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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dkscully on February 2, 2005, at 22:08:54
Hi all! I'm a newbie, and I'm very glad I found this place. It's helped me realize that I'm not the only one who goes through this stuff, which is really incredibly comforting. I sort of posted about this in an already-existing thread, but I wanted to get some Wellbutrin-users' insights in here too, so I thought it might be best to start a new thread.
For about 9 months, I was on Effexor XL--75 ml, then up to 150. It wasn't doing anything for me other than make me feel "numb," both sexually and emotionally, so my doctor thought it would be a good idea to stop it and try Wellbutrin. I've learned here that he took me off it waaaaay too quickly--for one week, I took 150 mg of Wellbutrin daily, and 150 mg of Effexor every other day to "wean off it." The next week, I was up to 300 mg of Wellbutrin and no effexor.
To make a long story short, I've been Effexor-free and on 300 mg of Wellbutrin for 5 weeks. The all-day emotional breakdowns I had during the first couple weeks have ended, and the brain zaps are almost gone (they still pop up every now and then). My psychiatrist said Effexor withdrawal (especially when stopped as quickly as my previous doctor took me off it) can last up to a couple months...
But does anyone have any experience with still feeling bad withdrawal symptoms after FIVE WEEKS? I guess the specific symptoms I'm asking about are headaches/nausea/dizziness starting in the late afternoon or early evening, and some crazy mood swings. By 4 or so, I'm usually useless at work...
I read that because Wellbutrin doesn't effect seratonin levels, when you switch to it from Effexor, withdrawal symptoms are worse than if you switched to an SSRI. I'm just trying to figure out if what I'm feeling is typical effexor withdrawal or if Wellbutrin is a problem for me. My psychiatrist (who I trust more than my doctor, at least...) says we should give it more time.
The Wellbutrin is definitely giving me more energy, and I do feel less depressed... until I have these horrible mood swings, usually late in the day. Those are slowly improving too, I think, but the headache/nausea/dizziness continues daily (Claritin didn't help).
Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated... Thanks so much in advance!
Posted by bart on February 3, 2005, at 10:06:52
In reply to EFFEXOR withdrawal or WELLBUTRIN side effects??, posted by Dkscully on February 2, 2005, at 22:08:54
thanks so much for your post. Your situation is almost identical to mine. I began taking the wellbutrin with the effexor to alleviate numbness and unattentiveness. But I've been having these crazy muscle tremors and round and round thoughts as I've tried to wean off effexor. I've had much beneficial use for medications for quite a while, but now I'm just wondering if, because of all these side effects, is it really worth being on all these meds? could I be doing more harm than good? Since I maintain good stability from exercising regularly, I wonder if that would be one saving grace I could naturally have, along with daily meditation, instead of meds.
Posted by HappyGirl on February 3, 2005, at 13:08:07
In reply to EFFEXOR withdrawal or WELLBUTRIN side effects??, posted by Dkscully on February 2, 2005, at 22:08:54
Hi Dkscully:
Try one or two methods below;
(1) Try to reduce the dosage, from 300 mg. to 200 - 250 mg.(if you have just only 150 mg. pils in the bottle, then cutting one pill by using 'pill-cutter' found in any grocery store or pharmacies). In my opinion through the experience, within just 5-weeks period, from the 150 mg. to 300 mg. is an awfully 'rash' strategy. Most of cases, it takes about three months to adjust med. dosage. Because, WB sr is a sort classified 'stimulant' med., ... not like 'Ritalin'(pure stimulant), but still has 'dizziness/nausea' if you go up 'too' quick. Then, be cautious!Or,... if you do NOT like cut down its dosage, as it sounds like you're quite content with its dosage, 'the 300 mg. WB sr,
In that case,
(2) Try to take 'Dramanine'(for med. for 'motion-sickness) if you are NO allergic to it. But, again I can not gurantee it to work for you, because everyone reacts differently on different meds. For me, it worked in the beginning of WB sr therapy tho'. I'm NOT 'med.-sensitive', BTW.Majority of WB sr takers have also a bad side-effects such as 'Anxiety' and 'Insomnia.' If you're on WB sr alone, then, along the road, you may need a med. which has 'calming' effect to balance out its 'maximum' effectiveness.
H.G.
Posted by Dkscully on February 3, 2005, at 13:50:57
In reply to Re WELLBUTRIN side effects//Dkscully, posted by HappyGirl on February 3, 2005, at 13:08:07
Thanks for your response! I guess your thought, then, would be that it's the Wellbutrin, not the Effexor, for sure? If these negative side effects don't come until later in the day, do you think taking Wellbutrin at some time other than in the morning would displace these negative effects to a time when I'm sleeping or something? Just a thought...
Thanks again!
Posted by Dkscully on February 3, 2005, at 13:54:47
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR withdrawal or WELLBUTRIN side effects??, posted by bart on February 3, 2005, at 10:06:52
I agree, I've had serious thoughts about stopping all medication. I'm still hopeful about the Wellbutrin, but I can't really go on feeling sick for about half of the time I'm awake. On the other hand, anxiety has led me to believe I don't have the time in the day for exercise and medication. Now, I know I waste enough time that this isn't really the case, but I've gotta get in the right mindset, somehow...
Posted by HappyGirl on February 3, 2005, at 16:27:47
In reply to Re: Re WELLBUTRIN side effects//Dkscully » HappyGirl, posted by Dkscully on February 3, 2005, at 13:50:57
Hi DKscully:
I've been taking WB sr, 300 mg. divided into three, from the morning to the bed-time. However, I've been on other meds., too. Then, this practice does NOT recommend you.
Normally, WB sr's effectiveness getting weaker after about 12 hours, ... even less than that, thus my pdoc. rx'ed tid, instead just in the morning. However, in order to take the WB sr, you need some 'sleeping-aid,' due to 'insomnia' WB causing. Back to your 'core' question, ... whether you should take WB sr divided dosage, like twice a day, one for morning and another for afternoon, that is up to you. You need to 'experiment' first whether this could help or not. Med. dosage is VERY tricky due to individual's reaction to it, however in general there is a good evidence you can get more benefit to take at least 'twice' a day.Another query, whether 'effexor' withdrawal or 'WB' is very tough to answer because I'm NO expert to define/rule out this. However, one thing I know of is Effexor is 'pure' anti-depressant while WB sr is a sort 'add-on' A.D., ... in other word, most of folks do NOT take WB sr alone. Rather, it's for ADD brought on by depression you're sufferring. Then, this might be a problem in your case, because there is NO anti-depressant in your system even thouth your brain needs very badly(?, ... however I'm not sure in this regard).
In my suggestion, ... if you think your current psychiatrist is a GOOD one, then you'd better to 'listen' to him/her by following his instruction, ... 'need more time to find out.'
Hopefully, some other folks here, on this board come to rescue your 'question' appropriately, SOON!
H.G.
Posted by Dkscully on February 4, 2005, at 0:34:10
In reply to Re: Re WELLBUTRIN side effects//Dkscully, posted by HappyGirl on February 3, 2005, at 16:27:47
Thanks--when I see my psychiatrist again in a couple weeks, I may ask about splitting the dose. She has said that eventually I may want to take something else with the Wellbutrin, to offset the anxiety, but she first wants to see where I'm at when the effexor is totally out of my system. I'm listening to her advice, but I'm also trying to educate myself through this board and other resources, because if I'd done that with my last doctor, my effexor withdrawal would have been a much less painful process, more than likely.
it's scary when you learn that doctors are people too, with weaknesses and such.
Posted by Dkscully on February 4, 2005, at 19:28:53
In reply to Re: Re WELLBUTRIN side effects//Dkscully, posted by HappyGirl on February 3, 2005, at 16:27:47
so I may be clueless, because I could've sworn I posted a response to this, but maybe I didn't push the "confirm post" thing, or something.
At any rate, I wanted to clarify that I'm on Wellbutrin XL, not SR. So, one would think the extended release wouldn't wear out, right? Also, you said they usually wear out after 12 hours--I start to feel bad after more like 7-8 hours...
I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention to the fact that you were saying SR, rather than XL, so I wanted to clarify, since I think it might make a difference...
Posted by HappyGirl on February 5, 2005, at 0:13:34
In reply to Re: Re WELLBUTRIN side effects//Dkscully, posted by Dkscully on February 4, 2005, at 19:28:53
Hi DKscully:
For me, ... Extended Release and SR does NOT make any difference in regard to 'efficacy.' I was on WB sr for the past three years before switched to Bupropion ER(Generic form of WB) and also experienced on Bupropion SR prior to 'ER.'I, too feel the effectiveness of WB sr/er does NOT last more than seven-eight hours. For that reason, I believe that we need another class of Anti-depressant, ... in my case 'Trazodone.' I, also not able to take any of SSRIs, ... probably the chemicals of my brain NOT asking for SSRIs. Just guessting.
As to your concern, ... 'feeling bad after 7-8 hours, ...' in my opinion, you need a primary A.D., since WB can NOT be used for mono- A.D. as stated in my previous post. However, if the Celexa didn't help you, then most likely any other SSRIs do not work on you, either. In my case, because of my 'intolerance' on SSRIs, it took quite awhile for my pdoc. to search and find a right A.D. combo.
Hopefully, this scenerio does not happen to you. However, you may need to prepare some 'delay' in your progress due to your problem on SSRIs, because most of pdocs. prefer to rx SSRIs.... this is simply my 'personal' experience tho'.
H.G.
Posted by Rayan on February 6, 2005, at 20:32:44
In reply to EFFEXOR withdrawal or WELLBUTRIN side effects??, posted by Dkscully on February 2, 2005, at 22:08:54
I want to thank everyone who has shared their effexor experiences on this site. I am an ex heroin user who has been clean and sober for five years. I have experienced heroin withdrawals many, many times as well has detoxing off of alcohol, speed, cigarettes, and everything else you can imaging. Though not as intense, I have to say that coming off of effexor is reminiscant of kicking heroin. After being on effexor for about two years, I tapered off over a period of four months. I have been completely off of it for approximately three weeks and the withdrawals are still wreaking havoc on my body and mind. I feel like all of the life has been sucked out of me. I have extreme nausea, dizziness, hot&cold flashes with accompanying shivers, headache, and overall exhaustion. Even worse are the psychological symptoms including extreme anger, depression, intolerance, and self-hatred. I feel like I am walking on the edge of totally losing my mind. I truly believe that these are still withdrawal symptoms and that if I give it a few more weeks I will be on the others side. Thank you again to everyone who has been through this and chose to share about it. You really saved my *ss. Nobody else can really understand what is going on inside of me.
This is the end of the thread.
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