Can I stop taking Wellbutrin suddenly or should I taper off?

withdrawal symptoms from wellbutrin

Bupropion can also cause seizures in people who drink a lot of alcohol and then suddenly quit drinking when they start using the medication. Do not stop using Wellbutrin suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine.

  • Withdrawal symptoms often get better within a few days of restarting Wellbutrin.
  • Though typically mild, it’s best to know what may happen so you can work with your healthcare provider to create a plan to cope with these symptoms if they do occur.
  • The symptoms you develop from antidepressant withdrawal are not technically the same thing as physical “withdrawal” from an addictive drug.
  • I am currently planning on stopping my wellbutrin which i have been on for about a yearish.
  • Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant.
  • The decision to go off antidepressants should be considered thoughtfully and made with the support of your physician or therapist to make sure you’re not stopping prematurely, risking a recurrence of depression.

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withdrawal symptoms from wellbutrin

MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. The timeline of Wellbutrin withdrawal varies and is influenced by factors like dosage, duration of use, and individual metabolism. Wellbutrin has a half-life of approximately 21 hours, meaning it takes nearly a day for the body to eliminate half of the drug. Your plan to work your way off of Wellbutrin may need to be adjusted if you experience withdrawal symptoms. If you plan to use psychotherapy to support your medication transition, plan to start your sessions before or as close to discontinuation as possible. Wellbutrin is primarily prescribed for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder.

Wellbutrin Detox: Timeline And Withdrawal Symptoms

withdrawal symptoms from wellbutrin

The symptoms of Wellbutrin withdrawal include insomnia, digestive problems, nausea, and brain zaps. These effects result from the body adjusting to the reduced presence of Wellbutrin, which affects dopamine and noradrenaline pathways. Withdrawal occurs in various scenarios, such as missing doses, abruptly discontinuing (known as “quitting cold turkey”), or switching to a different antidepressant. Like other antidepressants, Wellbutrin affects neurotransmitters—dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline—creating changes in mood and cognition when levels fluctuate.

Bupropion Withdrawal Symptoms: Understanding and Managing Effects

Get started with our free assessment, which will tell you in minutes if treatment could be a good fit. If yes, we’ll connect you right to a clinician who can prescribe medication and have it shipped right to your door. Because of this potential risk, it is important to follow your provider’s instructions for stopping Wellbutrin. Talking to a counselor or therapist may help to provide some routine and support during the transition, and may help you feel more in control of your feelings and mood. Also consider the items below to help support yourself through the process of stopping Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin can be incredibly helpful for people living with depression as well as some other conditions, such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

LEVELS OF CARE

As a result, withdrawal symptoms are generally mild or undetectable. Stopping Wellbutrin may cause certain side effects, also known as withdrawal symptoms. This is the body’s reaction to the lack of Wellbutrin in your system. Check in with your clinician one month after you’ve stopped the medication altogether.

Participants who discontinued rapidly (over one to seven days) were more likely to relapse within a few months than those who reduced the dose gradually over two or more weeks. If bupropion was prescribed for depression, other antidepressants, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), might be considered by your healthcare provider. SSRIs work differently but can serve as an antidepressant solution during the transition. Antidepressants help boost your levels of naturally occurring, mood-regulating substances in your brain, called neurotransmitters, including serotonin and norepinephrine. Researchers don’t know exactly what causes the symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal. But they think it may be because serotonin drops quickly when you stop taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

  • Cymbalta (duloxetine) is used to treat major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder and …
  • Physiological withdrawal often leads to craving and drug-seeking behavior.
  • Do not use Wellbutrin if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days.
  • This depends on several factors, such as the drug you were taking, how long you took it, and what your dose was.
  • If you’re doing well on antidepressants and not complaining of too many side effects, many physicians will renew the prescription indefinitely — figuring that it offers a hedge against a relapse of depression.
  • 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.

Bupropion, also known by the brand name Wellbutrin, is a common antidepressant medication used to treat major depressive disorder and as a smoking cessation aid. While effective, discontinuing bupropion can lead to various withdrawal symptoms, commonly known as wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms. This article explores bupropion withdrawal symptoms, provides an overview of the withdrawal timeline, and offers practical advice on safely overcoming antidepressant withdrawal. It may be possible to stop fluoxetine therapy without tapering. However, Table 527 offers one expert’s recommendations for tapering rates.

Going off antidepressants safely can be a long process — you have to slowly reduce the dose over time. The common treatments for Wellbutrin withdrawal are medical detox, tapering, and behavioral therapies. Medical detox provides supervised care to manage symptoms while tapering gradually reduces the dose to minimize withdrawal effects.

What Is Wellbutrin Withdrawal?

You may not notice withdrawal symptoms until a few days after stopping Wellbutrin. This may be because the medication can stay in your system for up to about 4 or 5 days after taking your last dose. The safest way to stop taking antidepressants is to slowly taper down your dose. Working with your doctor, withdrawal symptoms from wellbutrin you can reduce your dose over the course of one or two weeks.

Stay in touch with your clinician as you go through the process. Let her or him know about any physical or emotional symptoms that could be related to discontinuation. If the symptoms are mild, you’ll probably be reassured that they’re just temporary, the result of the medication clearing your system. If you’re taking an SSRI with a short half-life, switching to a longer-acting drug, like fluoxetine, may help.

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