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Stopping Wellbutrin


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#1 kathyms3150

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 05:20 PM

I've been experiencing some anxiety for the past couple of weeks. On Friday I called my doctor and she told me to stop the 150mgs of Wellbutrin that I've been on for several years, since it can cause anxiety. I asked her if it was okay to just stop it and she said yes. It seems like the anxiety has gotten worse since I've stopped it.


#2 Amysgarden

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 12:13 AM

Do you have any other effects from stopping it? I'd be pretty wary of advice to stop an antidepressant cold turkey. When I went off Wellbutrin, I slept for three days straight and generally felt like I hit a wall. I dropped suddenly from the lowest available dose. But I was also on other meds at the time.

#3 FiveNotions

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 07:31 AM

Good God Almighty, Kathy ... NO !

 

wellbutrin has a withdrawal too ... far, far less awful than crapalta, but I've been through it ... and it's still hard ... don't do that to yourself ... read up on wellbutrin withdrawal ... FH posted here on it a couple of times ... also, go to survivingantidepressants.com ...

 

I'm running off to work, and can't post the details on how to wean off of it ... but stay on it until I can get home tonight and get you the info you need ...

 

Your doc is a total jackass ... one of the symptoms of wellbutrin withdrawal can be increased anxiety ...


#4 brzghoff

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 09:54 AM

that was strange to be asked to stop wellbutrin Cold turkey. i did some research and yes, wellbutrin cold turkey withdrawal can cause anxiety - however the "fix" is the same. its not easy and it takes work, but developing and applying cognitive skills learned in therapy are still your way "out" even if you go back on and taper off.  i will admit that i stopped CT off 150 mgs of Wellbutrin XL and had no withdrawal symptoms but everyone is different. i was not on any other meds at the time - dunno if that actually helped. i also was in therapy at the time which is like "cognitive meds".


#5 kathyms3150

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 10:21 AM

Hi Amy, Since I've been having a sort of relapse from stopping Cymbalta it's hard to tell. I do think that since stopping the Wellbutrin I'm having more body aches along with the increased anxiety.


#6 kathyms3150

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 10:30 AM

FN, thanks for your reply. I went to survivingantidepressants and found the thread about tapering Wellbutrin but my mind is in too much of a fog to be able to comprehend it. I have been off of it since Saturday, but was thinking last night that I should take it this morning. When I read your reply I decided to take it, I hope I did the right thing. It's bupropion XL, 150 mgs.

Why don't doctor's know what they're doing!  It's hard to trust them. I'm really not sure I'm going to get through this.

 

FN, I took the Wellbutrin this morning and I can't believe I feel worse. Really bad body aches and the worst anxiety. I'm so angry at my doctor I don't even want to call her. I feel like I'm all alone in this and I need help.


#7 kathyms3150

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 10:36 AM

Hi brz,  When my doctor told me to stop the Wellbutrin I asked her if it could cause withdrawal and she said probably not. I feel like such an idiot, I should have known better. Now I'm in such a terrible state of anxiety I'm shaking. I can't even think of going to therapy until I'm feel more physically stable.


#8 Amysgarden

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Posted 24 October 2014 - 12:07 AM

One of the biggest side effects I had from taking Wellbutrin was shaking and generally feeling way too amped up. I think it could easily pass as anxiety symptoms in some ways. Any chance you have benzos or other anti anxiety help? I hate to recommend benzos, as I struggled to get off Xanax at one point. But sometimes the short term benefit for short term use outweighs the problems.

#9 kathyms3150

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Posted 24 October 2014 - 11:05 AM

Hi Amy, Yes, I have Klonopin and hydroxyzine, but my anxiety is so high they don't help much.  I want to get off the Wellbutrin but I know my doctor probably won't know how to taper it since she said it wouldn't cause withdrawal. I feel stuck in a nightmare. :(


#10 ShadyLady

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Posted 28 October 2014 - 04:55 PM

Dearest Kathy, how are you doing? Is the anxiety monkey still heavy on your back? I am fighting it the best I can, but am experiencing a feeling of dread toward even the simplest tasks. Are you still taking the Wellbutrin? I don't remember if you see a therapist or not. If you do, does that help at all with managing the anxiety with coping skills? I just read a new post post from Brzghoff and it is excellent. If you haven't read it, check it out...it rattled my cage of shame, but spoke to me that I must find a therapist to help me sort through this foreign terrain!

Thoughts and prayers are with you, Sis xxxxx

#11 kathyms3150

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Posted 30 October 2014 - 10:34 PM

Hi Shady, Yes, the anxiety seems to be getting worse if that's possible. Last night I hardly slept and today I feel like I'm having a continuous panic attack. I'm going to lower my dose of Wellbutrin starting tomorrow even though my doctor said I don't need to. She said it doesn't cause withdrawal but I'm afraid to take the chance. I'm not seeing a therapist now because I don't feel well enough to drive. I'll check out the post by Brzghoff, thanks. I'm so sorry you're having this horrible anxiety too. It's really paralyzing. Are you feeling any better? My thoughts and prayers are with you too! xxxx

#12 brzghoff

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Posted 31 October 2014 - 01:33 PM

Kathy,

 

i am sorry to learn the anxiety is still with you in such a severe way. do you have a family member or friend that can give you a ride to a therapist? there is really only a limited number of drugs that can help, and they still won't get rid of the anxiety, only help you start working on learning the cognitive skills necessary to  get real relief. 

 

when it comes to withdrawing from wellbutrin, if you are taking the extended release version, you cannot split those pills. however you can still get the non extended release version, generic only as buproprion. that way you can split the pills if necessary. i know that type is typically taken throughout the day in smaller doses to insure a steady level in your system. ask your doctor if she can prescribe that version for you. if she denies there is a withdrawal, share with her this link from the national institute of health, an agency of the federal government. http://www.ncbi.nlm....cles/PMC181057/

 

if she still denies it, she's a quack. 





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