YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I've been dysthymic most of my life. The last few months have been worse than usual, so my doctor has put me on 150 mg of wellbutrin. Took first one this morning and already have some dry mouth. Also feel a minor "rush", bringing back memories of recreational drugs from long ago. I'd like to track how this round of meds is working and would like to use this post for that. People cool with that?

Hello, TeeZee.

Yeah, I had to stop with Wellbutrin because it made me manic, in a disruptive way. Please keep posting, all the best to you!

I got manic from Effexor. I mean really high. The fact that the doc didn't slowly increase my dose and instead gave me 150mg immediately contributed to that. Maybe the same thing is happening with you. From what I understand, you are supposed to start from the lowest dose and increase gradually.

Keep us posted. Good Luck!

Wellbutrin (XL) has just made me really twitchy. I find I can't stop bouncing my leg, or tapping my fingers. I twitch in bed as I'm falling asleep, or so my boyfriend tells me. It doesn't bother me unless I'm doing it in front of somebody who doesn't know.

Thats the problem with Wellbutrin, it has an effect of excess energy (like taking NoDoz) but it does subside in time.. For those who can stick it out (and I completely understand if you cant).. It is very effective. Keep in mid it has a very short "half life" , meaning sudden stoppage may cause bad withdrawal symptoms (like Zoloft).. Please talk to your doc if you experience any unpleasant side effects, and make sure you dont stop "cold turkey".. From one who knows..

J

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Thanks for the posts. It's been a week so far on 150 mg a day. Don't really feel any side effects. I am already high energy- coffee and red bull do nothing for me! I think I do feel a bit better in that the constant negativity is not as severe, but it's hardly a night/day scenario. I meet with my gp after 2 weeks to see if I'll stay on it. Not really sure at this moment. She said that sometimes one has to take these for months- seems like a long time to "wait and see".

I've been on it for a while and am still pretty twitchy. But I don't feel like I drank a sextuple shot of espresso anymore either, so there's that.

The wait and see thing does suck, but you gotta get over the initial hurdle of "Can I stand being on this medicine?" Zoloft turned me into a constantly half asleep zombie in less than two weeks, so I got off that right quick. Prozac didn't make me feel terrible and after a while, it made me feel much better.

So be glad no side effects. They can be a bitch.

Suddenly today I felt really twitchy, like I have taken speed. Not a great feeling. On Tuesday I see my GP, after 2 weeks on this. I really haven't seen any benefit, so not sure what I'll say.