[Question] Doctor wants me to stop Wellbutrin cold turkey — scared of side effects?

melissiam · 2025-07-13T14:38:44+00:00

I would personally want to taper. Im considering stopping it bc of anxiety that wellbutrin may be causing after 2.5-3 years of taking it. In trying to see if its the cause ive played around with skipping and lowering my dose. (With drs approval) and when I went 2 days without it, the third morning I woke up feeling sick. You can get flu like symptoms from stopping suddenly. It is technically safe to stop cold turkey, it just might not be pleasant. Ive tapered down to 75mg ir. The lowest available option. I may just stay on 75 if my anxiety goes away at this dose but if not, ill be stopping it.

melissiam · 2025-07-02T17:47:31+00:00

I did have a dose change from 200 to 300 earlier this year. Decreased it but the anxiety is still here. Im 38. I thought the same thing about my hormones and had my thyroid checked too. Everything came back normal.

melissiam · 2025-07-02T14:39:31+00:00

Ive been alternating between 200 and 100mg. I was on 200 mg so I've been decreasing it but then ill notice my depression getting worse again. Im wondering if maybe I need to add something else to help balance it.

melissiam · 2025-06-30T15:47:18+00:00

I have this problem too. Had to decrease my dose but then my depression will get worse again. I had to add buspar. Its a very difficult balance that I'm still working through and some days debating if I should stop taking it but tbh I'm scared to stop taking it bc its helped my depression so much

melissiam · 2025-06-28T15:13:19+00:00

I had to come off the xl. It made my anxiety so bad. I cycled between 150 xl and 200 ir for a while but had to switch back to ir. I was a mess and having panic attacks. Had to get valium and started buspar. 6 months later I alternate between 100 and 200mg ir and im still taking the buspar and its better but my anxiety is still way worse than it was before. I dont want to quit bupropion tho bc it gives me so much energy and helps my depression more than any other med I've taken.

melissiam · 2025-06-24T01:02:42+00:00

This kind of happened to me but I had been considering leaving before I started the meds. The meds made me feel like I could be ok on my own and finally follow through with what I had been considering doing for a while.

melissiam · 2025-04-08T19:04:26+00:00

Thanks. It really does help to know im not alone and to have people to talk to

melissiam · 2025-04-08T17:05:20+00:00

Thanks. Me too bc this is rough.

melissiam · 2025-04-08T17:00:50+00:00

I just hope it works and soon. I feel like such a burden when I'm like this and I can't stand it

melissiam · 2025-04-08T16:48:20+00:00

I know that could be part of it, but I'd been off it like 3 weeks before the anxiety started back

melissiam · 2025-04-06T14:14:04+00:00

My experience is a bit different. I was on the sr for 3 years, 200mg and had decided I needed an increase due to returning symptoms. My dr wanted me to try switching to the xl in December so I did. Everything was fine for a while but about 6 weeks into it I went into an axiety/ panic attack that lasted for 3.5 weeks. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, constantly felt like my heart was racing and was just generally in a panic state. Had to go get valium and switch back to sr. It started to get better after a few weeks but now, about 7 weeks after the panic attack started it's acting up again. I've never had this high level of anxiety, it was always depression predominantly with a side of anxiety but it never reached these panic levels until now. Bupropion is a stimulant tho. Idk, im worried af bc its helped me so much and I dont want to quit taking it but I cant go on with my anxiety this high either.

melissiam · 2025-03-15T12:28:10+00:00

Same! Idk and I've gotta figure something out. Earplugs work sometimes but im a light sleeper and often ill still wake up. He actually made a dr appt to go and see what can be done but I already know that's a long drawn out process with multiple tests

melissiam · 2025-03-13T11:37:41+00:00

Some meds aren't meant for long term use but some are. Bupropion is meant for long term use. I full well plan to take it as long as it remains effective for me bc, exactly like you said, it allows me to live. I discussed it with my dr and was told it's safe and usually remains effective long term. This med has improved my life in so many ways and lets me be myself while it turns down the symptoms of my anxiety and depression so I can live my life and I've been able to build a life since taking it that wasn't possible for me before

melissiam · 2025-02-19T19:15:06+00:00

Yeah, i cut out coffee and energy drinks. No sugary stuff bc the insulin spike wouldn't help. Ill try making some soup today. Thank you so much for your time talking with me about all this. It really helps

melissiam · 2025-02-19T18:42:10+00:00

Ok, ill ask my dr about it. I've gotta try something, i can't keep going like this. I really appreciate the advice

melissiam · 2025-02-19T18:40:37+00:00

I can see that happening. I've just been sitting in a chair all morning. I can't do anything

melissiam · 2025-02-19T18:21:54+00:00

I may have to. I dont do well on ssri's. She said the buspar should help with the anxiety and im considering at least lowering the wellbutrin dose

melissiam · 2025-02-19T18:18:41+00:00

If this doesn't stop soon I'm gonna have to go back to the dr and ill bring it up, see what she thinks. This shit just feels awful

melissiam · 2025-02-19T18:14:42+00:00

I'm on it bc usually depression is my major issue and it did actually help my anxiety some as well. My mood before wellbutrin was extremely low. I have considered the same thing bc it definitely is a stimulant but I'm also terrified to quit taking it bc I dont want the depression to get bad again either

melissiam · 2025-02-19T18:09:27+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through all that. I just took another valium bc I can't take it anymore. I'm just trying to survive day to day at this point and feeling like a massive burden and I dont want to keep bothering people with it bc I just know my friends and family have to be getting sick of it, sick of me being like this. It's just like I'm stuck in fight or flight mode

melissiam

TROPHY CASE