Somebunny: New Member Needing Welbutrin Withdrawal Support

[Somebunny]

Hi All,

 

Background: 35yo female, been on welbutrin 150mg XL for about 10 years. My depression was predominantly circumstantial - e.g. bad breakups, living far from a support system, job dissatisfaction etc. I'm finally in a happier place in life and noticed I was forgetting to take my Welbutrin daily which was a sign to me that perhaps I could discontinue it. Because I had been haphazardly taking it every 2-3 days for a few months, I didn't see the need to taper further so I just went cold turkey on 1 January 2023. Been off it for 38 days now.

 

My question for the forum is directed at people who have come off Welbutrin themselves. I'm trying to determine whether I'm experiencing a withdrawals and whether I should persevere. And if so, for how long?

 

My symptoms as follows:

Days 7-14 after stopping: irritability (to be expected). 

Since then: The primary symptom I'm struggling with which is making me consider going back on it: I am OBSESSING about food. I am hungry all the time and have put on about 4kg (I was only 49kg to start with).

Also, my energy levels for exercise have deteriorated(I can't run the distances I used to). Additionally, I'm finding I am very susceptible to PMS, getting exceptionally "overthinky", irritated, emotional. I don't feel like myself and have a perpetual feeling of wanting to withdraw till I'm more of my old self and have lost weight.

Is this likely all still withdrawal, and how long can I expect it to continue for? Did anyone else experience weight gain? At this point I'm ready to go back on the Welbutrin not for depression but just to feel normal again.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Taking psych meds intermittently is not recommended.  This will cause the levels of the drug in your bloodstream to vary, and destabilize the brain.  That, combined with stopping the drug abruptly, is probably what is causing your symptoms.  So, yes, you are in withdrawal.  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Here is an example: 

 

March 12, ’22: Lexapro 5 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

March 29, ’22: Lexapro 4 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

April 17, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

May 19, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 25 mg

 

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

If you jump back on your drug at full dose, you risk kindling.  This explains more: 

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

 

This link explains about reinstating:

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

An alternative to just going back on the drug, is to reinstate at a low dose, stabilize on that for a while, then carefully and gradually taper off of that.  Often going back on a low dose will reduce and resolve withdrawal symptoms.   

[getofflex]

You can search the site, and find others who are or have come off Wellbutrin.  Search in the Intro forum, and in the Success Stories forum. 

 

How to Do a Site Search

 

This link goes into how long withdrawal may last: 

 

How Long for Withdrawal?

Edited February 9, 2023 by getofflex

[FireflyFyte]

20 hours ago, Somebunny said:

Since then: The primary symptom I'm struggling with which is making me consider going back on it: I am OBSESSING about food. I am hungry all the time and have put on about 4kg (I was only 49kg to start with).

Also, my energy levels for exercise have deteriorated(I can't run the distances I used to).

 

Wellbutrin is an activating drug and also works as an appetite suppressant so it would make sense that your appetite would increase being off the medication. I gained a little bit of weight when I cold turkey'ed off of Wellbutrin (not recommended - didn't know this site existed at the time) but it settled and I was able to drop most of it so hopefully this is something that decreases for you as well.