MollyMac: planning taper off 150mg Wellbutrin XL

[Go2zero]

9 minutes ago, MollyMac said:

Thank you Go2Zero. I will show it to him. I appreciate the time you took to do that. I also am very interested to learn that you had such a tough reaction after a very small drop. I'm really finding this drop very hard, and I'm hoping it will settle soon. 

 

Happy to help you MollyMac! You will stabilize! It may take some time. Nobody can tell how much since we all react differently. I have had more than one very difficult periods after tapering bupropion. And every time it settled eventually. As long as you keep going slowly and careful thing will turn out OK!

 

Looking forward to the feedback of your helper.

[Go2zero]

On 7/30/2021 at 11:40 AM, MollyMac said:

Do you sniff the lavender oil when anxious? I think I will buy some L-Theanine. You say it helped your severe discontinuation effects? 

 

Hi MollyMac,

 

I forgot to answer these 2 questions you asked.

 

But I also have one extra important question for you: What WD symptoms do have? Could you be as specific as possible please. Also how they come and go. 

 

Now my answers:

 

L-Theanine helped me (sometimes) a bit in very extreme WD situations due to tapering Bupropion. I just used it now and then. I did not want to get used to it by taking it every day. If it works, it works very fast (1 hour maximum). I found it works best when one takes it together with caffeine. 

 

Best take caffeine capsules instead of a cup of coffee. Since capsules have a fixed amount of caffein, whereas very cup of coffee is different.

 

If you want to try it I would start with 25mg L-Theanine and see if it does someting. I bought L-Theanine in 100mg capsules. I opened them, weighed the contents and took 1/4 of the pill weight. That is then 25mg. 

 

Later I build the dosage up, since 25mg did no do much. The few times I had a positive effect I took 100mg L-Theanine and 100mg Caffein (also in capsules).

 

The reason that L-Theanine MAY work with bupropion WD, is that L-Theanine (especially in combination with caffein) gives a boost in dopamine. And bupropion is also a dopamine booster. 

 

But we want our brain and body to heal and find its natural balance again. So I am not in favor of boosters that do more or less the same as the medicine that we are tapering. Therefor I just used it now and then, on days that really were like hell. And sometimes it gave some relief... 

 

Now for the Lavender Oil:

 

This helps me when I experience anxiety through WD and/or stress. I put 2-4 drops in a glass of water and I drink it. This is totally safe. But only take 100% Pure ORGANIC Lavender oil! Start with 2 drops and see what is does. If you feel no or too little effect after 30 minutes , take 1 drop more. Ans if needed 30 minutes later another drop (in a glass of water).

 

It works within 20 minutes for me. My anxiety levels decrease a lot and I am having no side effects. I know more members on SA take/took it. Some with good results, others did not notice anything. It is worthwhile trying I guess....

 

Please do not forget my earlier questions about your dosing and the weight of the capsules. 

 

You will get there!

[Go2zero]

One more question to your helper. Please let him weigh 20 empty capsules as a total and let him weigh 20 filled capsules as a total. Please report the total weight of both series separate (for the 20 filled capsules that should be in theory approximately 20x6mg=120mg).

 

It is mportant to know what the 20 empty and filled capsules weigh. When we know that, we can calculate the exact dose you are taking. 

 

If 20 capsules would not be possible to weigh in 1 total, do it with 15 or at least 10 capsules. But the more the better. Because that is always more accurate.

Edited August 6, 2021 by Go2zero

[MollyMac]

Thank you, Go2zero. 

 

My partner says he has given photos and that this should be enough. I will try to weigh the capsules as you requested at some point. The thing is, I'm not asking how much to cut by. I was simply asking if the percentage should be less.  Which, I have been able to answer for myself as the last cut has left me far more upset than any of the others.

 

I will not be cutting for another long time, and when I do I will do so by a very low percentage. 

 

The symptoms I am feeling now is blankness, wishing to not exist (this is not suicidal - that is not an issue), deep sadness, racing dreams/thoughts/negative thoughts, lack of motivation, brain fog, memory issues, negativity, joint pain which means practicing yoga is tricky, the all round misery package! 

[Go2zero]

6 hours ago, MollyMac said:

My partner says he has given photos and that this should be enough. I will try to weigh the capsules as you requested at some point. The thing is, I'm not asking how much to cut by. I was simply asking if the percentage should be less. 

 

Hi MollyMac,

 

Please understand that we can only give good advice if we know exactly which dose you are taking. The photos were great, but without knowing the weight of the capsules it is impossible to know exactly what dose you are taking. 

 

And I already explained that weighing only 1 filled capsule is not accurate. Therefor my question to weigh at least 10 empty and 10 filled capsules. Then we can determine the dose you are taking.

 

I already explained that especially at lower dosages we have to be extra accurate with making our own daily capsules or cuttings. We don't want to alternate dosages without knowing, because of inaccuracies in weighing.  

 

I hope you understand that we are trying to help here. It is not just a matter advice whether to taper down in a lower percentage or not.

 

It is very important to be sure about the exact dosage you are taking or whether the daily dosages are equal enough.

[TiredOfDrugs]

On 8/10/2021 at 11:12 AM, MollyMac said:

Thank you, Go2zero. 

 

My partner says he has given photos and that this should be enough. I will try to weigh the capsules as you requested at some point. The thing is, I'm not asking how much to cut by. I was simply asking if the percentage should be less.  Which, I have been able to answer for myself as the last cut has left me far more upset than any of the others.

 

I will not be cutting for another long time, and when I do I will do so by a very low percentage. 

 

The symptoms I am feeling now is blankness, wishing to not exist (this is not suicidal - that is not an issue), deep sadness, racing dreams/thoughts/negative thoughts, lack of motivation, brain fog, memory issues, negativity, joint pain which means practicing yoga is tricky, the all round misery package! 

That sounds tough, MollyMac - pausing the reduction for a while sounds like a very good idea! I do wonder if, as Go2zero says, there may be fluctuations in your dose leading to you taking different doses each day, leading to a constant state of withdrawal/adjustment? I wonder if this might be tricky to examine/talk to your partner about though.

 

Those side effects/withdrawal effects you mention sound absolutely miserable! It must be particularly frustrating to not be able to do yoga because of the joint pain. I hope you're being gentle with your mind and body right now, with all the pressure they're under - and I hope others are being kind and gentle to you too 🙂

[MollyMac]

Thank you TiredofDrugs. My partner weighs each capsule after filling it, so each one is the same dosage.

 

As for kindness and gentleness, well - there's a lot going on. But I'll get there. 

[manymoretodays]

Hello MollyMac,

How are you faring this holiday season?

Hoping you are doing well enough, but do tell.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[MollyMac]

Hey MMT,

How genuinely lovely to hear from you! I'm doing really well this holiday season. Haven't killed anyone in the family, yet, so it's all excellent. How are you? Did your family visit? 

 

Actually, the main reason I'm doing well is that I started HRT and it has been LIFE TRANSFORMING. I see you began that a while back too. Turns out that perimenopause was the culprit behind the extreme reaction I had to the last cut. My decreasing oestrogen and progesterone has been playing havoc with my mental and physical health since age 35 (I'm 48 now), but the effects accelerated around July 2021

On 8/10/2021 at 11:12 AM, MollyMac said:

The symptoms I am feeling now is blankness, wishing to not exist (this is not suicidal - that is not an issue), deep sadness, racing dreams/thoughts/negative thoughts, lack of motivation, brain fog, memory issues, negativity, joint pain which means practicing yoga is tricky, the all round misery package! 

 

HRT has solved all of these. It was a bumpy few months getting the dosages right, but now I feel so much better. 

 

With that in mind, I'm ready to have my next cut in Zyban. I had stopped all cuts until I got to the bottom of what was happening.

 

So, may I ask a question? I'm on 0.06g x 3 times a day. I'd like to cut to 0.05g x 3 per day. Do you think this is a sensible drop? 

 

Happy New Year to you too. xx

 

[manymoretodays]

Hey there MollyMac,

The family is okay.  Most are out of state.  My dear Sun/son close by.

And yah....me too, can't kill anyone who is out of state......a little excess conflict this season though.  And only kidding of course.  I strive to get on okay with all my relations.

Miss my Mum.  She passed at the end of last May.  Miss her a lot.  The grief.....it seems lighter anyway.  Lucky, so lucky to have had her for so many years and proud, very proud to be her daughter.

 

So it has been months with the HRT?  And I am no expert on that.  I was on bioidenticals when I arrived here.  At some point cut them in half......quite awhile ago.  And await my GP appointment to maybe consider that it might be time for me to come off, taper of course.......or just stay with them for life?  I think I may be older than you, and have been on mine since peri-menopause and through menopause and beyond.  Oh, and my GP, functional doctor......you'll like this.......LOL, has been a bit faddish at times.  I like him a lot though.  He is the doctor who listens.  And cares.  Anyway......I don't know if you are familiar with an Actress named Suzanne Somers, he followed her for awhile, and that's about the time I started on HRT.  She's not bad, I'm not saying that......as far how she has managed her health, and then promoted her ways.

 

It sounds like you have gone cautiously into it, the HRT, and that's good.  As with anything new, start low, go slow.  Good motto to have.

 

I'm fairly convinced that my drug/medication history created some havoc with hormones.  I mean I think I probably had some unnatural hormonal fluctuations that may or may not have been present without the medication/drugs.

 

Again, we don't deal much with hormones here.  It's not our expertise.   And it might skew what is happening with tapering and WD.  

Here's our topic:

Female hormone replacement therapy(HRT) estrogen and progesterone

 

I'm glad you feel much better.  That's amazing.

 

Any WD symptoms of note?  And I wish I knew for sure, how HRT might affect your taper.  Or what might have been WD vs. hormone flucuation unrelated to drugs or WD.  Complicated stuff.

 

On 12/30/2021 at 11:27 AM, MollyMac said:

With that in mind, I'm ready to have my next cut in Zyban. I had stopped all cuts until I got to the bottom of what was happening.

 

So, may I ask a question? I'm on 0.06g x 3 times a day. I'd like to cut to 0.05g x 3 per day. Do you think this is a sensible drop? 

 

I think this is where we were at.  With actual estimation of doses last:

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/22608-mollymac-planning-taper-off-150mg-wellbutrin-xl/?do=findComment&comment=542336

 

Yet, we still don't have the empty capsule weight to subtract from the total weight.

And that is important.  Some of those small capsules can weigh as much as 52 mg. 

So again, is there any way to get a average empty capsule weight?

It could really result in some inaccuracies in dosage that would be better controlled for, if we knew that.

Most will use scales that measure out to 3 decimal points too.  0.000g

 

I think going to 0.05 g might be too much too.  It's like a 17% drop in weight, if I am calculating correctly.

That same 17% would correlate somewhat with the mg or dose strength drop too.

So I think it's too much. 

We were talking going down by less than 10% last time, not more.

 

I'll @Go2zero  So that if they are around, they might stop by again.

 

I do concur with them, Go2zero too, on the importance now, of knowing just what the heck we are working with, as far as dose strength goes.  It's kind of impossible to know too, without knowing both the capsule weight, unfilled.  And then to have a scale that reads out 3 decimals would really be to your advantage too.  They can be gotten from Amazon......online and then mailed.  The prices seem to have gone up some, but they still are not extremely expensive.  Hopefully that's the same in Ireland......perhaps not.

 

So.  I am glad you asked.  I'd say no go with a taper drop like that.  I would not want to put you through that, or would not want to go with that large a drop myself.  Nor would I want to continue with the inaccuracy or not knowing for sure how much those empty capsules weigh.  You are, and have already been at critical levels for your taper, as far as wanting accuracy.  I mean you are getting to much lower doses now.

 

I know you've got consistency, but any way we could get more accuracy would be great.  Both the weights of capsules and then a improved scale that reads out to 3 digits past the decimals.

 

Hope I was not overly wordy.....it appears so......oh no.

And best.  Don't be a stranger here, keep on asking, and updating please.  Thank you.  You are the best!

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

 

Edited January 1, 2022 by manymoretodays
link, and a bit more.....

[MollyMac]

Hi MMT,

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. That's difficult. 

 

I'm happy with where I am on bioidentical HRT. There have been huge strides in knowledge about it here in Ireland and the UK. It's just been made available on the UK health system, the NHS. Far from it being a fad, the facts indicate that it is something that women can and often should remain on for their whole lives, to counteract dementia, brittle bones, UTIs and a host of other issues. 

 

On 1/1/2022 at 5:59 AM, manymoretodays said:

Any WD symptoms of note?  And I wish I knew for sure, how HRT might affect your taper.  Or what might have been WD vs. hormone flucuation unrelated to drugs or WD.  Complicated stuff.

I really do not think HRT will have any effect on WD. HRT has leveled out the playing field. WD will be happening on that playing field. I won't do a cut until I am confident that the HRT is running smoothly. I'm only on month 4. 

 

To answer your questions with pictures at last! 

 

Firstly a photo of the empty capsule:

 

[MollyMac]

Darn! Meant this to be all one post.

 

Will post images of half capsule with no meds and then with meds when my laptop stops having a moment.

[manymoretodays]

Oh great, on getting an empty capsule weight!

Can you weigh several empties and come up with an average weight?

And it does look like you have a scale with a 3 digit read out.

I'll get back to you with some further calculations, as soon as I can.

When it rains, it pours, as far as my offsite commitments go, and it just started pouring!

But I'd stay here 8 hours a day if I could......I'm not kidding.......it's still challenging..... the outside world and my rebuilding, and all post drugs.

Especially the interpersonal and social.

Good stuff on my plate though, to balance the not so fun, but have to do stuff.

The mountain beckons and my ski's are calling.

 

We can work out what a 5% taper will look like soon.  Yay!  With greater accuracy.

 

@Go2zerojust seeing if you are around.  Miss you and your expertise. 👩‍🌾🤗

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[manymoretodays]

 

On 1/2/2022 at 7:09 AM, MollyMac said:

Firstly a photo of the empty capsule:

 

I don't know that we need 1/2 capsule photos, MM.

Thank you so much for the empty capsule weigh.

Better still would be an average empty capsule weight.

Meaning you weigh several and then divide the weight by the number of empties that you weighed.

Or you could do individual weights of 5, and then jot them down, add them up, and divide by 5 to get an average.

 

You are next on my list of sorts, to do some calculations around your dosing.

And then we can work out your next taper before you even do it.

Do you want to try a 5% taper next?

 

[manymoretodays]

Hello MollyMac,

I'm going to consolidate some of the calculation information we've done.

Here's some from Go2zero, last August:

  

On 8/17/2021 at 9:12 AM, Go2zero said:

Hi MollyMac,

 

Great to hear that you ordered the right scales! This will really help to create (probably) more accurate and even dosages. This is really important for creating stability when in withdrawal.

 

I am also very glad with the new figures you gave. This makes it easier to calculate the dosage you are taking right now.

 

Based on 7 capsule from 1 tablet the dosage will be:

 

150/7= 21,4 mg (effective ingredient) per capsule   - 3 capsule per day is a daily dose of 64mg (effective ingredient)

 

Based on 40 mg in a capsule

 

420/(40x3)  (Pillweight divided per content per capsule time 3 daily dosages) = 3,5

Active ingredient weight divided by 3,5 = 43 mg as daily dosage (effective ingredient)

 

As you see, both ways of calculating differ quite a lot in outcome. This may have to do with the scales you have been using. Measuring in 1/100 grams or 1/1000 makes a big difference. Everything will be rounded up or down to a 1/100 gram. A capsule of 0.02 gram could easily weigh 0,030 on a 1/1000 scale. And the same fro the content...

 

So I expect that these quite big  differences will disappear as soon as you start using the 1/1000 scales.

 

Please do not forget to calibrate the scales on regular basis. And use the "tare" function very often while weighing. When using a small dish for weighing use the tare function to set the scales to 0 again and again. Also do the weighing at a spot where no wind is or where people are walking around. Every movement will influence 1/1000 scales... Because they are so more accurate

 

In the end one of the most secure methods of making more or less exact dosages is taking 1 pill only and divide that into a certain amount of dosages (in your case this is now 7). Cutting the pills in small pieces with a small very sharp knife is an alternative to grounding the pills that are quite sticky inside when grounded.

 

Because you divide the daily dosage over 3 capsule the possible small differences will even out over the days that you use this 1 pill. The advantage is that you always take 1 pill over the exact amount of time/days.  

 

I hope you get what I mean. Once you have the scales it would be interesting to give again the figures for the pill contents and the capsule weight. 

 

I am pretty sure both measuring methods described above might have an outcome which are more equal.

 

Let me know whether you want to communicate details in this method of in your thread. I prefer the thread since others can learn from it then also. But the main thing is that you will have the best advise possible. If it feels better for you to do that in this way, that is OK for me as well.

 

Let me know when you need help or assistance!

 

Go2zero

 

 

 

And then my own work, from a previous post here:

On 1/2/2022 at 7:09 AM, MollyMac said:

 

 

Firstly a photo of the empty capsule:

 

 

Then here is your empty capsule photo ^.  One empty capsule weighs in at 0.044 g

 

However, I have not done any further calculations yet. 

Please let us know when you are ready.

 

To get our attention, you can either quote something by either of us.

Or use the @ symbol, then when you start typing in a user name a menu comes up and you select who you want to get in touch with.

 

I might play around with the numbers a bit soon, because it IS kind of funnish.

 

And if you want to get a average empty capsule weight too, that would be nice as well.  For further accuracy, going forward.

Just weigh 3 empty capsules and then divide by 3.

Or weigh each individually, record the weight, then add up the weights, and divide by the number of capsules weighed.

 

And best, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

Edited January 21, 2022 by manymoretodays

[MollyMac]

Hello @manymoretodays and @Go2zeroand @TiredOfDrugs,

I hope you are all well. We got covid round here again and life got bananas, but this is quick update to say that thanks to the joy that is HRT and the wonderful weighing scales you recommended, I made a cut from 0.06g x 3 times to 0.05g x 3 per day two weeks ago and felt zero side effects. None. Nada. Zip. 

 

I can't believe it. I think the previous drops were worse thanks to my wildly fluctuating hormones. Now I'm pretty much on an even keel, my system is able to handle the drops. 

 

I'll keep watching and being careful, not drinking, making sure to sleep and exercise, but so far so good.

[TiredOfDrugs]

Whoop, I'm so delighted for you MollyMac! That's such wonderful news. You've got this! 

[Go2zero]

12 hours ago, MollyMac said:

I made a cut from 0.06g x 3 times to 0.05g x 3 per day two weeks ago and felt zero side effects. None. Nada. Zip. 

 

That is great news MollyMac. Very good to hear! And glad that you are so enthusiastic about the weighing scales. They have become my favorites after trying out several others.

 

I still haven't things clear about your exact dosing.

Is the 0,05g (50mg) including or excluding the capsule? (which seems to weigh 0,44mg) according to the photo you posted?

 

Be aware that you should calculate the percentage to taper down ONLY on the ingredient weight and NOT on the weight including the capsule.

 

You are doing great as I can read!

 

But just to be safe: You already informed us that an empty capsule weighs 44mg. Please let us know what the weight of a filled capsule (including the pill weight). Just to be sure and safe and to understand at what dose you are actually right now.

 

@MollyMac Could you add the changes in dose to your signature? Including the date of changing dose please.

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by Go2zero

[Faure]

Dear @MollyMac, I’ve just found your thread when doing a search on HRT! I am perimenopausal and have been thinking about HRT for a few months. My main symptom is fatigue, not for the whole month but around a week. Does your GP know about your taper and how did you get on with finding a suitable HRT dose? I think it’s best to start as low as possible to avoid upsetting the taper which is obviously my priority. I’d be really interested to learn how you started it and got on with the GP regarding the AD taper & HRT. 

[Mary66]

On 4/7/2020 at 8:26 PM, manymoretodays said:

Hi MollyMac,

And welcome aboard.

And thank you so much for getting your signature done.

It looks like you were put on Wellbutrin XL then, while you were on the SSRI?  Is that correct?

And did you taper off the previous 60 mg dose of the unremembered SSRI, pretty quickly then, or do you remember how you came off it? 

Let us know if you remember it's name.

 

 

And okay, so I will assume that you have then found the topics on our general tapering philosophy, and tapering Wellbutrin specifically.  I think I will go ahead and put those links here, now, for ease of reference, going forward, and give you a little more information as well.

 

Excellent to plan ahead MollyMac.   You are not alone with what you are endeavoring to do now, not here.  You have come to the right place. 

 

*Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

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

 

 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome.

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Dr.Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made.  The CNS likes stability. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.

 

There is a lot of non-drug coping you can learn to cope with the anxiety.  Did it increase at all, when you came off of your SSRI medication?  It's entirely possible that you may have gotten some withdrawal syndrome, after coming off the unknown(right now) drug too.  And possible, very possible, that with a nice slow cautious taper, with the Wellbutrin you may not have to deal with WD symptoms too much.

 

I'm going to stop there now, so I don't overwhelm you with information from the get go here.  This is your Introduction, and you have now introduced yourself to the community.  You can post any questions around your planning, and then when you do decide to get started tapering right here.  You can also communicate with other members right here too, or on their threads.  Members often do support each other here, alot.

 

So welcome again.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

 

Feeling like I am tapering off Wellbutrin slowly until I read these threads 😕

Dropped Wellbutrin 300xl to 150 xl for two weeks in January 2022 per psych.

then 75 IR 2x/day for two weeks. Then drop by 1/4 tab eve for 2, then am for 2 then stop.

am now at 1/4 tab (18.5) am 10 days.

doing very poorly mentally. 8 months off a bad bad bad Paxil taper. Wanting to get off all psych meds.

I’m getting worse mentally, obsessive thinking over all this and researching meds.

wondering if 25 years on Paxil has damaged my brain, it worked well until it pooped out.  Could trying a different SSRI like lexapro for a short while help alleviate some of my symptoms ?

what to do about Wellbutrin taper?

[MollyMac]

On 3/18/2022 at 6:43 PM, Faure said:

Dear @MollyMac, I’ve just found your thread when doing a search on HRT! I am perimenopausal and have been thinking about HRT for a few months. My main symptom is fatigue, not for the whole month but around a week. Does your GP know about your taper and how did you get on with finding a suitable HRT dose? I think it’s best to start as low as possible to avoid upsetting the taper which is obviously my priority. I’d be really interested to learn how you started it and got on with the GP regarding the AD taper & HRT. 

Hi Faure,

From my experience the HRT and the tapering are two very different things. I am happy with my HRT doses now, and continuing with the tapering. I can't speak highly enough about HRT, but it's a huge topic and it depends a lot on where you are geographically if your GP will help or not. Mine has me on 2.5 sachets of divigel (oestrogen) topically applied a day, two progesterone tablets a night for 2 weeks of the month, and a small bit of testogel each day. All my anxiety is gone, as is the tiredness. 

 

The tapering is carrying on more effectively now that I can separate my perimenopause symptoms from the tapering effects. It's better to start low with anything new alright. Best advice is to keep a short note in a diary of how you feel each day for the first 6 months. Just a line or so. That really helps work out what works for you. HRT is deeply subjective, so what works for me, may not for you. I hope that helps. Also, keep pushing till you get the help you need. Doctors are woefully inadequate in this arena, but in the UK this is really changing fast. 

 

I highly recommend the 13 euro course given by this group. It was very, very helpful. https://www.facebook.com/theirishmenopausepage/

[MollyMac]

On 2/1/2022 at 9:41 PM, Go2zero said:

 

That is great news MollyMac. Very good to hear! And glad that you are so enthusiastic about the weighing scales. They have become my favorites after trying out several others.

 

I still haven't things clear about your exact dosing.

Is the 0,05g (50mg) including or excluding the capsule? (which seems to weigh 0,44mg) according to the photo you posted?

 

Be aware that you should calculate the percentage to taper down ONLY on the ingredient weight and NOT on the weight including the capsule.

 

You are doing great as I can read!

 

But just to be safe: You already informed us that an empty capsule weighs 44mg. Please let us know what the weight of a filled capsule (including the pill weight). Just to be sure and safe and to understand at what dose you are actually right now.

 

@MollyMac Could you add the changes in dose to your signature? Including the date of changing dose please.

 

 

Hi @Go2zeroThank you for your help. The weighing scales you recommended are great. 

1 hour ago, Mary66 said:

Feeling like I am tapering off Wellbutrin slowly until I read these threads 😕

Dropped Wellbutrin 300xl to 150 xl for two weeks in January 2022 per psych.

then 75 IR 2x/day for two weeks. Then drop by 1/4 tab eve for 2, then am for 2 then stop.

am now at 1/4 tab (18.5) am 10 days.

doing very poorly mentally. 8 months off a bad bad bad Paxil taper. Wanting to get off all psych meds.

I’m getting worse mentally, obsessive thinking over all this and researching meds.

wondering if 25 years on Paxil has damaged my brain, it worked well until it pooped out.  Could trying a different SSRI like lexapro for a short while help alleviate some of my symptoms ?

what to do about Wellbutrin taper?

 

Hi Mary66. I can't advise on taking lexapro, but the psych told me to taper Wellbutrin like you have, and I knew enough to know to ignore that advice, no matter how much she said 'she has had no complaints' till now. I don't even know where to start with that nonsense. Hopefully the others can help. I make sure to get out and walk very quicky with music on for 30 mins several times a week, and whenever I feel overwhelmed. That gets the endorphins going after 20 mins and I start to feel better. I hate doing it - but it works every time!

[Mary66]

21 hours ago, MollyMac said:

 

Hi @Go2zeroThank you for your help. The weighing scales you recommended are great. 

 

Hi Mary66. I can't advise on taking lexapro, but the psych told me to taper Wellbutrin like you have, and I knew enough to know to ignore that advice, no matter how much she said 'she has had no complaints' till now. I don't even know where to start with that nonsense. Hopefully the others can help. I make sure to get out and walk very quicky with music on for 30 mins several times a week, and whenever I feel overwhelmed. That gets the endorphins going after 20 mins and I start to feel better. I hate doing it - but it works every time!

Am getting worse these past weeks mentally and just realized it coincides with my Wellbutrin decrease

obsessing over continuing or holding or re-upping the dose….

I am doing all the self help stuff, walking, guided Med, praying, distractions, etc. my mind just won’t stop ruminating what to do. Family and friends tell me to get on a new AD…I’m failing to thrive.

[Mary66]

On 4/10/2022 at 9:51 AM, Mary66 said:

Am getting worse these past weeks mentally and just realized it coincides with my Wellbutrin decrease

obsessing over continuing or holding or re-upping the dose….

I am doing all the self help stuff, walking, guided Med, praying, distractions, etc. my mind just won’t stop ruminating what to do. Family and friends tell me to get on a new AD…I’m failing to thrive.

I walk once or twice a day….to try to get out of my head….such ruminating 24:7, symptoms, what to do, Med researching, withdrawal researching, mental health deteriorating, so afraid of hospitalization. Husband , sister and dr all say to just get on a New AD and to Just make a decision! Too many internal questions, can I recover without, do I continue this Wellbutrin taper, do I up-dose, should I start an SSRI to stabilize then taper, which SSRI, ruminate despair about cognition, loss of executive functioning, memory loss, sadness

 

[Faure]

Thanks @MollyMac for all the info about HRT. I’ve a gp appointment in a couple of weeks. There are HRT shortages at the moment in England, so I won’t start it till the supply is secure….that’s if I do go for it. There are a couple of weeks a month when I feel bad and think it’s a good idea and a couple when it doesn’t seem necessary after all!

[MollyMac]

On 4/15/2022 at 5:37 PM, Faure said:

Thanks @MollyMac for all the info about HRT. I’ve a gp appointment in a couple of weeks. There are HRT shortages at the moment in England, so I won’t start it till the supply is secure….that’s if I do go for it. There are a couple of weeks a month when I feel bad and think it’s a good idea and a couple when it doesn’t seem necessary after all!

 

The shortages will be over soon. Dr Louise Newson (menopause expert) has posted extensively about this. It's been a real pain! But, think about what you said in black and white terms: half the month you think it would help you to feel better, half the month you feel it's fine. So, if someone told you that they felt not so great half of their life - what would you say? Perhaps you might look at a list of symptoms and check the ones you get? And keep a mood diary? NOt having anxiety any more has been huge. Also, sex life is firmly back. 

[MollyMac]

On 4/13/2022 at 1:34 PM, Mary66 said:

I walk once or twice a day….to try to get out of my head….such ruminating 24:7, symptoms, what to do, Med researching, withdrawal researching, mental health deteriorating, so afraid of hospitalization. Husband , sister and dr all say to just get on a New AD and to Just make a decision! Too many internal questions, can I recover without, do I continue this Wellbutrin taper, do I up-dose, should I start an SSRI to stabilize then taper, which SSRI, ruminate despair about cognition, loss of executive functioning, memory loss, sadness

 

I'm so sorry you are going through this. Professionals telling people to taper far too fast, or incorrectly, is so prevalent it's very upsetting. There's no doubt the drop was too fast. Your body is having a very tough time. I accidentally did the same with a SSRI and it was a horrible few weeks. So, I hear you.

 

At this point though, I don't feel qualified to tell you whether to updose or hang tight. That said, I don't think another drug is the answer. That's just more stuff being added in.

 

As drugs go, Wellbutrin/Zyban isn't as bad, so maybe go back up on that to the level at which you felt ok and stay there for another long while. Then you can get scales and grind the pill up and taper like I learned to do here. It takes a while, but it's a lot less upsetting. The smaller drops were affecting me very badly, until I realised it was the lack of HRT that was the issue, not so much the taper. I only say this because I imagine - with your name- that you are a woman. Menopause causes terrible anxiety and depression. It breaks up marriages. Broke up my relationship. I was either furious or low and miserable with racing thoughts, with about 10 days of feeling normal every month. 

 

Sending you a big hug.