withdrawal symptoms of wellbutrin

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Sun, August 12, 2007

My husband has PTSD and has been taking, I think 150mg or 200mg of Wellbutrin each day. He had a CT scan done and decided to stop taking the meds because of the chance of a siezure(his decision not the the doc)He has not started back. It has now been 4 weeks, and he feels like CRAP.He has a headache, wants to do nothing, fuzziness in the brain, tired all the time. He is worse than he was before he started on any meds. Depression is worse. Is this the result of going off the Wellbutrin cold turkey?, or just the PTSD and depression returning because he is not on any meds?

Thanks,

Linda

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Susan Cagley

8/12/07 7:36pm

one is just as bad as the other. he should have gone down a little at a time. like cutting the pills in half for at least 2 weeks and than a half ever other day. till he doesn't need it any more. i have to take it 2 times a day now for 2 years. I had taken it before but one doctor took me off and now this doctor put me back on it. i all so take lexapro 1 a day. but hang in there it's like a trip you feel like you are coming an going at the same time. it also suppose to help you lose weight but so far i gain 100 lbs. oh well.

Kimberly Tyler

8/13/07 4:35pm

Dear Linda,

I do not know if your husband been in consultation with his physiatrist. Is he open to going to/(back) to a psychiatrist? If his treating doctor knows about his stopping his meds, the doctor may want to try him on another type of antidepressant. If your husband is reluctant to return to the doctor, or if he does not want to be on medication, these would be questions his doctor may want to address with him (or perhaps you may need to address them in order to get him to go back to the doctor if he is reluctant).

As a person with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, I was initially afraid of the side effects of meds, and did not want to take medication. I resisted medication for almost two years because I feared they would alter my personality. (I also did not want to admit something was imbalanced in my brain.) I was incorrect about the benefits of medication and I really needed to engage my doctor in these concerns. The doctor agreed to see me every two weeks for awhile just to "check-in" that my personality was still intact. It may sound kind of odd, but this is what I needed to do to see the difference medication made for me. (If the doctor is unwilling to do "check-ins", perhaps you and your husband could work together.)

PTSD and depression are mental illnesses and treatment in the form of either or both antidepressants and antianxieties may make a big difference, particularly at the onset of treatment. Therapy was also needed by me (even though I resisted this too). It was actually the therapy that got me to try the medications... I was under the impression I could "fix" my issues on my own and I was weak because I continued to fail (and would continue to experience the depression, lack of focus, anxiety, flashbacks, triggers, body tension, and fatigue).

Also, I have seizure issues, so I take one milligram of Klonopin to off-set the seizure side-effects. Perhaps this info may be useful regarding the seizures.

For me, I required medication and therapy and now my symptoms are under control. There is reason to hope that the worst symptoms may very well be managed in time.

Please let us know how it is moving along. It is not easy to walk in your shoes (or your husbands either.)

Best,

Kimberly Tyler

mrst53

8/15/07 1:35pm

Kimberly,

thank you for replying. Bill has started back on his meds. I did not ***** about him being off, and and he felt so lousy, I guess he decided to go back on his own. One reason he went off, is that his new counselor told the group that they will NEVER get over PTSD and that the best they can hope for is to COPE. That's not very positive and she also said that PTSD from rape and incest is the same as from war.I don't believe that you can compare the two and I don't think you would either. some symptoms may be the same, but not the PTSD. The vets argued with her, but she would not change her mind. I have never suffered either, but my father tried to kill me, so I have some issues, also, nothing like you.

Next week he sees his medical doc, so maybe he will talk to him about his meds and his concers.

Again, thank you for responding and helping the vets. Bill is 100% VA and currently trying to get SS but we are having to have our Senator help get records, that VA can't seem to find, or won't look for.

Linda

wendy

4/18/08 1:14pm

Linda. I hope you're still out there. My husband is also a Vet, he was in the VA last summer for depression PTSD related he started on Wellbutrin and was doing fairly well. He went off his meds on his own and within a week started to drink a lot probably a form of self medication.He's now in jail for busting up our home and resisting arrest..what I really want to tell you is that you husband should find a new Dr. it's not just his lifeline but yours also. best of luck

Eugene

12/ 8/07 11:11pm

I have taken welbutrin on and off for years. I recently stopped and am having similar symptoms as your husband. Mainly lack of sleep and extreme anxiety. I did start back 5 days ago though and theres been little improvement if any.

Vicki

12/12/07 11:07am

I have been on wellbutrin for at least 3 years. Decided to finally try life on my own without the "masking" of my emotions with drugs. I also want to stop because considering pregnancy but having some really weird side effects. Esp. at night, itchy feeling in legs, angry spurts..I could go on..however, wondered if anyone else getting these symptoms. Is there somethng to ease them??

Deborah Gray

1/19/08 12:15pm

Vicki,

First let me suggest that you talk to your doctor about going off Wellbutrin. I went off Wellbutrin, with my doctor's guidance, as soon as I became pregnant, and my son is perfect. My doctor told me that my taking this medication in the first month of conception would not harm the baby and he was right.

Second, antidepressants don't work by masking your emotions. They're not like street drugs in that they don't create sensations and emotions. They simply balance out the chemical imbalance that's causing your depression. If you don't have depression, antidepressants will have no effect on you, other than side effects. They're not "happy pills."

You do need to talk to your doctor in any case about going off your medication. It's not a good idea to do it on your own.

Anonymous

3/26/09 10:25pm

I went off 150mg Wellbutrin 3 weeks ago and I have been feeling the same as your husband. I do beleive that he's probably experiencing "withdrawal" side effects and it's probably not so much the PTSD. I'm not a doctor but I have gone on and off medications before and I always feel worse than I did before I even went on the medication. It's really important to wean off the meds. I should take my own advice

withdrawal symptoms of wellbutrin

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