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left-of-center2012 (10,412 posts) Wed Jun 28, 2017, 12:03 PMA question about a medicationI have had some memory problems the past year and my primary care doctor sent me to see a neurologist who says I have 'border line' dementia. On one test I scored a 21 out of a possible 30, and on another I scored a 25, where 26 and up is considered good. She prescribed the anti-depressant Bupropion Sr 100 mg (Wellbutrin) for me, saying it has a side effect of helping improve memory. When I picked the medication up at the pharmacy they gave me a handout with it and both sides of the sheet emphasized the possibility of having suicidal thoughts due to the medication. The pharmacist was not present at the moment, and I didn't read the handout until I got home. Has anyone here been on Bupropion Sr and how much of a concern is that? I am not suicidal, but the thought that the med may cause such thoughts worries me to the point I don't know if I want to take the medication. I do intend to follow up with my doctors and the pharmacist, but would like to hear from any one who may have taken the drug.
mopinko (51,163 posts) Wed Jun 28, 2017, 12:05 PM1. i took it for a while. had no effects either way.do you have someone to talk to? someone that could keep an eye on your mood? sometimes watching your own brain can be hard.
marylandblue (4,449 posts) Wed Jun 28, 2017, 12:21 PM 4. It's a rare side effect of some antidepressantsIf you experience any suicidal thoughts or an increase in anxiety or agitation, call your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room.
Ilsa (48,065 posts) Wed Jun 28, 2017, 12:39 PM5. Bupropion is a drug of which I suffer the fewest side effects.Celexa, Lexapro, etc give me cycles of drowsiness during the day, even though they give me energy earlier, and they messed with my libido. I could take them later in the day, but I was less likely to remember to take them later. I haven't had any side effects that I've noticed from bupropion. I've never tried zoloft or paxil or prozac (anti-anxiety and/or anti-depressants). All anti-depressants that I've read about list "suicidal thoughts" as a side effect. As a person who is getting older, my slightly more frequent thoughts of death are most likely to be part of going through normal life stages of development, according to my dr.
unblock (37,192 posts) Wed Jun 28, 2017, 12:46 PM6. mrs. unblock took this when she quit smoking. all anti-depressants/mood elevators have this warninga peculiar aspect of improving your mood and giving you more energy is that, in rare cases, that might just be the missing ingredients in a suicide attempt. depressed people sometimes *don't* attempt suicide because the depression itself lowers the motivation to do anything, including attempting suicide. take a medication that helps give you motivation before it removes the dark cloud can end poorly. that said, if you're not depressed and are taking the medication for something else (dementia in your case, smoking cessation in my wife's) then it shouldn't be an issue.
Corvo Bianco (794 posts) Wed Jun 28, 2017, 01:07 PM8. Welbutrin was a nightmare for me and my mother.It was a very exciting drug at first--you're moving furniture, you're not eating, you're intensely focused... for a week. But a meth-mind isn't sustainable, and in my opinion it is very dangerous to anybody who has a tendency toward rumination. I had multiple fits of high-energy fright during my couple months on Welbutrin, the worst drug-induced psychic experiences of my life. If you have absolutely no mood disorders or mental health concerns, it may be less dangerous in that regard. It's great for dropping ten pounds in a week. And focusing for a week. Very unnatural highs, but they're highs. After the "Fresh drug in the system" week I was never focused--just strung out and freaked out. I am disheartened that a powerful mind-altering drug with significant potential of dangerous side effects is being prescribed for a dozen off-label uses. BUT, I can't say you "SHOULDN'T TRY IT!", god forbid if it's exactly the solution for you. If you are uncomfortable with a substance dramatically altering your mood or if you are unsure about synthetic methamphetamines then this might not be your cup of tea. If you DO try it, there is an opportunity in the first month to determine whether it's doing any damage to you psychologically. Pay attention though--don't end up a year down the road wondering why everything feels like a nightmare when you could have just quit the Welbutrin early on (if it goes that way).
hunter (27,929 posts) Mon Oct 23, 2017, 07:24 PM14. It's possible one can be too depressed for suicidal thoughts.That makes the ride back up into functionality dangerous, passing through the suicidal thoughts stage, from the utter emptiness of the "why even bother to die?" stage. I've experienced the "why even bother to die" stage. I stop eating and become Running Bleeding Bare Foot Skeleton Man. It's my super power. It sucks. I'd rather have been bitten by a radioactive spider. Spiderman, spiderman... For me Bupropion has been mild compared to some of the meds I've been prescribed. But your mileage may vary. It's not science yet. You just have to hang in there until something works. My current meds are not ideal, but as always they are better than the alternative.
left-of-center2012 (10,412 posts) Mon Oct 23, 2017, 07:27 PM15. I quit the Bupropion after one weekCaused my feet to swell up (edema). I told my doc I didn't want any more antidepressants.
hunter (27,929 posts) Mon Oct 23, 2017, 08:10 PM16. My psych meds all suck. I hate them all. I hate all I've ever been prescribed.But I've learned by school of hard knocks to tolerate side effects. Maybe my least favorite psych med's side effect was anorgasmia. Thankfully I don't take that med any more. It was a med whose effectiveness faded in me. But I might have been very popular with the ladies, in spite of that four hour erection warning those Viagra guys get...
Needs to wash them down with a pint of vodka.
Bullcorn. If the pharmacy was dispensing meds there was a pharmacist nearby
