I stopped taking Wellbutrin a couple of months ago

[cyclonefence]

under the supervision of my internist. I told her I didn't feel like I needed it any longer (the issues that existed when I started taking it are long ago resolved), and I take so many meds, I'd love to get rid of some of them.

Well, last week I started really feeling sad--after many weeks of being just fine--and not normal kind of sad but the kind of sad that just makes you want to give up on everything.

I had surgery on my right thumb/wrist, and I've been the star of the therapy group, doing an excellent job and working hard, to the point where my therapist says I'll probably be able to end therapy sooner than expected. Since I started feeling sad again, I really have to force myself to do my four-times-a-day exercises.

I don't even want to brush my teeth--and this is a big deal because the dental hygienist always gives me high marks on my home care and barely has to clean my teeth at all because I do such a good job. And now I don't want to.

I've managed to continue to keep bathing, but I don't want to wash my hair. I put on clean clothes (so far) and do the dishes and make the bed generally keep things tidy and put away. But things I did automatically are an effort now.

I'm seeing my doctor on Wednesday to ask her to put me back on Wellbutrin--and even this makes me sad. It's just another failure.

Any cheerful words would help--I'm actually crying as I type.

[Walleye]

1. I've been taking it for years, had a major depressive episode.

I do feel sad when I stop, but it’s also remedy for my ADD. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck.

[cyclonefence]

2. Thanks

It's funny you say that about your ADD. My husband also has ADD and takes Wellbutrin along with his methyl stuff. I guess that's a standard treatment.

[Easterncedar]

3. Taking care of yourself is a victory, not a failure!

Good for you for recognizing you need the help right now and going to your doctor. It IS hard to do anything at all when you are in a depressed state, so give yourself credit for keeping on, for getting up and maintaining as you are. Things will get better. Big hugs.

[applegrove]

4. Good for you for trying. I know i'll never be off an SSRI.

I've been through too much. I like having a strong baseline of pleasant-ness. I feel like myself. And I have a working memory. Take care of yourself.

[Dear_Prudence]

5. It is our physiology, not our character

That makes Wellbutrin necessary for some of us. I also need glasses, due to my biology. I tried to do without them in high school. One day, as I got off the bus with rest of my neighbor kids, I tripped over the curb because I couldn't see it. My books went flying. I went sprawling. I was scrambling to adjust mini-skirt that had gone askew as I lay there. My mother was waiting at the door for me and, thinking she was funny, yelled, "Drunk again?" So, my humiliation was complete. That was 55 years ago. Ever since, I always wear my glasses, without shame, to avoid falling down. Now, I also will always take my Wellbutrin, without shame, to avoid falling mentally. Take care, please. You are doing the right thing.

[vanamonde]

8. Well said

"It is our physiology, not our character"

[lark]

9. I knew I was near-sighted, but thought glasses were for nerds so didn't want to wear them.

I wore them in class because I had to see the board, but off they'd go in between classes. One day I heard someone yell, but looked around and couldn't see anyone so just walked on. Later that day, a friend walked up and asked why I was so stuck-up. Said she and others tried to say hi between classes but I'd never acknowledge them so thought I was stuck-up! Crazy! Heavy set, freckle faced girl was not stuck up - just didn't want to look worse. Well, after that, I wore my glasses 24x7 so I'd never miss seeing a friend again. Wore them like that from age 8 - 69 when I had cataract surgery and new lens so I can now see without glasses! YAY!

[BamaRefugee]

6. "Anxiety is the Mother of Depression". You are doing the right thing, recognizing you need to go back on Welbutrin!

I had to start taking it after I went into a deep dark hole and had all the symptoms you are expressing.
In the space of three months, my beloved Dad, who was also my best adult friend, died at the hands of an incompetent heart surgeon. The next month I lost my girlfriend to ovarian cancer.
The third month I had to put my beautiful Golden Retriever to sleep.
I was totally lost and adrift.

I could barely function at that point, but Welbutrin worked great for me. I'm sure you know that it's something like a mood elevator, per my Doc, you don't wake up the next day feeling all perky, but sometime in the next week you realize you made it through the day relatively peacefully.

Since then, I have used it on an "as needed" basis a few times. So glad that I was introduced to it by my doctor, it has saved me, and I learned in therapy the expression "Anxiety is the Mother of Depression" and it's so true.

So when you feel that wave coming, it IS coming, and the best thing to do is just start heading it off as soon as possible.

Best of luck to you!!!

[MFM008]

7. News alert

Your body is trying to tell you it's not done with an anti depressant.
I got off Zoloft after 23 years and it resulted in a 2 year breakdown.
Better have another talk with the DR.
Good luck.

[BWdem4life]

10. Failure?

If you decided you didn't need some other medication (such as for high blood pressure) and then began having symptoms related to not taking your prescribed medication, would that be a failure?

As someone who has been taking an anti-depressant for the past 13 years and tried several times to get off it, I can only suggest that you consider it a permanent thing now and don't view it as some kind of personal failure that your brain is not wired correctly, and is in need of a bit of pharmaceutical help that fortunately exists now.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Yeah, I'm going to have to start again

I tapered off taking it after having a life changing response to ketamine therapy. But the stress of unemployment, a car wreck and this fucking election has me sobbing in bed again. Life is hard.

[cyclonefence]

12. Get back on asap

Depression makes a person stupid, it really does. If you are facing (multiple) serious problems, you need your brains working. Please get your prescription renewed before you miss an opportunity or make a bad decision. Things will be easier to handle without the cloud of depression making it hard to think straight--or to take good care of yourself.