Strange side effect from going off Wellbutrin

[jojomomma]

For years I took Wellbutrin for depresssion and anxiety, & under the advise of many heatlth professionals kept taking it after I became pregnant. Being under a stressful situation during pregnancy, I ignored my intuition and remained on it till months after the baby was born. Recently, I became very fearful of harmful effects it could have on my little one ( & myself ). I was so freaked out, I began to cut down the pills ( like I had been instructed to do in the past) and didn't t think about the pills being time released! From there, I recieved instruction from the doctor on how to taper off. He cut the dose in 1/2  prescribing 150 mg for 21 days, to take in full then stop. I asked if I could taper down slower after researching online alternate ways to do so..he just said to let him know if I have any alarming side effects only then he would change the course of action. Again I followed orders and am now experiencing joint problems. I have had jont pain on and off for yrs but nothing like this. I can not get up or sit down w/ out help because my knees hurt. I have had an over all aching in my body and have felt nausea. My joints ( espesilly hips and knees feel brittle/ fragile & feel like they are popping sometimes.
Do you think this could be a side effect from stoppping this medicaton?
Do you think Wellbutrin could be harmful to an unborn and newoborn baby?
What lasting effects do you think could come from someone staying on a drug like this for many yrs, even into old age?
Was this way of tapering down dangerous in your opinion?  

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I believe that the tapering off to avoid side effects should occur over three weeks, the first week lowering to the lowest possible dose that does not cause withdrawal, then take that dose every other day for the next week, then every third day for third week, then stop.

Yes your joint pains coudl be withdrawals, and I do not believe there is any data about long term effects of this drug, or effects on new born, but in general you want to get off of all medications, if possible, during pregnancy.

[ape114]

Hi there, so you took Wellbutrin while pregnant and did not have any side effects for your child? That is good to hear because I am planning to get pregnant and afraid to go off of meds.

One thing this made me think about is how the Wellbutrin may have helped with the pain and now your body is not used to releasing what it needs to help the pain on its own. I say this because when people come off of pain meds they have a rebound of pain much worse than before they started. It is because the body has depended on the drug for pain supression and needs time to start doing it again. Does that make sense?

These drugs are complicated and have different effects on everyone so it is not unreasonable to think it could have played a role in pain suppression. My guess is that it is going to pass like it does when people come off of pain killers. Your body will bounce back and start producing what it needs on its own but it may take some time. In the meantime remind yourself this will pass and is only amplified by coming off of the drug.

Best wishes!
April