Wellbutrin Xl Dosage Increase

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I started taking 150 mg of Wellbutrin xl for anxiety. My first two days were tough with increased symptoms, which the pharmacist had already warned me of. The horrible side effects got less and less as the days progressed. By day 8 I was feeling great, anxiety was still lingering, not as bad. On day 13, I started the 300 mg, that was 7 days ago. I take it every morning at 8am. I am feeling good in the morning and every day around 1pm I start feeling horrible. Suddenly I am feeling drugged, dizzy, nauseous and disoriented. I continued to take it hoping these side effects would taper off like they did with the 150 mg, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am still feeling as horrible now as I did when I first started the dosage increase. Do I just need to give it some more time? Any advice would be appreciated.

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Hi Lisa,

From my perspective on what you mentioned about your dosing schedule, I think the side effects are reoccurring around 1pm because that's when the half life of the drug begins to take effect and your body may just be in shock from the "come-down".

Do you feel like 300mg might've been too much of a jump from the 150mg?

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2

Seeing as these side effects are not subsiding, I guess the 350 mg is too big of a jump.
I didn't quite understand what what you were saying though, at 1pm would the drug be at it's weakest or strongest point?

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3

I too have the same reaction to the 300...and we take at same time. With issues exactly at 1!!!

Just over a month ago I started 150 xl watson generic for a week. Then two of 150 mg xl in am for for rest of month. The last week, I noticed the euphoria lessened.

Doc said ok to fill the script for a single 300 mg.
I have been on the 300 for 3 or 4 days now. I take at 8 am and by 1, I started feeling dizzy. Today, two times, while sitting. Felt panic setting in. Chest by stomach tight. Anxiety issues. Yawning to catch breath. Then, sadness and depressed for rest of day. Tired, no energy, irritable, angry...

I've been reading online about 300 mg generic not releasing steadily, like the 150 mg. I understand FDA pulled one generic and asked the other companies to do there own study.

I do plan on calling doc Monday am!

After feeling so well on the 2 pills of 150 (total 300), I am really concerned.
I had alot of energy. My aches and pains 90% gone. Was happy! No worrisome thoughts. Focused alot better. Slept way better all night. Less angry and irritable. I finally realized I was truly depressed for quite sometime and thrilled to be feeling so good again.

Its dissapointing to me that a single dose pill can release way too much, way too early in a 24 hr time released pill. This must be why I'm having side effects after 5 hours.

Will be much more costly if I have to go back to taking the two of 150 ....but worth it. Just hope the pharmacist will take my next two months worth back! I already paid the $60 copay for three months worth.

Hoping that this switch back will be a solution.

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4

@Lisa (post #2),

My apologizes for not getting back to you sooner!

Regarding your last question, I was referring to "1pm" being the weakest point of the medication's half life; when the drug begins to leave your system at a more noticeable rate.

It sounds like Kristin (post #3) can also confirm that this is the case. The "time-release pill" releases its contents way too early within a 24hr period to have any lasting effect.

That said, taking two of the 150mg appears to be the only reliable way to go until the manufacturer does some maintenance on their time-release capsules.

Hope this helps! :)

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5


It took about 3 or so weeks after the increase to 300XL but I stuck with it and those horrible afternoon crashes subsided. Once the Dizziness, nausea and disoriented feeling started going away, in came exhaustion in the afternoon. I was told this drug is a stimulant and i am ready for a 2 hour nap at exactly 2pm every day, but I didn't give in, I kept busy and guess what? That too went away.

This is the first time I have taken anything for my anxiety issues. If I have learned anything at all about this drug it is that you have to be patient and persistent. Of course everyone is different but after the horrible side effects starting the drug @150 Xl and the even worse side effects with the dosage increase to 300 there was no way after 5 and a half weeks of suffering, so to speak, that I was giving up before the suggested 8 week break in period and I'm really happy I stuck with it. Through all the side effects, I could feel what the drug was supposed to potentially be doing for me and just hoped it would do what I thought it would.

One of my original symptoms before I started taking Wellbutrine was dizziness, a sinking feeling in the floor, nausea and trouble breathing, very aware of every breath I took. I am now in my approx 12th week and I just noticed that the only original symptom I still have, is that sometimes, not all the time like it was, I become aware of my breathing and get a little anxious. I am guessing this tiny bit will maybe go away after being on the drug a little longer. Maybe I need a slight dosage increase to get rid of it, I don't know, will figure that out later. Not worried about it right now as I feel good enough.

Like I said, I don't have any experience with these types of drugs except for Wellbutrine and it has only been 12 weeks. I didn't realize that two 150XL is not really equivalent to one 300XL in terms of time release, if I read what Kristen said correctly.

I guess there's no guarantee Kristen as to whether or not these side effects will go away like they did for me. If the two 150XL is more expensive that the 300XL (another way the two are not equivalent that I wouldn't have though) and it's going to be tough, I would try the 300 just a little longer to see if the side effects at least start going away even a little, then maybe there's hope for the 300. On the other hand, if the side effects are too unbearable, I would just pay the extra cash for the two 150's.

David, I appreciate your response. I found out what a half life is but the way I read it, it suggested that the Wellbutrine would be at its strongest at that time, especially by the 2nd or 3rd day, which is when my problems started with the 300XL. You're probably right though about it being the weakest part of the day, I was never much of a mathematician.

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6

Lisa I take Wellbutrion 150mg and I have water weight gain and I have high blood pressure and heart trouble when my feetlegs,hands and face swell up from water weight my chest hurts so bad I have to take a xanaxx or use my nitro spray to get rid of chest pain then lay down and put my feet above my heart and that takes days I feel so bad when all the water weight comes and it is because of wellbutrion I really do not think that the drs know the side affects that.I hope you feel betterIhave stopped them on my own and had no bad side affects and since I have ttken them so long seems like they don't wrk as well as before.But ask your dr befate you quit.

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7

Do you know you can get brand name Wellbutrin through Direct Success Pharmacy for $50/ month. Another thread on this site talking about it and I looked into it. It is the real deal. You can google Wellbutrin and it will go to their site. It is the exact same pill and packaging that I got with the brand Wellbutrin from the pharmacy. NOT from Canada, made in the US. If you are having trouble with generics as a lot of people seem to, you can try the brand a lot cheaper now.

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My psychiatrist has me taking 150 mg Wellbutrin upon waking, then the other 150 at noon "to give me a boost." You might float the idea by your doctor.

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My pharmacy has decided not to special order Watson 150XL for me after many years which I prefer size and coating and due to allergies to ingredients like yellow dye, etc. Also have Dysphasia from time to time taking 9-10 pills (servings :-D) first thing an hour after LEVOTHYROXIN, which is a separate issue altogether. I found Walmart can't promise same manufacturer from month to month. I have two relatively small pharmacies to choose from in town where I get ten prescriptions and often pick up mothers at the same time... So Walgreen's, Walmart, and other mail order companies are not much help in this either...

Just venting that pharmacy cares more about bottom line after almost 15 years of patronage from Mom and Dad and myself. Then AFTER I called in for refill they waited and I only had a few days to find them! Can't find the other drug manufacturer on label to give you comparisons.

Feeling powerless under the whim of this one stupid pharmacy. I hope you don't have this issue. Evidently Doctor cannot write script for brand specificity anymore.

I'd like to stop everything sometimes see if I'm their lab rat.

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10

I know it sounds like I am a spam ad for Wellbutrin, but I'm really not! You can go to another thread on this board that discusses generics (and the lack of reliability thereof) and that is where someone posted about Direct Success.

You don't have to put up with the roller coaster of generics when you can get either brand name Wellbutrin 150XL and 300XL for $50 per month.

I see so many people getting their generics switched without warning, or having unreliable batches. Why suffer! They are NOT equivalent to brand. Name brand is the only one that went through all the tests. It doesn't work for everyone of course but it is certainly worth a try if you are having problems with your generics.

I bought the brand name at CVS for $300+ after the generic my insurance covered made me sicker. I was really in distress because I can't afford that every month. I was searching the internet to find out about the generic I was taking (Global) and saw a post about Direct Sucess pharmacy doing a program with Valeant, who is now the manufacturer of the name brand Wellbutrin, which is manufactured here in the U.S., not in Turkey like the Canadian pharmacy. You just have your doctor fill out the form and fax it to them. What I received from Direct Success in the mail was exactly like the brand I had paid for at CVS. It is the real deal.

If you are having problems with terrible side effects or getting jerked around with the generics changing, it is certainly worth your while to try the brand.

I am honestly not connected with Direct Success in any way, I'm just so glad I found it and if someone hadn't posted on these boards about it, I wouldn't have found it myself. Good luck!

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11

I have been on Pristiq for about 6 years. Before that, I was on Paxil. These drugs had moderate side effects that I could live with and then the side effects went away. Bad news is that I gained 20 lbs. Asked Doctor to put me on Wellbutrin because I heard about the weight loss on it. I am very sensitive to drugs and react within a couple of days. Also, this was generic because I am a senior on a fixed income. The first day I felt great but had dizziness and excessive sweating to the point where I had to change my clothes a couple times a day. The second day the dizziness become worse, I work with children and could not bend down to pick up a baby, was afraid to drive. Later that same day, I became very nauseous and started vomiting. Lost 1 day of work and if I don't go, I don't get paid. Tried filing pill down to 75 mg. xl, I felt a little better, the dizziness was manageable and no being sick. The third day, there was no reduction in the side effects and I hate being sick like that. I stopped before the 4th day and went back on Pristiq. I got immediate relief. Has anyone found a way to beat the side effects? I did lose 6 pounds in a matter of a couple of days. Thinking of switching to generic Cymbalta. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

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12

I've been taking this for several years on various doses and very interested in each of your entries about the side effects. I used to take a 100 or 150mg around noon or 1:00 and finally found out this is also something that kept me awake. I did experience a fog when I was driving into work and sometimes my concentration wasn't as good at work, as well as I really didn't care about things as I usually did. My empathy decreased so much that I felt I was hard and cold. This of course caused my depression to worsen. I've also experienced the anger and the irritability, my patience lessens with family and pets. I'm actually having a hard time convincing myself to go back to that afternoon dose. Can anyone relate? I am 50 years old and going through menopause as well which I'm sure doesn't help.

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13

I have been on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg generic (Par) for about 2 months now. After a week of feeling great, I was supposed to increase to 300mg. I did that for about 4 days and thought I was going to die. I was so nauseous, felt like I was going to pass out, got extremely hot, etc. Went to the doctor and he said to go back to the 150mg. I'm still nauseous all the time. I just called Direct Success to get the brand name to see if that makes a difference. Is anyone on the brand who can tell me if they were nauseous on the brand? I read that this will go away, but so far it hasn't and I find it quite debilitating. Thanks in advance.

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14

Not helpful because I don't have extra $50 bucks a month to spend (Medicaid) !

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15

Turns out I had an inner ear infection, so much of the nausea can be attributed to that. Finally went away. I am doing well on the brand Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. Can't say now whether it is better than the generic I was taking, but psychologically I feel that the time release on the brand is more consistent.

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16

I'm relieved to hear that I'm not the only person who has experienced anger and irrability with family and pets. I started taking wellbutrin sr 100mg/a day a couple months ago and recently increased my dose to 200mg/a day each morning. I was actually Debating splitting my dose to one in the am and one in the early afternoon. Has anybody else been weary about taking a dose in the afternoon?

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17

I know how you feel since my pharmacy stopped special ordering the Watson brand for me I've have difficulties. Because I am sensitive to dyes I take 3- 150mg when I get up so I haven't tried the 300mg pill. I think it was over a year ago they pulled them for which I was glad as I'm sure that contributed to some if my issues.

Wish manufacturers would all take responsibility on these issues to help keep side effects to a minimum.

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18

I've been on the generic wellbutrin 150mg XL for a month now. 2 days ago my doctor and I decided I could go up a dose and start taking 2 of the 150 XLs in the morning. Day one on the 300mg my depression started sneaking back in. I was irritable and just kind of moody. Today (day 2 of the 300mg) I lost it. I had a huge rage attack and I was crying uncontrollably and then I took a xanax and felt ok for the afternoon. Then it started to wear off and I got irritable again. It seems like the smallest things are making me so annoyed and angry. I felt ok on the 150s but I kept reading how GREAT you can feel on the 300mg. I called my Dr and she says just go back to taking 150mg again but here's the thing... If the 300 really is THAT much better then I wanna sick it out for a week or whatever and feel awesome but if I'm just gonna keep feeling so angry obviously I wanna go back to the 150 an stick with that. Has anyone felt this way? Does it get better? Should I stick it out or go back to 150. I keep feeling like I need the 300 cause I'll just feel so fantastic but that could be all in my head. Plus I don't wanna quit and go back to 150s and then again in 4 weeks try the 300mgs again and have to start all over with the side effects, especially if they're gonna start getting better... Does anyone have any advice? I wanna give the 300a fair shot but I can't afford to have a melt down everyday. Bleh, please help.

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19

I have increased my dose twice now. Once from 100mg to 200mg, and most recently 200mg in the am and 100mg at noon. Each time I have increased my dose I have been irritable and depressed for at least a few days after while my body adjusted to the change, its like you have to go through the side effects phase all over again. :/ If I wasn't also taking Buspar for my anxiety things may have been worse than the occasional outbursts. I recommend sticking it out for at least the first 2 weeks, give your body a little bit of time to adjust to the new dose. Unless of course things get extremely bad... but I am doing great now that I have adjusted.

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20

I've been on Wellbutrin XL 150 for a few months now. I noticed my anxiety was not getting better and was very uncomfortable. My doctor put me on Buspar (generic version) a week ago but it takes about a month to start working. I'm using Klonopin just to get through until the Buspar starts working. Anyone have any experience using Buspar with Wellbutrin XL? I know it's all physical and can't wait for this feeling to subside.

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I am doing well with the increase in dosage. Sine I last posted, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Had a mastectomy end of April, I got through it all but did have some not so good days. Clonazepam really helped. So far, I am feeling pretty good, with only minor anxiety.
Hope everyone is doing well. It all does get better.

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The posts I am reading have old dates so my post will probably just drift in cyber space, but I have never had such a hard time trying to figure out my meds. I have been on wellbutrin 300 for a long time along with celexa. I have felt I needed a change. I heard of Buspar and wanted to try it so that is where I am now. I immediately lost weight once I got off Celexa. I was trying to reduce my wellbutrin from 300 to 150, then came the big problem; in trying to adjust my wellbutrin I accidentally totally went off it after taking the 150 for just one week. I have never had so many problems... very, very dark thoughts. extreme anger. nausea, sweats, dizziness and terrible feelings that life was no good at all. I got back on the 150 wellbutrin and am taking 10mg of burpar in the AM and 10mg at night. I am better so I'm totally afraid to try and adjust any of the meds now. I don't know which was making me so bad and don't know what to increase or stay the same on. Which direction?

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30

Did you go directly from taking Pristiq to taking Wellbutrin? It could be that your side effects were more from coming off the Pristiq rather than the Wellbutrin. I took Pristiq for several years and had to wean myself off of it to quit and the withdrawals were terrible.

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29

I am on 150 generic buproon hcl. I been on this dosage for a few years and I have anxiety the first thing in the morning. I am wondering if I need to increase my dosage.

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28

I am going through the Exact same thing- dr says it's not working with the increased dose and I should go back down to 150mh

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27

I took 150 mg generic wellbutrin for 2 weeks and then they put me on 300 1x day for 5 or 6 days. I do not feel dizzy or lightheaded, but I have the sensation that I'm falling to my left and today it was so bad I could hardly walk. I'm sure I looked like I was drunk! Also, my ears are ringing and buzzing very loudly. I have tinnitus any way, it's so much worse. But I'm worried about the falling sensation. Any one else had this side effect? Thanks.

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26

I have been feeling really good lately. My body has adjusted to the increase of Buproprion. Klonopin helped me to get through the bad days. I rarely, if ever need the Klonopin now. I can't say that I never have any anxiety, but by far, it is very much improved. Is therapy recommended? Don't know what kind of therapist I would see. Anyone have an opinion on therapy? Yes or no?

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25

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 150 for 1 month and want to know if I should increase to 300 XL i had very harsh adjustment but now I have adjusted . I have anxiety so don't want to exasperate it .

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24

I was on Buproprion 150 xl for years and doing fine. A few weeks ago the panic and anxiety got bad. My doctor increased my dosage to 300 mg. In a few days I was having terrible anxiety, even went to the er, couldn't breathe, nausea, dizziness, and sweating. All tests they did showed nothing wrong. Called my doctor and she prescribed Klonopin 0.5 mg. It helped me tremendously and I feel great. I am taking 2 150 mg.now until I finish those pills and will start the 300 mg pill. I shouldn't have any issues with that should I.


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23

I have taken Buproprion 150 for over 10 years. Last week started having panic attacks, my doctor increased my dosage to 300 mg. Have only been on new dosage for 1 week. Started having anxiety, nausea, the funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, and what really scares me is the feeling of almost forcing myself to breathe. Has anyone else experienced these effects and will they go away with time?

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