Wellbutrin for ADHD?

[olivias1]

What have people's experiences been with this drug? I struggle the most with emotional regulation/depressive episodes/hyperactivity. 22 years old female

[msd1]

I tried wellbutrin for about a year at different dosages and I saw the most improvement taking wellbutrin but I had difficultly remembering to take my medication and with the amount of anxiety and depression I had/have combined with my lack of copying skills /knowledge (my adhd is extremely high and I was only recently diagnosed in my midtwenties) my psychiatrist decided it would be best to change my prescriptions so that my antidepressant and anxiety medication were being treated with one medication instead of two.

Hopefully that helps, best of luck.

[HadEnuf]

Did more for emotional dysregulation than anything else. Stimulants didn't do enough more for the rest to be worth the hassle of a controlled substance prescription, so I ultimately went back to it.

[Dodger09]

I took Wellbutrin for depression for a while and used couples therapy to work through the root of the cause. It never did anything to resolve my ADHD symptoms. I had to come completely off of it prior to starting my stimulant med.

[Puertorikan]

It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety, which is what it was prescribed for, but hasn’t done much for my ADHD. With less anxiety I’ve been able to focus a little better but that about it.

[Wanderwoman76]

Hi Olivas1! I just came off from trying Wellbutrin for my ADHD (diagnosed later in life, I'm in my 40s) and seasonal depression. I started with 75mg 2x day because I am fairly petite and it never takes much for me to feel a change. Plus because I had not tried it before I wanted to work up to a higher dose only if needed. (remember you can state this to your doc, if that's what you want to do) The first few days were great, it helped my ADHD so much and I felt like my old self. I would take one pill at 7:30am and one at 7:30pm. These times frames worked at first and I would be asleep by 11pm which never happens without an aid. I do not know if all derivatives of Wellbutrin are time released but I found out that mine were. Meaning that the effects wore off quickly. My dr suggested taking the last one at 3-4, which didn't help much. I really liked Wellbutrin because I personally didn't experience any crazy and tough side effects like other antidepressants I have tried. The only side effect for me was an almost constant ringing in my ears and I get migraines so that def doesn't help. The con for me is that it didn't help my depression symptoms much at all, which is why I came off of it, that and because of my headaches. Remember we all metabolize meds differently. I really do think it's worth you trying to see if it will help you. When I stopped by weaning off (two pills down to one, then half) it was an easy process. Friends of mine with ADHD have had great luck with Wellbutrin! I hope it helps you!

[WindowtotheStars]

I'm on wellbutrin now. When I was on 300mg I felt great for awhile, mental clarity, normal moods, etc... but over time it lost its efficacy. Im currently on 400mg a day and im getting very tempted to try other meds. I have been on it for long enough to be at a therapeutic dose but it hasn't effected me at all. However, I'm also the bad patient and I take MJ regularly. I'm actually prepping to break from it and see if it changes the game. Fingers crossed.

[ParachuteJazzlady]

I have been off and on Wellbutrin for last 2O years. Even before diagnosed with inattentive ADD. What I find it helps with is my irritability level. I have better low frustration tolerance with. Depression and anxiety are side effects of being any type of ADHD.

Me personally? Wellbutrin helps me to be less irritable and less depressed. I also take Amitriptyline for ADD. It’s an off label use...

But I have some underlying OCD issues which have been prevalent my entire life. I have the symmetry type of OCD. It really kicks in when I get anxious and everything MUST be in its place.

I am unsure how well it helps with focusing or concentrating but this I know.... when I have better emotional regulation, it is easier to focus better.

Like another reader..... I can’t take stimulants. Which is tough.... they work on symptoms but my body can’t handle it.

FYI... Don’t ever mix stimulants with citrus drinks, it creates overstimulation. I took Modafinal with orange juice and I thought I could climb walls. I thought I was going crazy. A psychiatrist where I worked at the time, asked me about my morning routine and advised me to not take it.

Talk to your pharmacist if you take Wellbutrin with an actual stimulant. In some people (maybe not you) Wellbutrin + stimulant can cause dopamine syndrome. Say what??? Yeap it’s a thing, it can make one very irritable, angry and short tempered. Be smart about meds..... call your pharmacist if you think it’s reacting with other things you take or consume.

Good luck... hope this helps.

[olivias1 in reply to ParachuteJazzlady]

Thank you!