SSRIs

I have gone off of Cymbalta.  Haven't taken it for about a week.  I also take Wellbutrin 150 daily.  Can I try the suggested amino protocol while still on Wellbutrin?  I know the Cymbalta falls under the category of SSRI, but am not sure about the Wellbutrin.  I am trying to taper off Ultram and need all the help I can get.

[avisg]

NO you should not have been taking tramadol with either cymbalta or wellbutrin did the same doctor put you on all three of these !!!!!!!  If you are taking tram or an anti you can NOT take 5 hpt ,sam e,L tyrosine....

Seizure Risk
Seizures have been reported in patients receiving tramadol within the recommended dosage range. Spontaneous post-marketing reports indicate that seizure risk is increased with doses of tramadol above the recommended range. Concomitant use of tramadol increases the seizure risk in patients taking:

•Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants or anorectics),
•Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and other tricyclic compounds (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, promethazine, etc.), or
•Other opioids.
Administration of tramadol may enhance the seizure risk in patients taking:

•MAO inhibitors (see also WARNINGS - Use with MAO Inhibitors),
•Neuroleptics, or
•Other drugs that reduce the seizure threshold.
Risk of convulsions may also increase in patients with epilepsy, those with a history of seizures, or in patients with a recognized risk for seizure (such as head trauma, metabolic disorders, alcohol and drug withdrawal, CNS infections). In tramadol overdose, naloxone administration may increase the risk of seizure.

The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome may occur with use of tramadol products, including ULTRAM ER, particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs and triptans, with drugs which impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs) and with drugs which impair metabolism of tramadol (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors). This may occur within the recommended dose. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY-Pharmacokinetics).

Serotonin syndrome may include mental-status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination) and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

[worried878]

Wellbutrin is maily a dopamine enhancer..cymbalta enhances norepinephrine, seratonin and dopamine

[avisg]

Wellburtin also has been known to cause sezuires so you are also mixing to drugs that are both known to lower your seizure threshold ...


Bupropion may cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions or when using certain drugs. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and the drugs you use.

[rocketship]

I have taken ultram/tramadol while on cymbalta even prescribed by the same doctor.  I just tried not to take them at the same time.

[Soprano35]

Geeze Louise!!  This all scares me - as it should.  Yes the same doctor prescribed all three drugs - knew I had just ended use of Norco after knee replacement surgery.  I haven't felt any of the above possible results, but I am noticing a repeat behavior of increasing my dose because I start to get a lot of pain in my legs and know that since taking more makes it feel better, my body must be already dependent on it.  I should have never let another drug into my life, when I had just gone through the hell of getting off the Norco CT a few months ago. I was naive about drug additions, because at 47 I've never smoked, or drank, or done any drugs.  I was just getting through a really painful pre surgery bone on bone pain, and the recovery/rehab requires pain management to get through and have a more successful outcome.  When it came time to get off the Norco, I thought well O.K., but experienced unpleasant physical symptoms (duh it's called withdrawls).  I did get off it, but it kicked me in the *** and I really felt bad that it had all come out that way.  My knee surgeon and PCP both prescribed Tramdol as an alternative pain reliever (I've also got other joint problems), but I can't take NASID like Mortin because of stomach issues.  

I should have been more careful so shortly after the Norco thing, but the Tramdol didn't have the "good" effect on me like the Norco did, so I didn't think I would get involved in taking more to feel that energy and good feeling.  Why I did start to increase,  was because my legs would start to hurt after about three hours.  I really want to just get off them now, but I'm scared of all I have heard on here about seizures.  What's the fasted steep taper that falls in the safe zone?  I guess I shouldn't go cold turkey, but I would like to.  With the holidays coming up I don't want to be in the middle of some mess with all this.  I just want my stable happy family life back.  I have been able to maintain that, but at my own expense with a lot of stress for my husband and myself worrying about all this.  
Should I not be alone when coming off this drug?  I woudn't want to scare my kids, and don't know the dangers of seizures other than falling and hurting yourself.  Are they dangerous in other ways too?  I'm sure they are!

I got through getting off the Norco - I understand the Tram can be more difficult, but I really want to stop worrying about my health like this.  I was hoping to stop the Wellbutrin and Cymbalta as part of this whole withdrawl (withdrawal) thing making me more scared and respectful of what drugs can and can't do to make you well.

  

[Soprano35]

P.S.  I've only been taking the Tramdol a couple of months.  I this any better on the getting off  unpleasantness vs. being on something for a long time like I was with the Norco as a pre-op and post-op patient?

[kim715]

Theres not a lot of people on right now and I'm sorry I don't have any experience with the drugs you mentioned.More will be coming along in a few hours and their are plenty of people here who have experience with tramadol,as well as cymbalta and wellbutrin.Congratulations on getting off the narco  and for making the decision to want to live a drug free life,thats great.....All the best...Kim

[worried878]

really u just have to use your common sense...almost every drug on the market can cause seizures in certain instances..many doctors do not know much about RX drugs and this is true...pharmacists know more as they r responsible when u pick up ur scrip to be sure there are no Major red flags...if u fill ur drugs at ONE pharmacy, and not at several, then the pharmacist is legally responsible for making sure u r not in overt danger.   i tried to write an RX for anti-fungal creme for a patient and when i put it in i got a red flag for a drug interaction...silly so i called the pharmacy as i was afraid to RX it..they told me to go ahead/it was their responsibiltiy in the end/sometimes it takes someone who knows more than the general public to look at your drugs and tell u what is safe and what is not...if u have a seizure disorder then i would defiitely stay away from dugs that have a high risk of causing seizures...drug companies have to put warnings on their products to cover themselves..if u heeded all of them, then almost no one could take prescription medication ...ask ur doctor or better ask ur pharmacist

I will send u a pm