Posted by jay on December 9, 2001, at 15:04:42
In reply to Acute Wellbutrin Agitation/Nervousness, posted by pat c. on December 9, 2001, at 13:38:10
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> I have ramped up on Wellbutrin from 100mg to 450mg over the last three weeks.
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> I had been feeling some agitation and nervousness during this period, but Klonopin and Neurontin had been doing a decent job offsetting the Wellbutrin side effects.
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> Buy yesterday and today, I feel like I'm strung out on heroin. The agitation and nervousness in my body is acute. Multiplied by 1000. I am wrapped up so tight I think I'm going to explode. I'm freaking out. I took an extra 1.5 mg of Klonopin and it is not helping.
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> Wellbutrin does a good job of relieving depression, but it is too much of a stimulant for me. I suffer from "atypical depression", which is very anxiety-sensitive. Recently, "major depression" has entered the picture, so I started taking Wellbutrin, in addition to Klonpoin and Neurontin.
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> However, the anxiety and nervousness caused by Wellbutrin is too overwhelming and intense. I'm going to have to stop taking it or reduce the dose significantly. This is too painful.
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> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
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> PatPat:
1.5 mg of Klonipin seems a rather low dose for anxiety. That is a starting dose (from www.mentalhealth.com), and people seem to hover around 3-4 mg's per day for anxiety.
Also, Neurontin doesn't seem have much evidence to back it up in usefulness for anxiety/depression, although docs seem to prescribe it rather than adequate benzo doses because of their prejudice around subjective "addiction". Also, nervousness and depression are indicated as side effects of Neurontin.
If you can, I would myself ask for a benzo increase, and a lower taper of the Welbutrin to a dose that feels fine. Go slow and low, as this activating med can really exacerbate agitation and nervousness. The benzo increase should help squelch that, though too. Tweak with the levels until you find what feels comfortable day-to-day.
Best wishes..
Jay
poster:jay
thread:86381
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86389.html