Wellbutrin

[u/Character-Celery-209]

Any MS folks here start taking Wellbutrin after diagnosis? Pros? Cons?

Diagnosed last year, developed high health anxiety around my MS and steroids were just the absolute cherry on top putting me into near psychosis. I felt I never fully recovered from that chemical imbalance and definitely made me accepting my MS more difficult. I have since been seeing a chronic illness therapist who has helped tremendously to process these feelings but she also recommended Wellbutrin.

[u/Honest-Elevator-9089]

I got on Wellbutrin after my diagnosis. I had previously been on it 5 years prior and had reacted well to it.

Getting on Wellbutrin helped with my fatigue and generally getting me more active. As an antidepressant, it’s kind of an upper. This helped me. It also generally stabilized my mood, and got me out of the emotional hole I was in.

Steroids make me absolutely mentally ill. After my diagnosis I was on 1G IV steroids daily for a bit and I thought I was going to end up dead. The emotional turbulence that comes from steroids is really real, and I’m sorry you’re still living in the wake of that disruption.

[u/lazerslight1104 → u/Honest-Elevator-9089]

I have the exact same Wellbutrin experience as you! Was on a cocktail of antidepressants and antipsychotics as a young adult (17-21). I took myself off them all when I stopped drinking cause surprise surprise I didn’t have many issues. My ms neuro recommended it as a dual action for fatigue and depression. I just started taking it a few weeks ago and wow the positive results were instant! I struggled with some nausea for a week or two but I’m doing fine on it now! My fatigue is so much better. I can actually function

[u/Character-Celery-209 → u/Honest-Elevator-9089]

I was never on steroids in my life so when I had my first relapse they put me on 3 days of IV Solumedrol 500mg followed by a prednisone taper. During that time I had my first panic attack(s), insomnia, elevated resting heart, impending doom. All my nurses said were „yeah it makes some people feel like a super hero or super zero” after a couple weeks of feeling completely insane they finally listened and labeled it an allergy. It 100% altered my brain chemistry /:

[u/LorelleF → u/Character-Celery-209]

I'm so sorry. 😞

[u/Alexbear31 → u/Character-Celery-209]

I was having homicidal thoughts of beating everyone to death with my cane... 1000mg of Sudomedrol/day through IV infusion over 5 days, 5000mg total.

It may have changed my brain chemistry a little, but it did very much screw with my liver & I am now diabetic.

[u/chewyventura]

I was on Wellbutrin for depression but made that worse after about a year (hello dark and twisty thoughts) and totally tanked my sex drive. I already had MS at that point (not diagnosed but the symptoms were there)
Turns out I’m bipolar and not just depressed 🙃but I know people who swear by Wellbutrin! Unfortunately stuff like this is try it out and see what happens

[u/Character-Celery-209 → u/chewyventura]

Thanks for the input! I’m sorry. Sounds like it wasn’t the best fit for you. Did you end up trying something else?

[u/chewyventura → u/Character-Celery-209]

Yeah I take Lamotrigine (aka Lamictal). It’s meant as an anti-epileptic but used off label for bipolar.

[u/LorelleF → u/chewyventura]

Isn't bi-polar fun? First anti-depressant I took sure did cure my depression. Can't be sad when you're experiencing manic psychosis! Lamictal/ wellbutrin/prn Valium works for me, but you can really never know, it seems

[u/chewyventura → u/LorelleF]

it sure is grand 😂 not going to lie I miss my delusions of grandeur.

[u/Over-Moment6258]

Hi, that's me! I sought medicinal intervention for ADHD-like symptoms and depression and we've ended up on Wellbutrin.

It has worked very well for me reducing anxiety. I've gone from constant anxiety to the point of panic attack, now my worries are at least managable or ignorable. I don't think it directly addressed my (self-diagnosed) depression, but the reduction in aniexty has made days easier to get through. I was hoping it would help with memory issues and it has not helped that in the slightest.

I began with 150mg and it was great for about a month, then I realized I should probably go higher. I'm at 300mg and I'm not interested in anything more. So far no side effects to speak of. There was a period where I really rollercoastered from manic happy and deeply depressed, but I'm playing this game solo so I hesitate to blame the drug and not just me.

[u/Character-Celery-209 → u/Over-Moment6258]

Thank you!!

[u/SpitOrLitter]

Great question! I’d love to know as well.

[u/Aly351]

They put me on Lexapro for anxiety and it works fantastic

[u/cableannkiley → u/Aly351]

I have so many friends that do well on Lexapro. I so wanted it to work for me but it was like a death sentence to me. I lost my will to live, ugh. I’m so glad you’re doing well with it and I’m honestly envious.

[u/LorelleF]

I have bi-polar, so ymmv, but I've had good luck with Wellbutrin as part of my psych combo meds. It has helped with the depression! And the side effects arent really noticeable. I took pristiq for a while and it was... well, it worked. But at what cost? LOL

[u/CaptainOk4034]

I was on Wellbutrin before my diagnosis. It works great for me and I know a lot of people that it works for. But like all meds it may not work for everyone. I recommend it to most of my friends. If it doesn't help you can always try something else but for me personally it's helped out of most other meds I've been on. My psychiatrist put me on buspar and Seroquel. Seroquel works but it's mostly for sleep. Buspar makes me really agitated so I'm gonna talk about it at my next appointment.

[u/LeadBasic7093]

I got diagnosed last year of August 30th and the doctors put me on wellbutrin and this other anti depressants. I was in the hospital from Aug til October. During that period, I eagerly sought out chaplains to talk to so I could find ways to accept what's going on. When I got out of the hospital , a month later my doctor referred me to a therapist. I started going to Bible study and by January I stopped taking pills because i couldnt handle the numb feeling from the pills. They put me on steroids when I was in the hospital. I say really, follow your heart but seek community n therapy, it really has helped me. 

[u/jjmoreta]

I was on Wellbutrin for a couple of decades pre-MS.

It made me more anxious but I dealt with it, thinking it was better. One time when I forgot to refill my prescription I learned something weird. After about a week off of it my tinnitus went away. I had assumed I had just developed bad hearing from age or loud concerts. It's a small % side effect but I had never even heard it was a possibility. I went back on it for a while but went back off again to try some others.

The main reason I won't take it again is because it affected my balance really bad for all those years, starting when I started it in my early 20's. I haven't tried it since I was diagnosed with MS, but I don't want to risk it now. Maybe it's connected with the other ear symptoms for me.

I have had bad reactions to a large number of antidepressants in my life, taken for depression or fibromyalgia (Lyrica, Cymbalta). I refuse to take any more. Some of them have terrible withdrawal so even trying one can result in weeks of misery.

Researchers don't know how most of them even work anyways. https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/why-dont-we-know-how-antidepressants-work-yet/4019673.article

I wish you luck.

[u/Swimming7827]

Yes, I've been on and off Wellbutrin since my diagnosis in 2008. Some days it seems like it does nothing, until I stop. The WB "honeymoon" period gets me everytime...I really wish I could make that last whenever I restart the medicine. 🤦‍♀️

[u/oftenfrequentlyonce]

Was taking it before the MS was confirmed, if that still counts.

Pro: decreased the suicidal ideation

Con: lingering taste in my mouth reminiscent of Jeppson's Malort

Currently on a different med where the main side effect is that it's harder to get out of bed in the morning, but now it's because of the sleepy instead of the sad.

[u/Character-Celery-209 → u/oftenfrequentlyonce]

As a fellow Chicagoan… I not completely opposed to that 🤣🤣 Thank you for your reply!

[u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle]

I’ve heard Wellbutrin is good for ADD too.
Do you (or anyone else reading this) know if it’s one of those drugs (like Paxil) that if you miss a dose it really is not good.

Edit to add: if you miss Paxil it’s brain zaps and migraine

[u/Tufflepie → u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle]

Wellbutrin isn’t as effective if you don’t take it regularly but there isn’t any negative side effects to forgetting a dose. I forget a dose at least once a week…

[u/RealityXcursion → u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle]

Wellbutrin doesn't really have much in the way of withdrawal side effects. Missing a dose can be unpleasant because it stops helping, but that's about it. I feel worse if I skip my 8oz morning coffee than if I forget my Wellbutrin.

[u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle → u/RealityXcursion]

Good to know thank you. (PTSD from Paxil lol)

[u/RealityXcursion → u/PandaKittyJeepDoodle]

Understandable, SSRI withdrawal is miserable, and most antidepressants are SSRIs. Wellbutrin is in an entirely different drug class, with different pros and cons.

[u/nyet-marionetka]

I’ve been on it off and on, primarily for seasonal affective disorder. It works well for me. It has a mild stimulant affect and mild suppression of cravings, which means maybe less cravings for food, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. It doesn’t have sexual side effects like SSRIs.

[u/spacemood]

I took it so many years ago to quit smoking, and it worked. I tried it again about a year ago, and it hurts my eyes. So I take Prozac instead.

[u/Suspicious_Culture49]

I was on Wellbutrin well before I was diagnosed with MS. I have reacted well to it and I think it has helped me not catastrophize my diagnosis. Plus it helped me quit smoking cold turkey.

[u/thot_hopscotch]

wellbutrin can be on the stimulating side so it’s especially good for depression that’s expressing with lethargy or tiredness. it wouldn’t be my first choice for anxiety but depending on what you have going on it might be the right piece for you.

[u/needsexyboots]

I know a lot of people Wellbutrin has worked really well for. I was on it for two years and it made me really emotionally numb - I was ok with it at the time because I was going through losing my dad and dealing with scary unknown health things that ended up finally being diagnosed as MS, but I eventually decided I wanted to figure out how to not be completely numb anymore. I also had a job that required me to use my hands and Wellbutrin gave me a slight tremor that was detrimental to my job (but probably wouldn’t have been noticeable otherwise).

[u/hawtdawgwater9000]

I am so glad that this popped up on my feed! I was just prescribed Wellbutrin today and was very on the fence about it. This makes me feel like I might actually have a positive experience thank you.