📹 Depression: (The Dark Side Of Wellbutrin/Bupropion)
Major depression has afflicted humankind since time immemorial and has caused, and continues to cause, immense morbidity …
Can antidepressants help with creativity?
Hayley Cranberry Small, a ceramicist, discovered that medication can help artists better access their creativity and express their emotions more readily. She started taking antidepressants when she couldn’t make anything at all, and her family joked about her being difficult since before her first breath. She hoped her inner turmoil would make her stronger and even brilliant. Growing up, she experienced traumas, including sexual abuse, which she repressed until early adulthood. Writing helped her process her depression and anxiety, but eventually, she stopped being able to write at all.
The question of taking antidepressants is a weighty one for most creative people, as many ask if it will sap inspiration, cause emotional numbness, or turn her into a zombie. There’s also a misconception that taking medication for mental health means a person is weak, but most people wouldn’t balk at taking a prescription for a different health issue, such as high cholesterol. However, medication can often help artists better access their creativity and express their emotions more readily.
What drug is best for creativity?
Psychedelic drugs like LSD, Mescaline, Psilocybin, and methylene dioxyamphetamine have been used both legally and illicitly to enhance creativity, aesthetic appreciation, and artistic techniques. Marijuana has been used to heighten meaning and foster creativity, while alcohol has been used to relieve inhibitions, increase spontaneity, and stimulate innovation. However, the common belief in the positive association between alcohol and creativity is strengthened by popular stereotypes of artists, writers, and actors as heavy users or abusers of such substances.
The reason creativity is attributed to drug use involves the actions of many psychoactive substances in producing altered states of consciousness. These altered states are characterized by alterations in thinking, disturbances in time sense, a sense of loss of control, emotional expression, body image change, perceptual distortions, hypersuggestibility, heightened sense of meaning and significance, the ineffable, and feelings of rebirth and rejuvenation.
When people experience these features, they attribute creativity to certain drug experiences. However, little scientific evidence supports the notion that alcohol and drug use actually increase creativity.
Does Wellbutrin increase happiness?
Antidepressants, including serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been demonstrated to elevate dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, thereby supporting a brighter mood and enhancing overall wellbeing when taken in accordance with the instructions provided by a qualified healthcare professional. It should be noted that other antidepressant medications affect different brain hormones.
Does Wellbutrin have permanent effects?
Long-term use of Wellbutrin has been associated with a number of adverse effects, including weight changes, seizures, and episodes of mania and hypomania. However, the majority of these adverse effects are transient and typically dissipate upon cessation of the medication. It is imperative to seek the guidance of a qualified medical professional regarding the potential long-term side effects and withdrawal symptoms that may arise following the cessation of Wellbutrin treatment.
Does Wellbutrin improve thinking?
Depression can negatively impact cognitive abilities, particularly concentration and focus. Wellbutrin can help mitigate these effects, leading to improved mental clarity. Patients report enhanced information processing, making problem-solving and decision-making less overwhelming. Memory recall also improves, reducing forgetfulness and frustration. These cognitive benefits are crucial for overall mental health improvement, allowing patients to engage more fully with their work, studies, and personal lives.
Can Wellbutrin restore emotions?
Wellbutrin is a medication that helps regulate the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, leading to a shift in emotional state and a more stable mood. It is used to treat ADHD, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and working with LGBTQ youth. It is a medication that can be taken over time, with signs of its effectiveness and side effects. However, it is important to be cautious when taking wellbutrin, as it can cause side effects and may not be effective in certain situations.
Professionals like Baron Miller, an experienced pharmacist, and Heidi Moawad, MD, have extensive experience in treating mental health disorders, behavioral health issues, neurological diseases, migraines, pain, stroke, cognitive impairment, and multiple sclerosis.
Does Wellbutrin restore dopamine?
Wellbutrin is indicated for the treatment of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) by virtue of its ability to elevate dopamine and norepinephrine levels within the brain. This results in an improvement in mood and may also facilitate smoking cessation by enhancing the activity of these neurotransmitters.
Does serotonin increase creativity?
Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, has been linked to creativity through its influence on mood and cognitive flexibility. Increased serotonin levels can enhance creative thinking by promoting divergent thinking, a key component of the creative process. Serotonin also plays a role in emotional regulation, helping creative individuals maintain a positive mindset and persevere through challenges. Researchers are exploring methods of brain stimulation to unlock and enhance creative potential, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
TDCS, which involves passing a weak electrical current through the scalp to modulate neural activity, has been found to increase divergent thinking, improve problem-solving abilities, and even enhance artistic performance. This exciting development in creativity research aims to harness the brain’s power to elevate creative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and artistic expression.
Will I go back to normal after stopping Wellbutrin?
Abruptly stopping Wellbutrin can cause withdrawal symptoms like irritable mood, anxiety, sleeplessness, head, and body aches. To prevent withdrawal, taper the dosage before completely stopping the medication. Diana Rangaves, an expert in behavioral health pharmacology, specializes in patient education, medication cost-reduction, and patient-centered treatment. Heidi Moawad, MD, a neurologist with 20+ years of experience, focuses on mental health disorders, behavioral health issues, neurological disease, migraines, pain, stroke, cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis, and more. Talking with a doctor is recommended before completely stopping the medication.
📹 Reacting To Elon Musk’s NEGATIVE Tweet About WELLBUTRIN (Bupropion)
In this episode, I react to Elon Musk’s tweet about Wellbutrin (Bupropion). My book is now available! It discusses my experience …
I started Wellbutrin 5 days ago for adhd treatment and depression. My depression was adhd related I believe as I’m a very happy person. So far its helped with every adhd symptom I’ve had and has made it very easy to quit marijuana. So far only negative side effects besides harder time falling asleep is for the first three days I sweated BADLY like through shirts. But thats all done for now and i feel better than ive felt my whole life. As i said only 5 days in so I’ll see how that may change but as of now zero regret 😊
The problem with just using adderall or other stims is some people with adhd can have the dopamine and norepinephrine in their brains but the brain can’t use it – this drug wellbutrin actually answers insensitivity to dopamine. Instead of just dumping a bunch of neurotransmitters in the brain some of us can’t use it helps us actually use them.
I take Bupropion in combination with Escitalopram, and I’m still somewhat depressed (my depression is complex and prolonged by decades) but the Bupropion interaction helps me a lot with my lethargy and lack of desire of doing things, as well as that reverted my sexual dysfunction caused by general meds – so I concluded it’s an excellent drug but not for everyone.
Everyone’s chemistry is very different. I was put on Wellbutrin 75mg for 5 days and I cried to my therapist that I couldn’t take it anymore. WAY WORSE THAN ADDERALL FOR ME! I was having racing thoughts, heart racing out of my chest, eyes bulging all day from the stimulant effect, loss of appetite and insomnia. Some people DO NOT do well with this
I take 150mg Wellbutrin every day, it has helped me for my anxiety that started after I had alcoholism issues in the past. If you mix alcohol with Wellbutrin, you will DEFINITELY become suicidal – do NOT ever mix the two! Wellbutrin is good, let it do it’s thing and give a few weeks for unwanted thoughts to go away when starting it.
Elon Musk DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT and someone with authority like that in the public eye shouldn’t be throwing around such careless statements. Wellbutrin pulled me out of suicidal thoughts and debilitating depression. Sure for someone else with a different chemistry it wouldn’t be the panacea it has been for me and many others. But same goes if I took one of many other drugs on the market that wouldn’t be right for me. Our chemistry is an incredibly delicate balance. There are many different chemicals that are helpful for many different biochemical imbalances and it’s important to treat things properly. That’s why it’s important to work with a good doctor and identify your genetic markers etc… ;
Wellbutrin has ruined my life. If I were to sit down with Elon Musk, I’d be a part of the group of ppl he’s talking about. I’ve never felt so depressed in my life all because of this drug. I’m going to ween off of it and hope that my doctor can get me something that helped liked escitalopram did for me. I grew an immunity to escitalopram and that’s how I ended up on Wellbutrin and I regret it (although it was my physician’s decision).
Want to try Wellbutrin because the negative side effect profile in other areas is less severe than typical SRRIS. Have you heard about their potential for increasing psycosis/ What do you feel about that? I have seen from previous articles that you experience bipolar mania with pyscosis. I know your not a psyciatrist but its still use full to know from your personal opinion. Do you think wellbutrin might safe for treating bipolar depression when a patient suffers from from strong psychosis during mania and some weaker psycosis durring depressive phases (voice hearing)? I know your case is different because you really mostly experience psycosis only in mania. The patient in question uses antipsycotics not only to mood stabilise during dpression but also to keep psychosis at bay beacuse they hear voices (currently just reprateive and positive)even in states of depression Thank you for your opinion which i realise is not a doctors opinion and im not taking it as such just wanted t know your opinion since you ended up taking Wellbutrin and liking it seemingly.
I was Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. My Psychiatrist gave me this for my depression and I couldn’t keep taking this medication… It gave me extreme anxiety and my heart raced a lot from taking it,also I would have these dreams when I would finally go to sleep that felt like movies & real life events that disturbed me deeply they just felt to real…I couldn’t take the medication anymore for those reasons.
In my psychology studies, I’ve discovered that suicidal thoughts are inherently present within us. Humans are unique in being the only species capable of planning their own death, which suggests these ideas are constantly circulating and trying to enter our minds. In this psycho-cybernetic era, being mindful of this is more crucial than ever. Also, it’s important to remember that Elon Musk isn’t a god; he’s an entrepreneur and business owner who invests in various companies, but that doesn’t mean he’s directly responsible for running or innovating their workforce or leading cutting-edge developments.
Wellbutrin has kind of been a miracle for me. It doesn’t even seem like anything, no side effect. Without it I become so hopeless and have almost no willpower, I don’t care about anything in life. When I take it I still have thoughts like nothing matters and I hope I die in my sleep painlessly and don’t want to get out of bed but I am able to get past those thoughts and feelings, to get through the day and even occasionally tell myself to stop thinking so negatively and try to enjoy the moment, but without it I just give into all the negative thoughts and it’s like I’m a totally different person. It’s like I’m drowning in a large ocean unable to swim and with no hope of being rescued and Wellbutrin is my life preserver, without it I just give up and sink to the bottom waiting for it all to end. With it I hold on knowing there is little hope and maybe I’ll die of starvation soon but I still try to tell myself maybe I’ll get lucky and eventually someone will rescue me, deep down I know it’s not true but this life preserver keeps me above water a little while longer. I say it’s kind of a miracle because can tell who I am when I am not on it, when not on it I don’t think I need it but once I’ve gotten back on it I reflect and realize who I am without it. unfortunately I am forced to stop taking it because I refuse to take any other antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication and most doctors won’t proscribe it for me, they want to force me to go to a psychiatrist who puts me on a medication I haven’t tried in the past 30 years or one I don’t remember being on before but probably have and it makes things worse so I refuse to go to a psychiatrist ever again.
I had to tell my psychiatrist to give me Wellbutrin. I’ve been on it 6 days. My responses are more thoughtful, I’m happier. I’m more spontaneous. I feel like I have more energy. Sometimes I don’t sleep well. The medicine makes it less noticeable the next day. I have isolated anxiety, and it’s still there, but I want to change. Where before, I was thinking about the bunker mentality. I know it usually takes weeks to kick in but I already feel a difference.
I took generic brand of Wellbutrin since 3 months! And I am not loose any weight!! Disappointing, and constipations awful. The most irritable side effect for me is dry mouths, dry nose to getting bloody because its all the time dry -,- every time I starting being extremely thirsty a little bit dehydrated, sometimes I feel headache at the end of day and zi know “I drunk too less water!”, the most at the half of day, and sweat a lot.
That stuff made me an absolute RAGE monster. I’ve NEVER been an agry or violent man, and I’m proud of that fact, but that stuff made me genuinely afraid that I’d hurt someone. I had no choice but to stop taking it against my doctor’s advice because they swore it wasn’t causing it. I couldn’t even drive to the store without screaming at others to tue point I was almost foaming at the mouth. Never again…
I’m curious to know how many of the individuals who took Welbutrin and reported negative effects mixed it with caffeine or other stimulants, I wouldn’t be shocked if caffine was the culprit as its so common most people dont register it as a drug. I had horrible anxiety when I started it and a bit of agitation but after cutting out caffine my anxiety lowered and when paired with daily exercise, which has been proven to lower stress in general, all the negative effects vanished. Alot of people just want to take a pill and have their illness go away but thats not how this works, you also need to make positive lifestyle changes paired with the medication.
I enjoyed Wellbutrin/Bupropion for several years. It gave me the energy to do things. But for the last year, I realized I have been very forgetful. I forget my path, words, what I was about to do next, etc…. I am off anti-depressants now because I believe it may be causing dementia. Let’s see how it goes.
I just started taking it today. I agree with your position regarding Elon singling out Wellbutrin. In my opinion, according to my previous experience; Wellbutrin feels a lot “cleaner” than any other psychiatric medication I’ve tried. I know with a lot of these medications; it takes 4-6 weeks and whatnot, my first day on Wellbutrin was a pretty happy day. I’m thoroughly impressed, especially when compared to my experience with SSRIs previously. Wellbutrin I can feel it when I laughed, when I smile, I feel happy. I notice it’s easier to crack a genuine laugh and smile. With the SSRIs I’ve tried previously, that’s just not the case, they made me feel bland, boring, and zombied. I’m feeling very optimistic about Wellbutrin and it is only my first day. But I seem to always notice effects on the first day and throughout the first week. I’ve been through a list of medication leading up to this point. I will say, I definitely was against Wellbutrin when it was first recommended to me several months ago because I had the notion; “Wellbutrin is just a one thing cures all drug that’s mainstream and makes doctors a shit load of money” my perception of it has completely changed though. This is good stuff. Keeping fingers crossed that my experience remains persistent.
My therapist prscribed me wellbutrin and the first day on 150 mg, i could not work, felt SO DAMN HIGH, day 2 was better, i felt more in control. Day 3 and 4 pretty ok. I have one wierd side effect, totally in tears in the morning until the meds kick in. I see my therapist in a month and we will see how its working then.
I’ve taken probably every antidepressant on the market. I’m not a fan of any, but I did notice what each did for me. The latest one is Wellbutrin. I took it as a teen at one point although I couldn’t tell you then the experience/results. Now this one has pepped me up with a better mood. The cons are noticeable though. You can’t really take caffeine with it. So if you’re a coffee drinker you have to be careful. Your blood pressure rises with it alone, so it can make it worse. The other is enhancing side effects from other medications. If you take an opiate for example it can make those side effects worse. The pain relief drops off with it as well. Doctors need to do their due diligence and really understand their patients and needs. There’s so many doctors that are quick to prescribe something to a patient without knowing them better.
I took Wellbutrin for a couple weeks. First few days I felt very strange and on edge, then felt incredible for a few days, then felt more depressed and closer to death than I have probably ever felt. I stopped taking it. I never felt more bipolar than while I was on it, which I was under the impression it would help with such a thing. I’m not even diagnosed because I rarely ever have symptoms but I think I do have it because my mom did.
Elon Musk is relying on a anecdotal evidence versus a controlled clinical trial. From personal experience when first starting to take Wellbutrin in combination with Adderall, I did experience some suicidal thoughts, but told myself about the black box warning and knew it was the drug and not me, but after a few weeks those thoughts stopped. Due to heart rate issues I am no longer taking Adderall or Wellbutrin. If I can get my cardio fitness up again maybe I can start taking again. When stopping both I really had no withdrawal symptoms other than feeling a little tired for 2-3 days
Thanks for the article. I have been on SSRI’s for anxiety (started with Lexapro and am currently on Cymbalta because I was looking for something to hopefully give me more energy, motivation, help with libido) but Cymbalta hasn’t helped with any of that, if anything has made it worse. I’m thinking about adding Wellbutrin because the SSRI’s have made me more depressed, unmotivated, etc. What are your thoughts?
just on the comments here alone, it’s a duh that different people will have different experiences with any given drug. From my understanding though, Wellbutrin is liked by doctors because it has so many uses and has become the first line of medication for a lot of conditions. Because of the broad uses of it, It makes sense that it might work well for some while not well for others.
I’ve prescribed Wellbutrin for years to lots of people with horrible depression and also for other off label uses — this has been very helpful to many people. So many people like Musk that don’t know a thing about it throwing their two cents in – sadly they have a very loud voice and can make a huge impact on people’s thoughts and ideas. Mental health and wellness is a real thing — whatever we can use that helps is important.
Well yeah it’s a drug like every other drug has a sad side effect profile. But there are many as you say like there are so many different compounds for depression. Wellbutrin is great for smoke cessation and for depression. But I would rather adderall in my opinion. But I ain’t knocking wellbutrin because my sister is on the compound and she was suicidal so I have 2 views on the drug. I think its sise effect profile is pretty safe as long as its followed through. Glad you got that of your chest. Because if they was knocking my subutex or rivertril I would get defensive not saying u are. Your just voicing your opinion
I was on Prozac for about a year and was ok except a little weight gain. I wasn’t about happy about that so I asked my Dr to switch me to Wellbutrin. 30 lbs gain in 3 months!! I must be the only person with so this side effect. To make it even worse I am ready to argue 24/7. Back to Prozac as of tomorrow!
No, doctors prescribing this medication and Lexapro is irresponsible!!! I’ve watched my mother and wife damn near commit suicide and attempt to ruin there family due to this medication. Thank god my mother had enough self awareness to see she was either gonna be sent to a hospital or have a heart attack from the rage she was experiencing. I can’t even imagine how many families have been destroyed due to this rage inducing drug. Just because crack works for one person does that mean it’s irresponsible to say anything bad about it?!?! Wellbutrin and Lexapro should both be banned!!!!
I would say most people feel levels of depression in Fall/Winter so taking a synthetic drug to alter that seems to be defying nature. Those feelings if not totally focused on can be powerful motivators. More than anything if you’re swinging feeling terrible, you’re not happy w your life situation and you can change it. The other thing is moving to warmer climates in winters. A lot of folks do just that.
I agree with Musk. I started Wellbutrin almost a year ago and in the first few months I described it as a wonder drug and it helped me immensely. After a few months of using Wellbutrin I started experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. I ended up in the hospital multiple times as I continued taking it. I didn’t suspect it was the Wellbutrin causing these symptoms because it was working so great for me, but my anxiety was so severe and lasting a week at a time with no relief I decided to start weening myself off the medication. I didn’t know if I’d be worse off by doing this and the doctors had no answers for me. I felt like I was on my own and was at the point to try anything to get out of this despair. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I was drowning slowly. Horrible feeling. But it has now Been a month since I started weening off Wellbutrin and I can tell you it was the best decision I’ve made. No more anxiety or panic attacks and my breathing has gotten better. I can tell you that I was on the edge when I decided to get off Wellbutrin. So, maybe you don’t like that Musk had a negative tweet about it, but at least there is truth behind what he is saying. I spoke to other people who were on Wellbutrin and they had similar feelings about it as Musk and myself have. Might work for some and others it does not. Please be open and honest about this on your page because it should be noted that pushing a medication because you had positive effects doesn’t mean it would be just as beneficial for someone else.