Tkmk2017: Quit Wellbutrin Cold Turkey, Long Withdrawal

[tkmk2017]

Greetings everyone,

I'm tkmk and I was diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety disorder in 2015 at 16 years old. 

I was put on Zoloft first which made me so depressed I had to stop taking it cold turkey after less than a month. 

Then I was put on Lexapro which just made me irritable but didn't solve my anxiety issues. Plus, at this point, my depression had gotten worse and I was prescribed Wellbutrin, which ended with me at a dose of 300 mg at the age of 16. By the time I was 18, I tapered off the Lexapro, although I do not remember the tapering schedule. I kept on with the Wellbutrin as the medication changed my life and I was able to enjoy things again and had the energy to be a normal person. In September of 2017, I moved countries and ran out of my pills by November. After a few months off of Wellbutrin, it was clear that I was still depressed and had to continue taking it, so in February of 2018 I found a new psychiatrist and continued on the high dose of 300 mg. This remained until March of 2022 when I decided to drop to a dose of 150 mg, and found that this was just as effective. I now believe that I was likely no longer depressed, but I had been on the medication for nearly all of my adult life, so I continued.

In November of 2023, due to severe health anxiety that came up after my first major experience with grief, I was given beta blockers by my PCP. These worsened my anxiety so much that I decided to stop the Wellbutrin cold turkey to see if it would help reduce the symptoms without asking my doctor. I stopped the beta blockers after a week and a half and stayed off the Wellbutrin for around two months (without telling my psychiatrist) during which I had severe symptoms including anxiety, delusions, panic attacks, chest pain, digestive issues, night terrors, and insomnia. At the time, I thought this was related to stopping the beta blockers and probably also grief, but now I believe this was also related to Wellbutrin withdrawal. I was worried that I would not be able to continue my studies at this rate, so I got back on the Wellbutrin again at the 150 mg dose and stayed on it until July of 2024.

I was feeling back to my normal self and decided I wanted to get off of the Wellbutrin for good. Given that it supposedly has no major withdrawal symptoms, I was told that I could stop cold turkey and I did. I had the typical withdrawal experience of low mood and fatigue the first two weeks after stopping the medication. Then the symptoms seemed to disappear, but by August I was having higher levels of anxiety than I ever had before medication, regular panic attacks, new and weird headaches, digestive issues, vision changes, tingling and tremors, dizziness, brain fog, memory issues, depersonalization, facial twitching, and nausea to name the main issues. These have continued since then and show no signs of stopping.

Althgouh I seem to have good and bad days, my health anxiety had me convinced I have a brain tumor or some horrible neurological disease until my husband pointed out that this all started with me stopping the medication. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist in December to talk about my experience with stopping the medication and will be asking her several questions. I really wonder whether the fact that I started taking this medication as a teenager and stayed on it for 8 years (excluding the breaks) is the reason that my experience has been so bad.

 

There are a few reasons I'm here. One is that I am wondering how long this experience will last as the anxiety has gotten so bad that I will sometimes spend hour googling symptoms and believing I have some horrible disease. I don't want to waste my life doing that and I don't want to be so distracted and bothered by the physical withdrawal symptoms that I can't work or enjoy my life. Has anyone else had a bad experience with Wellbutrin withdrawal?

Another reason is that I would love to find some tips on how to cope with the stress of all of this. The anxiety is overwhelming and even though I'm taking steps to improve my situation like spending time with loved ones, trying to leave my house every day, trying to get daily exercise, and doing things I enjoy, they don't seem to be enough.

A third reason is to find out how to deal with the physical symptoms. I've heard about people taking various supplements but I'm not sure to what extent they're necessary if my diet is good or if I don't have any clear deficiencies. The twitching and neurological symptoms have been very uncomfortable. The vision changes are minor but freak me out nonetheless. I would appreciate any insight into minimizing these issues.

Finally, I am looking for hope that I will be able to get through this without needing to start a new medication for the anxiety that this withdrawal is causing me. 

 

I am so appreciative that this website exists and hope that I will eventually be able to contribute some of my own insight when I start to feel better.

[LotusRising]

@tkmk2017

 

Welcome to SA,

 

Glad you found us. 

 

On 10/26/2024 at 7:18 AM, tkmk2017 said:

Given that it supposedly has no major withdrawal symptoms, I was told that I could stop cold turkey and I did.

Unfortunately, stopping cold turkey is not good advice, especially since you've been on it long-term.

 

On 10/26/2024 at 7:18 AM, tkmk2017 said:

Althgouh I seem to have good and bad days,

Have you seen our home page? Good and bad days are characteristic of the The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization. I wish I could tell you how long it will last, but it's different for everyone. 

 

This might be helpful What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

On 10/26/2024 at 7:18 AM, tkmk2017 said:

A third reason is to find out how to deal with the physical symptoms.

We have a lot of resources here Symptoms and Self-care

 

This is the information we have on wellbutrin:

 

On 10/26/2024 at 7:18 AM, tkmk2017 said:

Finally, I am looking for hope that I will be able to get through this without needing to start a new medication

It's difficult to say what the right answer would be for you, but starting a new medication won't necessarily correct the problem.

 

Reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug can sometimes help to alleviate withdrawal syndrome, but it's not a guarantee for everyone. The only other alternative is to wait out the symptoms and manage the best you can while your CNS returns to homeostasis. Unfortunately, no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you'll start to feel better, or if you even will. While some will notice immediate improvement, for others it can take many months or longer. It's not a guarantee for everyone and works more reliably with the first 3 months of stopping. If you decide that reinstatement is an option for you, we generally recommend a much smaller reinstatement dose than your last dose. These drugs are strong and your system has become sensitized and if you take too high a dosage, it may be too much for your brain.

 

On 10/26/2024 at 7:18 AM, tkmk2017 said:

I've heard about people taking various supplements but I'm not sure to what extent they're necessary if my diet is good or if I don't have any clear deficiencies.

We don't recommend a lot of supplements, but some find magnesium helpful. 

 

If you decide to try something, we always recommend starting low and going slow. Keep it simple, slow and stable

 

I've given you a lot of information. Take some time to read and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

 

And once again, welcome

 

LotusRising