onegrete: I am just starting Bupropion - (help, emotional numbness my girlfriend)

[onegrete]

Hello everyone, I find myself in a somewhat desperate situation and while I am aware that this is not the section, I hope you can please excuse me and give me some help. I am somewhat desperate and against time.

Three days ago I started my treatment with bupropion 150mg and a medicine called "Stresam" (etifoxine hydrochloride 50mg) to control the anguish of a situation I am going through.

It is the first time in my life that I use antidepressants, it was like a red panic button, because I could not stand the anguish anymore.

 

The situation I need help with is, from what I have read, a common occurrence in the use of antidepressants. My girlfriend started a treatment with Sertraline 50mg / 100mg (I don't remember exactly) to deal with headaches. Neither of us knew what the medication was or the effects it could have on her. She started in mid-January of this year and continued until two days ago. She has become emotionally distant and numb to all affection in a horrific way. I am desperate, I have talked to her and discussed everything I have read about the effect of SSRIs on empathy. This situation was so intense, that I started my treatment. I would like to know if you can help me with these questions:

 

1) Will the same thing happen to me using Bupropion?
2) If she has been using Sertraline for about 4 months (let's assume 50 mg), how long does it usually take before she can regain her emotions/feelings and empathy? I am at a critical point because she already wants to end a 3-year relationship.
3) She tells me that the empathy and affection has diminished with everyone around her, but with me the effect is more intense. Is that possible? 
4) Is there anything we can do to speed up the recovery process? I am very afraid of losing this relationship with her because of the use of an SSRI.

 

Again, I would like to apologize for using this section of the forum incorrectly, but I am a bit desperate and I am against time. Thanks to the medications I am using, especially Stresam, I am able to cope emotionally with this. Please, I need your help, what can we do? Couples therapy? Generate new emotionally intense memories at this time? 
I am just trying to save a beautiful relationship that is about to be lost because of the emotional numbing of Sertraline.

 

 

[ChessieCat]

SA is very busy peer support site staffed by a small number of unpaid volunteers with a large number of members wanting assistance to get off their psychiatric drugs safely.  It seems that this is not what you are here for.  That being the case, we are not able to assist you. 

 

I suggest that you do your own research about side effects and drug interactions if you/your friend are taking more than one drug.

 

In case you decide to taper in the future please see the following topic which provides links to Tips for Tapering various drugs and how to get non standard doses as well as links to other important topics.

 

Important topics in the Tapering forum and FAQ

 

SA does have a forum where members have posted about their relationship issues:  Relationships and social life

 

This seems to be the main topic but there are some others that members have created so you could look through the titles to find those.

 

Marriages destroyed by SSRI SNRI - Topix 

[onegrete]

Thank you very much for the information and I am sorry for the misuse of this section of the forum, it is just that I am really against time.

You are right, in that topic there are many cases. I would like to post mine there but I don't have the option to add a reply to the topic, how can I do it?

 

In principle, according to my last conversation with her, she is going to try to stop taking Sertraline. I understand that the doses have to be reduced.

How much and for how long should they be reduced?

I have looked for information, but I always find different doses and the truth is that I have never in my life been around antidepressants, so I am somewhat ignorant on the subject.

[getofflex]

Please have your girlfriend create an account here, make an introduction topic, and we can help her to slowly taper off of her sertraline.  

[getofflex]

40 minutes ago, onegrete said:

I don't have the option to add a reply to the topic, how can I do it?

A moderator must approve your first 2 posts.  You should now have the option to reply to topics in here. 

[onegrete]

I will tell her to make an account so they can guide her through the process. It's been very difficult, she has almost given up on the relationship because she doesn't feel anything.

I hope it is not too late. I will expose my story in the appropriate topic left above.

Thanks

[Onmyway]

Hi @onegrete, 

I understand that you are scared for the fate of your relationship and it's a fair concern. But relationships are tough and often end. Sometimes people lose interest and at other times situations change. Either way a relationship requires two people and if she is not interested then you just have to let it go. I don't think starting antidepressants (for yourself) is the way to go. 

 

Yes, drugs and withdrawal can cause feelings to change. It happened to me. As time goes these feelings may change again but you can't count on it - my feelings have morphed into a different thing rather than gone back. You can offer her support but pressuring her or taking drugs to numb your emotions is not the solution. It is hard to let a relationship go but remember that we all constantly change and evolve into new versions of ourselves. Maybe in a few months or a year you will find a new relationship that is as satisfying or more than what you had with your current gf. 

 

Good luck to you. 

OMW