Re Bupropion for Neuropathy

[Guest guest]

Yes, I've been taking Bupropion for a few weeks, and I like it. The side

effects do NOT include additional weakness, weight gain, fuzzy thinking, and

other bad side effects that so many other meds have. I haven't had any

unpleasant side effects at all.

We are all different, but for me, instead of having 23-30 hard jolts and

shocks and wrenching spasms every HOUR, day and night, I have that many in

24 hours. I'm taking half the usual dose for neuropathy so far. When I return

from arctic Alaska I'll gradually increase the dose to the normal one. I

don't want to make any med changes during our trip.

It is quite expensive. My doc had to convince the higher-ups to let me try it

because I only have to pay $10 per month regardless of the true cost and

they'd rather prescribe less expensive meds (and I understand that).

It's basically the same thing that's in Zyban, the stop-smoking prescription,

by the way.

This is the quote I used to help my doc decide:

Reuters Medical News - for the Professional

Bupropion SR Treats Neuropathic Pain

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Nov 12 - Sustained-release bupropion is an

effective, well-tolerated treatment for neuropathic pain, according to the

results of a randomized double-blind trial. The findings confirm data from

case reports and an open-label trial.

Dr. Marilyn R. Semenchuk and colleagues, from the University of Arizona at

Tucson, randomized 41 nondepressed patients with neuropathic pain to receive

placebo or bupropion SR for 6 weeks and then use the opposite therapy for 6

weeks. During each 6-week period, patients took bupropion SR 150 mg once

daily for the first week and then twice daily for the remaining 5 weeks.

Seventy-three percent of patients noted an improvement in neuropathic pain

with bupropion therapy, the authors note in the November issue of Neurology .

In fact, one patient actually became pain-free with treatment. In contrast,

pain scores remained unchanged with placebo use (p < 0.001).

Patients also reported that pain affected their quality of life significantly

less when they were taking bupropion rather than placebo, the researchers

state. The most common side effects of bupropion were dry mouth, insomnia,

and headache, but none of these effects were dose limiting.

Neurology 2001;57:1583-1588.

[Reuters] Copyright © 2001 Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Our son said it is the best double-blind trial he's ever seen - using the

real thing only half the time, then switching.

I'm taking 150 mg a day now, in 2 75 mg tablets, and I'm using the regular

bupropion, not the sustained release - it's much less expensive.

Kat

Seattle USA