HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Sleep Deprived while on Wellbutrin

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/21/2007 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all -

I went to my doctor last Friday and finally had the never to talk to her about depression.  (I've been seeing a therapist since Aug, but it doesn't seem to be helping as much as it has in the past).  My doctor prescribed the lowest dose of Wellbutrin for me, which I've been taken now for the past 6 days.  (I've never been on an antidepressant before).  She also prescribed Musinex and a cough syrup for a really bad cold that I'm trying to get rid off.  One of the possible side effects of Musinex is also sleeplessness.  The cough syrup is suppose to "knock me out", since I haven't slept more than 2 - 6 hours per night in the past two weeks.  But, it hasn't.  I'm lucky if I sleep 'till 3 a.m., which has not been working well for me, since I need to get between 8 and 9 hours of sleep a night.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I don't want to take anything that would interact with what I'm already on.  (When this has happened to me in the past, I would just take a benadryl, but I can't take any antihistamines with my cold, since I need to be on a decongestant.)  I've never got this long without enough sleep and it's definetly taken its toll on me.  My friends at work suggested that I just grap a bottle of my favorite wine and get drunk, but I don't think that's a very good idea with the Wellbutin or the cough medicine, since the cough medicine is a narotic derivative. HELP! redface   

 

Posted 3/21/2007 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Decongestants keep me awake for days and nothing counteracts them, including prescriptions sleep meds. I never had a sleep issue with Wellbutrin. If you are like me, you'll go back to sleeping as soon as you stop taking the decongestants. You may be able to decrease your congestion a little bit by sleeping propped up a bit.

Stephanie
Posted 3/22/2007 3:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sadsong, I have missed seeing you around here greatly eyes .  I am sorry to hear that your feeling so poorly now...but I am also so glad to hear that you have decided to try and antidepressant.  I havent taken Wellbutrin but my mother does and she doesnt have any problems with sleeping at all.  I would most likely say that it is the combination of Musinex, the cough syrup and maybe the wellbutrin all interacting together.  I would suggest before you do anything or make any changes at all to call your doctor and let them know what is going on and ask for their advice or suggestions.  It is possible that they can add something to help you sleep and get through this or to change one of the cold medications your taking now.

Please let us know how your doing and keep posting.  Get better soon

Hugs :-)

Posted 3/24/2007 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know which cough med you are on, but I had a reverse reaction to codeine. It had me wired out instead of Z'd out. It may be something like this contributing to our situation. Wellbutrin did the same thing to me. I would recommend talking to your doc again.

Redrose
Posted 3/27/2007 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all -

Thanks for all of the advice and suggestions.  It's funny as soon as I posted this I had a great night's sleep!  :)  Some nights are better than others, but for the most part now I'm slepping all night long - it's wonderful!  (The more stressed out I am the less sleep I get, so I'm trying to pay closer attention to that.)  Plus, the Wellbutrin has made me happy!  I'm actually singing along with sonds on the radio and running errands without thinking twice about it!  It's has even been two weeks yet, but right now I'm thinking that I never should have waited so long to DO something about it rather than just lay around the house and feel lousy.

     

Posted 3/27/2007 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Sadsong
I am so glad that the meds are taking effect and that you are feeling better.
It is a different world at this point isn't it?
Keep strong and keep us posted.

Shy
Posted 3/28/2007 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
It is a different world.  But, I don't think that they have entirely reached their "theraputic" level yet.  It hasn't even been two weeks.  I mean before I couldn't even cry since there was just nothing inside me anymore.  I just wanted to curl up and disappear.  But, now I actually have emotions again.  They aren't necessarily what I hoped for (a lot of things have really started to piss me off, which is a good thing.  But I need to figure out a way to productively channel that emotion without pissing other people off.   mad

Before nothing seemed to effect me.  Someone could say something to me and it would just roll off me, I couldn't care less.  But, now I'm actually getting mad or angry at some of the things that would have just slip by earlier.  By nature I've always been a laid-back type of person who hates confrontation and who needs time to digest information before speaking, so now I just get mad and my knee jerk reaction is just to lash out, but that isn't very effective, especially in a work environment.  So, I'm struggling with how to think fast and say the things I want to say in a way that won't offend anyone, but still get my needs met.  Something that I imagine a lot of people struggle with.  I'm also struggling with a bit of social anxiety.  When I'm depressed I tend to want to stay away from people and I get really nervous about leaving my comfort zone. sad

I had made arrangements to meet up with a bunch of people who all share one of my common interests, but I keep putting it off whenever the date gets near.  I'm scared of being rejected and feel very vulnerable right now.  Maybe I'm just not ready to meet new people...  confused

 

Posted 3/29/2007 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
It's odd because alot of people say that their emotions are gone or they cant feel anything when they are on an antidepressant and there have been many I was on and felt that way with.  But I take Effexor Xr and I totally feel the way you described here Sadsong.  For the first time in years I could cry, get really mad and lash out at someone which I learned real quick how to temper that eyes , and I was singing (very badly) along with the radio also.  I think you will find your even keel in it all after some time has settled and you are at your theraputic level with the meds.

I think when we do go through these changes and have these struggles with trying to get better in one area like with depression sometimes our brains will trigger in another area to concentrate on something else...like anxiety.  Often these two disorders go hand in hand.  There are alot of really good antianxiety workbooks that you can buy on the market now...none of which can I come up the names right now...brainfog or something but I am sure that other members will have some wonderful ideas for you there.  When the date gets near GO.  Just like you did on your Alaska vacation last year all by yourself...your a strong, brave woman...No body wants to be rejected but I suspect that since this is a group of people who share a common interest with you that this can only be a positive thing and not a negative one. 

 

Posted 3/29/2007 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor put me on prozac and tranxene and I had no emotions at all.
I went to a funeral and felt like a jerk because I could not cry.
After I went off of the prozac I cried for weeks it seems!!!


Shy
Posted 3/30/2007 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Els -

You always say exactly the right thing to help me feel better about myself.  It's seems that a door is opening that sheds light on an entirely new world, but I still get caught up in the same negative thinking that's been ground into me.  When I try to express myself now, I just want to yell and scream instead of taking a deep breath and acknowledging the other person's perspective and then explaining my perspective as well as providing that person or persons with a justification of why I feel the way I do.  What I've tended to do in the past is just not say anything so I won't offend that person, but I just walk away feeling even more upset, since not only have I backed down, but I haven't even bothered to respond, which reinforces that inner voice that says "You're not worthy to take up space on this planet." 

During one of my very early visits to my therapist, she suugested I get a workbook called "Mind Over Matter".  At the time, I skimmed through the first chapter and realized that not only did I have depression, but anxiety as well.  (At the time, I was more comfortable about thinking of myself as "depressed", but when I realized that I also had anxiety it through me for a loop!)

But, I think I may be ready to start working on those other inner demons...

I'll keep ya'll posted, I just may end up picking that book up again.

Posted 4/4/2007 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all -

I think I'm on the road to recovery. Sure, there has been some setbacks and obstacles, but for the most part - I haven't felt this good in a very long time. It's funny there are times when I don't feel that motivated, but it's nothing like before when I would just curl up in bed for days and hardly eat or drink. That was definetly a low point. But, now I don't seem to get "stuck" in those negative feedback loops that keep repeating themselves in my head over and over and over again. Granted, there are still dirty dishes in the sink, but I'm begining to feel more confident and have actually started to show more of my personality to those around me.

For example, I gave a presentation at work the other day. I spend a good deal of time crafting it and trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to say to get my message across. And I did it all on my terms! I said things the way I wanted to say things which felt comfortable to me. In the past, I had a supervisor who would lock me in the room with him and have me write down everything he said verbaitim and have me memorize it! That did wonders for my self-esteem not to mention my self-confidence!

Luckly, the supervisors I have now, are not that barbaric! But, I still have issues with my self-esteem. I was still really nervous for the presentation (and I think it showed), but both of my current supervisors and some of my co-workers made sure to pull myside afterwards to tell me that I did a good job. And that felt great! :)
Posted 4/4/2007 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, and I've picked up that book I mentioned at the local book shop. I'm actually on chapter 4 and this is the first time I've ever stuck with a self-help book before! I usually give up after the first few pages or so, so I think that's a good sign too! :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply