Re: Wellbutrin and Flushing

[Guest guest]

I received a private email from an MD on this list re wellbutrin. I won't

post it since I didnt ask him.

But in the email he suggests that wellbutrin/bupropion is a BAD choice for

rosacea sufferers because common side effects, he reports, are flushing and

increased blood pressure.

Are there any other MD's on list who have opinions on this? I can't take

effexor because it effected my liver enzymes, I want to get off celexa

because of the sexual side effects...I was hoping wellbutrin would be an

alternative.

Thanks

[Guest guest]

jf, it's reasonable to ask if a proposed treatment or medication for

another condition may have an obvious, major conflict or advantage

with rosacea, and to get ideas of such here to bring back to your

physician. This medication's impact on rosacea has not been formally

studied to my knowledge, so it's all anecdotal at this point. But

Wellbutrin has many important side effects and contraindications,

none related to rosacea but which your prescribing physician and

pharmacist should discuss with you.

In the PDR flushing is listed as a rare side effect (less than 1 out

of 1000 patients), and in DrugDex (a professional pharmaceutical

database) it isn't even listed. The PDR describes both hypertension

and hypotension, though neither as major side effects.

Of course, like so many medications, there are potential dermatologic

side effects, so consider that a worsening rosacea may be a

superimposed process, not something related to rosacea. But that's

what your prescribing providers are for.

Aside from Dr. Sy, I don't know any experienced physician on the

list, though over the months I've been privately contacted by two men

who described themselves as recent med school graduates. I hope the

person who emailed you would post publicly, introduce himself, and

explain his suggestion to you. I've not prescribed Wellbutrin, so

maybe there's something I'm missing or don't know?

Hope that helps.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> I received a private email from an MD on this list re wellbutrin. I

won't

> post it since I didnt ask him.

>

> But in the email he suggests that wellbutrin/bupropion is a BAD

choice for

> rosacea sufferers because common side effects, he reports, are

flushing and

> increased blood pressure.

>

> Are there any other MD's on list who have opinions on this? I can't

take

> effexor because it effected my liver enzymes, I want to get off

celexa

> because of the sexual side effects...I was hoping wellbutrin would

be an

> alternative.

>

> Thanks

[Guest guest]

Dear Marjorie,

Thank you very much for your response and taking the time to look wellbutrin

up for me in your professional databases. My prescribing physician is

empathetic and competent, but doesn't know much about the subtle torture of

rosacea symptoms. I did ask him if bupropion is considered a vasodilator. He

was going to check on that.

Thanks again. I appreciate your help.

Re: Wellbutrin and Flushing

> jf, it's reasonable to ask if a proposed treatment or medication for

> another condition may have an obvious, major conflict or advantage

> with rosacea, and to get ideas of such here to bring back to your

> physician. This medication's impact on rosacea has not been formally

> studied to my knowledge, so it's all anecdotal at this point. But

> Wellbutrin has many important side effects and contraindications,

> none related to rosacea but which your prescribing physician and

> pharmacist should discuss with you.

>

> In the PDR flushing is listed as a rare side effect (less than 1 out

> of 1000 patients), and in DrugDex (a professional pharmaceutical

> database) it isn't even listed. The PDR describes both hypertension

> and hypotension, though neither as major side effects.

> Of course, like so many medications, there are potential dermatologic

> side effects, so consider that a worsening rosacea may be a

> superimposed process, not something related to rosacea. But that's

> what your prescribing providers are for.

>

> Aside from Dr. Sy, I don't know any experienced physician on the

> list, though over the months I've been privately contacted by two men

> who described themselves as recent med school graduates. I hope the

> person who emailed you would post publicly, introduce himself, and

> explain his suggestion to you. I've not prescribed Wellbutrin, so

> maybe there's something I'm missing or don't know?

>

> Hope that helps.

>

> Marjorie

>

> Marjorie Lazoff, MD

>

>

>

>

> > I received a private email from an MD on this list re wellbutrin. I

> won't

> > post it since I didnt ask him.

> >

> > But in the email he suggests that wellbutrin/bupropion is a BAD

> choice for

> > rosacea sufferers because common side effects, he reports, are

> flushing and

> > increased blood pressure.

> >

> > Are there any other MD's on list who have opinions on this? I can't

> take

> > effexor because it effected my liver enzymes, I want to get off

> celexa

> > because of the sexual side effects...I was hoping wellbutrin would

> be an

> > alternative.

> >

> > Thanks

>

>

>

> --

> Please read the list highlights before posting to the whole group

(http://rosacea.ii.net/toc.html). Your post will be delayed if you don't

give a meaningful subject or trim your reply text. You must change the

subject when replying to a digest !

>

> See http://www.drnase.com for info on his recently published book.

>

> To leave the list send an email to

rosacea-support-unsubscribe

>

>

[Guest guest]

Don't worry too much even if he reports back to you that it is a

vasodilator, jf. There are different mechanisms involved in

vasodilation in different medications, and different vessels that

vasodilate. The package insert said that less than 0.1% flushed to

Wellbutrin -- of course rosaceans are more likely to be in that 0.1%,

but no one really knows how Wellbutrin affects rosacea. What's key is

that you're not considering a medication that is likely to cause you

to flush (unless the MD who wrote to you has other information). Life

is uncertainty, but if you can find better odds than 0.1% for

anything, let me know. <g>

Whatever you and your doctor decide, I hope it works well for you.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> > > I received a private email from an MD on this list re

wellbutrin. I

> > won't

> > > post it since I didnt ask him.

> > >

> > > But in the email he suggests that wellbutrin/bupropion is a BAD

> > choice for

> > > rosacea sufferers because common side effects, he reports, are

> > flushing and

> > > increased blood pressure.

> > >

> > > Are there any other MD's on list who have opinions on this? I

can't

> > take

> > > effexor because it effected my liver enzymes, I want to get off

> > celexa

> > > because of the sexual side effects...I was hoping wellbutrin

would

> > be an

> > > alternative.

> > >

> > > Thanks

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > Please read the list highlights before posting to the whole group

> (http://rosacea.ii.net/toc.html). Your post will be delayed if you

don't

> give a meaningful subject or trim your reply text. You must change

the

> subject when replying to a digest !

> >

> > See http://www.drnase.com for info on his recently published book.

> >

> > To leave the list send an email to

> rosacea-support-unsubscribe@y...

> >

> >