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Weaning off of Antidepressant

shtmyhbdid
shtmyhbdid
Okay, so I've got about three more months of Wellbrutrin... I hate being on any medication. But I'm also wary of when I stop taking it, will I turn into a foaming-at-the-mouth lunatic ready to rip my H a new one or will it be more like a non-event?

How was it for you peeps who had the experience of taking ADs and coming off of them? Did you go cold turkey or decrease the dosage in increments? And did you notice any difference in your mood?
deleted_user
deleted_user
With Wellbutrin you need to take smaller and smaller dosages over a period of time. You should talk to your doctor about the appropriate dosages and timeframe.

Having said that ... I weaned myself off over a one month period. Starting from a full dose, I got myself down to an 1/8 dose slowly and then stopped. Hurray for the pill cutter.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I take paxil and I can tell you that weaning off of it is hell. I don't know if withdrawal from wellbutrin is similar, but in any case I would definitely work with your doctor while tapering off. Going cold turkey is not a good idea. Look up side effects and withdrawal symptoms so you will be prepared. Part of me doesn't like taking the paxil, but I know what I'm like without it and I definitely don't want that either. Without it I am constantly anxious and have panic attacks all the damn time. And any depression I'm experiencing is worse. I like myself better without the panic attacks and constant anxiety (it's something I've dealt with most of my life, not related to the A).
Allora
Allora
Prozac made me sick from day 1. I just quit cold turkey, but I wasn't on it long. Effexxor nearly killed me. I SHOULD have been weaned off of it, or had some other medication to supplement but the dr. who prescribed it refused to see me anymore when I started having such horrible reactions. "This is out of my league, find another doctor." Awesome. Zoloft was easy to wean off of, but it didn't have the drastic effects that other meds did.

Your doctor should have information about going off Wellbutrin. Every med is different (obviously) and some are NOT safe to drop cold turkey. Most really should be stepped down from just so you can see how you react with lower dosages. If the depression starts to hit hard again before you're fully weaned off, then it may not be a good idea to be off the med. Generally, there are low to no side effects. If you don't need the med anymore, it's like taking ibuprofin every day for pain and then slowly stopping - it doesn't much change anything because you're not in pain anymore, but it gives you a "safety net" in case you're in more pain than you think you are.

If you do end up going cold turkey on the advice of your doctor, just keep close track of your thoughts/moods/activities and get close family/friends to do the same so that if a red flag does go up you can see your doctor again ASAP.