Mental Health Wellbutrin (Bupropion) for ADD?

[BlueBull]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone has any first-hand experience as to how effective bupropion is in the treatment of ADD? I ask this because I have just been described 150mg wellbutrin daily for ADD. I read a bit about it and soon found it is indeed sometimes used in the threatment of ADD but since this is the first time I ever heard that ADD is sometimes treated with anti-depressants I was wondering how effective it is (or can be) and what I should expect and when? My doctor (psychiatrist) wanted to stay away from traditional amphetamine-therapy because she has little experience with this in adults (which I found strange, since she's a psychiatrist)

Thanks alot for any replies!

cheers

BlueBull

 

[BZboo]

I've been taking Wellbutrin 300mg for almost a week now and have found it to help with my focus. It isn't exactly the amped feeling of adderall but it's definitely seems that my thoughts are more clear and I find myself being a bit more organized. I like it so far. I hope it continues to help with my concentration.

 

[Geaux Tigers!]

I take 522mg. of daily extended release bupropion hydrobromide -- ~ 450mg. hydrochloride -- in the form of name-brand Aplenzin [Sanofi]. My PDOC prescribed this, alongside amphetamines salts IR, as an augmentation agent for ADHD therapy. For me, bupropion is very subtle. I have never gotten much stimulation from it nor has it improved my focus, but it has relieved my depression symptoms significantly.

 

[BlueBull]

Thanks for the replies. Indeed most of the info I came across bupropion is used in conjunction with amphetamines if it is used to treat ADD, almost never on it's own. Furthermore it seems to increase anxiety and that's something I struggle with too.

But that's not what has me worried, could be that it really helps ADD on its own. What I'm wondering is if it isn't too heavy of a solution to treat ADD? Taking anti-depressants for ADD seems like shooting a mosquito with a railgun if you know what I mean, I'm just worrying about the long term repercussions of me using anti-depressants when I'm not depressed in the slightest and when anti-depressants are usually substances that change your brain chemistry on a fundamental level

 

[nuttynutskin]

It increased my focus a bit but also made me really irritable. I don't think that it's a good choice if you're bipolar. But if you're not bipolar it's supposedly one of the antidepressants with the least amount of side effects including the dreaded sexual side effects. It's indicated for ADHD according to WebMD.

 

[Abject]

If you think Wellbutrin is gonna change your "brain chemistry" more than amphetamines/any stimulants you don't understand the very basics of neither amphetamines nor monoamines.

You think because it's called an anti-depressant it shares any commonalities with SSRI/TCA/MAOIs?

Wellbutrin is much safer/better for you body than any stimulant. It's efficacy is something completely different.
PS, if you're planning on using amphetamines for an extended period you might wanna do a search for some threads like this or this

 

[BlueBull]

I didn't say I thought wellbutrin changes your brain chemistry more than amphetamines. I was wondering if anti-depressants aren't a bit of overkill to threat ADD, as side effects are common with anti-depressants, which I have certainly noticed the past week. I hope they'll pass soon. Did the irritability pass nuttynutskin? I'm not just irritable at the moment but just downright explosive (This is now day 7, 150mg daily). So far I don't notice any increase in focus but it's still early in the treatment, maybe that will come after a few weeks.

I'm not planning on using amphetamines either, for me that would be a last resort only, because I know what long term effects and addiction potential they can have. Furthermore I have a distaste for amphetamines because of my past, Ilost a few good friends to amphetamines/speed, I know the medication for ADD is a different amphetamine but still... If wellbutrin is such a 'light' medication as you say I really hope it will work in the end. And thank you for the links, they've proven to be an interesting read

 

[Abject]

I wasn't saying Bupropion is light, but it does not release anything. It mildly inhibits the reuptake of DA and (to a lesser extent) NE, whereas dexamp releases DA and NE.
I'm not saying you shouldn't use dexamp/stims, I'm saying it's smarter to try Bupropion before it. Hell, you could even look into something like Moclobemide.
I'm no doctor, I am just trying to show you the reasoning behind you being on Buproprion, that it is not an "anti-depressant" it is something that inhibits reuptake at DA/NE and antagonises nicotine receptors (it was originally designed as something to help you quit smoking)

If it doesn't work, or you continue to be easily aggravated (after a months time, if you can handle it) then you should change medicaton (if that's your route)
but again this is all stuff you should be discussing with your psychiatrist

 

[BlueBull]

Yeah I see that now, after doing some more research. I indeed classified bupropion among other anti-depressants. I knew it's mechanism was very different from for example SSRI's, but I did not realize this meant it has a smaller impact on your biochemistry than other AD's. I just thought all anti-depressants are to be considered very heavy medication. And indeed if you think about it bupropion is not even a real anti-depressant.

I'm now at day 10 and the side-effects haven't improved, not by a long shot. I experience extreme insomnia. It takes me about 2-3 hours just to fall asleep and when I do manage to fall asleep my sleep quality has lessened A LOT. I normally need about 7 hours to be fully rested. Now I'm tired the entire day even after 9-10 hours of sleep (the one time I was able to sleep a full night's worth). If this does not improve very soon I'm going to call my doctor and ask if I can stop taking the meds. I am completely exhausted, having slept about 4 hours most nights, which has a negative impact on the symptoms the bupropion is supposed to treat...

Anyways thanks for the helpful replies everyone!

 

[nuttynutskin]

Did the irritability pass nuttynutskin? I'm not just irritable at the moment but just downright explosive (This is now day 7, 150mg daily). So far I don't notice any increase in focus but it's still early in the treatment, maybe that will come after a few weeks.

To tell you the truth I didn't stay on it long enough to find out. I was like fuck this, yelling at people over the pettiest shit isn't worth a little bit of increase in focus.

And indeed if you think about it bupropion is not even a real anti-depressant.

It's an antidepressant, just an atypical one.

 

[BlueBull]

It's now day 14 and still almost no positive influence noticed. The irritability is still with me and though I have no insomnia anymore I do notice my sleep quality has decreased a lot. Normally I'm fully rested when I sleep 7 hours, now I wake up tired and lazy and I'm sure it's because of the wellbutrin. I have an evaluation with my psych in 5 days, I'm going to ask if I can stop taking the stuff because it is not helping me. I don't notice any increase in focus, I'm as easily distracted as ever...

 

[a dream]

I've been on Wellbutrin for most of the past 18 months and it has never done much for focus for me.

Actual stimulants are much more effective.

 

[BlueBull]

Yeah other than the bad sleep quality and the irritability there is no other effect noticeable. I know it takes a while for the levels needed for therapeutic effects to build up, but I'm now at day 14 so I should at least notice some positive influences, no?

*edit* Oh and another weird thing I've noticed. I've got very mild tinnitus in my right ear. I always wear earplugs when I go out, forgot them once in 5 years and that was enough to give me very mild tinnitus, normally almost inaudible. The thing is since I've been taking the wellbutrin it's gotten worse. It's now clearly audible constantly and there are moments when it becomes almost deafening all of the sudden and subsides again in 5 seconds. It's only the side that I already had tinnitus on though, so it's the wellbutrin reinforcing it, which I find very very strange...

 

[a dream]

Yeah other than the bad sleep quality and the irritability there is no other effect noticeable. I know it takes a while for the levels needed for therapeutic effects to build up, but I'm now at day 14 so I should at least notice some positive influences, no?

I don't think Wellbutrin takes that long to have an effect. I felt it after about 30 minutes and the strongest effects were in the first week of starting or increasing the dose.

 

[BlueBull]

Yeah that's what I thought. Quick question. I know they say "don't combine bupropion/wellbutrin with alcohol". But does anyone know if that's only because it amplifies the effects of alcohol or because it has other, more damaging consequences too? I'm not aiming to drink myself stupid but I've got a party later tonight and wondered if it would be bad to drink a bit, other than having to watch out for the amplified effect?

 

[a dream]

I have drank heavily many times while on Wellbutrin (alone and with combination with other drugs). It doesn't really amplify the effects of alcohol for me. As a mild stimulant it probably reduces the sedative effects slightly and makes you feel less intoxicated than you actually are.

The potentially damaging consequence that comes to mind is having a seizure. The risk varies from person to person and with Wellbutrin the risk increases greatly with higher doses. From what I understand about alcohol, it will reduce seizures temporarily but can increase seizure activity as it is wearing off. I have done lots of drugs with Wellbutrin and not had any seizures, but have stayed away from kratom because I have heard of people getting seizures from that combination.

 

[dcrmt]

But that's not what has me worried, could be that it really helps ADD on its own. What I'm wondering is if it isn't too heavy of a solution to treat ADD? Taking anti-depressants for ADD seems like shooting a mosquito with a railgun if you know what I mean, I'm just worrying about the long term repercussions of me using anti-depressants when I'm not depressed in the slightest and when anti-depressants are usually substances that change your brain chemistry on a fundamental level

Wellbutrin actually acts on the same neurotransmitters as amphetamines/ritalin. It's completely different to other antidepressants, it's much more similar to a stimulant.

 

[BlueBull]

Yeah that's not an issue anymore now, because I've been prescribed efexor (venlafaxine) because bupropion did absolutely nothing for me. Thing is I didn't know anything about this drug when the doctor prescribed it to me and now after researching a lot I am hesitant to try it. It's not a 'light' anti-depressant, the side effects are serious and the withdrawal is brutal they say. I'm going to give her a call this week and tell her I don't want to start taking this new drug, the benefits do not outweigh the downsides, my ADD is very bothersome but not as much as those side-effects would be...

 

[dcrmt]

Yeah that's not an issue anymore now, because I've been prescribed efexor (venlafaxine) because bupropion did absolutely nothing for me. Thing is I didn't know anything about this drug when the doctor prescribed it to me and now after researching a lot I am hesitant to try it. It's not a 'light' anti-depressant, the side effects are serious and the withdrawal is brutal they say. I'm going to give her a call this week and tell her I don't want to start taking this new drug, the benefits do not outweigh the downsides, my ADD is very bothersome but not as much as those side-effects would be...

Don't fucking touch it.
For the love of god keep away from SSRI/SNRI's unless you are severely debilitatingly depressed.
SNRI's like like Effexor and Cymbalta are generally more 'addictive' for lack of a better term than prozac or 1st gen prozac knockoffs with the exception of paxil too.

SNRI's, Celexa/Lexapro and Paxil tend to be the worse ones both for side effects and withdrawal.

 

[BlueBull]

That's what I thought too. I'm starting to have serious doubts about my psychiatrist. She started me off on wellbutrin for ADD, because ADD is a deficiency in dopamine she said, seemed plausible. Now she prescribes me an SNRI to treat the same symptoms? A drug that does nothing for dopamine? Seems very weird to me. Furthermore she did not want me to try methylphenidate (ritalin) because she has no experience with this and it can be harmful as well when misused. Her solution? Prescribe an SNRI that has A LOT more consequences, side-effects and withdrawal than methylphenidate does and is only succesfull in the treatment of ADD in a small number of cases. So no I don't think I'll be starting on these meds. She's going to ask why I only call 8 days after she prescribed me the drugs (was holding out because I wanted to roll on NYE and SNRI's completely mute the effects of MDMA) but I'll figure out some story to tell her.