Depression Meds

[Juliagizzle]

Anyone on depression meds particularly Wellbutrin Xl .The doctor perscribed it for me this week for severe depression. After researching the side effects i'm totally scared of taking it. Amongst having my depression, anxiety, irritability, and lack of focus increased the thing that did it for me was...HAIR LOSS!:nono: Has anyone taken this or anything similar? What was your experience?

[araceli2418]

I've been on different antidepressants over the past 8 years. I've never had a problem with hair loss. The only side effect I've had was weight gain and Wellbutrin is actually supposed to be the only antidepressant that does't cause weight gain. Unfortunately, that particular medication did not work for me.

[Juliagizzle]

I read that wellbutrin most likely causes weight loss and my doc said it may supress appetite i read it sometimes causes weight gain too. When you did take Wellbutrin, what effect did it have on you.\?

[sunshinebeautiful]

I've never taken Wellbutrin, but I am on another medication. I was experiencing some of the same symptoms as you, and they have all gotten better. I've never had any side effect of hair loss. The only thing I experienced was dry mouth that lasted for maybe 2 weeks. I feel much better now after taking my ADs and going to therapy. :yep:

[araceli2418]

I read that wellbutrin most likely causes weight loss and my doc said it may supress appetite i read it sometimes causes weight gain too. When you did take Wellbutrin, what effect did it have on you.\?


I believe it was back in 2001 when I was put on Wellbutrin. I was told the reason it was not working for me was b/c I was crushing them. I cannot swallow pills so I either crush them or look for capsules. Anyway, b/c they were being crushed it did not work and I was quickly put on something else.

However, I've met other people who have taken Wellbutrin and they had nothing but good to say about it. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[araceli2418]

There's one more thing I'd like to add. First, I want to say I'm not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination. I just want to share a personal experience and maybe it can help someone who is "between" meds right now.

I don't even know if they are still prescribing this but back in 2001 I was also put on Remeron. A word of caution: this one is known for weight gain. While I was on this I gained 25# in 2 months. My appetite was so out of control I could've eaten the floorboards and wallpaper. I flew back to my doctor and demanded he take me off of it. I already have issues with food and weight and this was not helping.

So, my point is if you don't mind putting on a few pounds then it may not be a problem for you, but if you are concerned be advised that Remeron may increase your appetite.

[WomanlyCharm]

I was on wellbutrin a couple of years ago.
I lost close to 15 pounds, it was a huge appetite supressent for me, and numbed any emotions I had.
Coming off the medication was the worst part. I actually passed out in the shower one morning, and woke up bloody after having done a faceplant over the side of the tub into the bathmat.


Just be careful with this medication, or any other the doc puts you on. It really can end up helping you cope with your depression, it just works better on some people than others.

But I have to say, I never had a problem with hairloss!

[Everything Zen]

I just started AD med therapy about 2.5 months ago. I was all about Wellbutrin since I have a degree in pharmacy and I definitely did my research beforehand. However, I was put on Remeron because I had lost 15 pounds during my depression. I was not happy because I know that the weight gain can get seriously out of control with AD meds. I ate like a pothead while I was on it, gained 7-10 pounds, and it made me sleep for 10-12 hours a day. It was not working for me at all.

Then my doctor agreed to try the Wellbutrin SR 150mg 2x daily and.... (angelic voices chime in :yawn:) It has been the best thing that has ever happened to me!!!! It works so well- basically I don't get incapacitatingly upset anymore. In fact I have not had a crying spell since I started. I just feel balanced/evened out and "smoothed over". Plus I'm working on getting in grad school so I was havnig the worst time trying to focus on studying for entrance exams and Wellbutrin has helped me focus too! I have energy and my thoughts aren't scattered like they were before. I'm dealing with my situation much better now and it's giving me the mental reserves to actually focus on all the things I talk about with my therapist like meditation, journaling, diet and exercise, not drinking (I don't even want to drink anymore- before I was a self-meicated drinker). It's hard to do some of those things if you feel too low to even function! Another part of my depression was that I lost the ability to enjoy reading which has always been a favorite pastime. I've been on it almost a month and a half and I just started getting the urge to start reading again. I have lost all the weight I gained from Remeron and it's not like I needed to lose any but I don't care- I feel great and it's almost always easier to gain weight than it is to lose. :yep:

The only side effects that I have had are the weight loss/loss of appetite, bouts of insomnia, some headaches, dry mouth, dizziness, a brief period of muscle soreness, and some tinnitus (ringing in the ears). However the symptoms were mild and have all gone away since the first two weeks that I started the medication except for the loss of appetite and some insomnia. If your doctor wants you to try it, I'd say go for it and if any side effects become too much for you just stop and try another one. I have heard that it can cause hair loss or growth but I have done extensive research online and I have found only 1-2 instances of hair loss out of hundreds reported. Besides, BC can cause hair loss too.

Drug companies are required to report ANY bad reactions as side effects regardless of how many people have that side effect for safety compliance regualations. I would be more concerned with the most common side effects. Even the increased risk for seizures was for Wellbutrin and at doses higher than 450 mg/day and has since been a very rare side effect in Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL but they still have to report it for the same reasons.

Feel free to PM if you have any other questions. I know I sound like a drug rep for the damn company but it's just that this is the first time in my life that I have finally dealt with my depression on this level with therapy and meds and the meds are definitely the major factor for improvement. My therapist realized that I already have a lot of insight when it comes to the issues I am dealing with, and even though I quit drinking, started running again and eating better, trying to meditate, yoga, etc. I was still a H.A.M. so she knew I needed AD therapy. With my history of depression, my psychiatrist (black female too!) says that I should remain on AD meds for at least 10 years if not life and I was very upset at first to hear that. Now that I have found a drug that works for me, I am more afraid of what would happen if I wasn't on it! Now I'm thinking- "I have to be on Wellbutrin AT LEAST until I finish grad school!" and "What happens when I start a family and get pregnant? Can I take Wellbutrin then?"

I hope it works for you.

[Juliagizzle]

Thanx for everyones input. @ Everything ZEN My psychiastrist is black a black female too :)
I'm hoping I can get more energy and focus as well. Mainly depression caused me to have no energy or interest in things and trouble concentrating. College and depression definitely do not mix! Not to thrilled about losing or gaining weight...unless it goes where I want it to:ohwell:. I like to do natural things as much as possible and medicine was just my last resort. I been trying for so long at the holistic herbal and diet approach but just can't seem to get it right. But Since I am in a bind and need to Graduate and get my Bachelors this year I might as well try it and watch myself closely. If it does work I'm a little concerned about becoming dependent on it.

[Everything Zen]

Thanx for everyones input. @ Everything ZEN My psychiastrist is black a black female too :)
I'm hoping I can get more energy and focus as well. Mainly depression caused me to have no energy or interest in things and trouble concentrating. College and depression definitely do not mix! Not to thrilled about losing or gaining weight...unless it goes where I want it to:ohwell:. I like to do natural things as much as possible and medicine was just my last resort. I been trying for so long at the holistic herbal and diet approach but just can't seem to get it right. But Since I am in a bind and need to Graduate and get my Bachelors this year I might as well try it and watch myself closely. If it does work I'm a little concerned about becoming dependent on it.

Girl- you are so right about college and depression. I think I am just now realizing why I struggled so much in school. For all the studying I did with no relationships and no social clubs I should've been Summa Cum Laude but I struggled just to make C's and I have always been a straight A student that LOVED school. I never even made the connection until this year. I said I was never going back to pharmacy school. Now I can't wait to go back to finish both my Doctor of Pharmacy and a PhD! :yep:

My doctor and I talked about people who want to do things naturally as well and she has had patients whose lives revolve around just trying to function without AD meds. Like there is a woman who meditated for 8 hours a day or the one who has to run at least 5 miles every single day to maintain. Is it worth it not to just take a pill instead so you can HAVE a life? I was a skeptic too- h*ll I was in denial about depression being a disease until a few months ago. What brought me to this point was the mindset that you can't keep doing the same things and expecting different results. I think part of the problem is that the medical community has not done a good job in explaining depression as a biological disease. I am learning more and more that it IS a disease. Sure some people may be able to get help with just therapy and lifestyle changes- just like people who have high blood pressure and obesity. But what about people who have suffered for years with an illness with life threatening consequences and lost relationships, jobs, and friends because of it. We don't criticize a diabetic for taking insulin so why would we not seek medical help for depression?

The other part that they don't talk about is chronic depression can cause brain damage. It might take you a while to get better and maybe repair those cognitive pathways in your brain to reverse damage that has accumulated over the years. I don't know how long you've suffered from depression but I have suffered for over 10 years so I can't very well expect to completely recover in a few months of taking a drug. AD meds are not addictive but when you want to stop taking them you have to follow your doctor's schedule of tapering the drug to lessen any withdrawal effects. When I say withdrawal I'm not talking about having the shakes and breaking out into cold sweats feigning for your next hit. If you take or do anything for an extended period of time (caffeine, BC pills) your body will have to adjust when you abruptly stop taking a drug because it has adjusted to accommodate that drug compound.


All I'm saying is try it. You can always stop treatment. The only thing that you have to lose is your depression. :grin:

[poookie]

wellbutrin makes you lose weight?
:scratchch

[Everything Zen]

wellbutrin makes you lose weight?
:scratchch

Well almost nobody gains weight and overall the average weight of people in studies with Wellbutrin is lower than other comparison groups.

[sunshinebeautiful]

Oh yeah, just to mention, don't try and quit your ADs cold turkey. You need your doctor to gradually wean you off of it. At first I wasn't 100% compliant with my treatment, which meant I was skipping pills, and I started going into withdrawal, which equals headaches and I couldn't keep anything in my stomach. :nono:

Iwould go ahead and try it. If it doesn't agree with you, you can always have a tlak with your doctor, and switch meds, or be weaned off.

[Juliagizzle]

Girl- you are so right about college and depression. I think I am just now realizing why I struggled so much in school. For all the studying I did with no relationships and no social clubs I should've been Summa Cum Laude but I struggled just to make C's and I have always been a straight A student that LOVED school. I never even made the connection until this year. I said I was never going back to pharmacy school. Now I can't wait to go back to finish both my Doctor of Pharmacy and a PhD! :yep:

My doctor and I talked about people who want to do things naturally as well and she has had patients whose lives revolve around just trying to function without AD meds. Like there is a woman who meditated for 8 hours a day or the one who has to run at least 5 miles every single day to maintain. Is it worth it not to just take a pill instead so you can HAVE a life? I was a skeptic too- h*ll I was in denial about depression being a disease until a few months ago. What brought me to this point was the mindset that you can't keep doing the same things and expecting different results. I think part of the problem is that the medical community has not done a good job in explaining depression as a biological disease. I am learning more and more that it IS a disease. Sure some people may be able to get help with just therapy and lifestyle changes- just like people who have high blood pressure and obesity. But what about people who have suffered for years with an illness with life threatening consequences and lost relationships, jobs, and friends because of it. We don't criticize a diabetic for taking insulin so why would we not seek medical help for depression?

The other part that they don't talk about is chronic depression can cause brain damage. It might take you a while to get better and maybe repair those cognitive pathways in your brain to reverse damage that has accumulated over the years. I don't know how long you've suffered from depression but I have suffered for over 10 years so I can't very well expect to completely recover in a few months of taking a drug. AD meds are not addictive but when you want to stop taking them you have to follow your doctor's schedule of tapering the drug to lessen any withdrawal effects. When I say withdrawal I'm not talking about having the shakes and breaking out into cold sweats feigning for your next hit. If you take or do anything for an extended period of time (caffeine, BC pills) your body will have to adjust when you abruptly stop taking a drug because it has adjusted to accommodate that drug compound.


All I'm saying is try it. You can always stop treatment. The only thing that you have to lose is your depression. :grin:


That is exactly like me I was a straight A student in highschool and did pretty well my first semester of college . But everything just started going downhill from there, now I'm barely a C student I though I was just getting lazy... I never considered depression causing brain damage but that does make a lot of sense. My thoughts continually go to negative or unpractical reasoning among other things. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insight.

[Juliagizzle]

So I actually took the wellbutrin to today...my natural things haven't gotten here yet so I figured i might as well start taking something to help me jumpstart my life and get things done. I didn't expect taking one pill would make me feel any effect at all good or bad the first time. I would have been happy if it made me run around like sonic the hedgehog but instead I feel really really SLOW and tired. Like I'm in slow motion or like I havent slept in two days. I actually feel winded typing this. Anyone experience this.

[MissMasala5]

Took the generic bupropion for smoking cessation. It not only helped me stop, I lost weight as well. No side effects at all.

[MissMasala5]

So I actually took the wellbutrin to today...my natural things haven't gotten here yet so I figured i might as well start taking something to help me jumpstart my life and get things done. I didn't expect taking one pill would make me feel any effect at all good or bad the first time. I would have been happy if it made me run around like sonic the hedgehog but instead I feel really really SLOW and tired. Like I'm in slow motion or like I havent slept in two days. I actually feel winded typing this. Anyone experience this.

It takes a while to get 'acclimated' to the drug, like 1-2 weeks. I don't recall feeling different, but then again, I was on the generic.

[Everything Zen]

So I actually took the wellbutrin to today...my natural things haven't gotten here yet so I figured i might as well start taking something to help me jumpstart my life and get things done. I didn't expect taking one pill would make me feel any effect at all good or bad the first time. I would have been happy if it made me run around like sonic the hedgehog but instead I feel really really SLOW and tired. Like I'm in slow motion or like I havent slept in two days. I actually feel winded typing this. Anyone experience this.

The first effect that I noticed was the attention/focus sharpening within a couple of hours of taking the first dose. I could tell within a week that it was working for me even while tapering off of Remeron at the same time.

Be very mindful of side effects like the ones you are describing and pay attention to your body. It can take around 4-6 weeks for any depression med to start working. In the meantime you'll most likely have to deal with side effects. It took about 6 weeks after taking Remeron that it wasn't working and the only thing that happened was sleeping 10-12 hours/day and gaining ~7 pounds.

BE VERY CAREFUL WITH YOUR NATURAL REMEDIES!!!

Please consult your doctor on what you plan to do naturally first to be sure of any drug interactions. If nothing else call your local pharmacy and ask them. I am also looking for a natural supplement so I can sleep better and my aunt gave me a bottle of Valerium Root. I did my research first and realized that it increases levels of GABA another neurotransmitter and is often used to taper benzodiazepine medication (i.e. Xanax. Valium) so I am planning on consulting my doctor before taking them just to be safe.

[Everything Zen]

It takes a while to get 'acclimated' to the drug, like 1-2 weeks. I don't recall feeling different, but then again, I was on the generic.

I have had great results with two different manufacturers of generic Wellbutrin SR. There can be differences in effects between companies, batches, etc. For example the first Bupropion that I took was a white capsule. Now the generic I am on is from a new company and it's purple colored. Some people can be allergic to the dyes as evidence in skin rashes.

Sometimes, patients even say that for certain drugs the generic works better!

[apemay1969]

Well almost nobody gains weight and overall the average weight of people in studies with Wellbutrin is lower than other comparison groups.

I am one of the few people that gained weight from taking Wellbutrin. I used to wake up in the middle of the night with a hunger stomachache. Well, thats what it felt like. I was always ravenous. The last straw was when I woke up in the middle of the night and made an Alaga syrup sandwich on a hot dog bun. And then another one. And then another one. I had gained 35 pounds since starting it.

My doctor changed my meds to Celexa. Celexa gave me back my sex life, my waistline and my feelings back.

Just my experience, of course.