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New to forum and to Bupropian -- concerns

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Depression
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Posted 9/11/2007 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Dear HealingWell Forum:

Need some help finding info re. bupropion -- both clinical info, experience, side effects, myths, etc. My major concern is whether I will become "addicted" or hooked in some way to the meds if I stop (under doctor supervision).

I was diagnosed last week with unipolar depression by a psychiatrist after unsuccessfully stuggling with depression on my own for at least a year. He prescribed 75 mg of Bupripion twice a day and I'll be going in to see him tomorrow for talk therapy and for follow-up. I had a very successful career during the last 15 years but last year my "company" decided not to offer me a "tenured" position and my contract was allowed to lapse in August of 2006. Major though not unexpected blow to the ego though I'm lucky as my wife got a new job making about what I made which has helped us financially but matters are getting financially tight. I've been working as a consultant for the last year, but find it increasingly difficult if not impossible to get work done as I sink deeper into depression. I find plenty of things to keep me busy and from focusing on the work I need to get done in order to rebuild my life. I am questioning all the major decisions of my life and doing an A-1 job of beating myself up/self-criticizing. I am 44 years old, with a wife and lovely 2 year old. For their sake as well as mine I need to turn a corner and re-engage in the world.

I have resisted taking meds due to my sister's experience and fear over side-effects, but am willing to try meds now because I have not been able to overcome this on my own. My doctor tried to address all of my concerns last week, but I still have my doubts. My only sister battled manic depression for 15+ years and was frequently having her meds changed or adjusted. She committed suicide 3 years ago after several attempts. All my immediate family died within the last 5 years. I tried to grieve for them and did so to a limited extent but did not dwell on their passing as work and becoming a father kept me busy. However, since I lost my dream job I have spent far too much time re-examining my life, reading my sisters sad diaries and my decisions. I decided to get some help as I have not been able to turn a corner on the creeping depression. Been avoiding contacting friends and my efforts to excercise were undercut when I badly hurt my knee on a run a month ago (put off treatment till today when I finally made an appointment). Suggestions, insight and encouragement welcome.

Thanks
Posted 9/12/2007 12:31 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Lorca, Welcome to healing well forum, we are most welcome to have you join us here.  First let me commend you on seeking help and treatment.  This is always the hardest step I think.  Dont let yourself get wrapped up too much with the "labels" of what the diagnosis's are...there are many different ways of saying depressed with mixed features and such.  That is what all that amounts too really.

Bupropian is actually Wellbutrin name brand.  It has been around for a while and has had some great success with lots of people.  Just be sure to report any problems to your doctor right away and if your on the same dosage for a few weeks and start to feel a drop off effect to also report this.  Many people dont recognize this when starting treatment but it does usually take around 4-6 weeks for an antidepressant to reach therapeutic level in the  body.  Keep in mind though that this is only therapeutic level...you may feel some benefits from it right away, hopefully.  Antidepressants are not addictive in anyway, but they can cause some nasty side effects when you go to stop them as they are regulating the serotonin levels in your brain.  So when you decrease the dosage on your antid's your serotonin level drops and it basically makes you feel like crap.  I will post a link below regarding Wellbutrin for you so you can read up on it.

It is very possible that you have always had this and perhaps I may be reaching here but are you by chance a type A personality?  These type of people are perfectionists in all areas of their life and like things a very certain way.  They really dont let too much of the outside world bother them or maybe distract them from their goals rather.  I am like this too and I had a very difficult time when I resigned my position at my career with the mental health agency I had been with for years.  It took a long time for me to find my place and adjust to the next phase of my life. 

Either way, dont stress on it too much it sounds like your on the right path and the key to healing believe it or not is learning to concentrate on one day at a time.  That is all we can do.  I am sure you will get many more responses from our members.  Please do feel free to post here as often as you like, we are always here.  Take care and let us know how your doing.

http://www.drugs.com/bupropion.html

Posted 9/12/2007 1:42 AM (GMT 0)

Lorca,

I wanted to welcome you to the site.  Elisha definitely knows what she is talking about, lean on her for guidance.

We are all here for you and hope you will keep coming back.  You will find a warm, caring group of people here, actually from all over the world.

Love and prayers to you,

Carla

Posted 9/12/2007 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lorca,

I also had depression for a year before I decided to go to a doctor. I had been too proud up until then to admit that I had a problem, so I understand how big a step it was for you to seek out help. Obviously the decision on medication lies with you and your doctor and I think it is really great that you want information on the type that has been suggested. I wish that I had done the same thing before I started taking mine.

There is lots of information on the net about Bupropion (Wellbutrin). This is the wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupropion. You cant trust everything you read on wiki, but there are some links at the bottom of the page to good reputable sites.

There is much debate as to whether antidepressants are addictive or not, but I guess at the end of the day it is more about whether they will be a positive part of your treatment. Different people respond differently to medication and there will always be side effects and sometimes withdrawal symptoms when you come off them. From my experience, I think the best thing you can do it read up as much as you can and make a list of questions to ask your doctor if you dont understand something. Knowledge about what you are putting into your body and how it works is so important and then you are better prepared for the side effects etc if/when they do hit you.

It sounds like the last five years have been very tough on you and your family, with losing loved ones and then your job. They are life changing experiences and you need to allow yourself to treat them as such. I may be wrong here, but I dont think you have allowed yourself to grieve properly over everything that has happened. Having a family and trying to remain strong and supporting them can make this difficult and we are all supposed to be able to bounce back and 'get on with our lives'. Sometimes that doesnt happen as quickly as others think it should.

I truely hope that you can get the help that you are seeking and be on the road to recovery very soon. From your post you sound like a very sensible and strong person with a supportive family, and we are all here to help you too.

Kate
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