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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tony P on November 16, 2001, at 2:02:31
I've been taking Wellbutrin for 2 or 3 months now, and have tried both 150 mg SR /day and 300 mg/day. I have also been taking, in varying quantities, and together or at different times:
clonazepam, trazodone (Desyrel) and Zopiclone (Imovane) to help with nervousness, tremor and insomnia;
Buspar (which seems to be the one reliable med in the lot for me),
and OTC Robaxin and Kava (also to help with the hyper side effects of the Wellbutrin).The WB worked well for a while but then I started needing more and more of the others to cope with stressful situations, the euphoria mostly wore off, I felt angry as much as I felt energized, and my family started telling me I was behaving crazily.
By the way, I must be the only person in the world who hasn't lost weight on Wellbutrin - I've gained back at least 15 lb. of the 35 I lost the year before as my depression worsened.
I've reached the point where I'm fed up and just want to stop taking all these different things to compensate for one other. This is very unusual coming from me - mostly I just love to take anything that will make me feel "better".
I've discussed it with my Dr., and he agrees it's worth the experiment. I intend to taper the Wellbutrin quite quickly - he suggested 2 weeks, but I suspect I can manage it faster than that. I'll taper the clonazepam from 1.5-2 mg /day down to zero over several weeks. The Trazodone I intend to taper from 50 to 25 mg immediately for a few days, then only use it if I really need it to sleep - same for the Zopiclone. He has given me a small dose of Ativan to ease the transition and help with situations where I have been feeling really compelled to use the Robaxin in high doses (singing and performing on stage).
The kava will have to go too, eventually, or at least be be seriously moderated, but I'm not as worried about that - it's pretty benign and seems to have no withdrawal effects.
Buspar I will continue, at least for the immediate future - moderately useful for me and little or no side effects.
If I succeed in this much, I'll at least have a cleaner system to work with. My ultimate goal is to be med-free at least until I know how it feels - I've been on A/Ds & other meds for 7 years now. If my depression returns, we can start looking at other possible medications and non-medical treaments from a much clearer starting point.
I'm mostly writing this to affirm my plan for my own benefit, but I'd be happy to hear other people's experience, comments and even advice!
Tony
Posted by sjb on November 16, 2001, at 8:07:18
In reply to Going OFF Wellbutrin and other meds, posted by Tony P on November 16, 2001, at 2:02:31
Tony,
I was on Wellbutrin and did not loose weight, either. The first 10 days, it did seem to have a bit of a suppresant effect, but that wore off, darn it all. So, you are not alone. I, too, am trying to go off evertyhing but am in a pretty bad place right now. If I didn't have a state job, I think I would be fired by now because I've taken so many days off from work.
I wish you well - I hope you succeed. I'd give anything to remain drug-free be able to loose weight, run a lot again, be active, socialize, etc, but have lost hope and energy.
Posted by ttt on November 17, 2001, at 16:30:11
In reply to Going OFF Wellbutrin and other meds, posted by Tony P on November 16, 2001, at 2:02:31
I am in the same situation, trying to ween off seroquel and sleeping pills. I really miss those years, just before a few months ago, when I felt so well without any med. I started to feel a bit nausea and dizzy and a discomfort feeling inthe head I just can't explain after two days without seroquel. May be I should ween it off slowly eventhough I can tolerate it.
Posted by LyndaK on November 17, 2001, at 21:34:05
In reply to Going OFF Wellbutrin and other meds, posted by Tony P on November 16, 2001, at 2:02:31
Tony,
Although Wellbutrin is a wonderful med. for some, it would turn me into a total witch. For some reason I get VERY irritable on it. If your doc. thinks it's o.k. to get off all your drugs, great; but if it's the irritability that you're worrying about, you might want to just start with the Wellbutrin and see how it goes. I also found that the Wellbutrin tended to increase the side-effects of my other antidepressant, so if you're on any drugs that tend toward weight-gain the WB could be making that worse. (?)Take Care,
Lynda
> I've been taking Wellbutrin for 2 or 3 months now, and have tried both 150 mg SR /day and 300 mg/day. I have also been taking, in varying quantities, and together or at different times:
> clonazepam, trazodone (Desyrel) and Zopiclone (Imovane) to help with nervousness, tremor and insomnia;
> Buspar (which seems to be the one reliable med in the lot for me),
> and OTC Robaxin and Kava (also to help with the hyper side effects of the Wellbutrin).
>
> The WB worked well for a while but then I started needing more and more of the others to cope with stressful situations, the euphoria mostly wore off, I felt angry as much as I felt energized, and my family started telling me I was behaving crazily.
>
> By the way, I must be the only person in the world who hasn't lost weight on Wellbutrin - I've gained back at least 15 lb. of the 35 I lost the year before as my depression worsened.
>
> I've reached the point where I'm fed up and just want to stop taking all these different things to compensate for one other. This is very unusual coming from me - mostly I just love to take anything that will make me feel "better".
>
> I've discussed it with my Dr., and he agrees it's worth the experiment. I intend to taper the Wellbutrin quite quickly - he suggested 2 weeks, but I suspect I can manage it faster than that. I'll taper the clonazepam from 1.5-2 mg /day down to zero over several weeks. The Trazodone I intend to taper from 50 to 25 mg immediately for a few days, then only use it if I really need it to sleep - same for the Zopiclone. He has given me a small dose of Ativan to ease the transition and help with situations where I have been feeling really compelled to use the Robaxin in high doses (singing and performing on stage).
>
> The kava will have to go too, eventually, or at least be be seriously moderated, but I'm not as worried about that - it's pretty benign and seems to have no withdrawal effects.
>
> Buspar I will continue, at least for the immediate future - moderately useful for me and little or no side effects.
>
> If I succeed in this much, I'll at least have a cleaner system to work with. My ultimate goal is to be med-free at least until I know how it feels - I've been on A/Ds & other meds for 7 years now. If my depression returns, we can start looking at other possible medications and non-medical treaments from a much clearer starting point.
>
> I'm mostly writing this to affirm my plan for my own benefit, but I'd be happy to hear other people's experience, comments and even advice!
>
> Tony
Posted by Tony P on November 17, 2001, at 22:15:00
In reply to Re: Going OFF Wellbutrin and other meds » Tony P, posted by LyndaK on November 17, 2001, at 21:34:05
Thanks, Lynda,
The Wellbutrin is definitely the first to go. Most of the other things I am taking are at least partly to tone down the Wellbutrin side effects and help me sleep. So, the clonazepam goes next (slowly), then more discussion with my doctor in week.
The Wellbutrin did what my doc hoped it would - kicked me out of the depressive, obsessive rut I was in 6 months ago. But as I head into a very busy Christmas season (I'm a performer, so my calendar is looking pretty full from now on!), I'm worried that the more I medicate to deal with anxiety/stress/depression, the more danger I'm in of going completely overboard.
So, I'm trying the "less is more" route - we can always add something back in if I seem to be losing ground, and all the meds I have used are quite fast-acting for me - Wellbutrin only took 3 days to kick in, and Serzone, which I was on for several years, likewise makes me start feeling better in as little as 24 hr.
So far I feel really good, although my mood can swing pretty sharply. Thanks for caring ....
Tony
> Tony,
> Although Wellbutrin is a wonderful med. for some, it would turn me into a total witch. For some reason I get VERY irritable on it. If your doc. thinks it's o.k. to get off all your drugs, great; but if it's the irritability that you're worrying about, you might want to just start with the Wellbutrin and see how it goes. I also found that the Wellbutrin tended to increase the side-effects of my other antidepressant, so if you're on any drugs that tend toward weight-gain the WB could be making that worse. (?)
>
> Take Care,
> Lynda
>
>
> > I've been taking Wellbutrin for 2 or 3 months now, and have tried both 150 mg SR /day and 300 mg/day. I have also been taking, in varying quantities, and together or at different times:
> > clonazepam, trazodone (Desyrel) and Zopiclone (Imovane) to help with nervousness, tremor and insomnia;
> > Buspar (which seems to be the one reliable med in the lot for me),
> > and OTC Robaxin and Kava (also to help with the hyper side effects of the Wellbutrin).
> >
> > The WB worked well for a while but then I started needing more and more of the others to cope with stressful situations, the euphoria mostly wore off, I felt angry as much as I felt energized, and my family started telling me I was behaving crazily.
> >
> > By the way, I must be the only person in the world who hasn't lost weight on Wellbutrin - I've gained back at least 15 lb. of the 35 I lost the year before as my depression worsened.
> >
> > I've reached the point where I'm fed up and just want to stop taking all these different things to compensate for one other. This is very unusual coming from me - mostly I just love to take anything that will make me feel "better".
> >
> > I've discussed it with my Dr., and he agrees it's worth the experiment. I intend to taper the Wellbutrin quite quickly - he suggested 2 weeks, but I suspect I can manage it faster than that. I'll taper the clonazepam from 1.5-2 mg /day down to zero over several weeks. The Trazodone I intend to taper from 50 to 25 mg immediately for a few days, then only use it if I really need it to sleep - same for the Zopiclone. He has given me a small dose of Ativan to ease the transition and help with situations where I have been feeling really compelled to use the Robaxin in high doses (singing and performing on stage).
> >
> > The kava will have to go too, eventually, or at least be be seriously moderated, but I'm not as worried about that - it's pretty benign and seems to have no withdrawal effects.
> >
> > Buspar I will continue, at least for the immediate future - moderately useful for me and little or no side effects.
> >
> > If I succeed in this much, I'll at least have a cleaner system to work with. My ultimate goal is to be med-free at least until I know how it feels - I've been on A/Ds & other meds for 7 years now. If my depression returns, we can start looking at other possible medications and non-medical treaments from a much clearer starting point.
> >
> > I'm mostly writing this to affirm my plan for my own benefit, but I'd be happy to hear other people's experience, comments and even advice!
> >
> > Tony
Posted by LyndaK on November 18, 2001, at 22:45:39
In reply to Re: Going OFF Wellbutrin and other meds » LyndaK, posted by Tony P on November 17, 2001, at 22:15:00
This is the end of the thread.
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