What Are the Symptoms of Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome?

It’s also a smoking cessation aid, so you might use it to finally kick cigarettes or nicotine to the curb and free yourself from the costs and complications of smoking. But Wellbutrin can cause a dependence of its own, and when you choose to stop taking it, you may experience withdrawals. There are numerous withdrawal symptoms that one might experience when they decide to go cold turkey on Wellbutrin. Common side effects and withdrawal symptoms include both physical and psychological symptoms caused by addiction to the drug.

How Long Do Wellbutrin Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

It’s crucial that you inform your healthcare providers about all medications that you’re taking to avoid any potential complications. If you are experiencing Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms after stopping this antidepressant, make sure you alert your therapist or doctor so they can support you during this uncomfortable time. You may need extra therapy sessions to help you manage for a while.

As an antidepressant, Wellbutrin helps with mood swings and depression symptoms that one might experience. Unlike other medications, Wellbutrin also helps those individuals who don’t respond to typical antidepressants like SSRIs. Although Wellbutrin is most commonly used to treat depressive disorders, some people may misuse it in order to get high.

• Another form of Wellbutrin abuse is taking it for purposes other than prescribed.
• Withdrawal symptoms often get better within a few days of restarting Wellbutrin.
• The duration and severity of bupropion withdrawal symptoms depend on several factors.
• These are general guidelines, and it’s important to speak with your doctor for advice on what the best tapering option is for you specifically.
• Gradual tapering can help to avoid otherwise hard-to-tolerate discomforts as well as life-threatening or health-compromising risks.

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You should swallow your Wellbutrin tablet whole, never chewed or crushed. It is best to take Wellbutrin at the same time every day and avoid taking it too can you stop taking wellbutrin cold turkey close to bedtime. It has established safety and tolerability advantages over other antidepressants and is very potent.

Before getting carried away by Wellbutrin’s efficacy, please note that you should inform your doctor about all the drugs you are taking, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Exercise has been shown to produce chemical substances that help to alleviate symptoms of depression. A great recommendation for exercise is at least 45 minutes a day for at least 3 days a week. This dose reduction is to be done alongside close monitoring and check-ups at intermittent intervals. If the suggestion to stop using the drug is your doctor’s idea, let them explain the reasons and what to expect to you in detail.

These episodes are often marked by intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair, which can sometimes escalate to include severe symptoms such as suicidal thoughts and frequent crying spells. One of Wellbutrin’s adverse effects is seizures, and this effect is dose-dependent – the higher the dose you take, the greater the intensity of the seizures. To avoid this, doctors typically start patients on a lower dose and observe them before gradually increasing the dose. Your ideal tapering regimen will depend on factors like your health and mental health, your dosage, how long you’ve been taking bupropion, and more. For this reason, you should work with the doctor who’s prescribing your medication and they can make a plan for you to taper your dosage safely.

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The safest way to stop taking antidepressants is to slowly taper down your dose. Working with your doctor, you can reduce your dose over the course of one or two weeks. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. You may not notice withdrawal symptoms until a few days after stopping Wellbutrin.

If you have health insurance, another way to find a therapist is to search your insurance plan’s website. Typically, insurance companies have a list of local providers who accept your insurance. We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain.

It is highly advisable to avoid alcohol while taking Wellbutrin to ensure your safety and well-being. It’s also important to remember that Wellbutrin can lower the seizure threshold in a person, making it more likely to experience a seizure when abusing this drug. Additionally, excessive intake of Wellbutrin can adversely affect the cardiovascular system and lead to physical and psychological disturbances. Wellbutrin is often used to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder, and help with smoking cessation.

Antidepressants such as Wellbutrin affect certain neurotransmitters in your brain, the chemical messengers that help with complex functions such as eating, sleeping, and emotional regulation. Unlike most antidepressants (which affect sertraline levels), bupoprion affects the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline. According to Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., author of The Antidepressant Solution, irritability is a common symptom. In Glenmullen’s experience, patients quitting Wellbutrin often feel symptoms like those quitting nicotine do, such as extreme agitation and uncharacteristically hostile, rude, or aggressive behavior. When my doctor told me I need to stop taking it, they strongly encouraged me to agree to voluntarily check into their crisis center for the next two weeks while I come off the Bupropion.

Example Schedule to Taper off Wellbutrin

This can involve addressing your symptoms and providing advice or prescribing medications that can reduce them. Wellbutrin CT may have slightly less intense withdrawal effects due to the controlled release mechanism. Work with your doctor to taper Wellbutrin CT gradually for a smooth discontinuation. Furthermore, mixing Wellbutrin with other antidepressant medications, especially those that influence serotonin levels, can be dangerous as it raises the risk of serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms such as confusion, agitation, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and elevated body temperature.

• If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
• Clinicians, family members, and friends can provide the much-needed support you need to go through a Wellbutrin withdrawal.
• Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms such as confusion, agitation, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and elevated body temperature.
• This may be because the medication can stay in your system for up to about 4 or 5 days after taking your last dose.

Can Wellbutrin cause withdrawal symptoms?

If you need to stop taking Wellbutrin, follow your doctor’s instructions on how to safely stop taking it. They may slowly lower your dose over 6 to 8 weeks to prevent withdrawal symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association recommends that all antidepressants be tapered down to lower the risk of withdrawal symptoms. Do not stop taking your antidepressant all of a sudden, and discuss safe tapering options with your doctor. If your withdrawal symptoms are severely affecting your quality of life, they can prescribe medications to reduce them and help you feel better. Mixing Wellbutrin with other prescription medications without the guidance of a healthcare provider can also lead to drug interactions and adverse effects.

Dangers of Quitting Wellbutrin Cold Turkey

Know that you can work together and come up with strategies that can make this journey less challenging. If you want to stop taking your current antidepressant but you don’t mind starting a different one, cross-tapering may be an option for you. While Wellbutrin can be discontinued safely, stopping cold turkey should never be attempted. Stay in touch with your doctor if symptoms concern you or make functioning difficult.

Quitting Wellbutrin cold turkey exacerbates these symptoms rapidly. Quitting Wellbutrin suddenly instead of tapering off slowly can cause significant withdrawal symptoms. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant designed to regulate brain neurotransmitters to alleviate depression. Generally, it is prescribed as a standalone medication, not to be combined with any other drugs. However, there are individuals who ignore the warnings and choose to mix it with other substances. Major Depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating form of depressive disorder.

In a somewhat puzzling set of guidelines, regulars recommend Zyban for quitting smoking but not for treating depression. Therefore, some features of Wellbutrin withdrawal mimic those of stimulant drugs with similar structures and mechanisms of action. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a long-term process in which you explore the reasons for your feelings and actions. Together with a qualified therapist, you will learn how to work toward the life you want by reforming the unhealthy patterns standing in your way.

In the process, many experience antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, also known as withdrawal. This is a particular risk with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which affect a brain neurotransmitter called serotonin. If you do experience unpleasant symptoms due to ADS, your doctor or healthcare professional may focus on a treatment plan suitable for you.

Some individuals might try and get “high” from it, as Wellbutrin addiction can develop relatively easily. This altered state of consciousness is not medically recommended and should be generally avoided. One type of Wellbutrin abuse involves repeatedly overdosing on the medication. Even though some might believe that taking more than what’s prescribed may help speed up the desired effect, that is simply untrue. Taking a dose more than recommended can cause serious side effects; if the effects are worrying, it’s a good idea to seek immediate medical attention. Abusing Wellbutrin, like any other substance, carries significant risks and can be extremely dangerous.