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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ricardo on January 28, 2003, at 2:54:11
I've been on Wellbutrin for a little less than two months now. At first, I felt great on it. Then I went on a trip to Europe alone and I experienced all the typical symptoms of depression that I'd had before. A feeling of deep loneliness and lack of hope for the future, tragic thoughts coming through my mind, total dependancy on people I had left on the other side of the Atlantic (and panick attacks if I failed to reach them when I needed - either because something could have happened to them or the idea that they could be avoiding me)... I kept taking my Wellbutrin quite reguarly, but on the low dosage my doctor had first prescribed to me, which is 150 mg (one tablet as I wake up in the morning). My question is: is wellbutrin the best for me, only a dosage increase being needed, or should I change medicines altogether? Since I never liked my doctor 100%, I decided to change doctors. I haven't been to the new one yet, but I've made an appointment with him for the day I'll take my very last Wellbutrin tablet from the previous prescription. Please, let me know what you think!
Thanks,
Ricardo
Posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 7:10:06
In reply to Wellbutrin: increase the dosage or change?, posted by Ricardo on January 28, 2003, at 2:54:11
Hi,
my thought is that after being on an anti-depressant for 8-10 weeks, you know if it is going to work or not. I'm sick of pdocs thinking a fair trial is 6 months. However I'm talking about 6-8 weeks on the maximum doseage.
Since you've only tried a low dose I think you should increase it before thinking about swapping to a new med. you did have some relief with the 150mg at first ,I think thats a good sign.
Its always easy to think about changing meds. It often seems to be exciting to do so, especially if you've heard positive things about a different particular drug, but if you do change so early on you might find yourself wondering in the future if its worth going back to it. Say you try several new meds with no theraputic response, you may well look back at Wellbutrin and think I wish I'd given that a better trial.
I have been on many anti-depressants and have wasted valuable time having to go back to certain meds because pdocs didn't think I gave them a chance. My advice when starting a new med of any kind is, unless its intolerable give it 8 weeks if you don't feel sufficient improovement up the dose give it another 8 weeks, and so on untill you've tried it at its highest recomended dose. At least then if it doesn't work you know your through with that med and you can tick it off the list for good. Don't waste time going round in circles. Hope your new doc is understanding and you find the relief you want. Regards
Posted by Ricardo on January 28, 2003, at 8:59:49
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin: increase the dosage or change?, posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 7:10:06
Hi!
Thanks a lot for replying to me. I see your point and I guess you're right. The thing is, I feel a little discouraged and distrustful of medication altogether. I know it's too early for me to say that, but I think I'm very disappointed with myself for having had a relapse. I was in Europe on holiday, so I should be having a wonderful time, but I didn't. I felt miserable and yet I took my Wellbutrin tablet every morning. I feel like it's very difficult for me to see whether I'm clinically depressed or my life is really horrible and there's nothing I can do about it. So, here comes another question: is it possible to really overcome this feeling by taking AD's? Anyway, good thing I'm seeing my therapist today...
Thanks a lot
Ricardo
Posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 10:05:17
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin: increase the dosage or change?, posted by Ricardo on January 28, 2003, at 8:59:49
> Hi!
>
> Thanks a lot for replying to me. I see your point and I guess you're right. The thing is, I feel a little discouraged and distrustful of medication altogether. I know it's too early for me to say that, but I think I'm very disappointed with myself for having had a relapse. I was in Europe on holiday, so I should be having a wonderful time, but I didn't. I felt miserable and yet I took my Wellbutrin tablet every morning. I feel like it's very difficult for me to see whether I'm clinically depressed or my life is really horrible and there's nothing I can do about it. So, here comes another question: is it possible to really overcome this feeling by taking AD's? Anyway, good thing I'm seeing my therapist today...
>
> Thanks a lot
> Ricardo
Hi,
As to whether your clinically depressed or not, thats not for me to say. Hopefully your therapist can be much more helpful.
If you are, drug treatment is an option and it can be very effective. I can't speak from experience here as I seem to be resistant to drug treatments and have had little sucsess with several meds and combinations.
You said you felt you should be having a wonderful time when you were on holiday. Having a sense of what you perceive you should be feeling just adds more pressure on you to have a good time and normally has the opposite effect.
Have you tried any psychotherapy, seen a councelor, had talking therapy of any kind? Docs over prescribe meds these days and use them as a first point of call. I beleive this is totally wrong. If you haven't spoken to your pdoc about non-drug therapies I highly suggest it.
If as you put it 'my life is really horrible', don't think that it can't be changed. Thats giving up before you've started.
The idea of having total relief by just dropping a tablet doesn't seem to work for me. However they can be life saving for many people and the only option for people who have an illness that is 'truely' physiological.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that you might have to ask yourself some questions, think about what could have caused this. There could be a good chance you can feel better without the use of meds? Maybe meds are essential to lift you a little at the moment? Maybe undergoing some form of psychotherapy will be more beneficial if you are actually taking meds? Your best bet is to find a therapist you feel comfortable with and that you can trust.
Good luck
Posted by sl on January 28, 2003, at 18:51:36
In reply to Wellbutrin: increase the dosage or change?, posted by Ricardo on January 28, 2003, at 2:54:11
Up the dosage. OR wait til you're home and back into your normal routine and see how you feel. As my doc reminded me today, if something happens to throw you into a funk, that's not really the same as major-depression unless it really lasts. Hang tight, it could just be the trip.
BUT I can tell you the normal therapeutic dosage of Wellbutrin is 300mg. Some people need more or less, but the most COMMON dosage is 300mg.sl
Posted by ricardo on January 29, 2003, at 11:07:04
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin: increase the dosage or change?, posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 10:05:17
Hi!
Falconman and sl, thanks a lot for the encouragement! Helped a lot! As for you question on whether I've tried talk therapy, the answer is yes, many times! Actually, I've been seeing my present therapist (who's a psychologist, so she's not allowed to prescribe medicines) for 3 years now, and it does help a lot when it comes to putting my life into perspective, or to link the loose ends together, if you know what I mean. She encouraged me a lot when I first thought about trying drug therapy and now she's encouraging me to stick to the first doctor (even though I've already decided to see another one). Now I'm trying to handle this relapse I'm going through the best way I can (I'll be back to work on Monday, which might help). I do hope the new doctor (differently from the first one) is someone who knows his job well enough to come up with the best suggestion to help me. As sl suggested, I'll welcome an increase in the Wellbutrin dosage, if that's what he thinks is best for me. Fortunately, seeing my therapist yesterday helped me understand the fact that I spent a lot of money on a trip that I couldn't enjoy as much as I expected in a different (and more positive) way.
Thanks a bunch!
Ricardo
Posted by falconman on January 29, 2003, at 19:02:32
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin: increase the dosage or change?, posted by ricardo on January 29, 2003, at 11:07:04
> Hi!
>
> Falconman and sl, thanks a lot for the encouragement! Helped a lot! As for you question on whether I've tried talk therapy, the answer is yes, many times! Actually, I've been seeing my present therapist (who's a psychologist, so she's not allowed to prescribe medicines) for 3 years now, and it does help a lot when it comes to putting my life into perspective, or to link the loose ends together, if you know what I mean. She encouraged me a lot when I first thought about trying drug therapy and now she's encouraging me to stick to the first doctor (even though I've already decided to see another one). Now I'm trying to handle this relapse I'm going through the best way I can (I'll be back to work on Monday, which might help). I do hope the new doctor (differently from the first one) is someone who knows his job well enough to come up with the best suggestion to help me. As sl suggested, I'll welcome an increase in the Wellbutrin dosage, if that's what he thinks is best for me. Fortunately, seeing my therapist yesterday helped me understand the fact that I spent a lot of money on a trip that I couldn't enjoy as much as I expected in a different (and more positive) way.
>
> Thanks a bunch!
> RicardoAll the best, good luck with the new doc
This is the end of the thread.
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