Wellbutrin anyone?

[mamaprek]

I started taking Wellbutrin about 5 1/2 weeks ago and don't really feel any different. I am 19 weeks pg so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I was at the dr on Monday and he said to keep trying it until my next appointment in 4 weeks and if no change by then I could go off it or switch to something else. Being pg, I don't want to be on anything of course, but I would really like to start feeling human again. I don't know what I would switch to, as there are some I don't want to take while pg. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!

[AnyMama]

Prozac is the preferred anti-depressant for pregnancy. I wouldn't give something more than 6 weeks to work, it should work within a month, not necessarily all the way, but you're saying you feel no difference.

[mamaprek]

Originally Posted by AnyMama

Prozac is the preferred anti-depressant for pregnancy. I wouldn't give something more than 6 weeks to work, it should work within a month, not necessarily all the way, but you're saying you feel no difference.

Would it be ok to switch meds half way through my pregnancy? It makes me a little nervous.

[elizaMM]

I'm on Wellbutrin. What is your dosage? Standard is 300 mg/day. Wellbutrin is pretty well studied and supported for usage during pregnancy b/c lots of people use it to quit smoking. Why was wellbutrin chosen in the first place? Maybe that's why your doc wants to wait it out a bit?

Anecdotally, during my first trimester, my wellbutrin side effects went away (sleep disturbance, dry mouth). Also, if I missed my Effexor dosage, I experienced withdrawal in about half the time that I would have when I wasn't pregnant. About mid-pregnancy, I started having sleeping trouble again. That makes me think both were metabolized faster in early pregnancy (our bodies want to filter the funky stuff out asap so as to protect the fetus when it is most vulnerable?). Since then I've gone down to 150 mg and continue to feel all the positive effects. But maybe you need all 300, but your body is processing it so fast that its not having the effect it would if you weren't pregnant. So maybe consider taking 450???

That said, switching from Wellbutrin shouldn't be too tough. I would worry more about coming off a med with a short half-life that would cause withdrawal effects. I wouldn't want to put my baby AND me through that.

Another consideration is that Wellbutrin MAY interfere with milk supply. So if you plan on breastfeeding, that MIGHT be an additional challenge. One other person told me her baby slept better when she went off Wellbutrin.

But again, is there a good reason to stick it out with Wellbutrin?

Good luck!

[christigpa]

elizaMM, you mention withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. I've been on its for eons (with Wellbutrin and Tegretol for bipolar II, diagnosed 1993). If I miss a dose I get a whopping worst hangover ever feeling headache and dizziness.

Over the years (with my GPs approval) I weaned myself down to 100 mg Teg XR 1bid, 100 mg Wellbutrin XR 1 bid and 150 mg Effexor XR 1 bid. Now that we're TTC I'm worried about the meds.

My sister continued on her Tegretol and Anafrinil (sp?) throughout both pregnancies; her doctors felt keeping the mother safe and healthy outweighed any potential side effects.

Just curious how other feel about the meds...DH is concerned and so am I but I'm more concerned about having a manic or depressive episode while pregnant.