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What Causes High Anxiety While On Wellbutrin?
Question: I have been on Wellbutrin XL 150 for about two and a half weeks and the anxiety I'm experiencing is very high. I got the medication from a physician's assistant but did not tell her about my anxiety issues. Next week I am going to see a new psychiatrist to get the appropriate medication but this is a holiday weekend so no-one is able to advise me as to whether I can stop the medication for the next few days before a consultation. Please advise.
Brief Answer:
If anxiety has increased with drug- can stop it
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have read the query carefully and can see that you have severe anxiety and are taking Wellbutrin from past two and half week.
If you feel that your anxiety has increased after taking Wellbutrin and is making you unable to do any work, then you can stop it.
Some people complaint of increased or newly developed anxiety with this drug ( as a side effect of this drug) and when it does happen, it is better to change the molecule itself. This anxiety is unlikely to go away with increasing the dosage or waiting any further.
The better drugs for you to handle your anxiety would be sertraline or paroxetine. Along with them you can take clonazepam 0.25mg SOS to handle acute anxiety attacks. You can discuss them with your doctor.
Also, get your blood tests- CBC, Vit. b12 level, and thyroid levels to get their baseline values and correct anything if disturbed.
Wish you good luck.
Please ask more questions to clarify any doubts.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
If anxiety has increased with drug- can stop it
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have read the query carefully and can see that you have severe anxiety and are taking Wellbutrin from past two and half week.
If you feel that your anxiety has increased after taking Wellbutrin and is making you unable to do any work, then you can stop it.
Some people complaint of increased or newly developed anxiety with this drug ( as a side effect of this drug) and when it does happen, it is better to change the molecule itself. This anxiety is unlikely to go away with increasing the dosage or waiting any further.
The better drugs for you to handle your anxiety would be sertraline or paroxetine. Along with them you can take clonazepam 0.25mg SOS to handle acute anxiety attacks. You can discuss them with your doctor.
Also, get your blood tests- CBC, Vit. b12 level, and thyroid levels to get their baseline values and correct anything if disturbed.
Wish you good luck.
Please ask more questions to clarify any doubts.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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