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LucyLou: switching to Prozac to taper from there


LucyLou

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Sort of have that crawling skin feeling. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Woke up earlier today — am on spring break — and felt better. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Today didn’t have any symptoms.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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No symptoms. More energy today.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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No symptoms and feel more positive.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Well. Now wondering if depression slowly creeping up on me. This weekend felt negative. Find myself frowning when in car alone. Loss of interest in things. Feel weak like I don’t want to move. Super negative towards husband. 😕

Even though I always think spring break might be a time to drop, maybe it’s too soon in the year. Seriously wish I would’ve just left escitalopram at 5.24 longer. Thought I would feel lighter and then thought I did feel better maybe or just that I was down like before drop and maybe a little better but … feel like I don’t care. Considering going back up to 5.24 and leaving it til mid-summer or even next year. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus
3 hours ago, LucyLou said:

Considering going back up to 5.24

 

11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg.

 

If you do decide to increase, you might consider only going up to 5.23mg.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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2 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg.

 

If you do decide to increase, you might consider only going up to 5.23mg.

I don’t have a way to measure .01 mg increments. Unless… I think the liquid could be diluted with water, though, so I could dilute half water half medicine, so a measurement of  .’02 ml of liquid would equal  .01 mg. (The liquid is 5 ml = 5 mg.)

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes you can dilute the prescription liquid.

 

Adding 5mL prescription liquid to 5mL water will make a half strength liquid.  This will mean (as an example) if you had been taking 2mL of the prescription liquid then you would need to take 4 mL of the diluted liquid to get the same dose.

 

Please be sure to do the calculations a few time to make sure that you have it correct.  I found it helpful to take a break and come back and do it again and double/triple check.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Decided just to go back to 5.24 mg of escitalopram.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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So, I felt spacey and think Chessie Cat’s suggestion to try 5.23 mg was right on, so I went to pharmacy and got a small bottle to create a 10ml:5mg dilution to use to measure small amounts. And going to do 5.23 tonight.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Made half strength liquid and took 5.23 mg escitalopram.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Two days in on 5.23 mg of escitalopram and feel good. I am a bit dizzy but maybe that is from the switches in doses this week and hopefully won’t last. Yesterday I felt a difference like I was more positive and that had continued today. At both 5.22 mg and 5.24 mg I was more negative and sluggish. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • 4 weeks later...

Updosed to 5.24 mg escitalopram tonight. I don’t think the 5.23mg was enough of an updose. Moved too fast and want to hold here a long while.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Feel better so far.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • 1 month later...

Tested positive for COVID last week (6/11/22). Slept a lot. Feeling better but taste has been affected and still fatigued. Have heard that COVID can affect mental health but haven’t researched it. Don’t want to think my way into depression/anxiety. But thought I’d note getting sick here for my reference.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Take good care of yourself, and try not to overdo things.  Let your body heal.  Lots of water.  Try to eat healthy foods.

 

I've had a virus (I call it the "whatever it is" virus - 2 PCR Covid and a RSV/flu A&B tests all  negative) and it has really knocked me about.  Thankfully even though I felt awful it wasn't really bad but because it affected my lungs I found it exhausting to do more than just basic taking care of myself, because I just can't get the oxygen I needed.  It's now been 15 days and I'm still not 100%.

 

And don't forget that you will need to ease your way back into things once you start feeling better.  It would be easy to overdo things.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 2 weeks later...

Have had a hard time getting up energy to do anything and on summer break—I’m a middle school teacher. Maintaining structure during break has always been somewhat challenging and staring off break with COVID didn’t help, I’m sure. I’ve done much better with summers than I did way back when I first started teaching over 20 years ago, however.

 

Sad today  and was crying for no specific reason earlier, and lonely but having a hard time reaching out. I do think I have some Covid fatigue when I do something active,  but also think  low energy is (might be)from depression.
 

When I look back at my med changes since November, it seems like I messed up and should’ve just stayed at 5.26 mg escitalopram and 450 mg Wellbutrin XL. Since that change I’ve had struggles. Wondering if I should updose super slightly the Wellbutrin. I remember cutting from 450 mg to 300 mg years ago before SA, and that depression crept up on me and I felt better when I went back to 450 mg. But I do think dropping the Wellbutrin in December helped with agitation and neuro-rage and that kind of anger damages my relationship with husband and son. I wish I would’ve had the bandwidth to reach out to dr and get 75mg IR, so I would’ve dropped 75 mg rather than 150 mg, but I felt in the moment, I couldn’t wait even a day I was so agitated and angry. So it’s better to be low energy and sad than higher energy with angry outbursts, but I don’t like only having these two choices.  Maybe I just need to ride it out? 

 

it feels kinda hopeless right now and that riding it out won’t work. But I don’t want to be just looking for a quick fix by uprising Wellbutrin when what I really need is time for my brain to adjust. Just waiting to adjust when I was on 5 mg of escitalopram back in 2019 didn’t work. But this is a different (more complex) medicine situation. ☹️

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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So if I got my doc to prescribe Wellbutrin IR so I could make a liquid solution, what small updose would be recommended? 37.5 mg? Or try even less? 10 mg?

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, LucyLou said:

So if I got my doc to prescribe Wellbutrin IR so I could make a liquid solution

 

Yes.  See Post #1 of this topic - note that you will need to take it several times a day, the information is in that post:

 

Tips for tapering off buproprion (Wellbutrin, SR, XR, XL)

 

1 hour ago, LucyLou said:

what small updose would be recommended? 37.5 mg? Or try even less? 10 mg?

 

Are your symptoms bearable?  If yes, then it would be better to not updose the Wellbutrin.

 

If no, what dose are you taking now and when did you last decrease and from what dose?

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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11 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Yes.  See Post #1 of this topic - note that you will need to take it several times a day, the information is in that post:

 

Tips for tapering off buproprion (Wellbutrin, SR, XR, XL)

 

 

Are your symptoms bearable?  If yes, then it would be better to not updose the Wellbutrin.

 

If no, what dose are you taking now and when did you last decrease and from what dose?

I’m just depressed and hope it passes. I am functioning ok, just low motivation and sad. Hopefully it will get better? I will definitely wait and see for now. Thanks for the feedback. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Feeling less depressed. Yesterday got cardio workout in, and I know that helps. Also need to connect more with friends. I describe myself as an extrovert with social anxiety, so when I’m out of the groove of connecting, I can get stuck. Hard to motivate myself but trying to implement some structure. Could just sit and read my novel and newspapers all day but after a bit feel bummed out because I am just sitting around🤷🏼‍♀️.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Seems depression lifted which is great. Had a day of higher anxiety a few days ago but it passed. Glad I didn’t change any dosages and just hung on. Will hold at 5.24 mg escitalopram and 300 mg Wellbutrin XL for a long while now.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Felt positive today when I woke. Got in a cardio HIIT workout yesterday which may have helped mood too. Trying to note positive experiences here too for more  accurate reference. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yesterday woke depressed but then worked in garden and it passed. Today woke depressed. Still depressed but managed to do a few things in garden and kitchen. Took longish walk with dog which had been the thing I do when I don’t know what to do this summer and usually walk listening to an audiobook. Are these waves of depression from big reduction of Wellbutrin in December that will eventually pass? Don’t want things to get worse. ☹️.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Woke up depressed☹️. Able to do things but scared this won’t just pass and will be stuck in this low grade depression. 😢 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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I am going to try using my light therapy 20 min/day on waking. I use the light in my classroom when I am at work (because no windows), and I have had luck with it alleviating depression. 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Still sad for no clear reason. Added fermented chlorella tablet to afternoon to see if that helps. I took this right after I dropped Wellbutrin to 300 mg in December and was not depressed right after dropping dose. Depression crept in over time.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Still experiencing depression. Like I don’t even want to go to salon for the bang trim I have scheduled.


Asked doc to prescribe Wellbutrin IR 75 tabs thinking I could try make a liquid and do small updose. Tabs are generic and I usually get brand name because generic Wellbutrin XL didn’t work for me in the past. Hoping that doesn’t make a difference with the IR.

 

Also, don’t know how much to updose. I take 300 mg of Well XL in the am and took 150 XL at lunch before I dropped lunch dose. Thinking I could do a quarter pill in later afternoon as I saw in a dose reduction example on tapering Wellbutrin thread. That would change daily Wellbutrin dose from 300 mg to 318.75 mg.

 

Also wondering about cutting pills because not as accurate and if it would be better to create a liquid.

 

I haven’t seen much on site about updosing or reinstating Wellbutrin. Feedback about this would be great. 
 

Thanks.

 

 

 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Today got my period? Spotting at least. I’m in peri menopause, so it’s infrequent and PMS used to cause low energy, irritability, anxiety, so I wonder if my last couple weeks of depression is related and will now lift. Still on the fence about updosing Wellbutrin, but think if I do, I will take a quarter of a 75 mg IR tab around 3 pm or 4 pm.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Took 18.75 mg bupropion IR (1/4 pill) at 4 pm. Kind of worried but figured I should try.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • Administrator

Hello, @LucyLou I am confused about what's happening.

 

You had been tapering escitalopram while taking 300mg Wellbutrin XL, is that correct?

 

Now you're increasing Wellbutrin?

 

4 hours ago, LucyLou said:

Today got my period? Spotting at least. I’m in peri menopause, so it’s infrequent and PMS used to cause low energy, irritability, anxiety, so I wonder if my last couple weeks of depression is related and will now lift. Still on the fence about updosing Wellbutrin, but think if I do, I will take a quarter of a 75 mg IR tab around 3 pm or 4 pm.

 

This is a good bet. Peri-menopause can also cause hormonal alterations affecting mood and energy.

 

Also

On 7/9/2022 at 8:49 AM, LucyLou said:

Feeling less depressed. Yesterday got cardio workout in, and I know that helps. Also need to connect more with friends. I describe myself as an extrovert with social anxiety, so when I’m out of the groove of connecting, I can get stuck. Hard to motivate myself but trying to implement some structure. Could just sit and read my novel and newspapers all day but after a bit feel bummed out because I am just sitting around🤷🏼‍♀️.

 

It's unlikely you have a return of depression from reducing Wellbutrin last December.

 

As we're a site for going off drugs, we're not going to be able to diagnose or treat "depression". Generally, we do not advise reinstatement for this purpose, as that would go in the opposite direction from going off drugs. Up to you whether you want to attempt to control the effects of natural processes with psychiatric drugs.

 

Please let us know when you want help tapering.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I thought that maybe I was experiencing depression (sad for no reason and hard to do things) because I lowered my dose by too much in December and I remember reading on this site stories where people didn’t experience withdrawal effects until months after discontinuing a med. I should have asked that question directly, I guess. I was wondering if I could be experiencing depression because my brain had not adjusted well enough to the lowered dose. I had been on 450 mg of Wellbutrin XL for over 10 years and before that 300 XL since probably 2005. I wasn’t trying to updose to treat an underlying depression (hope that makes sense). 
 

I was very unsure about whether or not to take this extra dose, so I don’t think I will continue. 
 

 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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I thought that maybe I was experiencing depression (sad for no reason and hard to do things) because I lowered my dose by too much in December and I remember reading on this site stories where people didn’t experience withdrawal effects until months after discontinuing a med. I should have asked that question directly, I guess. I was wondering if I could be experiencing depression because my brain had not adjusted well enough to the lowered dose. I had been on 450 mg of Wellbutrin XL for over 10 years and before that 300 XL since probably 2005. I wasn’t trying to updose to treat an underlying depression (hope that makes sense). 
 

I was very unsure about whether or not to take this extra dose, so I’m not going to continue. Staying at 300 mg Wellbutrin XL.
 

 

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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Did not increase Wellbutrin dose. Only took extra 18.75 mg one time (Sunday afternoon).

 

Monday and Tuesday my depression has lifted like it often does after I get my period. (Much of the time it’s anxiety but this time it was low mood.)
 

Thanks @Altostrata for checking in with your thoughts. 
 

I wish I would’ve thought to ask you directly your thoughts about possible withdrawal symptoms many months after a drop in Wellbutrin.

Current: 300 mg Wellbutrin XL (was 450 mg 2005 to 12/18/2021); 5.22 mg Escitalopram

 

Escitalopram taper: 20 mg (2002? to 4/2016). Spring to Fall 2016: smooth taper to 8 mg. Winter 2016-l7: 7.8 mg Spring 2017: 6 mg. Fall 2017: 5.6 mg. Spring 2018: 5.2 mg. Fall 2018-Winter 2019: 5 mg, too big of a drop. 2/2019: 5.3 mg. 6/2020: 5.28 mg. 7/11/21: 5.26 mg. 11/21/21: 5.24 mg. 3/29/22: 5.22 mg. 4/10/22: 5.24 mg. 4/11/22: 5.23 mg. 5/8/22: 5.24 mg; April 7, 2023: 5.22 mg; 8/3/23: 5.24 mg

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  • Administrator

Quite often, mood symptoms will appear at times in the menstrual cycle, or withdrawal symptoms will worsen. We do not recommend updosing for this, as it will resolve naturally. You may wish to observe your cycle and adopt techniques to deal with associated mood variance.

 

You're tapering escitalopram, correct? How is that going?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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