising me to 450 mg.

Anybody else have experience raising Wellbutrin from 300 to 450?

Hi data,

I went from 300 to 450 because I didn't think it was doing enough and found the 450 to be a tad to much for my system. Had almost a buzzing in my head and near contant dizzyness. I went back to 300 after a few weeks and things leveled off nicely.

I hope you have a better experience if you try the 450.