Switched From Pristiq To Wellbutrin Xl
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Updated

I'm adding a post to hopefully help someone as reading other people's posts has been very helpful/comforting to me! I have been on 50 mg of Pristiq for 5 years and I just made the transition to Wellbutrin xl at 300 mg. My doc switched me because my libido was becoming obsolete and wellbutrin is not supposed to adversely effect this. He had me start by overlapping the two meds for Week 1...Maintaining 50 mg of pristiq and adding Wellbutrin XL at 150 mg. I felt completely fine, didn't notice anything different. Week 2-I was to go up to 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL and completely stop taking the Pristiq. That didn't work. 1.5 days in I was dizzy, minor brain zap feeling (but not as intense as when i would miss a pristiq pill in the past) feeling super emotional (weepy) so much that I had to leave work so I didn't fall apart in front of everyone! I called the doc and he told me to take half a pristiq pill for the next few days. I did that and it really helped and got me thru. The only side effect was minor dizziness at times. So then after a few days, (which was this past Saturday) it was my first day to retry no pristiq and 300 mg Wellbutrin XL.

I made a conscious decision that i would stay in saturday and see how it would effect me. I was dizzy, anxious/fidgety, I had muted brain zaps (again not as bad as simply missing a pristiq pill when that's all I was on) and again had crying spells that would come and go. The thing that got me thru was knowing "this will pass" and it's part of the process. I felt like my head was in the clouds Saturday and Sunday. My head also felt "full" almost like a drowning feeling in my head! Probably the worst part. I'm not sure if that was just my anxiety rearing up. I also woke up in pure sweat (yuck) which has alowly tapered off over the week.

Day 3 with no pristiq (Monday)- I felt like my head was steady again! I felt super relieved. Part of it was the feeling that I made it thru the worst and I could do this. However, I have had intense anxiety all week, almost an exasperated feeling at all times. At night, I would feel my body was tired but my mind couldn't let me sleep. I think the elevates energy brought on anxiety and made my breathing labored. I would definitely recommend staying off caffeine at least in the beginning (you won't need it!!!). I looked up breathing exercises, which reminded me to EXHALE so I could get a good deep breath. Apparent when you're anxiety sometimes you forget to exhale.

This past week has been manageable but tough with the restlessness, lack of sleep, anxiety. Luckily, it hasn't been to the point where anyone visibility noticed at work. If anything, I was working faster, more efficiently, being more direct (no snappy but direct--almost like that sensor that usually causes me to pause and examine what im going to say first was removed--that part has been nice. Like a remov of fear/social anxiety). It's Friday night now- day 7 complete with no pristiq and 300 mg Wellbutrin, and beginning last night, I FINALLY felt a sense of calm. That carried thru to today and I am so grateful. I will post any updates. If you're transitioning with your meds, I strongly recommend you tell loved ones bc it takes a major pressure off and you have a support team. I hope this helps!

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41

Thank you
Day 2 of no pristiq and 150mg of Wellbutrin.
I had a huge crying fit at my kids today. Not sure what to tell them.

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40

Started lexapro a year ago for anxiety, was doubled from 5mg to 10 for a few months and fell in to a deep depression. I take xanax, half a pill of the smallest 0.25 dose to fall asleep most nights but can go months without. After the depression kicked in this spring my doctor added Wellbutrin XL to the lexapro so I could participate in my graduate program. I got by by the skin of my teeth. My doctors reasoning was that coming off the lexapro can be hard. However, I haven't noticed this in my case. The Wellbutrin wasn't working for me because I got body twitches that I couldn't control and just ended up causing more anxiety. My doc switched me to pristiq in early May but due to it just becoming generic, no pharmacy in town had it for a week. I didn't notice the withdrawal symptoms, dizzyness nausea and vertigo until 2 days in and I kept thinking they'd have the prisiq the next day so I didn't take more Wellbutrin. I stopped lexapro and Wellbutrin on the same day but I'm positive the withdrawals were from Wellbutrin.

Started pristiq, everything seemed fine, noticed the withdrawal symptoms dissipating. I missed changing my birth control patch by a day due to forgetting it on a trip and started spotting less than a week after my period ended. I had missed a day on the patch before with no consequences but figured I had just thrown my body out of whack with that. So I spot for three more weeks. In that time I forgot to take pristiq one day and lost three of the following days to vomiting vertigo and dizziness, along with the delayed perception people have mentioned. It's like my brain sees in slow motion then speeds up all of the sudden. Finally realize the spotting is due to pristiq, call doctor and she reccomends I go off of it because I'm already anemic and can't afford to lose blood as it is. She transitioned me straight from pristiq to Wellbutrin last week and since then it's been nothing but nausea vomiting dizziness and vertigo. I know it takes a while to adjust but I'm at the point of wanting to transition off everything but small doses of xanax as needed. It's exhausting trying to get my body right every few weeks. I have an appointment at the end of the month but am calling again Monday so I can make it through my day without feeling awful.

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39

Did you take the pristiq and welbutrin together at first when you were trying to wean off? I had been on welbutrin 300xl then swistched to pristiq and been on it for about 4months and now going back to welbutrin i took the pristiq for 2 days then stopped qand have taken wellbutrin for 2 and want to continue but not sure i should of switched so soon. nurse said to take pristiq 2 days then maybe half of one for 2 days then none the next then welbutrin. I guess i should have listened better and my dr. wont be back til monday so not sure if i should try mixing half a pristiq with the other tomorrow or what? My head doesnt feel level and dont feel good physically. any suggestions? Jill

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38

I am getting ready to change back to wellbutrin from Pristiq . I have only been on pristiq for about 3-4 months but want to go back to Welbutrin so i am just wondering how you feel now? I was told to take 50 mg of the pristiq for 2 days then half of that for 2 days then none and then take welbutrin. Seemed strange to meet. I would love to just got right back.

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37

Help! I have been taking Prestig 100 mg for about 8 years and I Believe it stopped worrking. The doctor added Zoloft and generic Effexor 225mg, but it is costs the same as pristeq l. Can't get into see amy existing psychiatric or any for that matter for 1 month. MARCH 2017. I have wellbutrion and wondered if I could take that and how do ilI taper off prestiq?

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36

I have Major Depressive Disorder and switched from Pristiq 50 to Wellbutrin 150. Was on Pristiq for almost a year and gained weight, become way too laid back and had ZERO libido left. Started Wellbutrin and tried with Pristiq and without. Major diziness, brain zaps and terrible nausea. Battled through it and decided to no longer take Pristiq... After a week of suffering I lost the nausea, diziness is tolerable and I feel alive again! It's like I finally got out of this bubble of ignoring things and not caring about anything... My wife likes me a lot better too...lol
I know things are different for everyone, but I am glad I cut down on Pristiq fast... It was pretty nasty for a few days (I would suggest to start on a weekend, which I didn't), but it has been so worth it... I feel energy again, am way more happy and active and can slowly start to feel my libido pick up again as well... All this in 1 week!

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35

Because Wellbutrin can be purchased as generic and Pristiq is no longer covered by most insurance plans.

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34

I have stopped prestiq and switched to Wellbutrin my dr had me over lap at first as well. Since I have horrible anxiety I am very snappy and feel hot and my heart is pounding off and on and like I am going to throw up. It is day 2 and the doctors office is closed this is very awful and I wonder if I should call the answering service I must return to work on Tuesday and if I am feeling like this I will not be able to.

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33

Thanks Iamgracie, I've been doing a lot of research trying to deside what to do. I can't afford to be sick for another week. I don't know how doctors expect you to be able to work when transitioning medications. It's brutal! I understand meds affect everyone differently, I just wish there was a more accurate way of knowing how it will affect us as individuals. Thanks for your input.

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32

Regarding HEADACHE, STOMACH ache after Wellbutrin..... YES!! I started back in Wellbutrin after my insurance wouldn't pay for Prestiq, and About one day in, my stomach hurt, had naseau and had NO appetite. I would start crying about nothing, something I haven't had in a couple if years. I went off Wellbutrin on my own, and even though I hadn't eaten anything at all, I gained 6 lbs in a week. So, it took me a,long time to titration to 75 mg Lamotrigine, and I feel much better without Wellbutrin and/or Prestiq. I am working hard at following Joe Dispenza's theory about the brain, which includes medication. It has helped me more than any pill. Check out Jan Kabat Zinn Mindfulness Meditation Body Scan and Joe Dispenza's "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: Meditations for Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself" there are three free videos that explain what it's about. I'm determined to get healthy on mind and body with as few meds as possible. My Dr. Wouldn't like that, but it's been decades of on and off depression/anxiety.

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31

Since you did so well on the Preston other than libido, perhaps it's the Wellbutrin. I had the same thing happen to me, I would start crying for novreasin. I always thought it was being stressed out, but after going off Wellbutrin and (had switched from prestiq due to $$), am only in Lamotrigine and take Vistaril for sleep and Clonopin for backup anxiety. I am just starting to feel better. Ask your Dr.

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30

I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for about 18 years. I have been tried so many that I lost track. The most resent, over the last 7 years anyway, I started with Effexor xr (venlafaxine), went to Pristiq then to Wellbutrin. The Effexor to Pristiq was done with no noticeable side affects, I was advised to simply stop one and start the other. For me, the main problem with these two was that although they helped with anxiety i still felt down and I gained weight- (which has never been a problem for me), not to mention I had no libido or interest. The main reason my DO wanted to switch me to Wellbutrin, two weeks ago, was to help with motivation and depression. She advised me to stop the Pristiq 50 that night and start the Wellbutrin XL 150 the next morning. I was fine that morning but that afternoon started to feel dizzy and nautious. The next day I was so sick in the stomach and fuzzy in the head I couldn't function. My Doc advised me to quit everything to make sure I didn't have stomach flu. Last week I felt so depressed and pukey and blah. I didn't want to eat anything but I was hungry, I would start weeping at anything, and my stomach just ached. Now on week two of no anti-depressants I am terrified to start Wellbutrin again. My DO advised me to start up Wellbutrin again once my stomach settled down, I still don't feel great but my head is fairly clear. Has anyone had stomach problems with Wellbutrin? Thank you in advance.

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29

I'm having similar problems. I started Wellbutrin, which I had been on for years but stopped because I thought I was fine. After 4 weeks, I started having extreme anxiety, so after titrating up to 100 MG Lamictal , I'm fine but depression kicked in. So, doc put me on (Wellbutrin) Buproprian HCL XL 150 mg. That is an alternative to Prestiq. Have you been on Wellbutrin/Buproprian? I'm having side effects though. Good thing is I got my "mojo" back. But, lost appetite, feel more depressed, have increased nerve pain all over, feel exhausted and feel so lousy that I'm unmotivated. Feel I cannot win, however, I haven't given enough time. Anyone on Buproprian? Side effects?

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28

I started taking Pristiq about 5 years ago with great results. I felt a little nausea at first but it subsided pretty quick. My libido was in the toilet but I did not care because I got the rest of my life back. The problem now is that the Pristiq is far too expensive, even with my insurance, so I switched to Effexor xr (generic) and it was ok but I still felt depressed. My doc suggested upping the dose but that just made my sleepy and lethargic. Now the problem...went back on Pristiq and I feel more depressed that ever. Not sure what to try next. Anyone have a happy story of switching?

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Isn't it amazing how these chemicals affect us all so differently! I had said I went on Cymbskta as BCBS didn't approve my Prestiq. I started this journey with severe anxiety that now starting my third week titrating up on Lamictal, I'd much better. However, the cymbalta did nothing fit my depression and I just started crying at the frustration of it all. So the doc put me on Budeprion (Wellbutrin). It's been 5 days. First thing I noticed is I have NO appetite, which is good because having severe anxiety kept me huddled in bed for weeks. Husband makes me huge bowls of pasta with peas or rice and beans. That's it, my entire diet. Then I just stopped eating all together and am not hungry. I did notice that was very, very quiet. My husband's been quite nasty lately, so it seems this Wellbutrin calmed me down and gave me sense to "zip it"!

As an aside, I want to share with you all that I have been doing, Mindfulness Meditation on YouTube with Jan Kabat Zinn. It's amazing. It's not a meditation where you quiet your mind And think of nothing. It's actually where you change the way you live. Moment to moment. It's too hard for me to explain, but if you have pain, Anxiety, depression, stress, this is a new way to use your brain by not overloading it with "mindless" thinking, but taking a new view on how you listen to what someone says. I am taking a 24 session course, as it's something you have to work at, but it's quite a pleasure. If you find the time Google what is "Mindfulness Meditation". Or listen to a mindfulness meditation with Han Kabat Zinn on YouTube, search for mindfulness bodyscan. It was developed through the university of Massachusetts for cancer patients, but of course it has its foundation thousands of years ago with the Buddah. Sorry I don't explain myself as I should!!

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All unpleasant side effects will pass! They did for me (about 12 days). Hang in there!

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25

Going through this right now. It was so helpful to read this it will be day three without pristq tomorrow. Trying to finish Uni assignment and am feeling rather weird. At least I know it will pass. Thanks again I will keep going.

Paula

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24

I just had the same problem with BCBS!! I am going through a very tough "mental" time with extreme anxiety. I went off NY meds by myself thinking I was fine. U was okay for 6 weeks then CRASHED big time. So my doc was going to try Prestiq as I had taken it in the past. The pharmacy said they had to get approval from my doctor, which makes no sense since they write the script! Then a whole week went by and BCBS finally came back and said go on Cymbalta. It would be easier to go to BCBS instead of my psych!! Lol!! Anxious to see if Cymbata will work along with Lamotrigine.

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23

I have been 8 Cymbalta for 6 months, but it appears to not be working, and my psychiatrist wants me to try pristiq. Haven't started it yet, but looking forward to trying something newish.

Don't discount the filter in your brain that tells you what is socially acceptable to say. I lost mine to brain cancer and it has led to some awkward situstions!.

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22

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I was on Welbutrin XL 300mg in the past but once they went to generic, they were not the same. Got the shakes and then switched to Pristiq. With Pristiq I developed high LDL on my lipid panel and Cataracts. I did my research and found that all the SSIR's have the tendency towards cataract development.

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