Switching from paxil to wellbutrin

[valrihel07]

I was on 20mg paxil for anxiety about two years until the sexual side effects and weight gain really interfered with my life. My doctor said he would wean me off and then I can try wellbutrin. As I was weaning myself off 10 mg which I was supposed to do for 2 weeks I couldn't deal with the side effects. Nausea, diarrhea, brain zaps, dizziness, depression, mood swings, emotional, etc. I have already list 10 lbs which that is the only good thing. I told him and he said I could start the wellbutrin. He gave me 300 mg but I was told to split them. I've been taking them for 4 days now. I know its not a miracle drug and it takes a while to kick in. However I'm still suffering from all of the side effects and I don't know what to do. Close to a nervous breakdown. My question is has any of you ever gone through this before switching from paxil. How long did it take before you felt better. For those on wellbutrin did it really help you? I just need it for anxiety and i see that alot of people are prescribed it for depression.

[Paxiled]

I'm guessing, though I don't know, that you're seeing a general practitioner, not a psychiatrist.  First mistake.  Second mistake, not completing your taper off Paxil, as slowly as you need to do it even if it takes a year, which it probably won't, before you try a different medication.  No two meds work the same, and they don't substitute for one another.  While sometimes going on another med does help with withdrawal, it's probably because the withdrawal wasn't going to happen anyway.  But your doc put you on a drug that doesn't work at all like Paxil and that is the most stimulating antidepressant available -- it isn't generally used for anxiety for that reason.  Now, sometimes combining wellbutrin with an ssri such as Paxil will be done because that can help with the weight gain and sexual dysfunction problems, but quitting Paxil to go on wellbutrin is not likely to help with anxiety -- depression, maybe, but not anxiety because, again, wellbutrin is very stimulating.  If this were me, I'd not take the Wellbutrin, stop the whole process, and get a psychiatrist before I proceeded further if your doc isn't one.  Then I'd decide if I wanted to quit Paxil or try to deal with the side effects through dietary changes or perhaps combining some wellbutrin with it or switch to another antidepressant that actually has a good history of working with anxiety, which doesn't include Wellbutrin.  It could well be your main problem is depression -- many anxiety sufferers really have depression as the main problem and often aren't aware of it -- but if anxiety truly is the problem you're going after, then you're switching to a drug that will most often make anxiety worse.  And switching before you're off the Paxil won't stop the withdrawal you're suffering.  Paxil is very hard to stop, and needs to be done slowly and carefully.  You can't make it all go away with another drug, usually.  Just the way it is.  Again, if Paxil is working really well for you other than the side effects, you might consider Wellbutrin as an adjunct treatment, not an alternative treatment.  And if you're not trying to fix this in therapy, never stop trying -- no guarantee you'll be cured but it's the only way you ever will be.  Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[valrihel07]

Thank you for your advice. I do see my family doctor. He was the one who recommended me stop taking the paxil after I lowered to 10 mg and was extremely sick. Then he had me start taking the wellbutrin. While on paxil I ate healthy watched me portions, no sugary drinks just black coffee if I needed caffiene and water. I work out and I could never lose weight, just semed to be gaining more. I also had my thyroid checked and everything came back fine. So that's when he recommended the wellbutrin. Irs been rough but today is definitely better than the other days. I havent been experiencing as much of the side effects as I have been. I see him Monday so I will find out what to do next

[valrihel07]

I've also been taking fish oil for the brain zap feeling and vitamins that support stress and mood just while I'm going through the withdrawls

[Hope107]

I was on Welbutrin for 2 weeks for depression and became very suicidal so i would look out for that just in case.

[valrihel07]

Yeah i definitely will. I realize its not for everyone.

[valrihel07]

I've tried a few different ones and felt that way hopefully you have found something that works better for you now

[valrihel07]

I've tried a few different ones and felt that way hopefully you have found something that works better for you now