Loon-A-TiK Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 hiya- my boyfriend has the worst anxiety/panic issues i've ever personally seen in someone, and a depression issue as well. it affects all of his relationships, including ours. he knows he needs help, and takes xanax prn for the anxiety (when he's supposed to be taking it on a schedule). however, he won't take an AD because he claims it messes with who he is, decreases his competetive drive, and just turns him into someone else. he's talking about wellbutrin. my experience with WB is that it doesn't have any anti-anxiety effects and the only thing that would make someone feel like they're not themselves is the AD lift, which is the point of the med. do you have any other thoughts or reflections on how WB makes you feel? what can i say to him to get him to give WB a proper try? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 It can make anxiety and panic worse. If he doesn't want to get better there is nothing you can do about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 I seemed to get a few helpful years out of wellbutrin, but I had to take klonopin along with it for anxiety. In the end we dropped the wellbutrin and went the ECT route which reallys seems to have helped without changing my personality. Tommy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnapper Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 I have recurrent major depression and dysthymia and have been on (generic) WB for going on seven years. It's helped me a lot, although I don't have the anxiety issues your friend does. It hasn't changed my personality at all, and even when I very first started it I didn't feel differently except for an increase to my energy and an improvement to my dysthmic state. But like VE said, if he doesn't want to get treatment there's not much you can do. Hope it all works out o.k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenyflower Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 he's talking about wellbutrin. my experience with WB is that it doesn't have any anti-anxiety effects Usually, the wellbutrin anxiety symptoms are a start up side effect and diminish over time. BUT, if you have big problems with anxiety to begin with, you may not get over that initial hump. If, however, your anxiety is one of the manifestations of your depression, then, yes, wellbutrin can help lessen anxiety as it relieves the depression. In my view, none of the antidepressants effect personality at its core. If they work, what will change are the ways that depression and anxiety express themselves: the irritability, quickness to anger, trouble sleeping, social withdrawal, etc. You're the same "you" you always were, but without the oppression of feeling defective and worthless. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnapper Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 however, he won't take an AD because he claims it messes with who he is, decreases his competetive drive, and just turns him into someone else. One thing I forgot to add - WB is definitely of great benefit to my competitive drive, or any drive, for that matter. Without it I mostly hide under rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null0trooper Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 In my view, none of the antidepressants effect personality at its core. If they work, what will change are the ways that depression and anxiety express themselves: the irritability, quickness to anger, trouble sleeping, social withdrawal, etc. When I was on it, Wellbutrin was very good for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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