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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SusieAB on July 1, 2000, at 1:08:35
I have been on Wellbutrin since March. After I had been on it for about 4-6 weeks, I noticed a definite improvement in my depression, but it makes me irritable and recently I have been having a lot of anxiety. I told my primary care doctor, and she handed me samples and a prescription for Serzone. Or she said I could go back on Prozac which worked wonderfully for me except for the sexual side effect. She didn't think that I had been on Wellbutrin long enough to have any withdrawal problems, but she was wrong. How do I switch from Wellbutrin to Serzone or Prozac without the withdrawal symptoms? Is it safe to start either one of these drugs while still on Wellbutrin? Thank you for any information or advice you can give me.
Posted by paul on July 1, 2000, at 2:30:17
In reply to Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by SusieAB on July 1, 2000, at 1:08:35
hey-
i had no trouble coming off wb and going on to serzone-i pretty much switched from one to the other but i'd strongly advise you running this question by a real pdoc. i'm just a yutz who had no trouble switching. nothing agin your regular doc, but lots of times they arent as well informed as we'd like them to be. i got off wb because of the rage problem. it helped my depression but it turned me into one angry samwitch. good luck!!
pcl
Posted by JohnL on July 1, 2000, at 3:42:12
In reply to Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by SusieAB on July 1, 2000, at 1:08:35
> How do I switch from Wellbutrin to Serzone or Prozac without the withdrawal symptoms? Is it safe to start either one of these drugs while still on Wellbutrin? Thank you for any information or advice you can give me.
Susie,
It's not uncommon to see these medications combined. Sometimes Wellbutrin is added to Prozac in the hope of reversing sexual side effects. Sometimes it's added to Serzone, or vica versa. You might accidentally find during the transition that two of these combined is better than either alone. One possibility could be to lower the Wellbutrin dose and add Serzone. If that doesn't work out, you could add Prozac to the Wellbutrin instead, after a 3 or 4 day washout period (Prozac and Serzone don't mix well). So rather than an either/or situation, you could consider Wellbutrin in combination with something else. You might for example find that half your dose of Wellbutrin plus half your previous dose of Prozac could be better than full doses of either alone, and with fewer side effects to boot. Just food for thought.
Posted by ChrisK on July 1, 2000, at 6:36:43
In reply to Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by SusieAB on July 1, 2000, at 1:08:35
I like the idea of going on a combo for a little while. pRobably the Prozac because you already had a positive reaction to it at one point. I started Wellbutrin while on Nortriptyline as a way of getting a more activating AD. The two worked well together and I didn't get the agitation that soem get. Since then I have gone to only WB and any possible agitation is knocked out by Zyprexa.
My best guess would be to take a low dose of WB (maybe 75 mg) with the prozac. It may work out well for you.
Posted by effiesmom on December 12, 2001, at 6:42:46
In reply to Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by SusieAB on July 1, 2000, at 1:08:35
May I ask, what side effects did you have coming off of Wellbutrin after only 4-6 weeks?
> I have been on Wellbutrin since March. After I had been on it for about 4-6 weeks, I noticed a definite improvement in my depression, but it makes me irritable and recently I have been having a lot of anxiety. I told my primary care doctor, and she handed me samples and a prescription for Serzone. Or she said I could go back on Prozac which worked wonderfully for me except for the sexual side effect. She didn't think that I had been on Wellbutrin long enough to have any withdrawal problems, but she was wrong. How do I switch from Wellbutrin to Serzone or Prozac without the withdrawal symptoms? Is it safe to start either one of these drugs while still on Wellbutrin? Thank you for any information or advice you can give me.
Posted by Janis on July 30, 2003, at 16:09:33
In reply to Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by SusieAB on July 1, 2000, at 1:08:35
I have been on Wellbutrin for 13 months. I originally got on it for very mild depression and the doctor thought it would also help me loose a little weight. The reason I have not come off of it sooner is that my son slept for an entire week when he came off of being on Zyban for just 3 months! I have never felt I could take several days of not being able to function and so I stayed on it. But now I am getting off and have taken one 150mg. every other day for 6 days now. I would like to just stop at this point, but not sure if it is safe. My doctor told me how to come off and I forgot what he said! He'll be back from vacation next week, but as I said, I would like to stop now. Does anyone see a problem with this?? any thought anyone has would be appreciated.
Posted by effiesmom on July 30, 2003, at 20:24:50
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by Janis on July 30, 2003, at 16:09:33
Have you had any side effects to the reduction in dose? As long as the tapering off isn't bothering you, keep tapering. If you have only 150's, try every third day for a while and see if you're ok. Then every 4th for a while, etc. Tapering is important to avoid/alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. It's not a matter of "safe," really; like you said, it's a matter of being able to function. You can go "cold turkey" if you want, but be prepared to either possibly experience withdrawal or be willing to go back to a slower tapering schedule to avoid the symptoms, if you even get any. Good luck.
> I have been on Wellbutrin for 13 months. I originally got on it for very mild depression and the doctor thought it would also help me loose a little weight. The reason I have not come off of it sooner is that my son slept for an entire week when he came off of being on Zyban for just 3 months! I have never felt I could take several days of not being able to function and so I stayed on it. But now I am getting off and have taken one 150mg. every other day for 6 days now. I would like to just stop at this point, but not sure if it is safe. My doctor told me how to come off and I forgot what he said! He'll be back from vacation next week, but as I said, I would like to stop now. Does anyone see a problem with this?? any thought anyone has would be appreciated.
Posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 7:08:06
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin » Janis, posted by effiesmom on July 30, 2003, at 20:24:50
> Have you had any side effects to the reduction in dose? As long as the tapering off isn't bothering you, keep tapering. If you have only 150's, try every third day for a while and see if you're ok. Then every 4th for a while, etc. Tapering is important to avoid/alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. It's not a matter of "safe," really; like you said, it's a matter of being able to function. You can go "cold turkey" if you want, but be prepared to either possibly experience withdrawal or be willing to go back to a slower tapering schedule to avoid the symptoms, if you even get any. Good luck.
>
Thanks so much for your reply. You have "demystified" it for me - I have a lot of respect for drugs and what they can do to/for a person (maybe it borders on fear), so generally I try to be very careful with something I've been on this long....I think at this point then I will go "cold turkey" and then if I begin to feel really as though I can't function, take another one. I took it twice a day for the first 4 months, then went down to once a day - yes, I only have the 150 mgs. Thanks so much for your input.
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:11:45
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by Janis on July 30, 2003, at 16:09:33
Wellbutrin is a nice little AD. I was on it for years, on and off. I never had any negative Side Effects, nor did I have any withdrawal. The depression did return when I stopped taking it. You could try stopping now, and if you experience withdrawal, try taking a 1/2 dosage.
Good Luck!
KDi in Texas> I have been on Wellbutrin for 13 months. I originally got on it for very mild depression and the doctor thought it would also help me loose a little weight. The reason I have not come off of it sooner is that my son slept for an entire week when he came off of being on Zyban for just 3 months! I have never felt I could take several days of not being able to function and so I stayed on it. But now I am getting off and have taken one 150mg. every other day for 6 days now. I would like to just stop at this point, but not sure if it is safe. My doctor told me how to come off and I forgot what he said! He'll be back from vacation next week, but as I said, I would like to stop now. Does anyone see a problem with this?? any thought anyone has would be appreciated.
Posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 8:29:47
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:11:45
> Wellbutrin is a nice little AD. I was on it for years, on and off. I never had any negative Side Effects, nor did I have any withdrawal. The depression did return when I stopped taking it. You could try stopping now, and if you experience withdrawal, try taking a 1/2 dosage.
> Good Luck!
> KDi in Texas
>
> I'm glad to hear you didn't have any negative side effects - I was really interested in what others experienced when they stopped the WB. Thanks for your comments. Janis in Chicago>
> > I have been on Wellbutrin for 13 months. I originally got on it for very mild depression and the doctor thought it would also help me loose a little weight. The reason I have not come off of it sooner is that my son slept for an entire week when he came off of being on Zyban for just 3 months! I have never felt I could take several days of not being able to function and so I stayed on it. But now I am getting off and have taken one 150mg. every other day for 6 days now. I would like to just stop at this point, but not sure if it is safe. My doctor told me how to come off and I forgot what he said! He'll be back from vacation next week, but as I said, I would like to stop now. Does anyone see a problem with this?? any thought anyone has would be appreciated.
>
>
Posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 8:55:07
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:11:45
> Wellbutrin is a nice little AD. I was on it for years, on and off. I never had any negative Side Effects, nor did I have any withdrawal. The depression did return when I stopped taking it. You could try stopping now, and if you experience withdrawal, try taking a 1/2 dosage.
> Good Luck!
> KDi in TexasJust wondering KDi- how long would you say it took after you were completely off Wellbutrin before you noticed the depression coming back?
Posted by Hoping on July 31, 2003, at 9:39:56
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 8:29:47
Janis, i've been on Wellbutrin for a few years now, and more than once i've ran out of my prescription, most recently going a whole week without it a couple of months ago. I never had the slightest inkling of any w/d effects. As a matter of fact, i don't think i have any adverse s/e's from it either, other than maybe a little more inclined to get irritated or annoyed, especially at work. But work is irritating and annoying all by itself!
Anyway, best to you.
K
Posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 9:48:32
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by Hoping on July 31, 2003, at 9:39:56
> Janis, i've been on Wellbutrin for a few years now, and more than once i've ran out of my prescription, most recently going a whole week without it a couple of months ago. I never had the slightest inkling of any w/d effects. As a matter of fact, i don't think i have any adverse s/e's from it either, other than maybe a little more inclined to get irritated or annoyed, especially at work. But work is irritating and annoying all by itself!
> Anyway, best to you.
> K
This is good to hear....I'm feeling pretty good right now, after 3 days off - so I guess I'm going to stay off for now, anyway. I was wondering if there is some amount of the Wellbutrin that stays in your system for weeks...I'm thinking now of my thyroid medication that I can not take for 2-3 weeks and feel fine, before I hit a "wall". Anyway - I'm feeling fine, so I guess my question has been answered! Thanks K. Janis
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 13:27:56
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 8:55:07
> Just wondering KDi- how long would you say it took after you were completely off Wellbutrin before you noticed the depression coming back?
A couple of weeks. I would stop Wellbutrin because I felt fine & normal. "I don't need this stuff anymore." Then, negative thoughts would pop up more and more often. Depression would settle on me lightly, then get heavier and heavier. I associate Wellbutrin with sunny skies, birds singing, and flowers. Because those were the things I wouldn't notice unless I was taking Wellbutrin. Then I was promoted to a higher (MUCH) level stress job and my AD needs changed. I needed a stronger anti-anxiety drug which is why I'm on Effexor right now.
KDi in Texas
Posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 13:33:34
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin » Janis, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 13:27:56
I associate Wellbutrin with sunny skies, birds singing, and flowers. Because those were the things I wouldn't notice unless I was taking Wellbutrin.
that's VERY interesting and an excellent way of gauging how much you are experiencing life, I would think! J
Posted by crazygurl on December 2, 2003, at 11:16:10
In reply to Re: Stopping Wellbutrin, posted by Janis on July 31, 2003, at 13:33:34
i just had a car accident from blacking out and they don't really know what happened. I've been taking wellbutrin since feb. for severe depresson and my doctor just cut it off cold turkey. I'm 16 yrs old. I've been having bad headaches but I don't know if it's from the wreck or what....
This is the end of the thread.
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