DRI's such as Wellbutrin (Zyban, Bupropion) on the NHS?

I'll tell you one thing, the drugs definitely wont work if you self medicate with alcohol as well.  One will counteract the other. So if you can, try and reduce the alcohol. I know it will be hard but alcohol makes depressed thoughts a lot worsened and I don't think it is helping your situation.

Richard

Hi I was on welbutrin for like a week & it totally didn't work 4 me it made me really it's iratable it cannot be had it conjunction with achol it works for a lot of pepole though so if ur done with achol u should convince it doc to give it to u it works totally difrent then ssri so if they didn't work u should 4sure try a dig type of ad 

Hi Mike, My experience with Welbutrin has been an amazing success. I thought id share it with you.

To summarize. wellbutrin worked for me, but it can take a while to transfer from your previous medication to wellbutrin.. it also helps with my alcohol cravings(in my opinion) and the NHS wont supply it for depression.

I struggled for years on SSRI's. I wish id experimented with other options much earlier and not wasted so much time. The SSRI meds certainly did stop my depression, butt he sexual side effects were horrible, but even worse was the effect they had on my creative and technical abilites. For the most part, I was functioning normally, but when i tried to do technical/creative work(which is 99% of my job), its like my mind hit a brick wall. The only way to get anywhere was the use of stimulants like caffeine and lots of them.. this was no answer so I researched late last year(2014) and found wellbutrin.

Firstly the NHS wont supply it to you unless you are trying to quit smoking. The NHS from what i understand has a list of drugs to combat depression and Wellbutrin isn't on the list, but it IS on on the NHS list for effective treatment against cravings when you quit smoking.

I ended up buying my own supply from a dodgy overseas chemist, then I had it supplied from a 'not-so dodgy' overseas chemist. I'd reccomend going back to your gp and asking him for help. maybe there is a work-around. Like saying you're a smoker, or getting a doctors prescription and buying it in from a reputable online pharmacy...

In my case I wasnt worried about where I got it from. Thats just me. I have always talked to my doctor and been the judge of my own medication levels for years, with the doctor just rubber stamping it.. Im also from Australia so I will see my gp when i get back there and check in with him, rather than muck around with the NHS system that doesnt want to supply it.

Wellbutrin didnt work for me first up though. I started taking it at a dosage I carefully researched online. I started taking it as I was reducing the dosage on my old medication. I did suffer some depression. so i went back to the original medication... Then i tried again and this time it worked. Again id talk to your gp about an action plan.

One of the most amazing side effects though was the reduction in my cravings for alcohol. I drank a lot. It has helped me reduce my alcohol to consumption to minimum. Ive never been able to do that before. There is anecdotal evedince from others on this subject all over the net. I didnt believe it help but it has..

Anyway, after 4 months on Wellbutrin I have my technical ability back, normal sexual function(yay!), and I dont look around every night for a drink. I do occasionally get a little down. perhaps once a month or so. Im sure thats just an issue with dosage. As I chose a basic (conservative) dose for myself im not wanting to increase it. I will talk to a gp about that sometime. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives..

I would certainly think that if you're NOT happy with your life, then take the time now to find the right medication, rather than waiting. Also rather than rely purely on medication, look in the mirror and ask if there are any things you can change apart from medication. eg. keeping fit, eating healthy, maintaining proper vitamin levels, avoiding drugs and alcohol or at least using in moderation...

wish you every success

Jason

 

Hi mike i saw a shrink, they can prescribe buprion, were docters wont its been great for me, far better than all the rest i live in scotland, push them for it

Hi Mike,

I'm sorry to hear that you were strugling to find the right medication to help you.  I'm from Canada, and I have been prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 because I was diagnosed with SAD (seasonal affective disorder).  I had been through mild depression over a couple of years during the winter months.  It would start like clock work around mid December and not be gone until around the month of May.  The last year, when I was finally prescribed medication, I feel into a deep depression.  The type that I wouldn't even get out of bed for weeks on end.  I had two young boys at home, and a husband who was wonderful and took good care of the kids and me during that hard time.  But that's when I said to myself that I really needed serious help.  

My doctor first prescribed me Venlafaxin and I hated it.  I had no sex drive to speak of anymore.  The symptoms of depression was better though, but I didn't like the side effects of the meds.  So I went back and after telling my doctor that I wanted something that wouldn't be killing my sex drive, he told me to try Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion is the generic name for Wellbutrin and is what I am taking)  It is XL which means it's slow release.  The medication gets released in your body over a 24 hour period instead of all at once when you take it.  Or so I'm told by my gp anyways!

I find that this medication worked great for me.  It had some harsh side effects when I started it.  I was constantly dizzy for a period of around 2 weeks.  And the effect of the medication is only really starting to work after at least 3 weeks of taking them on a daily basis.  But, I am happy to report that I have what I would like to believe, very close to a "normal sex drive" with that medication which counts for a lot!!!

I knew that Wellbutrin was also prescribed for ppl trying to quit smoking, but I didn't know that it was refused to be prescribed in certain countries for depression.  I really hope that you can somehow find a way to get your hands on them.  But please follow the right channels... you wouldn't want to be taking something that is not actually what you ordered (from online sites...)  Be careful with that stuff.

I have been on this medication for over 5 years now and I am still on it.  I will admit that when I am going through really hard times in my personal life (death of a loved one, relationship problems, etc) that I can still feel depressed at times.  But it's easier to manage, and I don't fall super low.  I find myself being able to cope and I get out of that funk after a little while (like a normal person without depression would do).  So you won't be completely immune to feeling a little depressed at times, but it is easier to manage and to get out of it in a reasonable amount of time.

I wish you good luck.  And I hope that you were able to procure yourself the medication that you wanted.  And congratulations on being sober for so long.  You should be proud of yourself!!!

M.

Hi there,

First of all thank you Mike for starting this chat as it's something I am really suffering with also.

Would anyone know what the difference is between Zyban and Wellbutrin? I've been told Zyban is the equivalent of Wellbutrin XL which I've heard a lot of bad reports in comparison to Wellbutrin.

I am 5 days into taking Zyban after ALOT of begging my doctor and convincing a privately paid psychiatrist to let me take it instead of Sertraline (SSRI) and I am have found the last two days as unbearable as the reason I started taking the medication in the first place which disappointing as the first few days were a welcome relief to the constant panic and depression I have been living in.

So if anyone knows the difference between the three (Zyban, Wellbutrin and Wellbutrin xl) I would be so grateful as I am anxious about medication anyway and want to make sure I'm on the right one.

I also really want to know how to get hold of Wellbutrin (the American version) if all else fails?