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Is Wellbutrin Becoming the Oxycontin of the '20's?

In the last 6 weeks or so, three different medical providers have suggested putting me on Wellbutrin as part of a smoking cessation plan. It seems weird that all three immediately said Wellbutrin as opposed to other methods i.e. nicotine patches, lozenges etc.

Is this the new "wonder" drug that we're going to pay the consequences of in a few years?

Also, what is the term for when a drug that was developed to treat one malady is then used to treat something else e.g. Viagra? Off brand?

Also (part 2), any experiences taking Wellbutrin, positive or negative?

Thank you kindly.

by Anonymousreply 34December 8, 2022 1:57 AM

Wellbutrin isn't the "new" anything.

by Anonymousreply 1December 7, 2022 11:34 AM

Thank you for your insight R1

by Anonymousreply 2December 7, 2022 11:37 AM

I was prescribed Wellbutrin 10 years ago for smoking cessation. Guess what? It worked.

R1 is correct.

by Anonymousreply 3December 7, 2022 11:39 AM

For a chain smoker with a limp dick from New Jersey, you ask a lot of questions.

by Anonymousreply 4December 7, 2022 11:48 AM

OP, you're no Faith Popcorn.

by Anonymousreply 5December 7, 2022 12:02 PM

OP, I tried Wellbutrin to stop smoking over twenty years ago. I had the worst negative thoughts I have ever had in my life, intrusive thoughts like my family hates and is against me, a sense or worthlessness, etc. I knew it was the medication so I was able to talk myself out of the thoughts, but it was really not fun. I did stop smoking but for only 3 months. I had a much better experience with Chantrix a decade later, no negative thoughts and I haven't had a craving or cigarette in over 10 years.

I work on a inpatient psych unit. Wellbutrin is not unusual but it is not commonly prescribed for depression and seldom for smoking cessation.in my experience.

by Anonymousreply 6December 7, 2022 12:14 PM

the Wellbutrin drug reps have been providing very nice kick backs...

by Anonymousreply 7December 7, 2022 12:23 PM

r6, by any chance were you taking another anti-depressant while you were on Wellbutrin?

I took Wellbutrin for a few months in 1991, and it failed to anti-depress me. All it did was make me sweat so much, when I walked into a room, people assumed I'd been caught in the rain. Since the Wellbutrin wasn't working as he'd hoped, my psychiatrist decided to add Prozac. The combination of the two made me a shrieking, paranoid mess within just a few days. I [italic]knew[/italic] people were out to get me.

I stopped taking the Prozac almost immediately, and my fear that people were going to kill me subsided almost immediately. As soon as it was deemed medically safe, I also stopped the Wellbutrin. And then I stopped going to the therapist and the psychiatrist both.

by Anonymousreply 8December 7, 2022 12:26 PM

That suspicion crossed my mind, R7.

- R6

by Anonymousreply 9December 7, 2022 12:26 PM

Oh, and r6, I was not taking it to quit smoking. At the time, I hadn't had a cigarette in several years.

- r8

by Anonymousreply 10December 7, 2022 12:28 PM

OP, about 22 years ago, I took it for depression. Then, one fateful day, I had a seizure. Thank God, I wasn't driving, and was at home. Please talk to your doctor.

by Anonymousreply 11December 7, 2022 12:29 PM

No, of course not. Entirely different drug and it’s been available for a long time and is not abused.

by Anonymousreply 12December 7, 2022 12:30 PM

R8, no, I wasn't on antidepressants or any other drugs, legal or otherwise, and very little alcohol use. I just assumed that an anti-depressant medication was inducing depressing (and suicidal) thoughts because I wasn't depressed. It was messing up my brain chemistry.

- R6

by Anonymousreply 13December 7, 2022 12:37 PM

I believe it was originally approved for smoking cessation and later became used as an antidepressant. It’s usually well tolerated without a lot of side effects.

by Anonymousreply 14December 7, 2022 2:29 PM

Thank you all for the first-hand experiences. R14 interesting, I thought it was the other way around.

by Anonymousreply 15December 7, 2022 3:23 PM

R4 you must have extra time on your hands to figure all that out. Unless, you're someone I actually know who THINKS he's funny, but in reality is not.

by Anonymousreply 16December 7, 2022 3:24 PM

I don't take it anymore -- it makes me bitchy(ier).

by Anonymousreply 17December 7, 2022 3:29 PM

I took it about 20 years ago and it made me have terrible insomnia as well as horrible short-term memory issues. When I stopped taking it the memory issues subsided. It also made me anxious. It's an anti-depressant in that it may give you some "pep", but it does nothing to quell anxiety or obsessive thought patterns (at least in my experience.)

If you have no alternative I recommend the non-extended release version because extended release exacerbates the insomnia side effects.

by Anonymousreply 18December 7, 2022 3:37 PM

R18 here. Wellbutrin is often prescribed for weight loss as well as cigarette-cessation. Not a smoker, but as an occasional fat whore, I really didn't notice any significant weight loss. If it works for breaking these habits it's likely because your thought patterns are continually interrupted so perhaps you forget about a craving.

by Anonymousreply 19December 7, 2022 3:41 PM

OP believes they’re putting microchips in us via vaccines.

by Anonymousreply 20December 7, 2022 3:43 PM

You don't get high on Wellbutrin, it's not an opioid like Oxycontin is.

Wellbutrin (I took for depression) gave me bad dreams and stopped my hair growth. Despite that, it was something I could tolerate better than Prozac & Zoloft. My doctor said I was having too many side effects with Wellbutrin and took me off of it.

by Anonymousreply 21December 7, 2022 3:43 PM

Wellbutrin is absolutely not a fun drug, so your comparison is not a good one.

It is the pill shills.

by Anonymousreply 22December 7, 2022 3:45 PM

I've been taking it for years for depression. It doesn't make you gain weight unlike the SSRIs and it increases your libido.

I love it.

Only issue is that you get bad headaches mixing it with alcohol. I don't care about drinking so it's not an issue for me.

by Anonymousreply 23December 7, 2022 3:46 PM

Yes, definitely do not mix it with alcohol, it makes you feel icky.

by Anonymousreply 24December 7, 2022 3:47 PM

I’m on it and I like it. Helped me with both depression and weight loss.

by Anonymousreply 25December 7, 2022 3:48 PM

Yes, defagto, we can see how effectively you manage your various conditions.

by Anonymousreply 26December 7, 2022 3:53 PM

Yes, it works as a smoking cessation aid. The key is to stay on it for a long period, like a year or whatever the doctor says. You have to want to quit smoking as well.

by Anonymousreply 27December 7, 2022 4:41 PM

Wellbutrin used to be marketed as “Zyban” when it was sold as a smoking cessation solution in the late 90s

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 28December 7, 2022 5:50 PM

Wait, I thought Wellbutrin was part of Big Military and made tons of money off the Terror Wars. They make drugs too?

by Anonymousreply 29December 7, 2022 11:15 PM

[quote]Is this the new "wonder" drug

It's been around for decades, so no.

[quote]Also, what is the term for when a drug that was developed to treat one malady is then used to treat something else e.g. Viagra? Off brand?

Off-label use.

by Anonymousreply 30December 7, 2022 11:37 PM

I've been on it for years. The only "side effect" that I notice is that my orgasms are so much better.

Haven't noticed any other side effects. My doc prescribed it for me after my cat died and I couldn't stop crying for months. After about a week on it, I noticed I was starting to sing along with the radio. That's how I know it works for depression. Still on it. No issues with drinking alcohol with it but I don't drink that often...maybe once a month I'll have a glass of wine or two. It does help with weight loss in that it's more motivating than other antidepressants.

by Anonymousreply 31December 8, 2022 12:21 AM

[quote] I had a much better experience with Chantrix a decade later

Wasn't Chantix the one where if you took it you wanted to fucking murder people?

I mean, good for whoever said this upthread, glad you stopped

by Anonymousreply 32December 8, 2022 12:24 AM

Like R23, it left me with consistent headaches, which increased when I was stressed.

I cant attest to improved orgasms, because I was too grumpy and achy to even attempt it.

A vile drug.

by Anonymousreply 33December 8, 2022 1:54 AM

No, but the buttcrack is still the new cleavage.

by Anonymousreply 34December 8, 2022 1:57 AM
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