Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 3686

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Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by Karen on March 14, 1999, at 13:56:09

I have been taking Zoloft (100mg/day) for the past 8 months but didn't like the sexual and lethargy side effects so my doctor switched me to Wellbutrin SR. She told me I could just switch from Zoloft to Wellbutrin in one day. I started the Wellbutrin 8 days ago and with in two days I started having side effects that I never had on Zoloft such as bad headaches, dizziness and nausea. I'm not usre if it's withdrawal symptoms from the Zoloft or new side efffect of the Wellbutrin. If this is from the Wellbutrin, I'd rather go back to the Zoloft, at least I felt better! Anyone have any experience with this?

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by phyl on March 14, 1999, at 16:08:44

In reply to Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by Karen on March 14, 1999, at 13:56:09

>Karen-- I can only speak for myself when I say that I'm shocked that your doc didn't suggest tapering off of Zoloft and then GRADUALLY starting you on a low dose of Wellbutrin SR. Then again I do not know what factors your doc is considering when she changed your meds.
In this latest round of depression that I am emerging from I was fortunate enough to find a doc that understood my sensitivities to medications. He worked with me to slowly increase the Wellbutrin doses in incremental steps. For the first few weeks (three or four)I felt nauseous after taking my doses and had some increased insomnia due to the time of day when I took my second dose. It took two months to get from 1/2 dose of 75 mg. Wellbutrin/day up to the 300mg. Wellbutrin SR I'm on now. I began to take my doses at set times and that helped with the insomnia. Also, I made some dietary changes (bye-bye coffee!) and made sure to eat some basic stomach lining foods (saltine crackers or dry toast) before taking my doses and began to notice the nausea disappearing. In addition, I brought crystalized ginger and peppermint tea bags(to sip tea when the queasies hit)with me wherever I went to help quell the nausea. I tolerated these side effects knowing that I had to give Wellbutrin SR a fair shot at working. These side effects were acceptable to me because they weren't as bad as the side effects I had experienced on the other ADs I had tried over the past four years(prozac, trazodone, zoloft, serezone, remeron, paxil, and a couple others I've forgotten.) Some of those meds. didn't really get a fair shot because even at the lowest doses I found them intolerable. With the Wellbutrin my doc and I took it slowly and I was able to ride out the undesirable side effects. Now I know that I can't take my morning dose until I have something in my stomach and I can't take my evening dose past 4 p.m. or else it keeps me up that night.
I don't know your situation or your relationship with your doc but you have every right to ask if changing meds can be done more slowly so as to minimize withdrawl/side effects. I'm not a doc and can't advise you but speaking as someone who has done the medicine merry-go-round I can just tell you my experiences. Best wishes for finding the right med(s) at the right dosage. Hang in there! I hated when people said that to me but now that I'm on a med that has given me my life back I'm sure glad I stuck it through to get to where I'm at now. --phyl

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by anonymous on March 15, 1999, at 20:15:50

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by phyl on March 14, 1999, at 16:08:44

> >Karen-- I can only speak for myself when I say that I'm shocked that your doc didn't suggest tapering off of Zoloft and then GRADUALLY starting you on a low dose of Wellbutrin SR. Then again I do not know what factors your doc is considering when she changed your meds.
> In this latest round of depression that I am emerging from I was fortunate enough to find a doc that understood my sensitivities to medications. He worked with me to slowly increase the Wellbutrin doses in incremental steps. For the first few weeks (three or four)I felt nauseous after taking my doses and had some increased insomnia due to the time of day when I took my second dose. It took two months to get from 1/2 dose of 75 mg. Wellbutrin/day up to the 300mg. Wellbutrin SR I'm on now. I began to take my doses at set times and that helped with the insomnia. Also, I made some dietary changes (bye-bye coffee!) and made sure to eat some basic stomach lining foods (saltine crackers or dry toast) before taking my doses and began to notice the nausea disappearing. In addition, I brought crystalized ginger and peppermint tea bags(to sip tea when the queasies hit)with me wherever I went to help quell the nausea. I tolerated these side effects knowing that I had to give Wellbutrin SR a fair shot at working. These side effects were acceptable to me because they weren't as bad as the side effects I had experienced on the other ADs I had tried over the past four years(prozac, trazodone, zoloft, serezone, remeron, paxil, and a couple others I've forgotten.) Some of those meds. didn't really get a fair shot because even at the lowest doses I found them intolerable. With the Wellbutrin my doc and I took it slowly and I was able to ride out the undesirable side effects. Now I know that I can't take my morning dose until I have something in my stomach and I can't take my evening dose past 4 p.m. or else it keeps me up that night.
> I don't know your situation or your relationship with your doc but you have every right to ask if changing meds can be done more slowly so as to minimize withdrawl/side effects. I'm not a doc and can't advise you but speaking as someone who has done the medicine merry-go-round I can just tell you my experiences. Best wishes for finding the right med(s) at the right dosage. Hang in there! I hated when people said that to me but now that I'm on a med that has given me my life back I'm sure glad I stuck it through to get to where I'm at now. --phyl
I would agree wholeheartedly with the above suggestion of a slow up taper of Wellbutrin. It can and does make you have nervousness and insomnia and sometimes the upset stomach happens also. THere is also the withdrawal symptoms of SSRI's- that is an established fact, so you may have some of that mixed in, too. But, Wellbutrin is a good choice and if it works for your depression, hang in there, like phyl said.

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by Karen on March 16, 1999, at 11:51:07

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by anonymous on March 15, 1999, at 20:15:50


Thanks for the feedback. I started taking half a dose of my Zoloft to ease the withdrawal symptoms and this has helped a lot altho it did not completely eliminate them yet. I have an appt. with my doc this week and will discuss this with her. I really do want to give Wellbutrin a try!- Karen

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by phyl on March 17, 1999, at 23:22:55

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by Karen on March 16, 1999, at 11:51:07

>
> Thanks for the feedback. I started taking half a dose of my Zoloft to ease the withdrawal symptoms and this has helped a lot altho it did not completely eliminate them yet. I have an appt. with my doc this week and will discuss this with her. I really do want to give Wellbutrin a try!- Karen

Karen--Good luck with the transition from Zoloft to Wellbutrin. Talk to your doc and see if she/he will work with you to develop a slower schedule for going on or off a med, if that is possible in your situation. I am so glad I took things slowly with going on Wellbutrin. The side effects were mildly unpleasant but nothing like the horrid side effects I experienced with all the SSRIs I've tried over the years. I think the slowness in increasing my dosages minimized any side effects for me. I'm optimistic for the first time in four years! Best wishes for finding the right med or the right combo of meds to help you return to being you. I finally feel like me again! Hurrah! (I'm not out of the woods yet but at least I feel better than I have in the past four years) --phyl

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by NicoleC on March 23, 2002, at 14:02:40

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by phyl on March 17, 1999, at 23:22:55

I tried switching from Zoloft to Wellbutrin and I could not stand the sick feeling. I could not even drive a car without the feeling of wanting to throw up.
I went back to Zoloft, just to be safe, but I have started on a half and half combination. I have had so many depressive symptoms that I really needed to find something that would get me back to feeling like a nomal person, plus the depression was really affecting my new marriage and relationships with my family and friends.
I have just at the beginning of my new change so I will let you know if I feel nausous again with the blend.

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by WanaBfree on August 11, 2004, at 13:36:08

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by NicoleC on March 23, 2002, at 14:02:40

I've been on Zoloft for 5 yrs (50mg) & decided to wean myself of it. Tried cold turkey several times but became a raging lunatic, so now I'm skipping 2 days between doses until my one month supply runs out. Been on it so long I can't remember life without it. BUT I'm tired of the side-effects (S/E), i.e., weight gain, low/no libido, flat emotions and constant fatigue. Talked to my doc, he suggests Celexa-another drug w/ similar S/E. But from what I've read, Wellbutrin sounds doable. At this point, I'm going to see how life is "drug free," but if the same old demons come knocking at my door again, I'm going to need help -- Celexa vs. Wellbutrin -- suggestions anyone?

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin

Posted by Rayray on August 11, 2004, at 18:43:51

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by WanaBfree on August 11, 2004, at 13:36:08

The switch from Zoloft to Wellbutrin should be relatively easy because you would not need to be totally off one before starting the other. As it turns out, I've been taking both of them for years. My pdoc tends to use Wellbutrin as an adjunct.

And don't throw the Zoloft out right away -- you may find, like I did, that Wellbutrin alone could not do the job.

Good luck!

Ray

 

Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin » Rayray

Posted by WanaBfree on August 12, 2004, at 11:18:17

In reply to Re: Changing anti-depressants-Zoloft to Wellbutrin, posted by Rayray on August 11, 2004, at 18:43:51

Thank you, Ray. After reading all the horror "weaning" stories, I was having second thoughts about stopping/starting a new drug. But given my nature, I know I can't do this alone and picked up the Wellbutrin prescription today. I'm hoping, for my family's sake, that this is a better alternative. Thanks for the insight. WanaBfree


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