I have another reason why I think I need to get off of wellbutrin. I don't know how to describe this side effect. A lot of the time when I am typing or writing my brain jumps (and so do my hands). I blackout for a brief second (not aware of anything around me) and my hands jerk/jump up. It doesn't really hurt...although if I am writing a lot and it happens a lot I will feel funny in my head (almost a headache...but just kind of detatched). It is hard to write a lot in classes (essay tests) because this keeps happening and it takes me longer because after the "jump" i have to regroup and start my thoughts again. Also it is embarassing to have my hands jump/jerk a lot (who knows, maybe my head jerks too?!). After the little jump/blackout I have to close my eyes for a bit so it wont happen again so I can calm whatever it is that needs to be calmed/slowed down.

Anyone else get this? :confused:

I know it is related to the wellbutrin because I was on it before and the same things happened. Sometimes with my speech too. At work I was trying to tell the customer the total of their purchase and my brain kept jumping a few times in a row and I just was stuck on this repeat mode. I kept trying to say the total (like I was on repeat...couldn't stop it). Finally I looked away...closed my eyes...and was able to start over what I was saying.

What is this?! Some (it just happened again now) type of seizure brain mis(happened again)firing? It happens sometimes more than others.

I don't think I should be on this med. I am making a pdoc appt...hopefully will get in soon. HELP!

Wow, I have never heard anyone else discribe this. This happened to me. I would have these awful sensations, almost like when an arm or a leg falls asleep, only it would happen in my head. It would start at the base of my neck and make its way up, my entire body would stiffen and become sore. I thought I too was having seizures. I also found that reading, computers and T.V. made it occur more frequently. It took me a while to realize it was the meds. My mom was going through chemo for cancer and I was the primary caregiver so I assumed it had something to do with stress and anxiety. I was wrong.

I went to talk to my DR. about it and he looked at me like I was making the entire thing up. Like I just didn't want to take my meds. PLEASE! He said he he had never heard of this before. What? - side effects from bi-polar meds, gimmie a break. anyway. He lowered my dosage and things seemed to improve. It started happening again so I stopped taking them.

One thing I know for sure, (after all the meds I have been on) some side effects are tolerable, some could result in irreversable damage. The brain is not something to mess with. I would talk to you doc a.s.a.p.

Another thing I would suggest, you said you have a lot of reports for school and essays. Is there anyone who could type them for you? When I was in school I decided to hire my mom to type my papers. I would record everything on a tape and she would type it. I don't know about you but my ideas are much better when I speak aloud. A pen or even a compuer is sometimes too slow for my racing mind.

Hope you start feeling better soon, keep me posted.

Thank you so much for replying! I was so so so hoping that someone knew what I was talking about! Thank you so much!

I am making a pdoc appt tomorrow. I am glad you said something about irreversible damage. I had never even thought of that. OMG I am scared! I thought I would just put up with it because it was making me feel so good (well...too good...and for people with bipolar that is a bad thing).

Yikes. Well, I'm in for another ride on the med-go-round.

I will let you know if my pdoc knows what I am talking about. Maybe there is a term and explanation for it!

Well good luck and let me know how everything goes.
naturemomma

Hi Llama,

Nice to see you on the board. I am happy to bring you good news. You can learn all about this phenomina if you look for "brain zaps." It is also known as brain shivers, or brain shocks. According to everything I've read, there is no reported evidence of them being dangerous or even causing any problems, other than the weird sensation you are experiencing.

These are related to seratonin reuptake drugs for the most part. Also they happen to people following periods of heavy use of ecstasy.

I remember reading earlier posts about this topic on the board. You could try searching for more if you're interested!!

xxTsohl

That sounds like seizures to me. Wellbutrin is DEFINITELY known to lower the seizure threshold in patients. At high doses (450mg or so I think) it causes seizures by itself and at lower doses it contributes to them if you have other risk factors going on.

Definitely get it checked out and if that's the case maybe see if you can switch to something that doesn't give you seizures. :(

eek! Tshol, what you are saying may very well be correct. I don't know though. I had those brain shivers when I stopped effexor xr on my own w/o tapering down. What I am experiencing now is a different sensation.

I think "brain shivers" are from ssri or snri antidepressants. Wellbutrin is in it's own category. And I am not discontinuing the med. Can they happen while taking the med?

I am just a little concerned because I experienced the same symptoms when I was on wellbutrin in the past. !?!? And I am worried about what skwurg has said about wellbutrin lowering the seizure threshold. That's scary. I don't want to have a full blown seizure.

Just called the pdoc and can't get in until oct. 10th. I am definitely going to call her tomorrow though in the morning and see if she can call me back during the day. Right? This warrants a phone call!? Also I am really starting to get pretty manic here. I have not been taking trazodone and have not slept for 2 days. I just feel really great and I can get a lot of crap done being awake all night. But I know I need to stop this before it goes too far. I have already spent almost all of my student loan money and will now need to apply for another one. I am so mad. I have so many ideas that I just run around trying to start them all. I just have these brilliant ideas for papers or classes or other things as well! All this when I am trying to study for school. Just can't do it! I am trying to fight off the part of me that thinks that maybe I don't have bp. Maybe this is how I am?! I feel good, do I need to be medicated, etc. It is hard to push those thoughts away!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone,
Llama, I don't know if you are having seizures or not. At the time that I was going through this everyone thought I was, turned out I wasn't. I endured a ton of testing (including but not limited to), MRI's, pet scans, EEG's, blood work, sleep tests, and CT scans. It turned out to be some phantom thing.
I know that certain meds do cause this, I also took zonegram and the same thing happened. I also took a low and high dosage - same thing happened. I think it all depends on the person.

One thing I would suggest, since you can't get in to see the pdoc until
10/10, maybe you can see your primary DR.. If you are feeling what I felt, 3 weeks is too far away! Any DR. is better than no DR. I know my primary is pretty well versed in this area, maybe you will have the same luck. Besides, Dr.s have much better luck calling other DR. maybe they can converse and come to a conclusion.

I also know what you mean about getting things done when you are being manic, I usually get a lot done too. But you know this is not a good thing. Your disease is making you question if you are bi-polar or not. I have been there too. When I get that rush of energy - sometimes I think "finally!". Especially after having such lows. I must admit I love that part of my disease. Usually it hits some random morning at about 3:00a.m. I just wake up - eyes wide open and ready to go. It's really nice because I have the whole house to myself. I put on my ipod and clean like crazy. Once I turned on some spot lights and did yard work - at 3 in the morning! At the time it seemed like a great idea. My neighbor came outside because she thought someone was trying to get in her house w/ a flashlight (atleast that's what she said). Ya know she thought I was completely nuts. I was in my jammies for goodness sake. My point is that when we are in these highs we do things, that to us seem completely rational. When in reality they aren't. I also have great ideas when in this euphoria, and many are great. But you know what happens when this behavior goes on for any long period of time, you will spiral into the down phase. And that just sucks. When you talk to your DR. you should mention these feelings also.

Please let us all know how you doing.
Thinking of you often,
naturemomma

I wish all of you the very best.