Whew! Feeling better

[beginning2c]

I posted "cant stop crying". I have since stopped the Welbutrin. Sadly, it kept me not wanting a ciggarette, but the side affects were horrendous for me. (Severe constipation, extreme nausea and anxiety) I didn't want a cig, nor did I want food. Since I quit taking it cold turkey 2 days ago, I feel tons better. It's strange that an anti depressent med would make me depressed!
Perhaps a lesser strength would be better. Has anyone taken a lesser than 150mg strength welbutrin?

[bushleaguer]

Hi beginning2c,

Like yourself, I gave Wellbutrin a try for smoking cessation. I have social anxiety disorder (bad) and panic disorder, so my doctor and I were also giving it a try on a "throw it against the wall and see if it sticks" basis to see if it would help with my anxiety at all (despite it being an activating med). Well, I didn't succeed with my smoking cessation with the wellbutrin (or any other method yet, unfortunately) because the wellbutrin ramped up my anxiety big time. I did feel the anti-depressive qualities about it - I had lots of energy and I felt better. But I just couldn't stay on it.

I started with the 150mgs of the extended release, and couldn't hack it. So my doctor said we could give a lower dose a try, but they aren't extended release.....that is, it has that "hits you all at once" quality to it. So I tried taking 75mgs in the morning to see if that would work.....in my case, it didn't. I was a trembling mess in the morning, so I tried it in the evening, and it gave me nasty insomnia. Ultimately, Wellbutrin wasn't for me.

You might want to give a lower dose a go, but know that it will be "immediate release" (as opposed to extended release). Unfortunately, Wellbutrin (or Zyban) doesn't make anything in the extended release version lower than the 150mgs. Who knows.....you might tolerate it better. If so, then you could take 75 in the morning and then split one of those pills and take a lower dose in the afternoon. My inability to tolerate it shouldn't dissuade you as I have a full-blown anxiety disorder, so went in with a big handicap.

Best of luck!

[bikewench]

Hey Beginning...

I'm not up on Wellbutrin... but.. I just wanted to say hi and glad your feeling better...

You'd of thunk that taking an antidepressant when your not depressed would just make you feel twice as good eh... ;o)

I hope it was enough to get you on a good start around the cigarettes...

I quit 2 years ago Dec 21....

I love being free... ;o)

Like Teach would say...
Post before you puff... ;o)

take care...