wellbutrin and gp

[kirks2092]

my mum is on burpronorphine and is currently depressed at times suicidal

we had a call back from the gp and i am horrified at the way she was treated

we asked for wellbrutrin and explained its a rls safe drug. the doctor said he can’t prescribe it as its not licensed for depression, he kept insisting she try another antidepressant but we kept explaining she can’t as it affects rls

he then proceeded to tell me that in his 33 years as a gp he had never heard of rls symptons being made worse by antidepressants

To make matters worse he asked her if she was suicidal she said yes, he asked when, she replied this morning. but on the notes he put patient is not suicidal

so we have nothing. i’m horrified, how can i show the gp that anti depressant can cause rls to be worse ?

.

[SueJohnson]

Show him or print out at rls-uk.org/ understanding RLS --> medical treatments --> medications to avoid says "Antidepressants that increase serotonin can also aggravate the condition"

And SSRIs, SNRI, tricyclic antidepressants all increase serotonin.

Also there is a section in the Mayo Updated Algorithm on RLS that says antidepressants make RLS worse - "Clinical experience and open-label studies suggest that administration of most antidepressants may be associated with initiation or worsening of RLS" at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

It's possible that Nice says something about antidepressants but I can't access it since I am in the US.

[SueJohnson]

It is very hard to get wellbutrin in the UK because it is only allowed for smoking cessation.

Sounds like you need a new doctor.

[Joolsg]

Please report the GP to the RCGPs.Say that RLS-UK asked for RLS to be taught to GPs in a campaign in 2019. And that your GP hasn't even read NICE cks guidance which clearly states SNRI, SSRI and tricyclical anti depressants cause or worsen RLS.

I despair.

[kirks2092 in reply to Joolsg]

thank you i’m so horrified at his attitude

i will do this x

[Islay9]

my GP wouldn’t prescribe it , he said it would need to be done by a psychiatrist.

[Whymelord]

OmG,it's unbelievable how gps treat sufferers of RLS.I needed to get a copy of my medical details,eg.illnesses and medications,that's when I discovered that I had chronic kidney disease plus my RLS,nor meds.that I got for treatment of it were not on my medical report.my adult family keep saying I should change gps but I fear its the same in other surgerys. Truly sorry for the way your mum is being treated but I'm not surprised.

[SueJohnson in reply to Whymelord]

That's terrible! Your doctor didn't tell you that you had chronic kidney disease. I would change GP's - can't be worse than that!

[Whymelord in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue,I should have acted on it when I saw the medical record but I do remember mentioning it to a treatment nurse but I didn't confront any of the gps.im concerned that I'm considered too old now for changing gps.

[Ticki]

seriously if it’s because they consider it a stop smoking medication. I I would lie and say I was using it for smoking ,I mean, what difference does it make as long as you can get some help.I’m praying for your mama❤️‍🩹

[Claire_lc]

I'm also on Buprenorphine and thankfully not experiencing the awful symptoms your mum is. I'm so sorry she's suffering like this.

Before I got this prescription, my then sleep psychiatrist, Dr David O'Regan (at Sleep London/Guys Hospital), suggested that Wellbutrin might be an option. I never tried it, but it might be worth sounding him out if a private consultation is within your means.

He is very good at replying to emails and can be contacted on david.o'[e-mail].

[kirks2092 in reply to Claire_lc]

thanks so much x