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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Patches on June 27, 2001, at 16:08:18
I've been on prozac and wellbutrin for so long.
Was up to 80 mg prozac and 150 mg wellbutrin; also nortryptaline at night. Summer brings less pressure and stress for me. I can pretty much stay clear of the major triggers for my panic attacks. I think there are some things that I'll always be depressed and sad about; but without the major work stresses relating to my job, I think I can bear the rest (I hope). I just want to have a few months to see if there really is a difference without the meds. Then I figure or at least hope when I get back to work in the fall, if I need the meds maybe they'll work better. Just wonder if my body has built up a tolerance to the meds and they're just not working so well anymore. Has anyone experienced similar feelings? Has anyone stopped the meds cold turkey? Would you please share your experiences? I'm not sure what the right thing to do is anymore.
Posted by stjames on June 27, 2001, at 16:35:21
In reply to A Break From Meds, posted by Patches on June 27, 2001, at 16:08:18
Has anyone stopped the meds cold turkey?
James here....
Do you want real problems ? Then quit cold turkey.
Otherwise, a slow taper is indicated.
Posted by Jane D on June 28, 2001, at 0:47:10
In reply to A Break From Meds, posted by Patches on June 27, 2001, at 16:08:18
Patches -
Yes. An antidepressant can stop working. The SSRI's including Prozac have a reputation for it. Taking a break from them does not usually make them work better. But changing to a new antidepressant or adding a new one in often does work.You can sometimes stop Prozac cold without withdrawal. Because of it's long half life it leaves your body very slowly anyway. I don't know about Wellbutrin or Nortriptiline.
I think you should think very hard about whether you want to do this. My personal feeling is that you would be much more certain if you were ready to stop medication. Instead, it sounds to me as though you might need to change to a new medication that works better. You should also keep in mind that even if you react badly to stopping (relapse, not withdrawal) it might not happen for a couple of months by which time you will be back at work.
I think I did feel something similar several years ago. I was taking prozac and it would stop working as well so I would increase the dose and it would work again for a while. I began to feel that I would be increasing the dose like this forever and started to wonder if the problem was really my life. So one day, without planning it, I stopped. I didn't have any significant withdrawal symptoms but my mood got worse and worse over the next year. It was gradual so it took me a long time to figure out what was happening. Prozac alone did not work better when I restarted it but it was fine when combined with Wellbutrin.
Of course you might have a much better experience. You are going to have to decide that for yourself. If you do want to go ahead, you might be able to give yourself a little extra bit of protection by setting some dates now on which you will sit down and evaluate how you are doing. Decide now what your definition of OK is now and stick to it. Perhaps even make a doctors appointment for several months off or get a friend in on this. This way if a problem gradually develops it won't go on for too long before you are aware of it.
Good luck.
Jane
Posted by Bill L on June 28, 2001, at 9:37:18
In reply to A Break From Meds, posted by Patches on June 27, 2001, at 16:08:18
Are you feeling ok right now? If so- you may want to just stay on your medications. If it aint broke, don't fix it.
> I've been on prozac and wellbutrin for so long.
> Was up to 80 mg prozac and 150 mg wellbutrin; also nortryptaline at night. Summer brings less pressure and stress for me. I can pretty much stay clear of the major triggers for my panic attacks. I think there are some things that I'll always be depressed and sad about; but without the major work stresses relating to my job, I think I can bear the rest (I hope). I just want to have a few months to see if there really is a difference without the meds. Then I figure or at least hope when I get back to work in the fall, if I need the meds maybe they'll work better. Just wonder if my body has built up a tolerance to the meds and they're just not working so well anymore. Has anyone experienced similar feelings? Has anyone stopped the meds cold turkey? Would you please share your experiences? I'm not sure what the right thing to do is anymore.
This is the end of the thread.
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