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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 patty3862 on April 28, 2003, at 13:22:35
Hi. I started Paxil CR 12.5 mgs. 6 weeks ago for anxiety and OCD tendencies (weird thoughts) which worsened upon the death of a loved one. The Paxil has been working nicely after about 4 weeks, but weight gain in evident and sex drive is non-existant.
My doctor suggested switching to Wellbutrin (less weight gain and sexual side effects). He said I could switch over without weaning off Paxil. I was worried about side effects, so he said I could wean Paxil to every other day. Has anyone ever just stopped Paxil after 6 weeks and gone on Wellbutrin? Any weird side effects?
Also, I didn't think that Wellbutrin was for anxiety and OCD. I do not suffer from clinical depression. I'm confused about thsi switch.
Posted by Snoozy on April 28, 2003, at 13:38:19
In reply to From Paxil CR to Wellbutrin with OCD? WEAN?, posted by patty3862 on April 28, 2003, at 13:22:35
YES YES YES taper off the Paxil - don't stop abruptly. Even though you've only been on it 6 weeks, I think that's absolutely the best thing to do. I was on it for a few months when it first came out, and stopped it abruptly and went through agony.
I am very sorry for your loss. It's certainly not unusual for your symptoms to worsen during times of distress.
I've been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years (400 mg now). I take it because of its' activating side effect profile. It can cause insomnia and irritability/jumpiness when first started, so if you do decide to take it, you may want to start on a low dose and work up from there.
No, I don't think it really is for anxiety and OCD. I haven't had a significant improvement in my anxiety or OCD, but it seems to be the only antidepressant I can tolerate, so I stay on it.
There's a recent thread about Wellbutrin you may want to check out. I'm sure you'll hear from others as well.
Good luck and I hope you find something that helps you.
> Hi. I started Paxil CR 12.5 mgs. 6 weeks ago for anxiety and OCD tendencies (weird thoughts) which worsened upon the death of a loved one. The Paxil has been working nicely after about 4 weeks, but weight gain in evident and sex drive is non-existant.
>
> My doctor suggested switching to Wellbutrin (less weight gain and sexual side effects). He said I could switch over without weaning off Paxil. I was worried about side effects, so he said I could wean Paxil to every other day. Has anyone ever just stopped Paxil after 6 weeks and gone on Wellbutrin? Any weird side effects?
>
> Also, I didn't think that Wellbutrin was for anxiety and OCD. I do not suffer from clinical depression. I'm confused about thsi switch.
Posted by patty3862 on April 29, 2003, at 22:25:02
In reply to Re: From Paxil CR to Wellbutrin with OCD? WEAN? » patty3862, posted by Snoozy on April 28, 2003, at 13:38:19
Snoozy, thank you. Dr. prescribed 100mg Wellbutrin 2x a day. I figure I'll take it once a day for now. I'm not sure how to wean off Paxil Cr 12.5mg since it can't be cut. Doc said go to every other day. I am thinking of just staying on both. Paxil really helps my anxiety/OCD. Just hoping Wellbutrin will diminish sexual side effects and weight gain. The whole thing is enough to make you depressed. Thanks so much for your help :)
> YES YES YES taper off the Paxil - don't stop abruptly. Even though you've only been on it 6 weeks, I think that's absolutely the best thing to do. I was on it for a few months when it first came out, and stopped it abruptly and went through agony.
>
> I am very sorry for your loss. It's certainly not unusual for your symptoms to worsen during times of distress.
>
> I've been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years (400 mg now). I take it because of its' activating side effect profile. It can cause insomnia and irritability/jumpiness when first started, so if you do decide to take it, you may want to start on a low dose and work up from there.
>
> No, I don't think it really is for anxiety and OCD. I haven't had a significant improvement in my anxiety or OCD, but it seems to be the only antidepressant I can tolerate, so I stay on it.
>
> There's a recent thread about Wellbutrin you may want to check out. I'm sure you'll hear from others as well.
>
> Good luck and I hope you find something that helps you.
>
> > Hi. I started Paxil CR 12.5 mgs. 6 weeks ago for anxiety and OCD tendencies (weird thoughts) which worsened upon the death of a loved one. The Paxil has been working nicely after about 4 weeks, but weight gain in evident and sex drive is non-existant.
> >
> > My doctor suggested switching to Wellbutrin (less weight gain and sexual side effects). He said I could switch over without weaning off Paxil. I was worried about side effects, so he said I could wean Paxil to every other day. Has anyone ever just stopped Paxil after 6 weeks and gone on Wellbutrin? Any weird side effects?
> >
> > Also, I didn't think that Wellbutrin was for anxiety and OCD. I do not suffer from clinical depression. I'm confused about thsi switch.
>
>
Posted by Snoozy on April 29, 2003, at 22:55:43
In reply to Re: From Paxil CR to Wellbutrin with OCD? WEAN?, posted by patty3862 on April 29, 2003, at 22:25:02
You're welcome! I think that's a good idea for you to start with just 100mg of Wellbutrin a day, because of your anxiety. Starting off with 200 might be agitating. If you do increase the Wellbutrin to twice a day, you probably want to take your first dose in the morning and the second one 8 hours later to minimize any insomnia. You're not supposed to take more than 200mg in one dose, and those should be spaced 8 hours apart. Do you have the SR (Sustained Release) or the regular (which is available as a generic)? I'm not sure if one or the other would be better for starting with.
For tapering the Paxil, if you would want to do that, I believe it is available in a liquid where you may be able to keep decreasing the dosage. You might want to ask about it. Here's the Medline page on Paxil:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202717.html
After it was too late for me, I learned that Prozac is sometimes used to help ease withdrawl from Effexor, Paxil and Zoloft, because it's very long-acting. That's available as a liquid too.
Did you talk to your dr about staying on both?
> Snoozy, thank you. Dr. prescribed 100mg Wellbutrin 2x a day. I figure I'll take it once a day for now. I'm not sure how to wean off Paxil Cr 12.5mg since it can't be cut. Doc said go to every other day. I am thinking of just staying on both. Paxil really helps my anxiety/OCD. Just hoping Wellbutrin will diminish sexual side effects and weight gain. The whole thing is enough to make you depressed. Thanks so much for your help :)
>
> > YES YES YES taper off the Paxil - don't stop abruptly. Even though you've only been on it 6 weeks, I think that's absolutely the best thing to do. I was on it for a few months when it first came out, and stopped it abruptly and went through agony.
> >
> > I am very sorry for your loss. It's certainly not unusual for your symptoms to worsen during times of distress.
> >
> > I've been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years (400 mg now). I take it because of its' activating side effect profile. It can cause insomnia and irritability/jumpiness when first started, so if you do decide to take it, you may want to start on a low dose and work up from there.
> >
> > No, I don't think it really is for anxiety and OCD. I haven't had a significant improvement in my anxiety or OCD, but it seems to be the only antidepressant I can tolerate, so I stay on it.
> >
> > There's a recent thread about Wellbutrin you may want to check out. I'm sure you'll hear from others as well.
> >
> > Good luck and I hope you find something that helps you.
> >
> > > Hi. I started Paxil CR 12.5 mgs. 6 weeks ago for anxiety and OCD tendencies (weird thoughts) which worsened upon the death of a loved one. The Paxil has been working nicely after about 4 weeks, but weight gain in evident and sex drive is non-existant.
> > >
> > > My doctor suggested switching to Wellbutrin (less weight gain and sexual side effects). He said I could switch over without weaning off Paxil. I was worried about side effects, so he said I could wean Paxil to every other day. Has anyone ever just stopped Paxil after 6 weeks and gone on Wellbutrin? Any weird side effects?
> > >
> > > Also, I didn't think that Wellbutrin was for anxiety and OCD. I do not suffer from clinical depression. I'm confused about thsi switch.
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by patty3862 on May 2, 2003, at 21:25:08
In reply to Re: From Paxil CR to Wellbutrin with OCD? WEAN? » patty3862, posted by Snoozy on April 29, 2003, at 22:55:43
Thanks, again. I'm on the SR and yes my dr said I could stay on both. I think that's what I plan to do. I don't want to wean off Paxil until the Wellbutrin takes effect because I fear I won't know which one is creating side effects. I may wean off Paxil aftre 2 months or so. I'm only on 100 Wellbutrin and 12.5 Paxil. I wouldn't know which one to increase if an increase is due.
Anyway, feeling much better already!
Posted by fairnymph on May 2, 2003, at 22:12:33
In reply to From Paxil CR to Wellbutrin with OCD? WEAN?, posted by patty3862 on April 28, 2003, at 13:22:35
Wellbutrin seems like a bad drug for you to switch to. I have anxiety/OCD and wellbutrin did not help me one bit.
Why not try out Effexor? It is more activiting and has less weight gain than paxil...but still is good for OCD/anxiety.
fn
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