My boyfriend has started reading a lot about various anti-depressant drugs while in prison. He read that quite a few meth and crack addicts have had success with Wellbutrin. He admits that his relapse was partially triggered by depression and is realizing now he may benefit from medication. Anyone have any information?

Jay was on Wellbutrin at one point. It is supposed to help with cravings. It didn't with him though. He used no matter what medication he was on. The only way he has stayed clean is when he's locked up.
Michelle

Wellbutrin does work for some people though its not as successful as it was first marked to be. I have heard that it has helped with some with the cravings. I was on it to help stop smoking and had a very serious reaction to it that had me in the hospital for three days.
From what I understand the patient should be monitored closely in the first few weeks in case of side effects or a bad reaction. There are other drugs that are in the 'study' stage which will hopefully be more promising then Wellbutrin. But like I said I have heard that it has helped some but I think they were all heroin addicts, not crack and meth.
Does anyone have info on this regarding crack and meth ?

He is cellmates with a heroin addict that was just put on it. He also definitely has a depression issue as well and that is his main reason for wanting to go on some type of medication.

Has he been off drugs for more than six months ? I ask this only because depression is part of the withdrawl symptoms. Also most recovering addicts have a lot ot be depressed about.
I read the other day that at least 45% of meth or crack addicts have an underlying mental condition or disease. And that that is early findings and it could be higher. You should ask him to speak to his councillor about being evaluated. If he has an underlying condition/disease it needs to be treated and the sooner the better.
You must be very worried about him. Hang in there and even if you have to call up there yourself to tell the councillor that he is suffering from depression then do it. But let him try on his own first.
I wish you both the best for this and I hope he feels better soon.
p.s. I will try to find some stuff about that drug and crack and meth addiction.

Silly me, as it turns out we have many threads on this in the addiction resource subfolder. There are some titled drugs for cocaine or crack abuse and some mentioning of Buprenorphine (Wellbutrin is a form of Buprenorphine)

also
http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/about.html
http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/aaap/aaap_5_supps_pg1_pop1.cfm?ID=101
http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/aaap/aaap_5_supps_pg2.htm

These are some but if you look in our resource subfolder and do a google search on buprenorphine crack addiction you will have more than enough to read on the subject.
Hope this helps.

I saw him today and he said that right now he isn't really depressed. It was when he relapsed at Christmas that he was very depressed. He said he goes through cycles. He is clean for 9-12 months and feels good and then around the 9 month mark he starts to get very depressed and then the cravings for cocaine start. He feels that if he starts a medication now that it will help him when the ninth month of sobriety comes around and he gets depressed all over again. He said he is frustrated to have landed back in prison for violating his parole but not depressed like he was in December.

My husband also has a nine month pivet point, that is the worst time for him. Ive heard of this from others also, it didnt happen to me.
Its good that he wants to prepare this time. It shows he is understanding how his addiction is controling him and he wants it to stop. Thumbs up to him !!!
He should still try his councillor and if that doesnt work to put in a kite to see the doctor. Perhaps ask his bunkie what the process is at that facility ?
Good luck with that. Really interesting question.

I just posted an article on PAWS, please take the time to read it. It explains why relapsing seems to occur at certain pivotal times during the addicts recovery.

PAWS (http://prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190537)

Shelby,

Yes, I have read that and sent it to him already. I think it is what is prompting him to research medication further.

I'm not sure how Wellbutrin can combat crack addiction. I take it for my dehabilitating migraines along with Topramax and the Wellbutrin makes me feel like I did speed. It is a very powerful drug in my opinion. I have to take it with juice and then eat a slice of bread or else I am flying like a kite. However, it works wonders for my migraines. It truly combats them, but the feeling I have after taking it is wacky.

For me it caused me to feel like stuff was crawling on my skin and I went almost instantly into a deep depression, had a headache from hell and had absolutely no will to move from a staring into space daze. It didnt speed me up except for the incredible itching. It kind of totally unplugged me.
I think a lot of these drugs can be dangerous for some people which is why its really important that a doctor monitors the patient in the first while of being on it. I had no idea it works on migranes, Ive been blessed to have never experienced one.

My ex (20+ year crack addict) was on it a couple of times, he said it made him feel "disjointed", I guess kind of spaced out. Plus, it made him sexually dysfunctional.

My psychiatrist told me a couple of years ago that Wellbutrin was NOT the magic pill some have said it is when it comes to crack addiction. Unfortunately there is no easy way. Don't use, be of service, stop lying, cheating and stealing and go to meetings.

I can't imagine that wellbutrin would help with crack addiction because my ex is a crack and xanax addict. He gets high on crack (daily, actually hourly although he won't admit it!) and then almost od's on the xanax using the excuse that he needs something to calm him down.

To Slynnea who said: "He is clean for 9-12 months and feels good and then around the 9 month mark he starts to get very depressed and then the cravings for cocaine start. " -
Has he been evaluated for bipolar disorders (BD)?
BD are the main reason many addicts relapse. It is not a well-known fact, but it is true that BD is a co-occurring condition in many patients with a substance abuse disorder. Depakote, given in conjunction with Wellbutrin, often helps with the addiction.

iamnotadoctor

My ex-husband was on Wellbutrin a couple of different times. It did nothing to slow down or stop his crack addiction. Just my two cents.

I think the biggest problem with all of the antidepressents is that they affect different individuals differently. I am a recovering crack, heroin and alcohol addict with 6 years clean. I recently started taking Wellbutrin to help me stop smoking. It did not help with the smoking at all and I don't believe it would have put a dent in my crack addiction. It helped a little with depression, but not enough for me to continue taking it. It is certainly no magic cure based on my personal experience. I am a big believer that AA/NA work best for most people. I agree that he should talk to his counselor about this and try to make an informed decision. I hope he makes it over the hump and continues to recover. Some of us have many false starts in recovery but eventually manage to get and stay clean. There is hope.

I think the biggest problem with all of the antidepressents is that they affect different individuals differently. I am a recovering crack, heroin and alcohol addict with 6 years clean. I recently started taking Wellbutrin to help me stop smoking. It did not help with the smoking at all and I don't believe it would have put a dent in my crack addiction. It helped a little with depression, but not enough for me to continue taking it. It is certainly no magic cure based on my personal experience. I am a big believer that AA/NA work best for most people. I agree that he should talk to his counselor about this and try to make an informed decision. I hope he makes it over the hump and continues to recover. Some of us have many false starts in recovery but eventually manage to get and stay clean. There is hope.

I happen to agree with that, inhouse. No one should depend on ANOTHER drug to help them get off of the first one. That's just my opinion, it doesn't make any sense.

Ever since I lost my parents, in 1998 and was diagnosed with PTSD, the doctors started me on anti-depressants. The first was Prozac. At first, I thought I'd found IT. THE miracle drug. By the end of the second week I'd turned into someone my family didn't even know. I was a zombie. I was dead, just still up walking around. That wasn't the one, so they put me on Zoloft. Same exact thing happened. They had to practically FORCE me to try the Wellbutrin. But I was glad the doctor kept at me. Each of these medications effects each person in an individual way.

Wellbutrin XL happens to work for me, and there was an added benefit I wasn't even counting on. I was a 40 year smoker, up to almost two packs a day when he put me on it. I threw them away, never bought another pack, and chewed about 5 pieces of nicotine gum. That was 3 years ago. Haven't had another cigarette since.

It helped me. It may not help someone else, but it did help me quit, and it's helped my depression as well.

I don't think antidepressants are going to help a person coming off a drug like crack too much.

My theory, however, is that they can help after the person has defeated his/her addiction.

Their dopamine receptors are messed up. Stands to reason that a bit of help getting them regulated again could be useful.

Justus, I wish I could take it to quit smoking. I tried and it WIGGED ME OUT. Everyone was like SMOKE, quit taking that crap!

Glad it works for you.

To Slynnea who said: "He is clean for 9-12 months and feels good and then around the 9 month mark he starts to get very depressed and then the cravings for cocaine start. " -
Has he been evaluated for bipolar disorders (BD)?
BD are the main reason many addicts relapse. It is not a well-known fact, but it is true that BD is a co-occurring condition in many patients with a substance abuse disorder. Depakote, given in conjunction with Wellbutrin, often helps with the addiction.

iamnotadoctor
It sounds to me like he needs to be checked for a mood disorder as well,especially the Bi-polar, he sounds as though he is having severe mood changes,and since he is clean right now, it's obviously not the drug use causing it, he may have affective bipolar disorder,it is a very misunderstood disease,look up the symptoms,on www.WebMD.com,go (http://www.WebMD.com,go) to diseases,and type in bipolar,i'll bet , he has many symptoms that you will recognize, although,i may be wrong,but it's worth a try,right?? i have this disease and i think it causes you to want to use because ,you are so depressed,and life is so hopeless,at times,so dark,so miserable feeling,you just want a way to escape,it takes a lot of willpower,not to use,I do not think that Wellbutrin, helps or cures crack,meth,or heroin addiction,because it is an antidepressant,and stop smoking aid,and while i agree,it hypes you up,it made me feel, like i was doing speed,(which i hate),so that might be why it gives them a sense of satisfaction,it reminds them of the "feelings" they experienced while using.My disease is very disabling and affects me greatly,i still haven't found that miracle cure, but i am a recovered alcoholic,and i escaped it by drinking,now i have severe liver problems,and decided to learn to live with it, i think with all addiction,you have to want to change your life,and you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to stop,Anyone can quit using,once they are through the withdrawals, it is a choice,just like abortion,it is where your morals,and character lie, there are no valid excuses,period,if you truly want to change your life,you will,or you'll die,trying.Just my thoughts.
I do wish you and he the very best,don't mean to sound harsh,but it is reality, i just wanted you to know,that a person,doesn't need any med's to stop using, and believe me,i know,withdrawal isn't easy,i know addiction is massively powerful,and takes complete control of your life,feelings,family,friends,jobs,hobbies,interest s,health,teeth,etc,etc.but nothing is more powerful than Almighty God! :thumbsup:

Wellbutrin XL happens to work for me, and there was an added benefit I wasn't even counting on. I was a 40 year smoker, up to almost two packs a day when he put me on it. I threw them away, never bought another pack, and chewed about 5 pieces of nicotine gum. That was 3 years ago. Haven't had another cigarette since.

It helped me. It may not help someone else, but it did help me quit, and it's helped my depression as well.

It was discovered that Wellbutrin, when prescribed for depression (what it was originally meant to treat), had the unexpected side effect of making cigarettes so distasteful, and the mouth so dry, that the user would quit.
Now it is commonly prescribed as a smoking cessation aide.
I was given it specifically to quit smoking.
I haven't had a cigarette since July 2, 2006. I stopped needing to take Wellbutrin in December. My doctor recommended using it for awhile just to make sure I didn't relapse.
I wonder if it has a similar effect for crack users because of the taste and dry mouth as well, or if there's more to it than that. Until I saw this thread, I didn't know it was ever considered for crack users.
There's always hope, isn't there?

My husband was also prescribed Wellbutrin. He is a crack addict but he also suffers from depression and adult ADHD. Until reshearching about crack addiction and ADHD did relize there is evidence of the two being related. I am posting a link to info on that. It relates to adolescens but is informative. I also am a recovering addict and with working with my therapist the question arised " Is the disorder caused by the drug or was the disorder presant befor hand?"

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=177101046

I want to find out more about this as my brother and a lot of the family is ADHD. also BI-POLAR

I think addiction is a spiritual illness. Addicts abuse a substance and than go to a doctor who prescribes a pill that while allow them to continue relying on something that alters their brain chemistry. Any true addict knows that addiction runs much deeper than a pill prescribed as the "cure." Getting well within your soul is the remedy in my opinion.

When I was getting clean I was not looking for something to replace my drug. A good counsler was in my opinion more important then a substance. No counsler is going to write you a script without weekly counsling sessions. The medications are only to help when the levels of dopamine and serotonin are very low to almost none.

My counsler told me that your body kinda fights againest you when your trying to get clean by not producing this chemicals, kinda holding out to see if you will give the externally.

So for some of us these are helping us get clean and then the counsler will slowly wean you off these meds. Which is by far safer then using illegal substances. Also no amount of zoloft or welbutrin is going to do anything for you as far as a high.

So for some of us these are helping us get clean and then the counsler will slowly wean you off these meds. Which is by far safer then using illegal substances. Also no amount of zoloft or welbutrin is going to do anything for you as far as a high.

I agree with that but I definately think that EVERY doctor should prescribe therapy to an addict in recovery and ONLY keep an addict on certain medication to balance out the chemicals in the brain for as long as it takes to do so. Nowadays, people are prescribed an assortment of pills to take for years at a time when all they really needed was some therapy and a change in their diet and excerise, but it's much easier for some one to take a pill everyday than to put some effort into coming to terms with the real underlying issue which is usually found buried within themselves.

I started taking wellbutrin a month ago to quit smoking. It worked, I stopped smoking a week after I started. At my follow up with my doctor, he told me that I might be bipolar and that wellbutrin is good at amplifying the signs and symptoms of the disorder. On the other hand, I haven't used crack since October, and just recently I haven't had the desire to. I don't have the dreams anymore and I haven't looked around the kitchen or bathroom floor. I have insomnia and maybe my highs and lows are more extreme, but considering the alternative, I think it's worth it. I'm sad that it doesn't work for everyone the way it works for me. I agree that it probably wouldn't have stopped me while I was using, but it is a good tool during recovery.

Do a search on antidepressant stories and you will find that Wellbutrin is a SSRI and see how it has affected many others. It has been noted that most anti-depressants that were given to young people have committed heinous crimes....not like them-selves at all. Even adults......it can make them more depressed and seeing things, aggressive even violent behaviors.

My question is why is our government handing out these sort of drugs especially to our young people and not taking note of their effects? Could money be involved???