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TiredOfDrugs: coming off Zyban / bupropion for the first time


TiredOfDrugs

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Hi everyone,

 

I'm so glad to have found this community. My drug history should be in my signature, but in short I've been on antidepressants and other drugs to augment them from the age of 18 to today, when I'm 32. I'm down to just Zyban 150mg twice daily now, which I'm very proud of as coming off Duloxetine was awful. 

 

I'd like to come off the Zyban as I'm feeling well and I have been for about eight years now, but I'm very scared of what drug-free life might be like. In the past psychiatrists have told me that because I didn't find most drugs helpful I have "treatment resistant depression" and if I try to come off the drugs, find it difficult and then go back on them, they may no longer work for me. I know from a recent report released by Public Health England that the severity of antidepressant withdrawal effects are now being recognised for the first time, so maybe doctors might become more informed/helpful. But I haven't found them to be good so far. The irony is I'm a mental health professional myself.

 

I'm confused by the idea of reducing by 10pc when the pills come in one 150mg dose - I have a pill splitter that could potentially quarter them, but going any lower sounds like it would be difficult to do accurately. I think I'll have to figure it out though, as reducing faster is just too risky. I work in a very demanding, meaningful, responsible role supporting children who have experienced trauma, and i don't want to risk my work being compromised or having to take time off work. 

 

I'm still in an ambivalent, deciding stage. I may start my journey now, or in a few months' time. I'll post updates as I go. 

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Welcome to SA, TiredOfDrugs.  Sorry for the delay in responding.

 

We don't put a lot of stock in psychiatric jargon like "treatment resistant depression."   It's true that very slowly awareness is increasing about the severity of withdrawal, moreso probably in England than the U.S.  Ignorance remains the rule, however.

 

What form of Wellbutrin are you taking, IR, SR or XR?

 

We normally recommend tapering by no more than 10% of current dose every four weeks.

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

It's possible that Wellbutrin, in some cases, might be tapered somewhat more quickly.  This is explained in detail in the following link specifically about tapering Wellbutrin.  However, in your situation where you must remain high-functioning, you may want to go with a conservative approach.

Regarding how to do the 10% reduction, the link also explains how to obtain the smaller nonstandard doses you'll need for your taper.  

 

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

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can answer questions, ask your own and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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  • Altostrata changed the title to TiredOfDrugs Coming off Zyban/Bupropion for the first time
  • 3 months later...

Thank you for the reply, Gridley. In the UK there's been recent guidelines recognising that antidepressant withdrawal is a real thing, and clinics should be set up to help people taper. Nothing has happened yet though. 

 

For me I've been reducing slower than the doctors say I should but faster than many do here. I was taking 150mg bupropion twice per day, and from Jan 29th I reduced to 150mg in the morning and 75mg in the evening with no ill-effects. On Feb 29th I reduced to 75mg morning and evening, and I've noticed nothing different.

 

To me, this is incredible. I expected far more suffering, after so many years. I know it could still be ahead of me, and the next transition will be to 75mg in the morning at 37.5mg in the evening, but for now I'm feeling very lucky. I'm also feeling lucky because I can't get through to my pharmacy on the phone to order new meds due to Covid-19 busyness on their end - if I wasn't cutting down this would be far more anxiety provoking. 

 

Thank you all for your support.

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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  • Administrator

That's good news, TiredofDrugs, thanks for posting. You may want to rest on 75mg and 75mg for a while and then try a slight more gradual taper from there.

 

It may very well be that 300mg/day was an unnecessarily high dosage for you and 150mg/day might have done just as well. Quite often, we see people finding tapering to be easy in early stages and having more difficulty after they've cut their overall dosage in half.

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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  • 1 month later...

Thank you for your reply, Altostrata. I stayed on 75mg twice daily for two months and then reduced to 75mg morning and 37.5mg evening two weeks ago. 

 

I'm not noticing any withdrawal symptoms so far, certainly not of the kind that I remember from previous tapering off drugs. My mood may be slightly lower, but that may also be because we're in lockdown during a global pandemic, which is unlikely to be good for anyone's mood! I'm very tired as well, but that may also be due to being in week 8 of lockdown and not being able to exercise and get out as I would like. I seem to be sleeping better since reducing my dose.

 

I plan to stay on my current dose for several months, at least until after life here in the UK returns to normal so I have a more accurate baseline. 

 

I've read the material on how to taper more slowly - we don't have compounding pharmacies here so that's not really an option, and I'm nervous about crushing it and weighing out very small amounts. 150mg is also the only dosage available here, annoyingly. I'll try to figure out a plan over the next few months, but I plan to taper more slowly from now on.

 

Thanks for providing this space and these amazing resources, I've found them so helpful.

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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On 5/10/2020 at 12:22 PM, Goss said:

Hi. Can you post how you got on with coming off the 150mg please.

Hello,

 

I was on 300mg daily (150mg twice a day) for many years. 

 

  1. On January 29th I used a pill splitter to halve my evening pill, taking 150mg morning and 75mg evening for one month. 
  2. On February 29th I halved both my morning and evening pills, taking 75mg morning and 75mg evening for two months. 
  3. On April 29th I halved my morning pill and took a quarter of a pill in the evening, taking me to 75mg morning and 37.5mg in the evening (112.5mg total).

I'm going to stay on this for a few months, at least until lockdown ends and life gets somewhat back to normal as I feel I need stability right now. I'm concerned about slightly lower mood and tiredness at the moment, so in case it's the drugs I want to pause for a while. I've had no ill-effects after any of the other reductions, I feel very lucky.

 

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to TiredOfDrugs: Coming off Zyban/Bupropion for the first time
  • 4 months later...

Hi all, a quick update: 

After my 29th April reduction to a half 150mg pill in the morning and a quarter in the evening (112.5g total), I rested on that for two months before going down to a quarter pill in the morning and a quarter in the evening (75mg total) on 29th June. I rested there for two months before going down to a quarter in the morning and an eighth in the evening (56.25mg) on 29th August, and I've just gone down to an eighth in the morning and an eighth in the evening (37.5g) yesterday. I've had no noticeable withdrawal effects which has been wonderful as I had such a bad time coming off Cymbalta/duloxetine - I'm usually cautious with the advice of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK, but their latest publication on antidepressant withdrawal puts duloxetine at highest risk and bupropion at low risk of causing withdrawal effects, so my experience may support that. Also, as an aside, thank you Altostrata for helping to inform this new guidance! 

I'm delighted to be down to 37.5mg per day. I've been using a pill splitter and I don't think I can split the pills any smaller than one eighth size, but I don't have access to a weighing scales accurate enough to weigh out smaller amounts. I'm thinking to go down to taking an eighth once per day in a few months time, but I will go back up if I notice any negative effects. I wish 75mg pills were available here in the UK, but I will have to work with what I have. 

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to TiredOfDrugs: coming off Zyban / bupropion for the first time

Hi There, thanks for visiting my thread. Now I've come to read yours! Well done on your journey. I'm using a simple coffee grinder, a super sensitive set of scales and some gelatin capsules. If I got busted I'd look like a drug den. Those can all be bought on the net. The first scales I got were rubbish, let me know if you want a recommendation.  YOu are giving me hope with your story!

On Cymbalta for 10 years after PND.  Original dose of 60mg was far too high.  Tapered down over years.  Tricky journey. 

Finally off October 2018. Once over the fallout, haven't looked back. 

  • Been on 150mg Prolonged Release Zyban for 3.5 yrs.
  • It comes in blank plastic pouches.
  • The code on the pill is GX CH7.
  • The full pill weight is 0.42 grams.  

Starting tapering journey May 2020.  Cut the tablet into 4 quarters. Found the pill cutter very inexact for this kind of tablet. Sizes varied hugely.

Tried one half in morning and the other 2 quarters at regular intervals. Abandoned that plan fast, as half an immediate release made me feel like I'd had 300 coffees.
Took a quarter every few hours instead. Which meant I dropped by a whole quarter. This had me bumpy for 2 weeks.
31st July - began skipping the middle 1/4 on alternating days. VERY BAD IDEA. Doctor's advice. Thanks to Chessiecat and Altostrata and went back to the 1/4 three times a day. 
15th September went down by 10%;29th October went down by 10%;Mid December will cut 10% again. 
Approx three 10% cuts (pill weight) since January 2021 (2021). Each is pretty bumpy. 
July 2021 - Am now at 0.06 grams (pill weight) x 3 daily. (The whole pill weighs 0.42 grams)
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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for visiting my thread! And I had to laugh at the idea of getting busted for reducing on meds...before i got angry that this is what we have to do, that our doctors and pharmacists won't guide us through this 😡 I was thinking about how you say in your signature that doctors provide no advice except to alternate days - the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists latest publication on antidepressant withdrawal explicitly says not to do that, so that might be ammunition for you when you see your doc next? 

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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Hi Tiredofdrugs. I understand from what I am reading that you have been successful in tapering off Zyban from 300mg. In NZ we also only have Zyban in SR 150mg taken twice a day. I have only been on Zyban for 4 months and I am sick of the side effect and feel I should come off it. 

 

What I am wanting to know is from you or others is what side effect you've had etc while taking it? I find when I take the second pill in the afternoon of 150mg SR that my stomach plays up about 2hrs after taking it. Massive dry mouth at night & problems with my stool etc. Is this common?

 

Also I've read on here mainly information about Wellbutrin & not so much about Zyban. I understand if I am correct these are exactly the same ? Can you or someone confirm for me that you can cut the Zyban 150mg SR pills and that they hold there release time or do they now become Instant release? 

 

Reason I ask is I tried yesterday to drop from 300mg to 262mg ( Dropped 1/4 off the afternoon pill ) and within 2hrs my stomach went mental & I've been in and out of tears the past 24hrs and still feeling ill.

 

Can someone help me here?

 

 

2015 - Started Zoplicone for sleeping off & on for 5 years ( No more than a week to 10 days at time )

2016 - Stared Thyroxine as I have Hasimotos Hypothyroid ( Still taking today 25mg )

2019 - Problems with Zoplicone started, Tried Temazepham with same problems

2020 - June - Had massive problems with trying different medications and had a breakdown

2020 -  July - Started 6mg Diazepam to help with side effects of Zyban ( Bupropion ) 300mg  

2020 - August - Started Diazepam taper as I have a dependence to Benzo's ( Funny that after they said zoplicone was not a benzo...)

2020 - Oct - 1.2mg diazepam ( Have had 5 major withdrawls since Aug )

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
20 minutes ago, kiwifellow said:

Can someone help me here?

 

@kiwifellow

 

I've sent you a PM.

* 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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Hi Tireddrugs

 

I was hoping you maybe able to help as you seemed to have tapered of Zyban SR 150mg twice a day.

 

I was put on Zyban  300mg ( Bupropion ) in July as I had a breakdown and kinda had no choice but to start a antidepressant.  I had over the years been using Zoplicone for sleep as I am an athlete and need my sleep so I used this off and on for 5 years until last year when I started to feel sick every time I took it then without knowing I ended up creating a reliance on it and we think thats why I ended up having a breakdown as I was most likely experiencing major withdrawls. Other than this I use a Escitolpram I think it was 4 years ago for 9months and came off that within a month.

 

To help they said with the bupropion side effects I was told to use Diazepam & this would also help me with the benzo problem I had with Zoplicone. After 4 weeks of using 6mg of Diazepam I started tapering and of course have gone way to fast. I have had on & off withdrawls about 5 times now over 4 months and I am currently at 1.15mg and struggling big time.

 

The main problem I have now is sleep. I can't sleep anymore with the lower doses of Diazepam and taking the full 300mg of Bupropion. I have major dry mouth at night that keeps waking me up. I may get at best 1-2hrs a night now. I also am having major headaches at the end of the day & stomach problems as side effects.

 

After reading more on here the consensus seems to be to taper the Zyban as its an upper first and leave the benzo ( The brake they called it ) to last. I am starting to agree as my sleep has got worse the lower I reduce the Diazepam.

 

Question 1 -

 

Problem I have in NZ is they gave me Zyban SR 150 twice a day which I understand is more used for smoking. This is the only product we have in our country. I need clear advice as to weather Zyban SR & Wellbutrin SR are exactly the same drugs & release etc as the links on here are mainly talking about Wellbutrin for taper but I see you have tapered off Zyban. D

 

Question 2 - Can you cut Zyban 150mg to use for tapers & does it stay as SR or change to IR ? Meaning once cut it become instant release to be taken 3 times a day?

 

Question 3 - Can someone confirm that its best advised to hold the benzo for now & taper the Zyban first & does the side effects such as sleeplessness improve once lowered?

 

Thanks for the help so far too. Your a gem

 

2015 - Started Zoplicone for sleeping off & on for 5 years ( No more than a week to 10 days at time )

2016 - Stared Thyroxine as I have Hasimotos Hypothyroid ( Still taking today 25mg )

2019 - Problems with Zoplicone started, Tried Temazepham with same problems

2020 - June - Had massive problems with trying different medications and had a breakdown

2020 -  July - Started 6mg Diazepam to help with side effects of Zyban ( Bupropion ) 300mg  

2020 - August - Started Diazepam taper as I have a dependence to Benzo's ( Funny that after they said zoplicone was not a benzo...)

2020 - Oct - 1.2mg diazepam ( Have had 5 major withdrawls since Aug )

 

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Hi Kiwifellow,

To answer your first question, my major side effects were dry mouth (led to a significant deterioration in my oral health, I have nine fillings and two root canals now) and sleep disturbance, both because I found it hard to get to sleep and I had to wake during the night to pee a lot (urinary frequency is a well-documented side effect). I took 150mg Zyban morning and evening, and every time I reduced on the evening dose I noticed my sleep improve. I think stomach problems are also well-documented, though they have not affected me personally.

Once cut the pills become immediate release - I wonder if that explains your stomach issues? Zyban SR is the same as Wellbutrin SR, I think that's explained in one of Altostrata's big threads on Wellbutrin. 

As others have advised here, you may want to taper more slowly - you could try to cut the quarter pills again to one eighth (12.5%) and take seven eighths of a pill, though they do tend to shatter when you cut them so small. Alternatively you could do what forum user MollyMac does and grind the pills and weigh them carefully, commencing a slot taper of 10%. The Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK now suggests that if you struggle with withdrawal you may even want to taper by 5%.
 

On antidepressants since 2005 when I was 18 for anxiety/depressive disorder.

 

2005-2009 - I've taken citalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, duloxetine, olanzapine, lamotrigine...loads of SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics and some odd ones like agomelatine, too many for me to remember. I also have memory problems, probably as a result of all the meds which I often took together at high doses. I've also taken zopiclone/zolpidem and benzodiazepines in the past to help with sleep. 

Jan 2009-Jan 2013 - Duloxetine and Bupropion, gradually titrated down from the Duloxetine

Jan 2013-Jan 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 150mg evening = 300mg daily

Jan 2020-Feb 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 150mg morning, 75mg evening = 225mg daily

Feb 2020-Apr 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 75mg evening = 150mg daily

Apr 2020-Jun 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 75mg morning, 37.5mg evening = 112.5mg daily

Jun 2020-Aug 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 37.5g evening = 75mg daily

Aug 2020-Sep 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 37.5mg morning, 18.75 evening = 56.25mg daily

Sep 2020-Oct 2020 - Zyban (Bupropion) 18.75mg morning, 18.75mg evening = 37.5mg daily 

I stopped taking Zyban completely on 28th October and I'm currently feeling great, no ill effects. 

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Hi TiredOfdrugs

 

Thanks heaps for your reply, it helps explain it a lot.

 

My side effects are the same as yours & my teeth are starting to play up also so I'm getting off this damn drug plus my sleep has got worse especially after each diazepam drop I have done as I am taking the diazepam at night only. I will hold with what I have now left on diazepam which is only 1.15mg and start on Zyban taper.

 

Last questions I have for you if you could help clear up for me please. - 

 

I note from your signature your first drop was 150mg in the morning & 75mg in the evening. I plan on only dropping like suggested the 10% each drop so I would drop 30mg on the first round. As you are saying once the Zyban SR is cut it becomes instant release so did you split the doses into 3 times a day as recommended for Instant release? or did you take the whole 150mg in the morning & just the other split pill once in the evening or twice in the evening?

 

My plan was to weight the pills as I have done this with the Benzo taper. 

 

Example - Drop 1 of 10% of the total 300mg per day = 30mg drop meaning 270mg per day for 2-4weeks

 

Option 1 - Take the even dose 3 times a day as once split or crushed it becomes instant release  ( 90mg at 6am, 90mg 12pm, 90mg 6pm ) - This would be done by crushing the pills

 

Option 2 - Take the dose as I think you have done 2 times a day ( 135mg at 6am & 135mg at 2pm ) - This would be done by filing 15mg off each pill

 

I have spoken with my pharmacy and they have been really great and have said they are looking into a liquid and or a possible option of making batches of the required dosage drops for me in capsule forms. 

 

If they did make capsule forms for me I guess they would take the existing Zyban SR, crush it & divide the dose for me into capsules but I need more info on if this would effect the doses strength if they made lets say 2-4weeks worth and how many times a day.

 

Hope you can help guide me here or anyone else.

 

Many thanks buddy, People like you and others on here sharing are truly special people and cannot thank you enough. :)

 

Kiwifellow

2015 - Started Zoplicone for sleeping off & on for 5 years ( No more than a week to 10 days at time )

2016 - Stared Thyroxine as I have Hasimotos Hypothyroid ( Still taking today 25mg )

2019 - Problems with Zoplicone started, Tried Temazepham with same problems

2020 - June - Had massive problems with trying different medications and had a breakdown

2020 -  July - Started 6mg Diazepam to help with side effects of Zyban ( Bupropion ) 300mg  

2020 - August - Started Diazepam taper as I have a dependence to Benzo's ( Funny that after they said zoplicone was not a benzo...)

2020 - Oct - 1.2mg diazepam ( Have had 5 major withdrawls since Aug )

 

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