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redhill
Banned. Flames, offending others
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 278
Loc: Hell on Earth, for now
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I saw Wellbutrin mentioned in the post on Hydro withdrawal, and made a mental note to ask the group here about it.
The first part is the simple question: How does Wellbutrin make you feel?
I have taken Wellbutrin in the past, and in my personal experience, the drug turns me into a shell. It seems to me that all my emotions, whether negative or positive, are just much less pronounced, maybe beneath the surface is better terminology for it.
When I was on it, I felt like I couldn't get angry the way I can. Not that I have an anger problem, really, but I noticed that my middle finger wasn't getting its usual workout from driving  . Seriously, I was noticing this disinterested calm. I also didn't laugh at much anymore, and I couldn't get sad. It's hard to have depressive thoughts and not get too sad. Hard to explain. Like you want to cry, and you have to slam your hand in the car-door to make it happen?
But all (loudy) joking aside, it made me feel like a shell, like nothing was really real, or nothing mattered. Is there any consensus on this, or am I (along with my wife, who noticed the same) a big freak?
Thanks for weighing in, and hey look, my one hundredth post!
Red
ps can anyone recommend a good book on neuropharmacology? Or maybe a good primer or practical pharmacology? I'd like to learn some more about the brain besides Eli-Lilly brochures that say "your brain has three neurotransmitters. We care about the boring old serotonin ones, and our drugs influence them. That's all you need to know, so buy!" God, I hate drug companies.... (imagine Graemlin of red-faced demon on fire)
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joesentme
Journeyman
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 93
Loc: USA
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Can't recommend any books, but after being on almost every anti-depressant there is over the past 7 years, I can say that Welbutrin by itself made me feel exactly as you describe. Although, at the time, I would rather have had no feelings, still, it would be nice to be happy once in a while.
Now, my doc has me on Prozac and Wellbutrin. I actually can feel joy at times. I laugh. I don't get mad at people for being happy. And, I've lost all the weight I gained on Wellbutrin alone. Also, with this combination, I've lost all desire to drink or smoke.
There is no therapy that is right for everyone. It takes a lot of trial and error before you find the right combination for you.
All I can say is read up, become educated. That's what I did after so many drugs didn't work, and I suggested this course of therapy to my doctor. I'm happy it's been so succesful.
Wishing you the best, cause I know depression really sux.
J
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saraba
Member
Reged: 01/27/03
Posts: 183
Loc: west coast
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For the first couple of months, Wellbutrin made me feel nervous. But it really did even me out. I wasn't angry, happy, nothing...my boyfriend was taking it too and we always just felt...flat.
However, (before I took Wellbutrin) I used to get real tired in the middle of the day. I would be at work just slumped at my desk. By the time I was taking the maximum dose, I had energy all day. I had energy when I got home to actually cook a real dinner, do some laundry, run errands, and go to the gym. That was a real plus. The only problem then was getting to sleep. But even if I didn't get enough sleep, I wasn't too tired.
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
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What my doc told me when put on antidepressants was that it took out the highs and lows in your feelings. As far as WEllbutrin goes, well, I had a seizure on it and that was all she wrote. NOw, I'm just on my Effexor. MY doc just tried to put me on Zylexa, but I started gaining weight again, so I quit it. I"m tired of being a damned test subject for all these docs. OH...don't ever let them put you on too many at once too. I had Saratonin Syndrome once. Effexor, Wellbutrin and Sarafem did it in about 10 days. It was absolutely horrible. I lost friends over it at work. So, now I read up on everything...EVERYTHING they give me and check all interactions too.
--------------------
"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Hi redhill,
I can tell you what Wellbutrin DIDN'T do for me...it didn't help me quit smoking (Zyban and Wellbutrin are both buproprion, the same thing), didn't help depression, and the energy it did give me was not a "good" energy- it was like a frenzied, sporadic energy.
I didn't experience what you're talking about with this "shell" problem- but I know exactly what you are talking about from when I was on Zoloft. On that drug, I couldn't be happy, couldn't be sad- was just even and flat. Felt like a robot after a while, I just didn't have the normal range of human emotion, and that was depressing in and of itself. I had started taking it for the wrong reasons- I had very unrealistic expectations for it, and in the end I was disappointed with it- but withdrawing off of it was not a fun time. It took me a little over a month to taper, but I had all the classic serotonergic withdrawal symptoms. Wellbutrin doesn't have much of an effect on serotonin, though- but our bodies all react differently, what didn't work for me might work for you and vice versa.
The best pharmacology book is Basic and Clinical Pharmacology by Katzung, it's a neccessity for any student in any health profession who has to have some understanding of it. Very detailed, you don't get overwhelmed with all the information, it moves at a comfortable pace. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0838505988/qid=1076277689//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/102-1577031-0769762?v=glance&n=507846
Also good is Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology. It's a little easier to understand than Katzung, and it covers a bigger range of topics. It's also an essential for students, though neither one are you expected to be a scientist- you'll be able to read through either one with just some basic science understanding. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0781724139/ref=pd_sim_books_3/102-1577031-0769762?v=glance
-yawkaw
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