chinacat Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 OK, as some of you may know, I can't take any atypicals cause they cause me to have the EPS side effects (like tardive dyskynesia, etc) like I did when I took Compazine 35 years ago. (And when I tried LSD, but thats another story) So today, I have done nothing but take my regular meds, eat regular food, watch movies and TV all day--and I am having super-bad EPS-kinds of things, can hardly breathe, all sorts of weird, side-effect-kind of feelings. TO WHAT?? Nothing has changed, nothing new, no meds changed, no odd foods, NOTHING> WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE???? I am beginning to get really anxious and freaky and al I have is the Restoril I have for sleep--but this is very weird. Also have had a mild but steady headache for 2 days, which is unusual for me. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, and I am bothered when I do not understand what is happening with my body/mind. Any ideas/suggestions?? Getting very freaky here-- china Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 China... I wish I knew what to say to you. I just don't know enough about what you're describing to even know anything to say. Other, that is, than don't panic. And if you think you need to call a doc, well then do. (I know...pretty bland stuff, but that's all I got ) I did just write something about panic and calming yourself down over here: http://www.crazyboards.org/index.php?showt...indpost&p=84823 -- just a long shot, but maybe it'll help? I hope someone more knowledgable will respond very soon here. Take care, sweetie. And remember...you may feel like crap, but you look like a kid! (Okay...again, not very helpful. Worth a shot?!) hugs, revlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinacat Posted December 5, 2005 Author Share Posted December 5, 2005 Little better this AM, but still not "me"--but no cycling at all for 3 days, just these weird side effects, and this little headache. My apt. is Wed. so unless something worse happens, I'll wait til then, but I am really bugged about this. Got 11 solid hours of sleep last nite--thank you, whatever the thing is I take whose name I suddenly can't remember. Thats another thing--memory--just finished doing C'mas/Yule/Solstice cards, made return address labels--very impt, since some follks don't have our new add. Put the WRONG HOUSE NUMBER on them--every single one. Had to change each one by hand. I am losing my mind. And still the side effects to invisible medication--- Anybody? Somebody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Dunno, my side effects that came out of the blue were actually out of the red- my period, that is. So hence the birth control non-stop balancing act... I got totally stupid out of the blue on Lithium. They didn't let me have any for years because of a failed suicide attempt with the stuff, and a lot of my hair had fallen out. When I tried it again I felt so great, except for being so stupid! I forgot a job interview, then said all the wrong stuff when I went. I forgot how to drive and ran red lights as if they were a nice suggestion and not the law. I didn't know my name or my address when I had to fill out a form for a grocery store discount card! I just starred at it like an idiot! So, you have my greatest sympathy. It happens! We're crazy, and I think the meds we take are crazy too. --loon-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinacat Posted December 5, 2005 Author Share Posted December 5, 2005 I think I may have figured it out--about 3 weeks ago my very nice Pdoc switched me from Wellbutrin XR, 300 MGS 1 in the AM, which was costly 'cause it is a brand, to the generic 150 mgs. SR, 2 in the AM. I don't think they are "sustained release" at all, I think I am OD's ing on the fucking generic Wellbutrin. Which would explain my total lack odf appetite, yawning, and other weird side effects, INCLUDING the headache. I will take only ONE tomorrow AM and see if I feel this spacy and awful tomorrow-- I may have saved money--the generic co-pay is only $10, as opposed to $25 for the "brand" but I have learned a lesson. And me, the nurse who has always preached that generics are the same, people should ALWAYS tqake them if possible, ad nauseum. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME--NOT IN THE CASE OF WELLBUTRIN XR verses Bupropion by Teva SR. A sadder, poorer but wiser china cat, whose pulse is about 200 right now, and who doesn;t care if she ever sees food again-- ASSHOLE PHARMACEUTICALS!!!!!!!!! THEY ALL SUCK--- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaRufina Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 I think I may have figured it out--about 3 weeks ago my very nice Pdoc switched me from Wellbutrin XR, 300 MGS 1 in the AM, which was costly 'cause it is a brand, to the generic 150 mgs. SR, 2 in the AM. I don't think they are "sustained release" at all, I think I am OD's ing on the fucking generic Wellbutrin. Which would explain my total lack odf appetite, yawning, and other weird side effects, INCLUDING the headache. I will take only ONE tomorrow AM and see if I feel this spacy and awful tomorrow-- I may have saved money--the generic co-pay is only $10, as opposed to $25 for the "brand" but I have learned a lesson. And me, the nurse who has always preached that generics are the same, people should ALWAYS tqake them if possible, ad nauseum. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> China- Sorry I didn't get back to you on this sooner, but I just saw it. I would say that you should probably try splitting the dose, yeah. I noticed a HUGE difference when I tried to take the SR. Once. Granted, I am kind of a freak, but it hit me really quickly and I couldn't handle it. People should take generics when they can, but I know there was a big difference for me. Splitting up by a few hours may help. But, since the switch was three weeks ago, you should probably call your doctor now anyway. Like, tonite. You haven't been explicit about your EPS symptoms, but having an extended headache and trouble breathing and then feeling exhausted are, all together, things to pay attention to. Make a phone call to an on-call doc. I don't know what this is but you are clearly really concerned, and I am just out of ideas. It's significant though, and I don't think that calling now 'just to be safe' instead of waiting until your appointment is overcautious. I know you are a nurse and can probably gauge symptoms, but this is just a disconcerting post. It may be a bizarre panic attack, but it sounds really long and extensive. Take care of yourself please ~navy~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinacat Posted December 5, 2005 Author Share Posted December 5, 2005 Thanks, Navy--actually, the breathing thing was brief, or I would have been at the ER--I know better thank to mess around with that. Its not that you CAN'T breathe, you just THINK you can't breathe--atually, the air is goin in and out quite nicely. Its like you feel like you need to cough, but when you cough, you realize you really don't. I know that makes no sense to anyone who has not had EPS kinds of symptoms--when I took Compazine, I could not stop smiling. OK, that sounds harmless, even pleasant--but it really isn't. Now, I am just having the mild headache, TOTAL loss of appetite, which I didnt mention Sunday cause I usually don't have much appetite (but this is NONE) and yawning. Not too wild about the heart pounding thing, but its gone away now, so the AM dose must be almost gone The important thing here for EVERYONE--and feel free to move this post if you think it would help--SOME GENERICS DON'T WORK THE SAME . I was the queen of "take generics, always" for 20 years. I learned my lesson the last 3 days. Please, all of my BP and depressed friends-- and anyone else who reads this--if you change to generics and suddenly have side effects to a med you have taken for months, even years, IT MAY BE THE GENERIC. Thanks, for listening, everyone-- sadder, poorer, but wiser, chinacat, the EPS SPAZ queen (apparently--tho no one has formally given me the title, I hope no one else can challenge me--EPS stuff sux bad.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Part of your reaction to the Wellbutrin might also be the difference between XR and SR (what that really is besides a letter and a lot of money). The SR might be hitting you differently. You don't say what time of the day these things happen, or if it's all day, but if it's near the time of the Wellbutrin dose that might point more toward the SR and XR difference. The absorption of the two is different, so two SR at the same time is probably not equivalent to one XR even the doses add up the same. Any possibilities here? And I do understand about generics. Generally they're a very good thing and just fine; but some things I just don't want to mess around with if I don't have to. Let us know how the doctor's appointment goes. Fiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYPaintLady Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Part of your reaction to the Wellbutrin might also be the difference between XR and SR (what that really is besides a letter and a lot of money). The SR might be hitting you differently. You don't say what time of the day these things happen, or if it's all day, but if it's near the time of the Wellbutrin dose that might point more toward the SR and XR difference. The absorption of the two is different, so two SR at the same time is probably not equivalent to one XR even the doses add up the same. Any possibilities here? And I do understand about generics. Generally they're a very good thing and just fine; but some things I just don't want to mess around with if I don't have to. Let us know how the doctor's appointment goes. Fiona <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree with Fiona that the difference in XR (XL??) and SR is probably the reason you are having problems. From the Wellbutrin web site "WELLBUTRIN XL contains the same active ingredient as WELLBUTRIN SR, but WELLBUTRIN XL is formulated in an extended-release, once-daily tablet. This means that with WELLBUTRIN XL, you can take one tablet in the morning, continue with your daily activities, and not worry about remembering to take a second dose. " So, your dosage probably has to be adjusted somehow.... I'm not sure how, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinacat Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 Yeah, I read thru the PI sheet on the XL and obviously 2 generic SR's in the AM DO NOT equal one brand XL in the AM-- and the "special effects" are wearing off a bit, since I took one of the generic bad boys this AM, don't dare take one at nite, I would neer sleep again, or eat. Still having the headache, but little cycling, and the EPS things are almost gone--just the "fake cough" every now and then. Welll, there was that major anxiety attack this afternoon when I got rear-ended (in my little car) by a really BIG truck. (Not his fault, of course--not in Fla--for reasons I will not discuss here--feel free to PM me) But I can't blame that on the meds. I mean, you get hit about 5 times, the last one really HARD by a really big truck while you are stopped at a light and I promise you, you will have an anxiety attack, not to mention severe depression when you find out how things work in lovely "Floridy" Tomorrow is Pdoc day--but I don't really have the $$ to go back on the Brand's right now, so we're gonna have to figure out something, which means the switch in mood stabalizers will probably have to be postponed. Whoopie. Life is so great. I am so happy I could shit. And I do, thanks to my other medical problems. Got a rock I can crawl under?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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