Get Informed: Wellbutrin

Question/Comment:

My doctor is taking me off Wellbutrin. I am taking it along with Effexor XR. I am on the lowest dosage for both and have been on them for a couple of years. All was well until recently, I have had such violent sleep episodes, including Restless Leg Syndrome, Parkinson's-like tremors and twitching of my entire body where it feels like pins or electricity are running up my spine. I was also talking in my sleep mulitple times in a night. It would wake me up and I would not be able to stop the speech until several words were out. This is very scary stuff! I have never had any of these symptoms in my life...only depression.

I am also taking Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism. I had a recent blood test, and the levels are normal. My Dr. is speculating that my brain chemistry is changing and this is perhaps a sign that it no longer needs this level of drugs. I have gone through menopause (i'm age 50) and have had my last period two years ago. While going through perimenopause for many years I became severely depressed. Now that I am over the bridge, so to speak, I am hoping that I may not need medication down the road.

I also was told by the nurse at my Dr's office that I could split Wellbutrin pills. I appreciate hearing that it is a misuse of the drug, which I suspected.

I am offering this description of my personal experience, in hopes that it helps other people out there who are looking for answers.

God Bless -

Question/Comment:

I have been taking Wellbutrin, Effexor 75 mgs, Effexor 150, Lamictal and Janumet for a long time. Janumet was started about a year ago but all the others I have taken for years. I also take many other medications for other acute to chronic illnesses. What is a person suppose to do when just about every medication you (HAVE) to take is not suppose to be taken with something else you are taking? Any sugguestions? I do make sure that all of my doctors know all medications and dosages that I take on a daily basis. I don't know that there is much else to do. I wouldn't know if I was having a reaction or not. I would just think it might be one of my other (little illnesses) rearing their ugle heads.

Question/Comment:

I have been on the generic wellbutrin since September. When I first started I noticed an improvement in my ability to stay focused, but that didn't last very long. I also lost 10 lbs because it decresed my appetite. The only side effects I have experienced have been sudden twitches, usually when I'm laying down, and I use to clench my teeth and bite one side of my tongue. The clenching stopped. Overall I would say I am happy with this medicine. Oh yeah I almost forgot, I have a schizophrenic sister who would smoke 2 packs a day and quite immediately after starting this medicine. She has made it over 6months with no cigarettes and counting!!!

Question/Comment:

I currently take the generic verision of Wellbutrin XL, but I take Budeprion, NOT Bupropion. I have found that the Bupropion does NOT work for me. My symptoms return and I become extremely moody and anger quickly. I was told by my Pharmacist that although the two (Budeprion and Bupropion) are of the same chemical make up, they are put together differently therefore reacting differently on the patient. What really stinks is that Bud costs more than Bup because the insurance companies do not recognize the difference and will only consider Bup as the generic drug.

Answer/Reply:

Thanks for the information. I was on Buproprion for a while, but now that I don't have insurance I have to order in bulk elsewhere and they only have brand. Come to think of it, I do feel better and I will stick with brand Wellbutrin XL from now on.

Answer/Reply:

I am wondering how you could tell the effects were from the bupropion. was it a sudden, obvious thing? I began taking this just a few days ago, and it happened to be when I am at my most stressed and grumpy (yes, that time) but also I was making a switch from paroxetine to wellbutrin and I am finding that I am extremely tense, agitated, frustrated and short tempered with my children. are these the type of effects you are talking about? thanks

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

Increases in anxiety, agitation, insomnia and restlessness have occurred with bupropion especially in the few days after starting the drug. The side effects should lessen as the drug stabilizes in your body. You should contact your doctor to alert them that you are experiencing these side effects and continue to communicate with your physician if they worsen.

Answer/Reply:

I found the following exerpt from a 2008 article, but the information is still relevant. I also included a comment from a user with a suggestion of how we can take action to help the situation. Pass it on.

"The FDA reviewed 85 post-marketing reports in which 78 patients who switched from Glaxo’s Wellbutrin XL 300 mg dose to Teva’s Budeprion XL 300 mg complained the pill simply wasn’t working, while others complained about various side effects, such as headaches and anxiety. These FDA noted the cases occurred at a time when sales data suggest that hundreds of thousands of patients using Wellbutrin XL were switched to Teva’s newly available generic (back story).

The FDA report was prompted by hundreds of postings on the People’s Pharmacy web site, which contained complaints of side effects from patients who switched meds. And an independent study by ConsumerLab.com found the once-daily Budeprion XL released 34 percent of its active ingredient after two hours, compared to 8 percent for the original drug.

I urge everyone here to report their bad experiences w/ Wellbutrin generics (esp. for 300mg XL) to the FDA. Do a Google search for “FDA Medwatch Reporting Form” and either submit your info online or download the form & mail it in with medical documents to support your statements. Yes, it’s an involved process & the form is a bit confusing - but this can encourage the FDA to investigate the safety of these generics & take our complaints seriously. I’ve had bad experiences w/ the Teva & Anchen generics, and the Watson generic actually put me in the hospital. This is happening to too many people to merely be “all in our heads”…"

You can find the whole article here: www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/fda-to-review-generic-wellbutrin-again/

Question/Comment:

I have just recently started taking Bupropion XL 300mg (Wellbutrin generic) and have been having restless legs and foot and ankle cramps. Is this a related side effect? Also, my doctor has me cutting the pills in half. Doesn't this defeat the purpose of extended release? Help!

Answer/Reply:

I've never experienced that side effect while taking W. However, W is a stimulant, so I suppose restless legs would be entirely possible, due to the stimulation of the brain.
About the cutting - it sounds suspicious to me, too. Ask the pharmacist. I take 100mg 2 times daily and have never cut any pills. You should be able to just buy lower dose pills and forego the cutting - and ask your pharmacist to check the price done both ways. Usually that's why a doc will tell you to cut pills - b/c they believe it to be more cost effective for you...and sometimes it is, while sometimes it doesn't make a hill of beans.

Answer/Reply:

If you are taking the XL, which is a timed-release pill, cutting it breaks open the layers and might keep the slow release from working. My rule of thumb is never to cut anything that says "extended release," or that has an enteric coating that slows the dissolving process.

Answer/Reply:

I have been taking Bupropion XL300mg for almost 2 years and have not had any of the symptoms you describe. Though sometimes, while sleeping, I am awakened by mild quivers or tremors that are internal not external and I am able to go right back to sleep. Other than that, it has been a good selection for me.
I also asked about cutting the pill in half when I was changed from the 150mg to the 300mg dosage but my doctor told me no, that it doesn't work that way.
I also have a pharmacist that is quite knowledgeable and I always ask him his opinion when I have questions about my meds. That may be another source to ask if you haven't already.

Answer/Reply:

WHEN I STARTED TAKING BUPRION IT MADE ME REALLY NERVOUS AND I ALSO HAD JUMPY LEGS (RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME). TRAZADONE CURED THAT. I ALSO WAS WEANED TO AROUND 1/2 THE MG DOSE WHEN I WAS PUT ON EXTENDED RELEASE. HANG IN THERE.

43 Y/O FEMALE

Answer/Reply:

I am not a doctor,but i taking Wellbutrin XL 150 Mg. tablets,together with Klonopin 1Mg. in the morning and 1 mg. of Klonopin as needed ,work ok for me,i ask my doctor about the same question you have about cutting the pill in half, you right defeat the purpose of extended release,ask you doctor to prescribe you a 150 mg. tablet that way you don' to cut in half,about you restless legs and foot and ankle cramps,can be a side effect,but i think is something also,on you question you don't said if you taking another medication, some medications don't work together, give you bad side effects, i am a male 53 years old,i start taking Xanax when i was 21 years old for 10 years, the doctor never said to me the Xanax was a very addictive medication,i not recommend Xanax ......Good luck!!!!...

Answer/Reply:

I have been taking Bupropion XL 300mg for approx. 5 months now, I too experienced leg cramps, and muscle twiches,along with a speech issue..(stammering) but, it has passed and I no longer have any side effects.
My experience is that some medications take a while to level out, but if these symptoms continue I would tell your Doctor...Hope this helps.

Answer/Reply:

OMG! Don't cut the pills in half!!!! It even says that right on the bottle. There's a reason it's slow release. You're getting the full dose all at once instead of throughout the day!

Answer/Reply:

I take Bupropion in the A.M. because it is a stimulant. I also suffer from RLS/restless leg syndrome, but had it before I started taking the Bupropion. I take 300MG once in the A.M. For my RLS I am being given Ropinirole which is the generic of Requip. I take 1MG at night for my symptoms and it also helps for my difficulty falling asleep. I have had no bad side affects to my knowledge from taking Bupropion/Welburtin XL. If you take it at night, you should definately talk to your dr. about taking it in the A.M. and then definately not cut it(you might seek another dr. if your's is telling you to do stuff that's not right. they might not be very knowledgeable about their meds which is never good). And always consider your pharmacist a good source on any medicines. If you are still going to take Bupropion, you might consider asking for a scrip for Requip which comes in a generic form, which is the Ropinirole. That helps me tremendously with my leg symptoms which at times used to drive me crazy-ha! Good luck to you.

Answer/Reply:

I have been on the highest dosage of Wellbutrin for at least 2 years and I have had no problems at all. 40 year old female

Answer/Reply:

I've been on generic wellbutrin for a year now, and sometimes had restless leg syndrome too, which I "cured" with an ibuprofen or 2. I still take them, and it seems to fix the problem. If I still am restless, I'll eat a carb, like some cereal. That helps a lot. Check with your doctor, though, because ibuprofen can cause stomach problems with no warning - like bleeding ulcers.

As far as the breaking in two, I'm not sure - I'd ask the doctor or pharmacist.

Answer/Reply:

The leg cramping should go away and if it doesn't eat a banana at night before you go to bed - at least that worked for me. As for the cutting the pills in half, it does defeat the purpose of the extended release, in fact they say not to do that - they come in 150 mg, ask your doctor for that instead.

Answer/Reply:

I am fully agreeing with you. I had been taking the Wellbutrin xl and they switched me to Bupropion XL 300. I have had similar results and long restless nights. My doctor had to send letters to my insurance company to force them to allow me Wellbutrin.

41 year old female

Answer/Reply:

I just left a very stressfull job, one that had me taking this in the first place a little over two years ago. It has worked fine for me and now that I am working from home I feel I can go off of Bupropion. My doctor said not to cut the pills in half- it is not recommended. She will lower my dose slowly when I decide to wean off of it. There is a lower dose in the generic but it is 100 mgs, less than half of the regular dose I am on now. I will post a comment when a decision is made and let you know how she (my doc) is approaching this. It is a SLOW process.

Answer/Reply:

I have just recently started taking Bupropion XL 300mg (Wellbutrin generic) and have been having restless legs and foot and ankle cramps. Is this a related side effect?

I would love to know if you got many replies to this especially concerning the foot cramps. I have been on Wellbutrin XL too for quite some time, and can't seem to get an answer as to why I suffer from so many painful foot cramps.
Sincerely,
Susan

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

Less than 1% of iGuard members report pain associated with taking bupropion XL. According to the prescribing information, 2% of patients taking bupropion XL report pain and up to 6% of patients report muscle-related pain, which could account for your foot cramps. If your symptoms are not improving or are getting worse, please make an appointment to discuss them with your physician.