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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by toodlebug on July 3, 2003, at 18:46:01
I started taking Wellbutrin a few weeks ago (now at 350 mg) and so far I like it pretty well. Until a few days ago I had not noticed any unpleasant side effects which I thought was pretty amazing. However, I started having pretty bad headaches a few days ago. Do the headaches eventually go away or will I need to reduce my dose at some point? I also started taking some Topamax (for weight loss & the headaches) but it hasn't really "kicked in" yet. If the headaches continue, will the Topamax successfully combat these headaches?
I hope the Topamax & Wellbutrin help me to lose the 45 pounds I gained on Effexor & Trazodone! (In addition to helping with my depressed mood and ADD.) I have noticed since being on this combination my appetite is more normal (no longer seem to crave so much junk food) and I have more interest in exercising.
Posted by Henryo on July 4, 2003, at 2:13:45
In reply to Wellbutrin effects, posted by toodlebug on July 3, 2003, at 18:46:01
Did starting the Topomax coincide with the beging of the headaches?
Posted by toodlebug on July 7, 2003, at 14:58:14
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin effects, posted by Henryo on July 4, 2003, at 2:13:45
No. The headaches started about a week ago when I went up to 350 mg. I thought it was because I was driving a lot because I was also on a road trip at the time and I do tend to get headaches if I drive a lot in the sun, but I continued to get them when I got back. So then I started on the Topamax thinking that might help the headaches and help speed up the weight loss. It hasn't helped the headaches. (Headaches are a listed side effect of Wellbutrin, although not a common one.) At 400 mg. Wellbutrin I also started waking up in the middle of the night. So I dropped back down to 300 mg. and I no longer have the headache problem nor the terminal insomnia problem.
Regarding the Topamax, I am up to 125 mg. and the only problems I have had has been occasional (but not troubling) tingling feet and hands. I think I will titrate up to 150 mg. and leave it at that. The tingling might be a problem if my hands were cold but that is unlikely to happen in the blistering south in July! Sometimes in the afternoon I can feel a bit spacey, but it doesn't last long (maybe about 2 hours-- I can work around it) and only happens on the days that I increase the dose. It has a definite appetite suppressant affect, and I can get downright nauseous if I eat more than about 1600 calories. It has also improved my appetite for healthier foods and has nearly eliminated my carb. cravings. I also have more energy and interest in exercising than I have had in years.
So far on the Wellbutrin/Topamax combo I have lost five pounds and am keeping it off without difficulty. I am very hopeful that I have been cured of the Effexor/Paxil/Prozac/Trazodone induced carb craving and I suspect metabolism change. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to lose the 45 pounds I had gained over the last two years. Every other time I started to lose weight over the last few years, it was a real struggle and I gained it back quickly. (I never had this kind of problem before.)
Posted by Edgefield on July 7, 2003, at 18:02:02
In reply to Wellbutrin effects, posted by toodlebug on July 3, 2003, at 18:46:01
I also had the headaches when I first started taking Wellbutrin, praise God that I no longer have that side effect. I had almost forgotten about it until I read your post.
Wellbutrin has helped with my appetite and cravings. I've also lost weight.
How are you doing?
God Bless
Posted by toodlebug on July 8, 2003, at 10:51:08
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin effects » toodlebug, posted by Edgefield on July 7, 2003, at 18:02:02
I'm glad to hear you are no longer having headaches! Maybe I do not reduce the dose after all. How much Wellbutrin do you take? Do you remember how long it took for the headaches to go away? How much weight did you lose and how long did it take you to lose it? I have noticed a both a reduction and an improvement in my appetite. (I eat less in general and prefer healthier food, fewer carbs) and also have more interest in exercising-- basically my behavior is more like it was a few years ago.)
I know I am being impatient, but I really want to lose all this weight fast. In the past, I have sometimes lost weight very quickly without much trouble (and kept it off), so I am hoping this is another of those times. Of course, I have never had to lose 40+ pounds before! I am just so sick of being fat! I want to wear all my cute size 6 clothes again! (I used to be a real clothes horse. I was very vain about my figure. These days I have hardly anything to wear because I hate to buy clothes to fit this big body of mine! I just want to burn most of these fat clothes! But I will probably do the right thing and give them to charity.)
I am still having some trouble sleeping which disturbs me. I do not want to go down that road again. I had horrible problems with that before which almost got me fired. I thought maybe it was the Wellbutrin, so I cut back which I thought at first helped and maybe it did a little but I am still having problems. So now I wonder if it is the Topamax which seems wierd because it is supposed to cause drowsiness. I wake up every few hours all night long. I am afraid to take anything to help me sleep because every sleep med I have tried causes horrible grogginess in the am. So tonight I am going to cut back on the Topamax to 100 mg from 125 mg. I hope that the Topamax is not the cause because it has been helping with my appetite so much, but oh well. I cannot afford to have sleep problems. The Wellbutrin alone has helped with my appetite, I just liked the extra help the Topamax provided. Maybe a lower dose of Topamax will still help my appetite without interfering with my sleep??? I'll let you know! Crossing my fingers....
Posted by Edgefield on July 8, 2003, at 13:19:43
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin effects, posted by toodlebug on July 8, 2003, at 10:51:08
Hi there! I am taking 275mg. of Wellbutrin in the evening. The headaches lasted a little over a week. So far I've lost about 10 pounds. I noticed the decrease in my appetite I think when I was taking 200mg. of Wellbutrin. Like yourself I don't crave carbs. like before, and I get full eating less food and healthier food.
I understand your frustration with trying to lose weight. I had gained 20+ pounds on Lexapro. I guess this is the price that we have to pay to be anxiety free and depression free. Now that I have both of these more or less under control I am working on getting this weight OFF. I also have been more motivated to exercise since I've been on Wellbutrin.
I wish you the best. Keep me posted.
God Bless
> I'm glad to hear you are no longer having headaches! Maybe I do not reduce the dose after all. How much Wellbutrin do you take? Do you remember how long it took for the headaches to go away? How much weight did you lose and how long did it take you to lose it? I have noticed a both a reduction and an improvement in my appetite. (I eat less in general and prefer healthier food, fewer carbs) and also have more interest in exercising-- basically my behavior is more like it was a few years ago.)
>
> I know I am being impatient, but I really want to lose all this weight fast. In the past, I have sometimes lost weight very quickly without much trouble (and kept it off), so I am hoping this is another of those times. Of course, I have never had to lose 40+ pounds before! I am just so sick of being fat! I want to wear all my cute size 6 clothes again! (I used to be a real clothes horse. I was very vain about my figure. These days I have hardly anything to wear because I hate to buy clothes to fit this big body of mine! I just want to burn most of these fat clothes! But I will probably do the right thing and give them to charity.)
>
> I am still having some trouble sleeping which disturbs me. I do not want to go down that road again. I had horrible problems with that before which almost got me fired. I thought maybe it was the Wellbutrin, so I cut back which I thought at first helped and maybe it did a little but I am still having problems. So now I wonder if it is the Topamax which seems wierd because it is supposed to cause drowsiness. I wake up every few hours all night long. I am afraid to take anything to help me sleep because every sleep med I have tried causes horrible grogginess in the am. So tonight I am going to cut back on the Topamax to 100 mg from 125 mg. I hope that the Topamax is not the cause because it has been helping with my appetite so much, but oh well. I cannot afford to have sleep problems. The Wellbutrin alone has helped with my appetite, I just liked the extra help the Topamax provided. Maybe a lower dose of Topamax will still help my appetite without interfering with my sleep??? I'll let you know! Crossing my fingers....
Posted by KRM123 on July 8, 2003, at 14:23:20
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin effects, posted by toodlebug on July 8, 2003, at 10:51:08
Hi Toodlebug,
I can totally relate to how you feel about the weight issue- and I know many others can to. I was a size 2/4 last summer and now I'm a 9/10. May not seem that big to other people but it's awful and I can't stand feeling so ugly. None of my clothes fit so I just don't go out and where sweats all of the time.
Zoloft is the only AD that has worked well for me so far. I've tried Prozac, Lexapro and Wellbutrin- plus tried augmented with Adderall, Strattera, and Provigil. I have gained weight on every SSRI and Wellbutrin at 300mg made me go insane. I recently tried Wellbutrin again with the Zoloft to see if it would help control my appetite. I took 75mg twice a day for a week but my anxiety grew worse so now I'm left wondering if I will ever find an answer.
I am interested in learning more about what Topamax can do. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. Thanks
Posted by darksky on July 9, 2003, at 23:48:04
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin effects Toodlebug, posted by KRM123 on July 8, 2003, at 14:23:20
I take 500mg a day and never experienced headaches, though I did seem to develop a stammer upon increasing the dosage from 300 to 450, but that went away after a few weeks, it's barely noticable now.
The exercise thing is surprising, I've had the urge to exercise while on wellbutrin too, though I didn't attribute it to the wellbutrin until now. But I am in the best shape of my life after a couple of months of it.
Posted by CC67 on July 12, 2003, at 6:26:07
In reply to Wellbutrin effects, posted by toodlebug on July 3, 2003, at 18:46:01
maybe 300mg or less would prevent headaches,maybe
transient.
Wellbutrin taken with prozac is a great combo!
can help with weight loss.
This is the end of the thread.
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