buproprionanxiety: Buproprion Immediate Adverse Event

[buproprionanxiety]

On July 11, I began taking bupropion XL 150 QD and naltrexone 7mg QOD as part of a weight loss regimen prescribed by hims. Within the first day, I began experiencing severe anxiety, paranoia, paranoid ideations, insomnia, tachycardia, and elevated blood pressure. After the fourth day, the symptoms hadn’t resolved and I discontinued the medications.

 

Prior to taking the medications, I had not had any diagnosis of or treatment for anxiety or any other mental condition. 

 

I went to my provider in July 17, and she prescribed me propranolol 10mg TID as necessary for anxiety. 

 

I am now on day 14 off the medications. While the side effects have improved, they are still noticeable, especially in the morning and night.  The main side effects I’m experiencing are anxiety, paranoia, and insomnia. 

I’m hoping that others can chime in on my questions below. 
 

1. Have others seen similar reactions to short term use of bupropion and/or naltrexone?  
 

2. If so, how long have you seen it take to recover?  
 

3. Is this considered withdrawal? I only took the regimen for four days. 
 

4.  Are there supplements that can help with recovery?

 

I’m just looking for some peace of mind that this will resolve. 

 

Thank you for your time reading this. 

Edited July 28 by Emonda
Name to title

[Erimus]

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

 

What you have experienced is an immediate adverse reaction to the medication. We have a number of members who have experienced such events. You can read more about adverse reactions here: Immediate adverse reactions to an antidepressant or within a few doses? How long for recovery?

 

From this point on you are sensitised to other psychiatric medication, as well as some antibiotics. You also need to avoid alcohol and any other psychoactive substances for the foreseeable future.

 

You will recover in time but it is often a non-linear process, whereby you experience ups and downs of symptoms and their intensity. This is called The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization .

 

We only recommend two supplements. Omega 3 Fish Oil and Magnesium. Both should be introduced separately and increased slowly. I would wait for a month before you attempt introducing any supplements.

[buproprionanxiety]

Adding an update to my original post to document my recovery thus far.

 

Days 1-17

• Main symptoms included anxiety, paranoia, catastrophizing, palpitations, elevated blood pressure, insomnia
• Brain fog and drowsiness all day 
• Largely unable to focus and was unfunctional
• Vivid dreams
• On day 3, my provider put me on propranolol 10mg TID as needed.  I took them every eight hours.  This didn't help much.
• Back to Normal % on Day 1:  0%
• Back to Normal % on Day 17: 50%

By day 18, I began noticing an improvement in symptoms, so I began journaling how I felt each day since.

 

Day 18

• Woke up early
• Anxiety in AM
• Jittery legs
• Insomnia and vivid dreams
• Anxiety, paranoia, and obsessive thoughts/catastrophizing lessened in afternoon
• Began taking melatonin 5mg, magnesium, ashwagandha at night
• Stomach ache in morning, loose stools
• Back to Normal %:  80%

Day 19

• Decent sleep - briefly woke up at 5:30 and then 6:45
• Vivid dreams and nightmares
• Less anxiety in AM
• Obsessive thoughts/catastrophizing in afternoon
• Stomach ache in morning, loose stools
• Back to Normal %:  70%

Day 20

• Decent sleep - woke at 6:15
• No dreams
• Minimal jitteriness
• Did not take propranolol in morning/afternoon for the first time.  Only took it at night
• Added benadryl 25mg to nighttime routine (melatonin 5mg, magnesium, ashwagandha, propranolol)
• Stomach ache in morning, loose stools
• Dull headache all day
• Mild intrusive thoughts
• BP:  140/83, HR 77 @ 3:00 pm
• Back to Normal %:  90%

Day 21

• Decent sleep
• Dreams - active but not vivid
• Dull headache
• Mild obsessive thoughts/catastrophizing
• Stomach ache in morning, loose stools
• Jitteriness in afternoon
• BP 137/73, HR 93 @ 2:30PM
• Only took propranolol at night
• Back to Normal %:  80%

Day 22

• BP 123/76, HR 86 @ 8:00AM
• Restful sleep, no dreams
• Less drowsy
• Slept to alarm
• Minor dull headache
• More functional at work
• Provider increased me to propranolol 20mg at night
• Stomach ache in morning, loose stools
• New nighttime routine (melatonin 5mg, magnesium, ashwagandha, propranolol).  Stopped taking benadryl at providers direction
• Back to Normal %:  90%

Day 23

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Non-vivid dreams
• Woke up early
• Loose stools
• Woke up hungry
• BP 110/73 HR 77 @ 7:55AM
• Jittery in AM
• Struggled with obsessive thinking/catastrophizing until about 4pm
• Began taking vitamin D, probiotic and Botanicalm (GABA supporter) during day
• New nightime routine:  Reacted Magnesium (Ortho Molecular Products), Sleep + (L-Theanine, Chamomile, Melatonin from Ortho Molecular Products), propranolol 20mg, melatonin 5mg, ashwagandha
• Back to Normal %:  75%

It certainly seems like I'm experiencing the windows and waves, though the waves are getting less intense each time.  I am also adding more daily supplements (NAC, l-theanine) during the day to help with additional neuro balancing.  I will continue to update my journey.  

[buproprionanxiety]

Adding another week's worth of updates.  I stopped taking propranolol and had some withdrawal symptoms from that, unfortunately.  The good news is that I am only on supplements now.  I am seeing a very gradual improvement in symptoms, but I wish it would be better already.  Overall, I've been between 80-90% back to normal in the past week.  I'm hoping to continue closing the gap this week.  

 

Morning Supplements

• Botanicalm (natural ingredients that stimulate GABA production)
• Probiotics
• L-theanine 200mg
• NAC 1000mg
• Vit D 10,000iu

Evening Supplements

• Ashwagandha 1,300mg
• 5-HTP 200mg
• NAC 1000 mg
• Magnesium 200mg
• Melatonin 5mg
• L-theanine 200mg

 

Day 24

• Restful sleep, but woke before alarm
• Minimal jitteriness, anxiety in AM
• Took morning supplements
• Loose stools
• BP 126/87, HR 68 @ 9:12AM
• Back to Normal %:  99% - this was a really good day

Day 25

• Slept straight to alarm
• Restful sleep
• No jitteriness, minimal anxiety in AM
• Took morning supplements
• Loose stools
• BP 115/66, HR 70 @ 8:00AM
• Some waves of intrusive thoughts in afternoon
• Back to Normal %:  85%

Day 26

• Restful sleep - woke up half hour before alarm
• No jitteriness, minimal anxiety in AM
• Took morning supplements
• BP 131/77, HR 77 - this was after eating some pizza though
• Did not take propranolol tonight and added half dose of 5-HTP
• Back to Normal %:  90%

Day 27

• Restful sleep, but woke early due to smoking a brisket overnight
• Some jitteriness and anxiety in AM - curious if this is due to not taking propranolol the night before
• Took morning supplements
• Normal stool for the first time in a month
• BP 116/87, HR 91 at 8A
• Some catastrophizing and intrusive thoughts throughout the day
• Heart palpitations and nervous energy noted - again, I wonder if this is due to not taking propranolol
• Increased to full dose of 5-HTP and other evening supplements
• Back to Normal %:  88%

 

Day 28

• Restful sleep - day three of no propranolol
• Woke up earlier than I wanted
• Loose stool during AM, no other BMs during day 
• Took morning supplements
• BP 131/71, HR 90 at 1030AM
• Some catastrophizing and intrusive thoughts throughout the day
• Dull headache noted
• Increased dose of NAC at night to 1000mg (from 500mg)
• Back to Normal %:  80%

 

Day 29 (Today August 12)

• Restful sleep - had dreams, but not vivid in nature
• Some jitteriness and anxiety in AM 
• Took morning supplements
• Mostly normal stool in AM - no other BMs
• BP 136/78 HR 85 at 8A
• Some catastrophizing and intrusive thoughts throughout the day
• No heart palpitations noted - this is day four without propranolol
• Began doing vagus nerve massages - this seemed to help during the waves today
• Back to Normal %:  90%