Need some strait answers

[Faseel]

Hi guys, I'm on month 2 of a decently long taper of paxil, but have also been on Welbutren to help with the sexual side affects, + the withdrawal affects for about the last 6 months.

Does Any have any knowlege about quiting Welbutren as well...???? I can't find any information on it at all. I have had a rough 2 days, with some moderate anxiety, and I think its both Paxil withdrawal and Welbutren side affects, I believe that I want to quit them both now, so that with my new therapist I can deal with axiety 1 on 1, not all mixed up in a drug haze. YOur help would be appreciated. GREATly

Thank you!

[colomom]

I would suggest you send a private message to Norb. He has recently quit Wellbutrin and paxil before that, with a couple of others in there for good measure. If anyone can relate....he can.

I know there are others too.

Good luck.

[rdjanis]

Faseel, my suggestion is to take it slowly. It is great that you want to work with your therapist drug free, however don't rush it. Both meds have withdrawal symptoms, I would be kind to yourself and do one withdrawal at at time.

This is my opinion and I don't know a lot about this med, have read a little about it, perhaps others will kick in here.

[siryellow1]

Allow me to suggest, that if this is relatively new anxiety, and you haven't done anything differently -that perhaps it's not a side effect...

If you've been dealing with this for 6 months, and 2 days of difficulty is the source of your question, give it a few days and see how you feel.

Of course, I didn't take Welbutrin - just wanted to pose the thought.

Good luck...

[Caroline49]

Faseel, I was given Wellbrutrin a few months ago to help me get off paxil. That did not work for me. The Wellbrutrin combined with the paxil was WAY too much for my system. I was over stimulated for days on that mixture. After stopping the Wellbrutrin I did not notice any of the same side effects I've had with paxil withdrawal.
If I were you I'd continue to wean off the paxil slowly and then finish with the wellbrutrin. TAKEN AT THE SAME TIME CAN BE TOO MUCH FOR THE BRAIN!!

[scotty]

Faseel the only experience I have with Wellbutrin is for the 2 days that Ryan took it with a lower dose of paxil to combat weight gain. Those two days were awful!! He was jumping out of his skin, extremely hyper and nervous. I do believe that Wellbutrin has to be weaned too, so your in a catch 22 of weaning. Wean off the paxil first and then take on the weaning of the wellbutrin, but realize that a side effect of the wellbutrin is anxiety.

[hope]

The paxil withdrawal can cause anxiety and agitation. I believe as Scotty said, the Wellbutrin can cause the same symptoms. Just a suggestion... you might want to taper off the Wellbutrin first because of this, but talk to your doctor and see what he/she thinks. I have never taken Wellbutrin, but have taken quite a few different medications to combat the the withdrawal symptoms.

[Faseel]

Hi guys,
Thank you for the imput. I do agree about the Catch 22 issue. Its like, I've been totally off the Paxil for 1 1/2 month's now, but have been taking the Welbutren the for the last 6. I feel that I'm getting double buffered, that being I have some withdrawal from Paxil going on, With the Welbutren affects And side affects coming in a lot stronger now that the paxil is no longer available. What a mess. This I will not deny, 2 years ago when I had that first Panic attack, I still had it.. all on my own, no drugs. Granted, there were several factors in my life that pushed me to that point, but that also means, I had a low but constant level of axienty Always there. This is what I will be addressing. I will stay with the Welbutren, see my therapist and when I clear 6 to 8 months, I will ween from Welbutren.

OH, the one good thing my medication therapist did suggest was this book

"The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" -Bourne

I've never had a clearer picture of what I'm going through and the way to fix it than in this book. I highly suggest it.

Thanks again everyone!

[angels]

Hi,
You don't hear much about Wellbutrin withdrawal side effects because for most people there are little to none.

Yes, it does counter the sexual side effects of Paxil to some extent.

As far as buffering the withdrawal side effects of Paxil, it works on a different neurotransmitter, dopamine, and doesn't counter the withdrawal effects of the serotonin system that the Paxil works on.

In general, anti-depressants that work with the dopamine neurotransmitter such as Wellbutrin work with low energy, non-agitated depression and would be one of the last choices for someone with anxiety. Someone with what they call an agitated depression vs. low energy uni-polar depression is often prescribed Paxil. Sometimes people describe being on Wellbutrin as being "reved" up. This seems like the very last thing I would want to add to the mix if I were dealing with Paxil withdrawal.

Giving someone Wellbutrin at the same time they are withdrawing from Paxil can magnify the Paxil withdrawal symptoms, and add agitation because there are side effects of starting Wellbutrin such as high agitation and possibly thoughts of self destruction. Sort of like trying to stop a speeding car by pressing down on the accelerator pedal really hard while pressing on the brake somewhat. Not good for the transmisison and definitely doesn't slow down the car.

I was really whacked out the short time I took Paxil. I have benefited in the short term from Wellbutrin, but I am not an anxious person.

[Faseel]

I do believe the same thing. In combonation it wasn't a big deal, now that I'm in withdrawal, and there is no Poraxitine in my system, there is nothing that will counter the Welbutren side affects. In truth, while on Paxil, the welbutren gave me enegry to get stuff done, I found I wasn't as "lazy" for lack of a better term. No Paxil, and I think Welbutren is probably too much.
I bet no one here would be shock to here that when I discussed my mild first mild anxiety in two years, my "medication" therapist said "do you want to get back on paxil"... and after I disagreed, she suggested 300 MG of Welbutren... sigh...not all health care providers are well informed, that's why I so appreciate the input from all you of. Its like Poling 3200 folks that have in some way or another have gone through what I have..
pssss.. guess what I noticed last night I've started to shake my lag again... I haven't done that in well years.. hmmm... Thank's Welbutren.. gggeeez.. I think I will start the weening process this week...

[angels]

Originally Posted by Faseel

In truth, while on Paxil, the welbutren gave me enegry to get stuff done, I found I wasn't as "lazy" for lack of a better term. No Paxil, and I think Welbutren is probably too much.

Exactly. That's why Wellbutrin is often given in combination with a "calmer downer" serotonin SSRI like Paxil or Lexapro.

It's just that without knowing how someone is going to go through Paxil withdrawal, it is irresponsible and criminal to give someone Wellbutrin.

Not to mention irresponsible and criminal to give Paxil to someone in the first place. (Hi Rob, I know you'll read this. )