Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bupropion

How to become a non-drinker?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:46:35 -0800

I just started a long-term medication (bupropion, for ADD) that interacts very, very badly with alcohol. I don't miss the booze itself, but not being able to drink throws all sorts of monkey wrenches into my social life. I need advice on how to be a non-drinker in the drinkingest town in the United States, New York City... where the default activity for any occaision is going out for a drink.

What do I tell people? I've tried being vague ("I'm taking some medication... it's a long story.") but people always ask what I'm taking. You might say that's rude, but telling every new friend or date that they're rude isn't a viable option. How can I handle the question while hopefully communicating these points:
- I'm not judging you for drinking. I wish I could drink, too!
- It's not because I have a terrible secret. It's not because I'm "crazy". It's not because I'm uptight.
- I don't want to get into too many details.

What are some non-alcoholic drinks that won't draw undue attention to themselves?

I often hear things like, "I must seem so drunk to you!" or, "You must think we're all so drunk and sloppy!" How can I put people at ease?

Bonus question: I'm on the fence about attending Burning Man for the first time this year. If you've been, how much would being stone-cold sober affect my experience?

Is it okay to take Effexor without its capsule?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:22:02 -0800

Is there any particular reason that Effexor comes in gelatin capsules? Inside the capsule there are a number of small pellets.

I'm a vegan so I've just been pulling the capsules apart over my mouth, with my head tilted back, and tossing the capsules in the garbage.

I haven't noticed any difference in mood after doing this for a month or so. The only difference I have noticed is that the pellets are extremely bitter (so discovered after having one of them catch in my teeth).

But why aren't the pellets just one solid pill, like bupropion? Is it the bitterness, or does the capsule actually do something (and if so, what)?

Lexapro/bupropion: light at the end, or just a really long tunnel?

anthom — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:53:17 -0800

Without going into whole life stories/clinical history, I just want to know - does the exaggerated anxiety that appears as a side effect of Wellbutrin subside after a while? My wife was prescribed Wellbutrin (actually, generic bupropion) to augment her current antidepressant (Lexapro) Wednesday. Over the past week, she had been anxious, but able to function. Yesterday, after taking the bupropion, the anxiety became too much, she felt "fidgety" all day, and broke down into several panic attacks. She said she couldn't control her thoughts, or get out of her own way enough to do anything. Today, she's ever so slightly better (no major crying/panic attacks), but the crippling anxiety and fidgety-ness still seem to be there.

She's suffered from depression and anxiety for years, so naturally I'm curious as to why her psychiatrist would prescribe her something that lists anxiety and agitation among its first few side effects, but IANAD, so I'd assume he knows what he's doing. After talking to him yesterday, he also prescribed her some Xanax or something similar in an attempt to take the edge off. Understandably, she only wants to take them as a last resort, since they basically knock her out.

Of course, YA also NAD. That being said, is there reason to believe this will pass (or at least lessen in severity), or do we wait out the weekend and call her psych Monday to say "this isn't working"?

at this point I'll keep the smokers cough over the alternative!

Kellydamnit — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:51:04 -0800

Zyban/ Wellbutrin side effects... how long did they last for you? So, I'm trying to quit smoking. Did the patch, turns out I'm allergic (fun), the lozenges made me feel ill, did cold turkey and made it, um... six hours?.
So, my doc prescribed wellbutrin (instead of chantix partly because of the cheaper copay and partly because she has noticed a lot more in terms of serious negative side effects with chantix, and likes to go with wellbutrin first.)

I've been taking 300 mg a day, in two 150 mg doses, since Friday. I've now had a headache for three days. Not so bad I can't function, but bad enough that I didn't sleep last night (which is, in and of itself, keeping me from functioning). Oh, and I can't sleep, too, even when I manage to drug the headache into submission!

Bundle that in with, well, vomiting a couple times since Saturday... which could be tied into the headache/not sleeping (it isn't an unusual reaction when I get severe headaches or go more than 30 or so hours without any sleep), and I'm ready to say screw it.

Did anyone else have similar reactions? If so, did they go away (like, soon), or stick around? I have called my doctor, she said they're "not unusual side effects" and we should wait and see how I feel after a full week on the meds. Some people feel better... others, the same. So I was hoping for some antidotal data to make me feel like sticking it out.

At this point I feel like I'll be out of work after a week of this, since I don't think I can go another night on no sleep without someone at work noticing that I'm useless and lapsing in and out of consciousness at my desk!

Is itching an okay side-effect for Bupropion?

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:04:54 -0800

I'm on day three of medicating with Bupropion (Wellbutrin generic), 150mg once daily, sustained release. This is my first time on any sort of anti-depressant, and I've started itching. I'd rather not call a doctor (I realize that's silly, but humor me), and webpages I've looked at seem split about whether itching is a rare, Stop Medicating Immediately side-effect or a common nuisance. Please advise? The itching started last night. It's on-and-off, and seems to only happen in joint areas like the back of the knees/elbows or where my legs meet my torso, usually just one location at a time.

The webpages that call itching (or rash) a serious issue say it indicates an allergic reaction. Some of these sites only list "serious rash/hives" or "blistering rash" under that heading, and I'd say mine isn't blistering or very rash-like (unless I scratch a lot, which irritates the skin and looks rash-like). Others just list itching/rash under that "serious/cause-for-concern" heading.

Other webpages list itching as a common side-effect and not as cause to be alarmed.

I realize the proper thing to do is to call a doctor, but that's not currently an option. My inclination is to continue for a couple more days and see if it gets worse or better. By doing so, am I actually putting myself at serious risk?

For others on Wellbutrin (Bupropion), has itching been a side effect and was your doctor concerned about it? Did it go away eventually or is it just something you've had to deal with?

A Noob's Guide to Wellbutrin

Anonymous — Mon, 14 May 2007 21:40:47 -0800

I have just started taking Wellbutrin. What should I be feeling? I began taking 150mg of the Welbutrin generic (Bupropion) for anxiety once a day on Friday morning. I have never taken this kind of drug before, ever.

I am male and 36. I have what I think are typical anxiety symptoms: stress, feelings of worthlessness, feeling like a failure, being an asshole to my family, shortness of breath, depression, tinitus, some body tics, hopelessness, etc.

I have had no bad side effects at all, except for a slightly dry mouth. However, I wonder what the good stuff should feel like. What I have noticed so far has been the following:

Before, my mind felt like a box with a bunch of ping pong balls bouncing around in it. Now the box seems smaller (my mind seems less hyper).

Concentration seems easier.

The feelings of failure used to feel like they were coming from Marilyn Manson ("YOU FUCKING SUCK! YOU ARE SUCH A FAILURE! I FUCKING HATE YOOOOU!!!"). Now they are still there, but they are less often and they feel like they are coming from Mr. Rogers ("You fucking suck. You are a failure. Can you say failure? I thought you could, because you suck.").

Is this what I should expect? Because I really don't know what I should look for, I find myself wondering if it is possible that this medicine is actually Tic Tacs and I am just pulling myself up by my bootstraps, ignoring negative thoughts, because I the medicine has some powerful placebo effect.

Anti-depressants: alternatives to bupropion (Wellbutrin)?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:43:03 -0800

I'm starting out on anti-depressants. My doctor has prescribed me venlafaxine (Effexor XR), an SNRI. I strongly suspect a dopamine reuptake inhibitor would be better suited for my condition and personality, but sadly, bupropion (Wellbutrin) isn't available as an anti-depressant in my country: only under the name Zyban (as a smoking cessation aid), which is not covered by insurance and hence very expensive. Are there any alternatives I should look into? I'm a few days into taking venlafaxine, and I think it might help me, but obviously it will take some time for the effects to be determined. However, I'm a little worried about the possible side effects (especially those related to libido and weight) and the eventual withdrawal, which reportedly can be quite bad with venlafaxine.

Any insight would be much appreciated - thanks in advance.