wellbutrin side effect - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

gracetoo71 · 10-14-2004, 07:06 PM

i have read through the boards in hopes of finding out if my reaction to wellbutrin was indeed the medication or another manic part of my disorder. i have not been diagnosed by my dr. on exactly what i have, but after taking quizes, doing research, talkin with my dr. and looking at my family tree, i have some form of bi polar, and anixety. i started on zoloft (neg. sexual side effects), effexor (tiredness), then wellbutrin. after 5 weeks of taking wellbutrin, my mood swings became more intense, and my sexual arousal was constant. i was aroused 95% of the time.

this might have contributed to my mood swings because my husband was not very receptive to my mood.

i stopped taking wellbutrin two weeks ago and am now on lexapro. my arousal is still more frequent than it was before i started taking wellbutrin, but has decreased significantly since i stopped taking it, (thank goodness) has anyone else had this type of side effect with wellbutrin or any other meds, or is this just part of my manic high part of bi polar?

mudhound · 10-14-2004, 08:13 PM

i too take efxor
had no issues with it
but i'm not bp either.

analog2000 · 10-15-2004, 11:36 AM

If in fact you are bi-polar, taking an anti-depressant alone (such as Wellbutrin or Lexapro) without an additional mood stabilizer can cause mania. That is why most bi-polars add a mood stabilizer (such as lithium) to their drug regimen.

You should definitely talk about this with your doc.

Good luck.

washingtonmom · 10-15-2004, 11:54 AM

My doc started me on Wellbutrin after I complained about Effexor not being effective, gaining weight, etc. As I was coming off the Effexor I started the Wellbutrin and found that I too had an extremely high libido. This was no problem for my husband except that I found that after I stopped the Effexor I was extremely aggitated. A few other unpleasant things happened that made my doc think I may be bipolar so she started me on Lamictal, took me off the Wellbutrin and added gabitrel. Unfortunately the sexual side effects are back so here I am back on Wellbutrin (SL this time vs. XL), still on Lamictal and off the gabitrel. The new dose of wellbutrin hasn't cured the lack of libido problem yet so it's hard to say what's going on in your case (and mine). Good luck to you.

Haleigh · 10-18-2004, 08:05 PM

Gracetoo71-
if you are in fact Bipolar you will probably need to also take a mood stabilizer along with the anti depressants that you have been trying. If you are just taking the Anti-D then you are just making yourself more manic (increase is sex drive and irritation or all considered manic behaviors). So that could explain why these things seem to get worse with the medications. But taking a mood stabilizer may even it out eventually. This would be like Tegretol, Depakote, Lamitical, Topamax.. I'm sure you have researched this stuff (looks like you've been investigating).
At first when I went on my mood stabilizer I was miserable cuz I felt nothing at all. I would have given anything just to even feel sadness. I just wanted to feel anything. I was so BLAH. But eventually I got used to it and then the anti-d started working as well and I returned to what I now consider normal. It has taken many many years and many many many ... many adjustments in medication and I am sure I will keep having to adjust but I'm decent. And I have good doctors and a great boyfriend.
Sounds like you need to first get properly diagnosed, but then look into the mood stabilizer thing to add to your anti-depressnt. Just remember less medicine is usually better. Being overmedicated is not a good way to live.
Take care and good luck! H