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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Edgefield on January 19, 2004, at 19:38:48
Has anyone experienced elevated blood pressure from taking Wellbutrin? I'm taking 300mg. of Wellbutrin XL an I've been experiencing dizzyness, spacey feeling, woosie feeling, like derealization for months. Well, my pdoc said that this anxiety symptom should have subsided since I've been on meds. for almost a year now. Well...after days of feeling BLAH I went to see my internal med. doctor and my bp was 150/90. My bp is normally 109/65. So now my doctor an I are making some changes, and we'll visit again in two weeks to see if there has been any positive progress.
I wonder if lowering the Wellbutrin dosage to 150mg. will help with my bp without causing the anxiety and the anxiety triggered depression to surface???
Any suggestions or thoughts?
Thanks!
Edgefield
Posted by HappyGirl on January 19, 2004, at 21:12:23
In reply to Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by Edgefield on January 19, 2004, at 19:38:48
Hi:
I had very similar experience like yours when I was 300 mg. WB Sr. In my case, not 'XL,' but 'SR,' then there is some difference in regard to the process/metabolism of WB.
XL is said to be 'more evenly release' to ease out any side-effect occurring, ... to avoid bad reaction from WB.
However, overall, in my guess, there are NOT too much discrepancies on this dosage.
In my case, after having 'dizzy' spell that occurred after two weeks' use of 300 WB SR, I cut down to 200 WB SR that took care of every problems I had on WB. Personally, I love this med. WB SR. BTW, I keep 100 mg. WB SR for the sake of increase/decrease between 300 mg. and 200 mg. WB. Because, some day, 300 mg. WB I need, especially for my good concentration, but this is to be 'just occasionally' due to in my fear of 'dizzy spell.'
H.G.
Posted by Sebastian on January 19, 2004, at 22:28:12
In reply to Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by Edgefield on January 19, 2004, at 19:38:48
My blood pressure went up and I had to start blood pressure medicine when I started wellbutrin. My doctor says it can't be the wellbutrin, but I read the prescribing information, it says some people may experience high or elivated blood pressure.
Posted by Bill LL on January 20, 2004, at 8:31:47
In reply to Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by Edgefield on January 19, 2004, at 19:38:48
It raised mine. My systolic went up about 5 to 7 since I started Wellbutrin 4 weeks a go. I take 100 mg 2x per day of XL.
Posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 16:53:08
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by HappyGirl on January 19, 2004, at 21:12:23
Thanks for replying H.G. Your information has been quite helpful. I've contacted my doctor and discussed lowering my dosage to 150mg. I pray that I this will lower my blood pressure.
I will remain on the 300mg. for a few more days to see if things change (My doctor's idea), but I know that by Friday I will be requesting a prescription for the lower dosage.
Can you give me more information about the "dizzy spells" that you experienced at the higher dosage? Was it a constant spacey and dizzy feeling?
Thanks!
> Hi:
> I had very similar experience like yours when I was 300 mg. WB Sr. In my case, not 'XL,' but 'SR,' then there is some difference in regard to the process/metabolism of WB.
> XL is said to be 'more evenly release' to ease out any side-effect occurring, ... to avoid bad reaction from WB.
> However, overall, in my guess, there are NOT too much discrepancies on this dosage.
> In my case, after having 'dizzy' spell that occurred after two weeks' use of 300 WB SR, I cut down to 200 WB SR that took care of every problems I had on WB. Personally, I love this med. WB SR. BTW, I keep 100 mg. WB SR for the sake of increase/decrease between 300 mg. and 200 mg. WB. Because, some day, 300 mg. WB I need, especially for my good concentration, but this is to be 'just occasionally' due to in my fear of 'dizzy spell.'
> H.G.
Posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 17:00:54
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by Sebastian on January 19, 2004, at 22:28:12
My internal med. doctor told me that most patients experience elevated blood pressure while on Wellbutrin. Meanwhile, my pdoc, whom I spoke with today, said that she has never seen any patients who experienced blood pressure issues due to Wellbutrin. I quickly told her that it's listed on their prescribing information. Needless to say I'm concerned about the quality of service I'm receiving from her since she wasn't aware of this serious side effect. I left her a message yesterday about my blood pressure issue...she should have at least researched this information before calling me. I wonder why my psychiatrist wasn't aware of this side effect, but my internal medicine doctor was very knowledgeable? Hmmmm???
Edgefield
> My blood pressure went up and I had to start blood pressure medicine when I started wellbutrin. My doctor says it can't be the wellbutrin, but I read the prescribing information, it says some people may experience high or elivated blood pressure.
>
>
Posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 17:04:27
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by Bill LL on January 20, 2004, at 8:31:47
Did you have high blood pressure before taking Wellbutrin? My pressure has always been quite low...recently I've seen it as high as 150/100!!!
I wasn't aware that the XL came in 100mg. Maybe I should drop down to the 100mg. instead of the 150mg.
Did you experience any dizziness, spacey feeling with the increase in your blood pressure?
Edgefield
> It raised mine. My systolic went up about 5 to 7 since I started Wellbutrin 4 weeks a go. I take 100 mg 2x per day of XL.
Posted by Sebastian on January 20, 2004, at 17:50:54
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure » Sebastian, posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 17:00:54
Do you smoke? I think they pretend to ignore that side effect in order to make you quit. Smoking will raise BP too. My doctor lies about the BP too.
Posted by theo on January 20, 2004, at 20:10:07
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure » Bill LL, posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 17:04:27
Posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 20:16:16
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure, posted by Sebastian on January 20, 2004, at 17:50:54
I don't smoke.
> Do you smoke? I think they pretend to ignore that side effect in order to make you quit. Smoking will raise BP too. My doctor lies about the BP too.
Posted by HappyGirl on January 20, 2004, at 21:43:19
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure » HappyGirl, posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 16:53:08
Hi:
Frankly, I have NO idea about 'Blood Pressure' related to WB. In my recollection, at the beginning of WB, I had 'racing heart' ... feelings like someone trying 'squeezing' my heart very tightly, ... that occurred probably on 200 WB, but this was a very transient/temporary, then I did ignore over the benefit from WB. Luckily, that went away after just one or two occurrences or a week later after taking WB.
In regard to 'dizziness' on 300 mg. WB(similar to 'dizzy feelings' after long hours' study/work) ... that happened while I was in the middle of the road,... needed to drive back home which lasted about two hours, ... then I felt quite LONG because of my fear of NOT able to back home due to this bad reaction from WB.
In my medical record, I'm fairly healthy except Bipolar I have since 1997-98. Then, I was never my Blood pressure taken, hence even I have no clue whether this is to be whether low/high blood pressure related. Just I know is the experience of 'heart racing' and 'dizziness,' both of which I suspect due to the experience of the 'sudden surge of the blood pressure' after having read several messages here, Forum. Both incidences, I reported my pdoc., but he seemed NOT having taken seriously. In the meanwhile, in my precaution, I cut down WB dosage by my own that was 'fine' with my pdoc., because I was able to lead daily activities almost as normal as non-Bp. One of most beneficial meds. for me is to be the 5mg Zyprexa, then the rest of meds. seems a sort of 'assistance' to the Zyprexa, ... not to need to BIG attention on those, oddly. This is probably due to my dx. 'Bp II with rapid cycler.'
H.G.
Posted by Bill LL on January 21, 2004, at 11:13:23
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure » Bill LL, posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 17:04:27
I have had high blood pressure. But it has been under control using Altace and HCTZ (water pill). But even with these 2, it's not as low as I would like. It's in the range of 130/85.
Wellbutrin raised it to an average of about 135/85.
I did not feel dizzy or spacey on Wellbutrin. I stopped Wellbutrin 3 days a go just to see if my blood pressure would go back down. It did. So I have to discuss with my doctor if I should continue it. I take 30 mg Lexapro which has eliminated the depression. But I want an ADD drug. Wellbutrin did help the ADD to some extent. I'm thinking of maybe trying Strattera. I have never tried an ADD drug before.
> Did you have high blood pressure before taking Wellbutrin? My pressure has always been quite low...recently I've seen it as high as 150/100!!!
>
> I wasn't aware that the XL came in 100mg. Maybe I should drop down to the 100mg. instead of the 150mg.
>
> Did you experience any dizziness, spacey feeling with the increase in your blood pressure?
>
> Edgefield
>
>
> > It raised mine. My systolic went up about 5 to 7 since I started Wellbutrin 4 weeks a go. I take 100 mg 2x per day of XL.
>
>
Posted by Bill LL on January 21, 2004, at 11:22:28
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin Blood Pressure » Sebastian, posted by Edgefield on January 20, 2004, at 17:00:54
The average internist sees many more patients than the average psychiatrist so your experience does not surprise me. Also, internists take your bp during each visit but pdocs usually don't.
> My internal med. doctor told me that most patients experience elevated blood pressure while on Wellbutrin. Meanwhile, my pdoc, whom I spoke with today, said that she has never seen any patients who experienced blood pressure issues due to Wellbutrin. I quickly told her that it's listed on their prescribing information. Needless to say I'm concerned about the quality of service I'm receiving from her since she wasn't aware of this serious side effect. I left her a message yesterday about my blood pressure issue...she should have at least researched this information before calling me. I wonder why my psychiatrist wasn't aware of this side effect, but my internal medicine doctor was very knowledgeable? Hmmmm???
>
> Edgefield
>
> > My blood pressure went up and I had to start blood pressure medicine when I started wellbutrin. My doctor says it can't be the wellbutrin, but I read the prescribing information, it says some people may experience high or elivated blood pressure.
> >
> >
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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