Symptoms of a Drug Prescription
Medication ♥ Nikki’s Story
April 3, 2023 by Nikki and Anne Heart Nikki’s Story: Journey through Wellbutrin
Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following journey through Nikki’s eyes.
During my freshman year of college, I was prescribed drugs for depression. For seven years, I continued down an endless journey of pain until I realized something was terribly wrong.
This is my story of one of many paths I took to find help.
Learning Through My Journey
In the summer of 2011, at the age of nineteen, I started taking the prescription drug Wellbutrin in addition to three other medications I was currently on for depression.
Planning my return back to college, I longed for any relief from the ongoing pain I experienced. So, without hesitation or questioning, I took the prescribed Wellbutrin.
From the beginning, I didn’t feel well on Wellbutrin. I constantly encountered extreme depression, nauseousness and irritability.
My counselor at the time was a nurse practioner. I was informed by her that I would adjust to the Wellbutrin, and these symptoms would eventually go away. Of course, I believed her.
After five weeks, I increasingly felt physically and mentally worse. I truly believed what I was experiencing was side effects from the Wellbutrin. So, I again reached out to my counselor.
It was during this time, she convincingly told me that I wasn’t experiencing side effects, but my unwellness was due to my “mood disorder”.
No further explanation was given to me regarding this unclassified diagnosis, just a mood disorder.
Unfortunately, I accepted this information without questioning further.
Deep down, both myself and my mom, knew something was off, but we trusted her professional expertise.
Why? I guess because we both had faith in the medical profession and the hope she would help me get better.
My symptoms became more and more unmanageable, so I continued to reach out to her for professional advice.
Instead of a new approach to my treatment plan, my medication was once again altered with no other self-care plan discussed.
This was the beginning of a new world for me. A world consisiting of "medication management." A term frequently used by the medical community.
Since my current medications weren’t providing any relief, my Wellbutrin was increased from 75mg a day to 150mg a day, consisting of a 75mg pill in the morning and another 75mg pill at night. I was advised this was necessary to get the full effective dosage I needed.
Within a few days of increasing my Wellbutrin dosage, I returned to college which was a five hour drive from home. Still feeling unwell, but confident in her advice that I would feel better soon.
However, days passed and my unwellness increasingly worsened. I continued to relay this to my counselor via phone calls.
After nine days on the increased dosage. I could no longer physically nor mentally handle the increase.
I experienced body shakes as well as increased depression, irritability and anger. My symptoms became intolerable.
Naturally, I was told to decrease the Wellbutrin dosage back to the original 75mg morning pill.
The first day, I lowered my dosage, I did feel some relief. But unfortunately, something else came into play soon after.
Every time I moved, the whole room would follow. I became confused and disoriented. I wasn't sure what was happening.
I was alone and scared. I immediately called my mom and luckily was able to reach her. Together we were able to talk through the episode.
My routine scheduled call with my counselor was the same day this happened, and I alarmingly told her what was going on.
She nonchalantly said, “It is just withdrawal.”
I didn’t understand, since I was still on all my current medications and questioned her.
My counselor stated, “Since you lowered your Wellbutrin dosage, what you are going through is withdrawal.” In a reassuring tone she then stated, “Don’t worry, it should pass in a day or two. “
After several days, I still continued to struggle. I had very few days in which I felt well. In fact, the majority of the time I felt awful.
Most days I experienced nauseousness, body shakes and my depression seemed to be worsening.
This time my counselor told me to stop taking the current 75mg Wellbutrin pill prescribing a different Wellbutrin pill. This one was for 100mg dosage.
I continued taking Wellbutrin for almost two years from June 2011 to April 2013.
During this two year period on Wellbutrin, my dosage was altered several times along with constant adjustments to my other drug prescriptions.
I stayed in constant communication with my counselor via phone when I was away at college and in person visits whenever possible. I continued reaching for help and guidance. But still, my overall wellness persistantly declined.
At times my side effects included anxiety, increased depression, body shakes, a rash, nauseousness, stomach pain and hallucinations.
I also experienced irritably and what I referred to as crazy thoughts.
It was hard to distinguish which side effects came solely from Wellbutrin or were caused by the combination of medications I was currently on.
But I do know, it was the overall drugs prescribed to me.
I, like most people, was taught to trust the medical professional and not question the true reality of the situation.
I questioned the obvious things and so did my mom.
But at the time, myself nor my mom were aware of different pill formulation such as immediate-release (Wellbutrin), extended-release (Wellbutrin ER), sustained-release (Wellbutrin SR), and sustained-release (Wellbutrin XL), each having its own dosage guidelines.
Being aware and knowing all the facts regarding any prescription drug, I realized over the years is extremely important.
Knowledge beyond the prescribers information is vital I realized for wellness. Things that seemed minor, such different manufacturers for the same prescription drug, I became aware can actually cause slight alterations in the drug.
The ingredients in prescribed drugs were never discussed with me even though inactive ingredients such as preservatives can cause potential problems.
As the years went on, my mom and I realized how important these elements are.
In 2013, I switched to another counselor. I was then taken off Wellbutrin and immediately prescribed a different antidepressant in the SSRI group.
The details of my withdrawal episodes over the years aren’t always as clearcut as the original episode I experienced on Wellbutrin.
I contribute this to the difficulty in distinguishing withdrawal from side effects.
All too often it was simply because of the overlapping occurrence of both with multiple prescription drugs involved.
What I Learned?
- Always question. Even though someone holds a professional license does not mean they have all the right answers.
- Always trust yourself. I try to put the trust in myself first, because I am the only one that truly knows me.
What can YOU Learn?
- Know side effects
- Beware of withdrawals
- Analize yourself
- Recognize your symptoms
FACTS YOU Need To Know About BUPROPION (WELLBUTRIN)
- General information
- Brand names
- Possible side effeects
- Serious side effects
- Warning(s)
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence.”
– Albert Einstein –
Find YOUR Path
Learn more. Live healthier!
Note: All information in Nikki’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
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