Wellbutrin Sr or other meds, taking it for over 2 years??

[LadyDanaDragon]

Well I have been on Wellbutrin Sr 150 mg twice a day for two years. It has made such a big change sometimes I feel like a whole new person. I have been advised that my depression goes in a cycle and that it would be best for me to take Wellbutrin "forever". I have stopped taking it twice just to see how I feel. After about 2 weeks my yucky feelings start sneeky back. So my question is do most people with depression take their drugs for the long term or just untill they feel better???


P.S. Wellbutrin does not make you gain weight, in most studies people lost 5 pounds. There are no sexual side effects either. The drug also goes by Zyban and used to help people quit smoking.

[2big4mysize]

it will depend on your diagnosis as to whether you take it for life or not. if you have clinical depression then you need it forever as you said. if you had a life event that caused you toi become depressed then you can come off it when you are ready with your doctor's help.

[loonatika]

I've been on celexa and before that prozac for well over 5 years now. I never really thought about being on it for life - my doc gave me the go ahead to reduce my meds, but everytime I'm like you and the yuck feelings come back, so for now I guess I'm a lifer too

[justdenise]

I have been diagnosed with clinical depression, so I am a lifer. I take wellbutrin as well.

[Happyme]

I've tried several over the last 7 years. I have also tried to go off of them a few times. Just like you I started feeling bad again. I am also taking Welbutrin and feel better than I have in a long time. Yep, a lifer here.

[LadyDanaDragon]

wellbutrin XL??

Today I am switching from wellbutrin SR 150mg x2, to wellbutrin XL300mg x1 a day.
Has anyone else also made this switch?? I forget to take my second dose alot so I hoping this will solve that problem. Just worried that it may not have the same effect.

[LadyDanaDragon]

So far no problems with the XL. Guess it will take about 2 weeks before I really know.

[full-wit]

LadyDanaDragon, I made that same exact switch. I was also able to cut down to 150mgs., the doc explained to me that the time-released version is much more readily absorbed by the body so that's how I was able to cut back. I've also been told that I will be a 'lifer'. Evidently there was a study (the doc told me about this a couple years ago so I don't remember too many details) that found if a person has 3 or more major depressive episodes in their life, then they will need to stay on meds for life.

Hope this helps,

[LadyDanaDragon]

Withdrawal??

Its seems that wellbutrin (and other depression drugs) causes withdrawal symptoms that can last 8 weeks or more. So how can you tell if you are okay without it????

[fancypantstomatch]

Question about Welbutrin

My husband has been on Lexapro for about 2 years, and his libeto has been MIA for a while (he's only 30)! Anyway he went to the doctor about this yesterday and he switched him to Welbutrin, and last night he could not sleep, at all! He is miserable today, and I was wondering if any of you encountered this?

Thanks!

[Happyme]

Make sure you take welbutrin in the morning when you wake up. If I take it later in the day I have the same problem. If he has the same problem taking it in the morning it may be that his body needs to get used to it. If it persists he may need to change. I would go ahead and call the Doc if you are really worried and he is miserable.

I have found welbutrin to work the best for me but I also take Trazodone at night before I go to bed. Its a very mild antidepressant and also puts you to sleep. But then I still have problems if I take my Welbutrin later in the day.

I hope it all works out with the Welbutrin. I think it has worked better for me than any other that I have tried.

[Momma Yamo]

Not sure if I can answer...but

Hi!

I've been taking wellbutrin for about six months now and I'm not sure if it has helped or not because I had ECT (shock treatments) before I started taking it. So far, I'm doing great. Not sure if it was the shock treatments or the wellbutrin...either way, I'm much happier now, not suicidal anymore and not feeling "nothing" either (as on Prozac, Lithium, and a whole bunch of others) which I'd taken long and for years before without much success.

At any rate, I hope that if the wellbutrin works for you, that you stay on it and not "experiment" about not taking it as depression really is an illness. I truely believe that medication is like antibiotics. If you stop taking what works, you might get worse.

I can't say I'd recommend shock treatments for everyone. They do result in some memory loss and memory function, and it really should be recommended by your psychiatrist as a "last resort". For more information:

http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/ect.cfm

Best of luck to you.