bupropion, dopamine receptors

[eisbär]

Hello! First post here, but searches for specific answers have led me here many times.

I have a question about bupropion, dopamine, and receptor count. I have felt depleted for a really long time, and through troubleshooting the causes, I think it is because of overindulging in dopamine-surging behaviors. I have been taking 150mg bupropion 2x daily, and I am concerned because (please correct me if I'm wrong)

• Prolonged overstimulation of dopamine receptors leads to downregulation.
• Bupropion inhibits dopamine reuptake.

I have begun avoiding behaviors that might spike my dopamine, in the hopes that I will eventually return to balance. My question is... will the extra dopamine floating around be counterproductive to returning to a normal receptor count and sensitivity?

 

[woamotive]

(going to guess this isn't BDD ?)

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

^I think it is, we can see what replies we get before I move it somewhere else.

eisbär, are you taking the bupropion as prescribed or are you just taking it? 150mg x2 a day is a pretty high dose assuming you're not prescribed it. If you are prescribed it and are taking it as directed, as far as I know, engaging in "dopamine-surging behaviors" shouldn't decrease your amount of extra-cellular dopamine. When I think of "dopamine-surging behaviors" I think of things that naturally cause dopamine release, such as sex, exercise, your favorite team winning, eating a nice meal, or anything else that makes you feel good. Could be as simple as engaging in a hobby that you enjoy.

Bupropion's method of action is by norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibition. As a result of this, taking bupropion increases the amount of extracellular dopamine (and norepinephrine). The theory is that the increase of the levels of these chemicals causes a sense of well-being, which is why bupropion is effective as an antidepressant.

However, with the cessation of bupropion therapy, dopamine and norepinephrine levels would be expected to fall, causing depression, and other symptoms resembling amphetamine withdrawal.

I'm afraid I don't exactly understand your question, however. Are you still taking the bupropion at this time or have you discontinued your use already?

 

[eisbär]

hey, thanks for the response. I have a prescription. It's been about a month and I'm deciding whether or not to give it more time. I noticed stimulating effects for maybe a week, but returned to baseline onwards (fatigue and general symptoms of low dopamine). It seems counterintuitive that it could be the result of too much, but my observations of the drug are different than general.

Not sure if it matters, but it's been months since any tripping, ceased cigarettes and weed with practically no withdrawal. With time, not much has changed.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

hey, thanks for the response. I have a prescription. It's been about a month and I'm deciding whether or not to give it more time. I noticed stimulating effects for maybe a week, but returned to baseline onwards (fatigue and general symptoms of low dopamine). It seems counterintuitive that it could be the result of too much, but my observations of the drug are different than general.

Could be any number of factors, there is, of course, the possibility that your body just doesn't work well with bupropion. Everybody is different, and some people experience nothing on bupropion...

I recommend talking to your prescribing doctor/specialist about how the effects have changed since the first week....he may want to try either lowering or increasing your dosage or switching you to a different medication. Antidepressants can be very hit-or-miss in their effectiveness, its important to tell your doctor if there are any negative effects.

 

[unsettled]

you won't feel extra stimulated all the time on bupropion when you take it daily, when I was prescribed it I felt great the first few weeks and then it started to even out and I just noticed that I wasn't depressed anymore.


It's the only antidepressant that ever worked for me, although it lost it's power after a year or so. Now I'm prescribed Ritalin instead and it works better for me although I really loved the first few weeks on Wellbutrin, to me that's how an anti depressant should work! I could eat, sleep, yet still felt very happy, not euphoric just good and connected to life.


There are so many factors that could be contributing to your fatigue, assuming it's the med maybe you need an ADD med or a SSRI, everyone reacts differently to everything.... consult your doctor.

 

[MatthewD]

Hello! First post here, but searches for specific answers have led me here many times.

I have a question about bupropion, dopamine, and receptor count. I have felt depleted for a really long time, and through troubleshooting the causes, I think it is because of overindulging in dopamine-surging behaviors. I have been taking 150mg bupropion 2x daily, and I am concerned because (please correct me if I'm wrong)

• Prolonged overstimulation of dopamine receptors leads to downregulation.
• Bupropion inhibits dopamine reuptake.

I have begun avoiding behaviors that might spike my dopamine, in the hopes that I will eventually return to balance. My question is... will the extra dopamine floating around be counterproductive to returning to a normal receptor count and sensitivity?

Without adding anything to the thread. I believe this is a very well through out/necessary question as I was going to ask the same thing, about SSRI's, GABA-inhibitors etc. "Downregulation" is intriguing me at the moment. There's nothing like the though of never being able to return to your regular chemical balance.

 

[ycomp]

hi, can buproprion be used occasionally like once twice a week for an immediate effect? or must it be taken every day? My understanding is that it takes a few weeks to start to feel something?