Soup: starting Lexapro taper

[Altostrata]

Have you read Tips for tapering off buproprion (Wellbutrin, SR, XR, XL)?

[Soup]

@Altostrata yes I have still confused about it but will try to go over it again 

Thank you 

[ChessieCat]

5 minutes ago, Soup said:

@Altostrata yes I have still confused about it but will try to go over it again 

Thank you 

 

It might be helpful to jot down some notes as you read through Post #1.

[Altostrata]

What is confusing about it?

[Soup]

I feel so trapped by this Wellbutrin . I want so badly to

taper off Properly but I am Still having so

much confusion as how to do it . I am so bereft not seeing a way out . 
I wanted so badly to to get off and make myself better . 
Sorry I am Just so down and upset .I continue to suffer from the antibiotic setback and feel I will never get out of this . 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup

I so understand your confusion and feeling down right now. You are feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps if we don't look at the entire problem all at once but rather in smaller segments,  it would be more helpful. I know this sort of shift has always helped me.

 

The way I see it is the first issue is that you are not stabilized quite yet. If that is the case then there is plenty of time to put together a tapering plan.  Perhaps you can use the time while you are stabilizing to review the link that Altostrata sent you on August 30 and as ChessieCat said to jot down some notes about what you don't understand.  I can be part of this if you like, but no pressure from me if you don't feel comfortable with this idea. But this process, with or without me, will not be completed in one sitting. I realize when one feels bad it is hard to put their thoughts together, which is why you will do it very slowly.

 

Right now you are feeling very defeated trapped and I totally understand. Again, let's not try to solve the entire thing right now.  Let's go slowly. At this moment in time you need to be concerned with what you day will look like, how you will move through the day in a manner that is most comfortable for you while in withdrawal. The rest will fall into place for you and I can be your buddy along the way if you think that this would be of any benefit to you.

 

 

[Soup]

@RachelSusan I sure could use a buddy as I feel so lost with it all. I just am so confused about the way to taper this . It is confusing as I cannot transition over to any other kind here in my country . ( that’s how it is presented in the link) So I have to figure out how to use this one pill I have which is small and cut it and figure out how to take 5% off. It has a special coating on it so I don’t understand how to crush it or file any off . I feel fragile , trapped and beyond despair with this . I have tried multitudes of avenues to get some help and have hit a dead end every time . Makes me feel like there is no way out .  
I appreciate your kindness so much . You really are such a lovely person even to answer me .

I just wanted to do the safest thing and was quite ok with a slow taper but cannot figure it out . 
Thank you 

[Altostrata]

On 2/14/2022 at 9:43 AM, Soup said:

Then when I stopped I started to get all my previous withdrawal symptoms back burning skin, cold /hot feeling, electrical feeling in hands, nausea, retching, insomnia, akathasia, nightmares, brain fog

 

@Soup, could you have had covid early this year?

[Altostrata]

On 8/7/2022 at 2:14 PM, Soup said:

@RachelSusan my dilemma is crossing over from my one a day Wellbutrin xl to immediate release powder to do a taper . I think I need to take 3 capsules a day to make it like the xl type . But I was just wondering if people make liquid from the immediate release powder . I would like to do liquid but unsure if that would be prudent or just stick to the capsules . 
Thank you for your input always appreciated 

 

I see that 100mg bupropion SR is available from online Canadian pharmacies, as well as 100mg bupropion ER. You might start by converting to one 100mg ER tablet in the morning plus 1/2 of a 100mg SR tablet in a late afternoon dose for a total of 150mg per day.

[Soup]

@Altostrata I did have covid but my symptoms had started before that( after the antibiotics )  . I am sure it did not help anything for sure . 
Thank you for that info  I will 

inquire as to how that works with getting the prescription . 
I appreciate your time with researching for me and getting back to me . 

[Altostrata]

When did you have covid? Did you get any treatment? Were you taking antibiotics for those symptoms? 

 

Did any covid-related symptoms continue?

[Soup]

@Altostrata I took 4 rounds of antibiotics in December for a uti . I started  to feel the body burning January 20th of this year . I got covid feb 1st . Had cold type symptoms for a week then those left and just the burning , freezing cold / dr/dp  brain fog , retching , can’t feel

my skin , pssd disconnected from my body ,  temp dysregulation etc withdrawal symptoms stayed . I did not  take anything for the covid as it passed  like a cold so did not feel like I needed anything . The only things that have left since January are the retching and all over burning . 

[Soup]

Whoops did not mean to do another one sorry 

[Altostrata]

3 minutes ago, Soup said:

The only things that have left since January are the retching and all over burning . 

 

Good bet these are protracted covid? Do you also have brain fog?

[Soup]

@Altostrata yes I have brain fog . You think it is more covid and not from the antibiotic usage ? Or the Wellbutrin side effects ? 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup Hi Soup,

 

Altostrata could be onto something. Is it even remotely possible you could be a Covid long hauler? We don't know how Covid could affect someone who is in withdrawal or has been in withdrawal.

 

As for us being taper buddies I was thinking how this might work. I see that you might be looking into Canadian on-line pharmacies for the 100mg. If that is correct then maybe we should give you time to do your research? If that doesn't bear fruit or if you decide to taper from the XL then I do have a suggestion but it is only that, a suggestion. I was thinking that maybe we could both go to the link that Alto supplied and read it at relatively the same time?  If this appeals to you then please post a message for me here, if and when you are ready. We could both come back here to talk about it and see what makes sense for you. If that idea doesn't work or if you have a different view on how you would like to do this please let me know. I am very open to your suggestions.  I am here for you, or if my presence feels like pressure, no worries, I will let you take the lead and let you tell me how I can be of help to you.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan I would agree with the covid scenario except I had These symptoms before I got it so leads me to believe the antibiotics did something  in conjunction with the Wellbutrin ?????? Or maybe the Wellbutrin decided to quit????? 

I am open to going over the taper material with you maybe that will make it clearer for me . It will be very kind of you .

[RachelSusan]

@Soup I am sorry about the timing of my Covid comment. I actually sent my comment before I saw the latest one from Altostrata.  I don't want you to think I was pulling what I call a "pile on". 

 

As for reviewing the thread, I will read up on it in the next few days so that when you are ready to talk about it I will be ready as well.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan your kindness has brought me to tears and I am so grateful for you acknowledging me . 
it’s been a very rough day and I am at my wits end so your kind words were needed . 
Thank you . 
 

[wantrelief]

Dearest @Soup:  I am so sorry it has been a rough day for you.  I am so glad RachelSusan is going to help you with figuring out the Wellbutrin info.  Hang in there.....you are going to be ok.  💕

[RachelSusan]

@Soup Do you think you will be investigating getting the SR on-line or does that feel too overwhelming to you right now? I have read up on tapering from the XL and it does sound a little more tricky than the SR but I see that others have done it.

 

If you are planning to taper from the XL I wanted you to know that I read the link that Alto sent you. When you are ready you can address any questions you have to me, here on your thread. You might want to put at the top of that particular message something in all caps to let the mods know that they need not answer or that your questions are not for them. I suggest this only because they are so busy and I don't want to take up their time trying to respond to you when in actuality you and I are investigating it. Once I have answered your questions and you have come up with a game plan then perhaps that would be the time to run it by one of your mods.

 

Soup, I don't know if this is happening to you but when I was living with my withdrawal symptoms I found that making decisions and understanding information seemed very overwhelming. If it is happening to you, it might help if you can keep in mind that it is normal at this time and it won't always be like this.  You are doing great for going through such an awful situation and know that your situation will improve.

 

 

Edited September 13, 2022 by RachelSusan
typo

[Soup]

@RachelSusan THESE QUESTIONS NOT FOR MODS 
thank you again for your time and compassion with me so appreciated ( more than I could ever express ) 

Yes my brain is mush making sense of anything is beyond me right now . 
I just don’t understand how you can cut the xl pill . I have tried it never comes out even or just falls apart . Maybe I am missing something not sure how others did it. 
I am a little scared of the sr as it is only available in generic and I have only taken brand name . 

[DazzlingCold]

On 9/10/2022 at 8:52 PM, Soup said:

I feel so trapped by this Wellbutrin . I want so badly to

taper off Properly but I am Still having so

much confusion as how to do it . I am so bereft not seeing a way out . 
I wanted so badly to to get off and make myself better . 
Sorry I am Just so down and upset .I continue to suffer from the antibiotic setback and feel I will never get out of this . 

@Soupi empathize with the confusion I assume you feel. WD causes a lot of confusion for me as well. Simple things are hard to understand. Things look and feel so blurry! It’s hard to accomplish simple tasks as well. 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup I understand mush brain. So hard to live with.

 

Below is what I found on this site regard cutting the tablet. It does not address your concern about how to actually cut a tiny pill.  Additionally I found out that because of the binder in the XL it will not dissolve in water. It also appears from what I am reading that with the XL you may have to taper faster than normally suggested.  I highlighted that comment in bold. Now we know why every body says XL is a little more difficult. 

 On 5/1/2020 at 11:30 AM, Altostrata said:

Hello, MollyMac. There is a gadget for splitting pills, but to be honest, it probably isn't any better than a sharp knife for cutting a tablet into thirds or fourths.

If I were you, I would cut your tablet into quarters (37.5mg each), take 4 times a day, such as 8 a.m., 12 noon, 4 p.m., 8 p.m. You may have to get used to that for a week or so, because each quarter might release its contents quickly.

Then, you are in a position to drop one quarter (37.5mg); change your quarter-tablet schedule to 8 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m. This is a little steeper than we'd like, but all you can do with an extended-release tablet, you can't make a liquid from it.

-- This is me Rachael talking . Read below, I found it on the internet. So we do know burpropion does in liquid form. Can you get liquid form?  I used liquid Zoloft to taper. Everybody, even my doctor thought it did not exist, but he had least was will to investigate and hence I got my prescription.

You can ask your doctor to prescribe bupropion in liquid form if you have trouble swallowing pills.

I know I just threw a ton of things at you, and probably what I told you is making you depressed.  Try not to let it paralyze you. Try to think out your options. 1. use XL to taper and deal with the slightly inconsistent dosages. 2. try and get the SR and make a liquid. 3. Try to get a liquid based SR and taper from that.  Once you decide which one you are going to do we can talk more.  You do not need to decide right now.  Give it a some to think about it and also to investigate to see if option 2 and 3 are even open to you.

Is you doctor open to working with you?  I ended up using a doctor that was an addiction specialist. That was the only doctor I found that could help me.

 

[Soup]

I appreciate all that you did for me so kind and caring  . 
yes I seem to be in an impossible situation very heartbreaking . 
Just wanted get myself off and well without a lot of hurt  

The liquid here in my country will cost about $250,000.00 for one year that’s not a typo . 
Maybe I can switch to the sr and pray it is not too hard ….. 

Thank you so much 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup I understand your disappointment. You must feel boxed in right now. If you can manage to get yourself a prescription for the SR that seems like the ideal choice. The SR does not seem to be difficult to taper from. Many people make their own liquid from the pills and there are instructions on how to do so on this site. If you can't go on the SR then you can taper from the XL, it is just a little bit more tricky.  I found others on that link that were on the XL and did manage to taper. Perhaps you may want to read what they say? If you decide to go the XL route then maybe we can get you in touch with some of the XL people? Don't know if they are still around but we can try.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan I am going to try to talk to someone tomorrow about the SR . Hopefully I can transition over without huge problems  . 
I honestly don’t know anymore I am so upset and feeling defeated . 

[RachelSusan]

@SoupYou are already doing something for yourself. Just the act of talking to someone about the SR is great.  The answer will be they can do this for you or they can't.  Once you know then you will be able to come up with a game plan. If you need to transition over to the SR we will first celebrate you getting it and then you will transition, only when you are ready though and very slowly.  I know you feel defeated but actually I see it more as you are someone that is taking charge in spite of all the crap you are going through and how terrible you feel. Yes you feel bad but you are still trying. I say good for you.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan so I have found a compounding pharmacy that will make up immediate release capsules for me . 
I of course am not sure if this would be the right thing to transition over to ???? In your reading what do you think about transiting over to 3- 50 mg immediate release capsules spread out over the day ? My muddled brain is not quite sure . 
Again ever so grateful for your input I know it’s just an opinion not a medical statement just looking for different avenues then will make my own decision 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup Congrats on finding a compounding pharmacy. I am no expert but to me your plan sounds well thought out and viable. I'm pasting below what I found on this site. The person was going from 300mg and you are going from 150mg, but it is still the same process. I was also reading that some of these people had symptoms when moving from the XL to the SR.  I relay this information not to frighten you, and it may not even happen, but because I believe it's best to know all possibilities so you won't be confused if it does happen.

 

I was reading that you don't want to take your last dose too late in the day or your might have trouble sleeping, however if you go too long between doses you could have symptoms. In the post below it sounds to me like a big gap between the 3:30 p.m. dose and the 7 a.m. dose, but it appeared to work for this person. Have you given any thought as to what times you think would work best for you?  I guess it all depends on what time you go to bed and what time you wake up.  

 

How are you feeling overall? Do you currently have symptoms?  If so, how intense are they?

 

Congrats again on locating the compounding pharmacy. I am sure it was a lot of work but you got it done.  Good for you.

 

HikingAlong

Posted March 5, 2018

The way I tapered Welbutrin was to start by switching from the XL 300 to three doses of 100, at 7 am, 11 am and 330 pm. It took a couple months to get back to stable after that change. Then I started tapering all of the doses by a small amount. I think I aimed for 5% a month? I don't remember. It's in my little book.

It took about 3 years, but I'm off it now, and you can be too.

 

 

 

 

[Soup]

@RachelSusan thank you for your input . I am still suffering from all of the same symptoms no change at all . 
The transition is what scares me the most 

Thank you 

[Soup]

@RachelSusan so I know you do not have all the answers and youdo not have a crystal ball but today it has been 8 months since the antibiotic setback and my symptoms are still the same . In your opinion do you think I should keep holding till I see some kind of shift ? 
Thank you 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup THIS WAS WRITTEN SUNDAY IN ANSWER TO YOU MESSAGE THAT DAY.  FOR SOME REASON IT DID NOT POST.   Yes it does sound like there could possibility be a little bit of an uptick of symptoms when you transition, we don't know for sure.  I know sometimes we just feel like we need to do something, but if there is this possibility of this uptick, even if it is a slim possibility, maybe you might want to considering waiting until you are a little more stable to start your transition?

 

I understand that you are in a difficult position and you have many things to consider. I can really relate to how hard all of this is for you. I wish we had some sort of rule book that told us absolutely what to do. I think the closest thing to that rule book is this site

 

NOW ON TO YOU MOST RECENT QUESTION.  Are the symptoms still as severe?  Have they lessened at all in severity? I ask this because if they have lessened in severity then it might give you more encouragement that you are on the right track.

[Soup]

@RachelSusanno symptoms are the same . I feel so stuck like my CNS froze and it won’t unfreeze ….. I am so sad and been trying to do all the right things . Beside myself with grief ……not seeing many ways out of this . Really want to do the right thing and be kind to myself . Sorry for being so negative and clingy just feeling desperate 

Thanks 

[RachelSusan]

@Soup You are feeling terrible and it has been going on for so long that your feelings of desperation are very understandable.

 

In answer to your original question, should you taper now or wait, my answer is based on my personal experience as well as what I have seen on this site here. I found that when I tried to taper while still feeling strong symptoms it made it much worse. Based on this I would suggest you wait. I do understand your wanting to do something, do anything, because I felt that way myself.

 

I have seen people here on this site have long periods with symptoms. I can't give you how long because I don't remember. If you have a mod that you have been working with maybe they can give you some insight as to what they have seen.  They can't predict anything but they might be able to give you an idea of what they have seen with others.

 

I have come to believe that when in a state of withdrawal the worst thing that can be done is to make a change.  I have seen people move their dose higher or lower thinking if they just find the right number they will feel better. I did this too.  I now believe, within reason, that it was the change that was causing a problem.  I say within reason because obviously going on a super high dose or super low dose suddenly then it would be the amount of the drug that is the problem.

 

I have read your signature a few times looking to see if I can figure out a reason. It looks like you finished tapering  Klon in Spring 2017 and you finished tapering Lexapro Nov of 2017. Then it looks like you didn't make any changes in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Is that correct or did I miss something? How were you feeling during those years? Any withdrawal symptoms? Then in December of 2021 you had the UTI, went on two antibiotics and in January 2022 you started with withdrawal symptoms and have felt bad since? I am not asking to be nosy, I just keep racking my brain to see if I can come up with something.  If I am being too inquisitive please to do not feel any pressure to answer these questions. The mods tend to better at this type of stuff and I am no expert but I just keep reading it looking for something, anything.

[Soup]

@RachelSusan yes I became very symptomatic after coming off the klon and lexapro Nov . 2017 ( I was not well on it either ) so was advised to hold . I was very sick till spring of 2019 . Then started to feel better . Wanted to be able to be at my daughters wedding and could not. Figure  out how to come off the Wellbutrin so decided to get myself healthy and strong then figure out how to get off . Then pandemic hit and I was hesitant to start until I knew how that would work out ( I was quite functional with a few symptoms that were not horrid ) so planned to start taper in 2022 trying to figure out how to do it . Then started to get uti that would not go. 4 rounds of antibiotics ( macrobid and Suprax ) in Nov and Dec of 2021 . By Jan of 2022 stated to feel awful and the. Symptoms came back similar to 2017/2018 ( not exactly ) I also got covid in feb of this year . and here I sit 8 months later absolutely devastated not knowing what to do . All I wanted was to get off this crap and get better now I feel worse than ever . 
I appreciate all the time you spend with me and my issues so very kind of you