Cardiac and Wellbutrin/Bupropion, any wisdom on it?

[DaisyChains]

some of you may recognize that i've been having a hard time lately with the anniversary of losing my mom, so i've started taking generic wellbutrin. i've taken it several times in my life, and i have to say it was amazing in my smoking cessation, and my depression at times.

what i have experienced that is scaring me, and i have felt it when i've taken it before, is heart paplitations, heart flip flops and occasional stabbing pain in my chest or under my arm pit by my heart.

i've had an ekg and it was fine, i'm not really a risk factor for cad, so i can't figure out why i would be feeling this. it seems to be a common side effect and not a big deal to docs.

what i've learned and read is that this is a common side effect, but my question is, how can i be having chest pain/heart pain and it be okay?

anyone have any insight into drugs that cause chest pain, because the wellbutrin is about the only anti-depressant i've been responsive to. in the past, i took a good bit of benzos to calm me down in regards to the anxiety.

how can a drug cause that feeling but with no harmful effects? i dont want to stop the wellbutrin, but i've layed off for a few days to make sure it was the drug. sure enough, the cardiac problems have stopped.

i'm wondering if anyone experienced this and just kept on and the feelings went away, or what? i really need the wellbutrin right now, i've been so down...but i don't want to be walking around with sudden armpit/chest pain and palpitations!

thanks and happy thanksgiving to all!

[BlueBug]

Can your dose be altered or changed at all? You didn't mention the dose or scheduling.

I take wellbutrin in the winter to fight SAD and keep me going through the winter, without it I would be curled up under the bed with the dust bunnies...

I start gradually, at 100mg in the morning, and after a few weeks increase to 100mg BID, then again after a few more weeks to 100mg TID. Easing into the medication has helped tone down the heart issues. I also take generic, so no SR or XR, just straight meds. The first time I was on the meds I had the shakes and heart palps, but now things have pretty much subsided.

I think that being aware of your heart beat can be really uncomfortable and makes things seem worse than they really are.

Also, do you take anything else that could increase your cardiac issues, such as caffine or other meds, my albuterol really gets things thumping...

~BlueBug

[czyja, MSN, RN]

I would see a good shrink or psych NP - one specializing in psychopharm. There may be more options than you think...

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Palpitations are a known side effect of Wellbutrin. As with any drug, if you find the side effects intolerable, then you need to speak with your doctor about trying something else.

One of the most common causes of palpitations is PACs, Premature Atrial Contractions. A PAC is followed by a compensatory pause, then a more forceful beat. This is experienced by the person as a palpitation.

The coronary arteries fill during diastole. Now, imagine if diastole is shortened due to a PAC. The amount of time the coronary arteries have to fill is shortened, so they fill with less oxygen rich blood. Less blood flow to the coronary arteries=less oxygen delivery to the myocardium=chest pain. You can have these very brief periods of decreased oxygen delivery with no damage to the myocardial cells, and thus, no harm done. It won't show up on an EKG because simply put, there just isn't enough ischemia to cause alterations in the normal flow of electrical signals through the myocardium.

At least, that's my theory. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Overall, as I said at the beginning of the post, if you find the side effects of any medication to be intolerable, you need to speak with your doctor.

[irish6363]

I was on Wellbutrin for over a year and during that time my BP elevated by over 20-30pts it was very scary while the drug itself was very effective for me, helped with my depression it did cause some of the side effects related to cardiac system. I eventually had to use a different drug that did not really help as much. I like you didn't respond well to most except this one.

Also, I was at up to 250-300mg per day at that time, which I feel is the factor that cause my BP to rise.

I also had the headaches that went along with it, but all in all in did help the underlying problem of depression. I would just be watchful if you feel any ill effects that can cause a serious health problem, then you know, proceed with an alternative drug.

I hope that things are better for you now.

[nytedford]

Hi- I'm a 76 yr. old retired anesthesiologist - hope I'm not intruding. Came upon this forum after Googling arrythmias/wellbutrin. Recently my internist added wellbutrin to the prozac I've been taking for years. Felt significantly better. About a month ago I started having palpitations - episodes of bi- and trigeminy. My internist and I attributed this to poor control of my sleep apnea, caffeine intake, or the 2-3 oz. of scotch I enjoy each day. EKG was normal as was an echocardiogram. 24 hour Holter showed numerous VPC's , APC's. atrial bi and trigeminy and short runs of atrial tachy. Doing online research I found that wellbutrin has significant sympathomimetic effects - all of which are a plus for me, but I now suspect has trigged the arrythmias.

I have got my sleep apnea under control (CPAP), but still have arrythmias. My internist still concerned, so she has referred me to a cardiologist who also has a PhD in pharmacology. I'm willing to tolerate the arrythmias as long as they don't progress and become dangerous. I'll see him next week and if I get some insights will report back here.

Take care-

Ted