issues with meds and self
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| Wed, 08-11-2004 - 11:25am |
I've been on Wellbutrin and Klonopin for about three weeks. I expressed concern to my doctor about taking Klonopin because it's a benzo, and I know they're addictive. He said not to worry, that I'll only take it one month. Ha! Don't worry? Who does he think he's talking to?
The Klonopin does make me feel less agitated, but it also makes me very sleepy. I've cut down to taking just 1/4 of a pill so I won't fall asleep. I've always been sensitive to drugs.
The problem seems to lie with the Wellbutrin, I suspect. I'm finding myself more and more fatigued and depressed. The mere THOUGHT of getting out of bed and going to work is almost more than I can bear. Everything just seems to be getting worse in my head. Now, part of the increased anxiety is that my son and I recently moved out of the home we were sharing with BF, and the fact that BF has been coming around again, albeit soberly. He's a big stressor.
Nonetheless, my insides just feel different. It's like I walk around with absolutely no joy at all, ever. Not even the momentary joy that I've had in the past. I'm also having trouble with my son. I feel extremely unhappy in general and I just have no energy which then causes me to let him watch more TV than I would like which then leads to extreme guilt. And he's also going through some sort of whiney phase, and it could be because I haven't been giving him as much attention as he's grown accustomed to or perhaps it's just a phase. I don't know.
Can I just stop taking the Wellbutrin without any problems? I've only taken it for three weeks. My family doctor doesn't really take much time with me when I try to tell him about my feelings, so making an appointment with him to discuss how it's making me feel may not do much good. I've felt so emotionally bad off and on for years now, and I really thought that this stuff would help me. Instead, I truly feel worse. Have you ever heard of this happening with Wellbutrin? I take 150 mg in the morning. Lately, however, I've been taking it at lunch, and by the evening, I can barely get out of the car and into the house. Extreme fatigue, very much like when I was first pregnant. (I'm definitely not pregnant right now.)
Last night, for instance, BF came over and I walked into the house, laid down ont eh bed crying and drifted in and out of sleep for abotu two hours. When I woke up, I felt sick to my stomach and proceeded to vomit. Then I felt much better, but still very weak. I stayed in bed and then read my son his books before bed and feel asleep next to him at about 9:30. I did not take the klonopin last night like I normally would. TOday I feel wuite a bit better, and I haven't taken the Wellbutrin yet. I should take it when I go home for lunch, but I'm not sure I should. Now, before taking these meds I generally felt down and drained after lunch, but typically by the time I get off work and made it home, I'd feel considerably better.
What do you think?????
I'm also feeling really bored at my job, and I'm being pressured by father to hurry up and take this particular test, which will allow me to apply for an advanced degree.
Frankly, all I want to do is quit my job and sleep, but I can't exactly do that. And my copay for a psychiatrist is $50, which is out of my league currently.
Any thoughts????
Thanks,
Anne

Welcome to our Board Anne.
You have a lot going on.
I did talk to my doctor, and initially he said he would switch me to 300mg of the XL, I think he said. But when I got to his office, he asked me if the Wellbutrin was making me agitated, and I said yes in addition to fatigued. He gve me a sample of another medication called Symbyax. When I looked it up online, it said it was used to treat bipolar disorder. Well, I really don't think I'm bipolar. Other articles I read said that oftentimes a bipolar patient, when put on an antidepressant alone, will have mania, and this can be exhibited as irritability. So, I guess that's why he gave it to me, but I've opted against taking it.
I think at this point I may just try getting a membership to our public fitness center and see if working out some and eliminating other stressors will help with the depression and agitation. I don't know. Maybe try to eat better. The physical effects fo the Wellbutrin sort of freaked me out, and while I know that may not happen with any of the others, I'm just worried that it will. However, I've got to get a handle on the worrying before it becomes paralyzing, you know?!
Thanks,
Anne
regarding the Wellbutrin. I just started it 2 weeks ago. My psychiatrist told me that you WON"T see the full effect until 4-6 weeks, so don't give up on it yet. It takes a while to work. I take 150 XL and I take it in the morning. It's not a quick fix. If you have problems meanwhile with anxiety or anxiousness, ask you dr. to give you something to tie you over like Ativan or Xanax. I hope it'll start working for you soon. We can compare notes...lol.
Ilka