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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oona on April 3, 2002, at 1:21:24
Anybody. I am new to this board and you all seem very well versed in medical terminology and and all seem to have taken at least 2 or three different AD's.
I have taken Zoloft for 7 years. From 25 mg all the way up to 150 mgs then down finally to 50 mg. I wanted to get off of Zoloft, mainly because of its effect on your sex life. I started Wellbutrin SR about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I am not sure if what I am feeling is the withdrawal from Zoloft or the beginnings of Wellbutrin.Distracted easy, can not concentrate. Will be cooking and then forget that I am cooking.
Start doing one task, then move to another without finishing the first. (not good for on the job)
Dry mouth, itchy skin, can not get to sleep, even after taking TY PM and I do not want to start taking anything heavier. I have seen to many friends and family get addicted to xanax and other meds.
Feel a little like I am on speed. Brain feels fried.
Has anyone on this board gone thru any of this and more and how long does it last? Is it better taking Wellbutrin?
Posted by allisonm on April 3, 2002, at 7:52:04
In reply to From Zoloft to Wellbutrin / Side Effects?, posted by oona on April 3, 2002, at 1:21:24
Yup. This is normal. I get irritable, and a feeling that I am racing. I forget what I'm doing...am easily distracted... all of that -- whenever my dose is increased. It will go away. Get off caffeine if you have not already. The time of day that you take the WB may affect your sleep. I don't take my last dose later than 3 p.m.
Once that feeling wears off, you may feel a burst of energy and want to go out and do everything (I did a major housecleaning). This also is a side-effect. Once that goes away, I'm told the drug really has begun to work.
I have been on WB for about three years.
Good luck.
Posted by oona on April 5, 2002, at 7:29:14
In reply to Re: From Zoloft to Wellbutrin / Side Effects?, posted by allisonm on April 3, 2002, at 7:52:04
Thanks for the feedback. Since you have been on WB for three years, how long did the intial reactions you described last? (weeks, months) Also, Does one have to get the dose increased slowly for it to work. I would rather not increase if at all possible. The reason I am on WB is because I want to eventually get off all drugs. I think my emotional and psychological make-up is at a point that I will able to deal with life as it happens. I want to use nutrition, exercise, herbs and other natural remedies.
> Yup. This is normal. I get irritable, and a feeling that I am racing. I forget what I'm doing...am easily distracted... all of that -- whenever my dose is increased. It will go away. Get off caffeine if you have not already. The time of day that you take the WB may affect your sleep. I don't take my last dose later than 3 p.m.
>
> Once that feeling wears off, you may feel a burst of energy and want to go out and do everything (I did a major housecleaning). This also is a side-effect. Once that goes away, I'm told the drug really has begun to work.
>
> I have been on WB for about three years.
>
> Good luck.
Posted by allisonm on April 5, 2002, at 19:03:24
In reply to Re: From Zoloft to Wellbutrin / Side Effects? » allisonm, posted by oona on April 5, 2002, at 7:29:14
It took two to three weeks for the irritability to wear off, then another week or so. As I mentioned, every time the dose was raised, I had to deal with some irritability. I would not recommend starting with a high dose. It may be too much for you. Besides, starting at a lower dose gives you the least possible amount to begin with, then if it isn't quite enough, go up gradually. I believe WB SR only comes in 100mg and 150mg tablets, so the lowest you could start with would be 100. I cannnot recall what the therapeutic dosage is, but I think the top recommended dose is 400mg. I think I started on 100 or 200mg, then titrated up to 400, then lowered to 300 and seem to be doing OK. I would think it would be worth your while to start slowly so that you will be using the lowest amount you need. Why give your body a high dose to begin with? Side-effects may be too much and you may want to quit. Just my opinion. Good luck.
Posted by oona on April 6, 2002, at 23:46:26
In reply to Re: From Zoloft to Wellbutrin / Side Effects? » oona, posted by allisonm on April 5, 2002, at 19:03:24
I started on the WB SR 150 and I am not going any higher than than that. I want to get off all these drugs and after reading this board for the last two weeks, it is starting to freak me out. Everyone seems to be jumping from one drug to another. One side effect of not taking the Zoloft is that before when I was taking it I did not give a damn, now I do and that is not a good feeling after being in "whatever" land for the past 7 years. The irritablity is the worse. Actually the worse part was not concentrating. I almost got in two accidents on the way home from work because I was not looking in my side mirror and almost pulled into traffick twice. Thank god they laid on their horn or I would be dead now. Also starting to cook something and forget that I was cooking, thank god again for the smoke alarm. The wierdest one was forgeting what my address is while standing at the Post office window to fill out an address label. I had to empty my mind for a minute and let the info slowly back in. Are these side effects of the Wellbutrin or are they side effects of going off Zoloft???
I was thinking about asking for something to sleep but now I think I will stay with the TY pm and then try to get off of that also. I want to get off everything for awhile see if I need the drugs. It has been since 1996 since I have not been on anything. The AD's seem to take the edge off the depression so you do not shoot yourself and keeps the anxiety down so you don't jump off the cliff. I was going to ask the Dr. Kramer about complete withdrawal under medical supervision but just when I got my nerve up they took him off the board. Well, I will try this WB for awhile then ask my doc to take me off of it also... Thanks for your input.> It took two to three weeks for the irritability to wear off, then another week or so. As I mentioned, every time the dose was raised, I had to deal with some irritability. I would not recommend starting with a high dose. It may be too much for you. Besides, starting at a lower dose gives you the least possible amount to begin with, then if it isn't quite enough, go up gradually. I believe WB SR only comes in 100mg and 150mg tablets, so the lowest you could start with would be 100. I cannnot recall what the therapeutic dosage is, but I think the top recommended dose is 400mg. I think I started on 100 or 200mg, then titrated up to 400, then lowered to 300 and seem to be doing OK. I would think it would be worth your while to start slowly so that you will be using the lowest amount you need. Why give your body a high dose to begin with? Side-effects may be too much and you may want to quit. Just my opinion. Good luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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