Losing hope

[AnimeChick]

So I just started wellbutrin for depression about 5 days ago...I know it's not much time, but it's the fourth medication I have tried. I just can't feel any positive emotions when I do things I used to enjoy and it's slowly killing me...I just need hope that something will work. I don't want to end up as another statistic, but I read that about half of people don't respond to depression meds...I am losing hope that anything will work. Does anyone have any advice?

[Pel3749]

Hi, so sorry that you are going through this. I started taking Prozac for depression and anxiety and after a few weeks it made me physically ill so I stopped taking it and was put on lexapro. It certainly took quite a while to start working but it definitely helped. That was a few years ago and I didn't think that I would ever be the same. I was so sad about my feelings and thoughts. Almost 4 mo in I started feeling better and have continued to feel like myself again. This is a very difficult situation but you do recover. Stay in touch with your doctor,therapist and friends and family. God bless you.

[62BlackBirds]

I took many different anti depressants with many side effects and it seemed nothing helped with the depression. A new guy started work in our department and we were talking one day and he mentioned he took Wellbutrin. I asked my dr if I could try it and he prescribed the generic Bupropion for me. It was a miracle to me. It took about 3 weeks for it to work but oh boy if I had a negative thought it didn’t hang around.

My depression comes and goes. I was taking 150mg extended release twice daily the first time. Now I take 75mg non extended release once a day during winter months.

Sometimes it takes quite a few tries to find what works. Hope it helps you🫶

[Notsosadanymore]

I understand how bad it feels to be experiencing what you are. I sit here and I wish daily for a pill or something to take it all away and let me be happy. Anyway I just started Wellbutrin 14 days ago and it hasn’t helped me at all. I also have been on Prozac and lexapro and they only turned me into a zombie like state. I also am a really heavy THC user. None of the medication made me feel better neither does thc.

I am going to try a different approach to tackling my depression and anxiety and I have no idea if this can help you or I but here it is.

I’m currently obsessed so I’m going to get to a weight of 170

Daily cycling 30 to 60 minutes a day

Very healthy diet

Weekly therapy

I joined the support group online today.

Yoga and meditation morning and evening

I find/try to find something everyday that is special and important to me typically it’s a picture or video with my kids or the stars.

Forcing myself to be present and live in the moment instead of mentally being locked inside my mental prison.

I have no idea if any of this will help me long term or short term but I know the Wellbutrin isn’t helping me and I don’t foresee it changing. So what his is just another approach to tackling the daily fight. Best of luck to you and I hope you feel better. I am truly sorry for your pain and sadness

[Noodlelover85]

I can relate very much. I used to be very social, outgoing and loved meeting people doing new things and now I’m not comfortable with that and prefer being at home alone. But the level of isolation I’m allowing is causing me to feel disconnected. I just started welbutrin and just about to start my 3rd week. So far I haven’t felt much of a difference and it has affected my sleep. I’m not able to sleep through the night without waking up.

[AnimeChick in reply to Noodlelover85]

Yeah I have been on wellbutrin for like 6 weeks now and it hasn't done anything but it might work for you.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to AnimeChick]

If esketamine is offered in your area, I recommend that you consider giving it a try. During the 6 weeks did your doctor increase the dose at all? For me, before esketamine, I found the combination of 60mg fluoxetine with 300mg bupropion helpful. Hopefully you have a good psychiatrist that you are able to communicate with frequently. Sending best wishes to you.

[AnimeChick in reply to Sunrisetabby]

They went up to 300 mg of wellbutrin but it still didn't make a difference. My psychiatrist is good, just nothing seems to be working. She mentioned ketamine and TMS as possible options.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to AnimeChick]

Fwiw, I did a full treatment of TMS with no benefit before starting ketamine (Spravaato Esketamine). To be honest, the ketamine took about 4 months for me as well, but I feel like it has helped a lot more than anything previously. If an option for you, I think you may be able to see quicker benefits from the ketamine iv infusions compared to the spraavato nasal spray. Please be assured that vibrant colors still exist even if everything has only been dark for you for awhile now.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to Sunrisetabby]

I also just wanted to add that your beliefs do really matter. I was just re listening to a great podcast where Andrew Huberman was interviewing Layne Norton. @37:30 Norton: " "Your beliefs about what it does are just as powerful as what it does." He was talking about a study on creatine and the placebo effect, be Ellen Langer in the Mind-Body Connection has discusses the connection and at the same time the lack of distinction between the mind and the body.

Wellbutrin, as documented in many scientific studies can have a positive impact for many people. Just because it hasn't made an impact on your quality of life yet does not mean that it is not working; it just may veworking slowly in your case with results not yet visible. I know for me, all I needed was just a little spark to reignite my life, but in the depths of my dark and wet mind nothing would catch fire. I think park of the reason ea ketamine has been helpful for me is that it helped changed my perspective. Best wishes.

[Sunrisetabby]

Podcast I mentioned: hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-...