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Mental Health (Expert Forum)

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coming off WELLBUTRIN XL cold turkey

Answered by

Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness

Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.

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MedHelp Member's Question

coming off WELLBUTRIN XL cold turkey

by cindy987, Oct 09, 2006 12:00AM

Tags: wellbutrin, cold, mental, Health, Mental Health, cold turkey, Anxiety, depressed, Depression, psychiatrist

I’m a 46 year old female. I went to see my GYN. I was having fast heart rate, loss of hair, cold hands and feet, gaining weight. I thought I had either a thyroid problem or a Harmon problem. Test showed I didn't have either. He told me he wanted to try me on Wellbutrin XL because I was depressed and didn't know it. I barked about it but he said to give it a try...after 6 weeks of 300 mgs. , My hair is really falling out, I don't sleep, very bad agitation, don't go to the bathroom but once a week if I am lucky. Two days ago I started having suicidal thoughts. I called my Doctor 3 times and he told me to just stick with it, maybe when I come in next time that he would see about lowing the dose, HAS HE GONE NUTS??? I stop taking it Saturday night when I couldn't sleep and it was 3am so I would just run my cars into on coming traffic. What can I except? Im scared but its better then dieing.. Thanks,

Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D.

, Oct 16, 2006 12:00AM

I am not sure about the question here, but ask your doctor about something other than wellbutrin, like Zoloft or Effexor, and also ask him re some additional klonopin to help with the anxiety part of all of this.....

Member Comments (6)

by Jimmy1965, Oct 09, 2006 12:00AM

I would highly recommend that you quickly make an appoinment with a psychiatrist to talk to him about your issues. If you are actually depressed I think it would be best to have a professional in the mental field diagnose you and then they can talk to about differnt types of medications and therapy. One thing that people dont realize about depression or anxiety issues is that the therapy is just as importain as the medication. I've been at the mercy of a regular GP doctor prescribing anti-depressants and my opinion is that most of them dont know what the heck they are doing. Anti-depressants drugs is serious buisness and I feel you should only be consulted by a professional in the mental health field.

by sparkeler, Oct 09, 2006 12:00AM

Don't just stop the medicine cold turkey b/c it can give you awful physical/mental side effects. Call somebody NOW, a suicide hotline, or go to the emergency room since your obviously not mentally well. This is not to be taken lightly, PLEASE!

by cindy987, Oct 10, 2006 12:00AM

I had the suicide thoughts while on the Wellbutrin. I seem to be doing fine now that I am off. I have been off for 3 days now. I really believe that the WB made me have the thoughts. I have been sleeping better. I seem to be very tired but I'm guess thats because of coming off the WB. I never had the suicide thoughts before I went on the WB. I don't think I should have ever been put on them. Could be wrong but I don't think so. Has anyone ever felt like this. What can I except now? Thanks,

by pbtide, Oct 10, 2006 12:00AM

I actually came to post an update on my situation.  Due to the encouragement of several board members, I went to see a psychiatrist for fairly deep depression.  He prescribed Wellbutrin, and I am doing great.  So it is working well for me.

I would encourage you in the strongest terms to see a psychiatrist, or get a second opinion.  Depression is too awful not to treat, and to keep trying until you get the right help.  That may be medicine, therapy, or (in my case) a combination of both.

Cindy, please see someone as soon as possible.  I do not know as much about medications here as some, but I have heard a lot that quitting cold turkey has risks.  I also believe there is medication out there that will help you, it might just take a while to find it.  Don't give up.  Depression takes too much of you away not to find the right answer.

God Bless you, I will say a prayer for you and your situation.

Pat

by Jackie 1961, Oct 24, 2006 12:00AM

To: cindy987

A year ago, when I was 44, I too went to the doctor with many of your symptoms. I too was prescribed Wellbutrin and told I was "depressed". I too began having suicidal ideation that had never occurred to me before. When I told the doctor about this, he told me that my depression must have been so severe that it was now "surfacing". What a bunch of bunk. I believed all long that my symptoms indicated anxiety rather than depression. I quit Wellbutrin cold turkey and I am now treating my anxiety with meditation therapy (breathing) and yoga. I experience much more relief than was possible with Wellbutrin. Now I can't say that my experience is mirroring yours (but it is possible) ...

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