Wellbutrin (Bupropion)

[propat45]

Hi everyone, I started taking wellbutrin sr about 5 weeks ago.  I got up to 300 mg and one day at the grocery store, I couldn't read the signs for the aisles.  I experienced blurred/double vision.  I have good eyesight despite HPPD so I stopped taking the Wellbutrin.  I want to know if this is a side effect that will go away or if I should stop taking it altogether.  Thanks!

[miketusa]

Thats really weird. I took it for a few weeks and never had that problem. I don't think I benefited from it at all. I haven't really heard anyone else get any results from it.

[propat45]

Blurred vision is a super rare side effect from what I've read.  I do feel like it was caused by the Wellbutrin.  I've taken a lot of meds with no impact on my visuals that other HPPDers report have made their visuals worse.

[VisualDude]

For me, Wellbutrin sharpened vision ... but I can't take more than 75mg / day.  Unless you are getting some important benefits, you should lower your dose - let your doc know about the side-effects.

 

On the other side, SSRIs blur my vision.

[propat45]

I'm getting good benefits from the Wellbutrin like a better mood and more energy, but I'm scared about the blurred vision.  Did your blurred vision from the SSRIs go away?

[VisualDude]

Yes.  If I stay away from serotonin increasing meds, then vision is sharpest.  Even melatonin does a little fuzzing.

 

When I find vision lacking sharpness, I take a little more dopamine increasing meds (Sinemet).  It tends to stay sharp for days after that, even with no med.

 

 

I found Wellbutrin helpful for black moods that persist.  Use it more PRN.  Don't know why it would blur your vision ... but the brain is complex.  Do you find 150mg / day blurring?  And if not, is it sufficient to help your moods?

[propat45]

I started off taking 100 mg twice a day for two weeks, then I moved up to 150 mg twice a day for 2 weeks.  I didn't notice any impact on my visuals until about 4 weeks in.  Wellbutrin seemed to help at 200 mg, but I'm scared to go back on it.  I told my doctor about the blurred vision and he said it was probably just anxiety.

[VisualDude]

Blurred vision is anxiety?  Amazing how they always come back to hysteria anxiety.

 

When you say 200mg, do you mean 200mg twice a day?

 

The other thing is dosage changes with Wellbutrin take about 1 week to settle in (according to half-life).  You have the SR version?.  Longer stuff is 'brain settling'.  Often it is good to sit tight at low doses for a while.

 

How long has your vision been blurry?

 

Are you taking other meds too?

[propat45]

By 200 mg, I meant 100 mg twice a day.  I do feel like it was helping at 300 mg (150 twice a day) until I noticed the blurred vision.  I do have the SR version.  My vision is back to normal.

 

I'm currently taking 2.5 mg clonazepam and 3000 mg of Keppra. 

[VisualDude]

Great!  Then the blur was just temporary.  If it shows up again, see if you can figure out other things that may be involved, such as fatigue, alcohol, etc.