Author: James Anderson

How to taper off your antidepressant

If you’re concerned you might have more side effects with an increased dose of Wellbutrin, talk with your doctor. And never adjust your dosage without your doctor’s recommendation. If Wellbutrin side effects do occur, they will usually go away within a week or two of starting the medication, as your body begins to adjust.

The most common Wellbutrin side effects tend to be the least serious and are likely to be temporary. Contact your health provider if you experience side effects that are severe, bothersome, get worse, or don’t go away. Get help immediately if you have any side effects that could be serious or life-threatening. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a modified dosage of Wellbutrin due to possible side effects or another health concern.

The increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors was not seen in people older than age 24 years. And studies showed a drop in this risk in people ages 65 years and above. It’s not known whether you’ll have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Wellbutrin. If at any time you’re not sure if a symptom is “normal” or safe, you should contact a healthcare provider. They can advise you if you should start taking your medicine again and in what dosage, or discuss an alternative plan. There’s some evidence that suggests that suddenly stopping antidepressants can result in depression symptoms — sometimes ones that are even worse than before.

In studies, constipation and nausea were common side effects that occurred when starting this drug. Nausea is more likely if you’re taking a higher dose of Wellbutrin. One possible symptom of MDD and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a change in libido or sex drive.

How to recognize the signs of mental health issues

And they’ll tell you how much, if any, is safe to drink with this drug. Changes in libido (sex drive) was a rare side effect of Wellbutrin in studies. Wellbutrin is one of the few antidepressants that doesn’t usually cause sexual side effects. If you’re concerned about long-term side effects of Wellbutrin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The most severe long-term side effect is suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The drug has a boxed warning for this side effect, which is the most severe drug warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

1. If Wellbutrin side effects do occur, they will usually go away within a week or two of starting the medication, as your body begins to adjust.
2. Stopping abruptly can also lead to discontinuation syndrome, an array of flu-like symptoms such as stomach upset, headache, strange sensations, and muscle aches.
3. If your digestive side effects are bothersome, talk with your doctor.
4. This is to prevent, or at the very least decrease the severity of, potential withdrawal symptoms.
5. If you are struggling with depression, your doctor may want to switch you to an SSRI that you haven’t tried before or suggest other options.

Some medications can affect your ability to feel emotions (for example, make you feel numb). It may also affect a person’s autonomy by making them feel dependent on medical help. These side effects were reported with long-term use of antidepressants and could worsen with age. Antidepressants can be effective for treating a number of conditions, but the choice to start and stop one is very individual. And while antidepressants can help you feel better, they can also have mental and physical side effects. In either case, don’t stop taking Wellbutrin until you’ve checked with your health provider first.

Sexual function

Using Wellbutrin with alcohol may also influence the frequency and severity of side effects, including seizures and suicidal thoughts. Immediate-release Wellbutrin tablets can be broken if necessary, but they are small enough that doing so is not usually needed. The drug can be taken on an empty stomach or with food and should be stored at room temperature, protected from light and moisture. Your condition should start to improve within the first week or two of beginning Wellbutrin. You may notice positive effects, such as that you sleep better, have more energy, or your appetite has improved, for instance. Improvement of psychological symptoms, such as those related to mood, may take a bit longer—or up to eight weeks.

Studies show that some people have a lower tolerance to the effects of alcohol while taking Wellbutrin. And some people may have an increased risk of mood problems when drinking alcohol during treatment with Wellbutrin. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wellbutrin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options. For temporary relief from headache pain when starting Wellbutrin, you can take an OTC pain relief medication. But if you have migraine episodes, talk with your doctor, as OTC drugs may not provide enough relief.

If you have a child taking Wellbutrin or another depression medication, keep a close eye out for signs of self-harm or suicidal thinking. If you want to stop taking Wellbutrin, talk to your healthcare provider about tapering off of your medication gradually. If you stop suddenly, your symptoms may worsen or you may experience Wellbutrin withdrawal. If you’re concerned about withdrawal symptoms from stopping this drug, talk with your doctor. It’s also important to note that up to 70 percent of people with depression are at risk for developing sexual dysfunction as well.

Ideally, this can help you enjoy the benefits of quitting antidepressants without the drawbacks. Most healthcare providers will recommend gradually tapering antidepressant doses over the course of several weeks. However, some medications may require longer periods of tapering, such as paroxetine and venlafaxine. Taking antidepressants can cause side effects that may affect the way a person feels mentally and physically. You may use antidepressants in combination with other treatments, such as talk therapy and wellness tools. How quickly your medication works may depend on what it has been prescribed to treat.

Diseases & Conditions

Most studies report that withdrawal reactions with bupropion are uncommon. As studies consistently show, a combination of psychotherapy and medication works better for depression and anxiety than medication alone. Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Wellbutrin affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. If your digestive side effects are bothersome, talk with your doctor. To help relieve constipation, your doctor might recommend certain lifestyle changes.

However, those who take the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) may also experience weight loss. In most instances, stopping antidepressants will return a person’s sexual function back to pre-antidepressant levels. By Nancy SchimelpfeningNancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Stopping abruptly can also lead to discontinuation syndrome, an array of flu-like symptoms such as stomach upset, headache, strange sensations, and muscle aches. If you need to stop taking Wellbutrin, your provider can guide you in gradually tapering off.

Also, if your doctor increases your dose of Wellbutrin too fast, your risk of seizure is increased. Your doctor will slowly increase your dose and limit it to the maximum dose to help prevent seizures. Talk to your healthcare provider about which is right for you. You may require a different dosing schedule if you have certain health conditions.

If you have closed-angle glaucoma, Wellbutrin can cause a severe reaction in your eyes called a closed-angle attack. If your kidneys aren’t functioning effectively, your doctor will likely order kidney function tests. Based on the results of these tests, they may prescribe a lower dosage of Wellbutrin for you.