Jens: Luvox withdrawl and transitioning to wellbutrin

[Jens]

I am currently 1 week into luvox withdrawl.....feeling desperate. At the same time I went off of luvox, I started wellbutrin. Can wellbutrin help or aggrevate withdrawl? I'm also on buspar. Feel like maybe I should not be starting wellbutrin. My dr doesn't seem very aware of withdrawl symptoms. I'm wondering if I should stop all medicine??? I'm also taking ambien. Are these bad combinations?

[Petunia]

Hi Jens,

Thank you for posting, I moved your topic here, you can use this as your ongoing journal thread where other members can offer suggestions and you can keep up with your progress/recovery.

 

How long were you taking Luvox for and what dose were you on?  It sounds like your doctor doesn't know what they are doing, Luvox needs to be tapered from or you will get withdrawal symptoms, how are you feeling at the moment?  When was the last time you took it?

 

Please see our topic about how to safely come off Luvox here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5095-tips-for-tapering-off-luvox-fluvoxamine/?hl=luvox

 

Wellbutrin will not protect you from getting withdrawal symptoms from Luvox because its a different kind of drug.  Wellbutrin is more activating and can increase anxiety.

 

Why are you taking all these medications and why did your doctor change you from Luvox to Wellbutrin?

 

If you can provide a few more details about your situation, that would be helpful.

 

Petu.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Jens.

 

It's very, very common for doctors not to recognize withdrawal syndrome and then throw a handful of prescriptions at it.

 

The best way to deal with withdrawal syndrome is to reinstate a low dose of the drug -- the sooner, the better -- stabilize, and taper from there. How much Luvox were you taking? How long?

 

How often and how long have you been taking Ambien? That is a drug that also cause physical dependency.

 

Side effects of Wellbutrin include nervousness and sleeplessness. Taking Ambien to compensate makes no sense at all.

 

About drug interactions:

http://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=2333-1544,441-206,440-203

[Jens]

I was taking 300 mg of luvox for OCD/depression for around 1 year. I've been off themed for 10 days now. She tapered by having me cut down to 150mg for 2weeks and then stop the med and go on wellbutrin. I switched meds due to the horrible side effects.... I was a zombie. I was also experiencing depression so just wanted something for depression without all the side effects. I had been taking buspar along with luvox to counter the jaw clenching side effect. I have taken ambien on/off for years. At the time of quitting meds was just taking periodically and now am taking daily to "knock myself out" at nights I lay there stressing and crying.

 

Having all the physical withdrawl symptoms (brain zaps, dizzy, flu like, etc) and major depression and increased anxiety. I am not able to function normally.... Cry hysterical for hours each day. I can't spend much time alone of I lose it....hubby has even had to take off some work to stay home with me. Symptoms have improved some over past 10 days, but not sure how long I can take this. I've called the psych dr twice and she insists I can't be having withdrawl and wants to increase the wellbutrin to combat my "depression".

 

I didn't ask to go back on because I read that if you've been off for a week or more you should just jeep going. I don't want to backtrack since I've made it 10 days already. And I'm very hesitant to put that evil drug back in my body. I feel like after this experience I'd rather just be drug free. If I knew it was a 2 week process and then I'd be fine I could do it, but not knowing how long this will last is horrible. Am I through the worst? Will this take more days, weeks or months. I can't take much more....feel liking I'm dying. This is HELL. Oh, I'm also in the process of trying to concieve too, so I doubt this is helping that at all.

 

Any help or suggestions you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Altostrata]

"The jaw clenching side effect" means you were taking too much Luvox.

 

You are having classic severe withdrawal symptoms. These can last months or years.

 

Whatever you read about not reinstating was wrong. See http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3079-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-stop-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

If I were you, I'd get a prescription for 25mg Luvox tablets (regular, not extended-release) and cut in quarters, take one quarter in the morning and one in the evening for a total of 12.5mg per day. I would stop taking Wellbutrin, it makes withdrawal syndrome worse.

 

Any doctor can prescribe the tablets.

 

Even that small amount is often enough to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Then, you'd stabilize for a month or so and taper off.

 

For easy titration, you might get a liquid from a compounded pharmacy or make a liquid yourself, read the link Petu posted for you.

 

You'll have to address Ambien tapering later.

[Jens]

I've been on Wellbutrin XL 150 for 2 weeks and my dr and I have decided to take me off as it seems to be causing anxiety and insomnia. Do I need to taper down if I've only been on this low dose for 2 weeks? I don't want to experience withdrawl symptoms as I'm 2 weeks off of Luvox and that withdrawl has been horrible. My dr said to just stop but she also didn't wean me slow enough off of Luvox so I'm a little Leary of her tapering advice. Can someone help me? Thanks.

[Altostrata]

Jens, I moved your post here. The Wellbutrin tapering topic is for general information about tapering Wellbutrin.

 

Since you've been on it only a short time, if I were you I might reduce by a quarter of a tablet every few days.

 

Are you going to reinstate Luvox?