this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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ADHD

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Wellbutrin for ADHD'ers: Going from XL to SR (self.adhd)
submitted 11 months ago by 5quidSteve to c/adhd
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Was on 300xl for adhd and mood, saw it helped but felt 450xl would benefit more. The psych said 300 was the absolute max (I call bs, I know a lot of y’all are on 450 and even one guy on here is on 600!!) anyway, after I mentioned the different areas of my life it was helping in he agreed to do 200SR x2 a day.

To be frank im kinda excited, I’ve heard quite good things about the SR (for some it worked where the XL did not, or was energizing where the XL was not) and even taking it twice a day will work better for me in how I manage my day.

Hoping to hear positive experiences from others

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[–] ninekeysdown 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I take 300xl and serterline 100mg daily. It helps with my depression and adhd. But no where near the help that stimulants eg adderall, vyvanse, etc.

It’s enough to where I’m not completely useless when I can’t get stimulants though. I haven’t noticed any real difference when taking higher doses XR or SR. So ymmv. I hope it does make a difference for you though, it’s really amazing when your adhd isn’t holding you back 😂

I wish it did something close to adderall because the hard time getting stimulants is really fucking up things for me. Thankfully I have very understanding boss and co-workers.

[–] 5quidSteve 2 points 11 months ago

Thank you for that, I think it will help to keep my expectations curbed big time and I think the best I can hope for is your scenario, where it at least makes me not completely useless without stimulants 😆 Strattera with the Wellbutrin does seem to help me with focus, but Strattera is something I do not recommend because the side effects are sooooooo rough. I am using this combination for now because I am in the middle of a course (not that it is helping, I've procrastinated this entire time), but hoping I can atleast hold on to some stability until I can find dosages that are effective or give up on the non-stim route and go with adderall/vyvanse, hopefully the shortage will resolve by then.

Thanks or the well wishes and yes it is freaking incredible when your mind isn't doing the channel flipping 24/7 🥲

[–] Dove9848 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

My doctor tried me on Wellbutrin when I first asked for meds for ADHD. Didn't do shit for me . Like I felt absolutely nothing changed while on it. Then he kept trying me on other stimulants like Adderall etc that are in generics, made me feel shitty and angry. I was like....give me the Vyvanse pleeeeease! Finally he let me get on Vyvanse. Loved it. Was on it for about 10 years or so. Stopped taking it several years ago just a personal choice and I still suffer from ADHD pretty bad but I feel like I am able to survive at this point in my life without the meds now. Not in school and dont have a super high stress job anymore. No side effects when stopping meds cold turkey either.

[–] 5quidSteve 1 points 11 months ago

Wow, what a journey you were on! I am glad you found something that worked, had stability for so long and then gave it up voluntarily with no side effects...goooooooooals.

[–] kryptonicus 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Do you combine Wellbutrin with a stimulant med? I've started discussing this with my doc because my ability to find Adderall has been inconsistent. I was hoping the Wellbutrin might even things out. But I'm uncomfortable starting and stopping Wellbutrin. I feel like with the way it works on brain chemistry, you're probably better off taking it consistently.

[–] cheese_greater 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

You should try the SR version for the reason that XL (extended release) is supposedly 24 hours, whereas SR (sustained release) delivers the same dose over a smaller window where you can go about your day and get your stuff done. You don't need to be dosed when you're sleeping (XL) and Wellbutrin can definitely have a slight stim effect (akin to a very mild baby Ritalin) if the dose is sufficient in amount or if the timeframe is compressed

[–] 5quidSteve 2 points 11 months ago

haha, you are right who needs to be dosed while sleeping. Thanks so much for the insights about how to use SR. what dose are you on and what time do you generally take it?

[–] 5quidSteve 2 points 11 months ago

exactly, I agree with being consistent and I know some people who have been on Wellbutrin for 5 years, 10 years even. I am also considering the addition of a stimulant, right now I am using Strattera 10mg along with the Wellbutrin , and it does seem to be working in synergy. But I would still favor a stimulant over the Strattera is possible, because the Strattera gives me awful sexual side effects. Just putting up with it now out of necessity

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Wellbutrin is meant to treat adhd? I take Auvelity and it helps depression sure, but not adhd symptoms.

[–] 5quidSteve 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Wow, I never heard of Auvelity, interesting combination. Wellbutrin is only FDA approved to treat depression and to stop smoking but it is also used off label for ADHD. For me it doesn't help a ton with ADHD but it does help a little, in terms of keeping my mind more put together. (Just doesn't give me that hard focus that lets me actually complete tasks, I take Strattera for that and still considering stimulants) I was hoping to go to 450 because some ADHD'ers have reported using that dose and it helping. For those with ADHD that it helps, they report it kind of like a mild stimulant.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What I’ve learned going through this mostly alone is that if you keep pushing a higher dosage of medication rather than asking to reconsider the drug mix and dosage you have because of x and y symptoms you still have that the drugs are meant to treat (ie: hey, I think you, the psychiatrist, don’t know wtf you’re doing, give me 450mg of Wellbutrin because I said so and the internet said so. VS “I think that we should reconsider and perhaps look into the medication mixes and dosages that I’m taking because I still feel depressed, anxious, unfocused, etc etc. and would like to try and fix some aspects of this. Would a higher dose or different medication mix do this?”

I know it sounds esoteric but it makes a world of difference. From druggie looking for a higher mix to sell or possibly use to life end, to a curious and concerned patient looking to fix a problem

That being said, Auvelity might help? It definitely helped depression which has the off chance of reliving more adhd symptoms, just not for me and I’m trying to get a formal diagnosis so I can use stimulants to help a lot more.

Hope this info helps (:

[–] 5quidSteve 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Can't I be a curious and concerned patient looking to fix a problem, who is still not having the relief of symptoms and would like to try a higher dosage based on others who share the same symptoms and have had success with a higher dosage? That is how I presented it, and the psych took it all into account and while I didn't get what I wanted there was a kind of compromise where I do get a higher dosage, not 450 but 400. I am grateful for their advice and expertise, but when it comes to ADHD so many of them really struggle with understanding what options are available. 300 is not the max dose, many ADHD'ers did not begin to experience any benefit at all until 450.

thanks for sharing