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Quit taking Lexapro and my anxiety level is through the roof! Please help!
Recently my Dr. recommended that I switch from Lexapro (called Lexamil where I live) to Wellbutrin to reduce unwanted side effects of Lexapro. I have been taking Lexapro for 5 years now (10 mg daily). She said to taper off of Lexapro in two weeks, first taking 1/2 a tablet each day to 1/2 a tablet every other day while introducing a tablet of Wellbutrin 150 mg. each day during this process. Since I did this (it has been a month now), I have been experiencing extreme symptoms including: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, restless leg syndrome, dizziness, and loss of impulse control meaning I will feel immediately FURIOUS over something as small as not being able to put my contact in the first time. This is NOT like me. Please help me. I can't live like this. Wellbutrin is not working out for me. I don't know a safe way to get off of it and get my life back. My preference would be to stop taking Wellbutrin and Lexapro, but after this month of hell, I'm not sure what is the right thing to do. Please help. To make matters even more complicated my gynecologist recommended me starting Qliara birth control pills due to my lack of estrogen, and now I've been on those for 1 full week. I really, really feel out of sorts. Please tell me what you would advise.
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I DO understand that, but any info/advice you get here wouldn't be a substitution for a GOOD doctor who was managing your care. Hopefully you can find a way to locate a better doc who you're more comfortable with.
Rather limited health care/good doctors here where I live. That is precisely why I'm on this forum trying to find much needed answers elsewhere, you know?
The side effects were the ones you mentioned- weight gai and loss of interest sexually. Also I have chronic sinusitis and she mentioned to me that in some cases people's antidepressants actually exasperated their sinus issues-thus the switch.
In the past 3 months I have also changed my diet to much healthier whole, real foods in an effort to get healthier and lose weight. I've lost 17 pounds so far and I had hoped the switch to wellbutin might possibly help with my weight loss too. Now, I can honestly barely function. From the different forums I'm reading I believe these are definitely lexapro withdrawal symptoms. My dr. Here in South Africa and two other doctors here I've talked to just seem nonchalant and uneducated on these issues. At this point "chatting with my dr" doesn't seem to the best source to find health. That's why I'm on this forum. I'm an American working as an aid worker here in South Africa and I need some help!
In the past 3 months I have also changed my diet to much healthier whole, real foods in an effort to get healthier and lose weight. I've lost 17 pounds so far and I had hoped the switch to wellbutin might possibly help with my weight loss too. Now, I can honestly barely function. From the different forums I'm reading I believe these are definitely lexapro withdrawal symptoms. My dr. Here in South Africa and two other doctors here I've talked to just seem nonchalant and uneducated on these issues. At this point "chatting with my dr" doesn't seem to the best source to find health. That's why I'm on this forum. I'm an American working as an aid worker here in South Africa and I need some help!
The side effects were the ones you mentioned- weight gai and loss of interest sexually. Also I have chronic sinusitis and she mentioned to me that in some cases people's antidepressants actually exasperated their sinus issues-thus the switch.
In the past 3 months I have also changed my diet to much healthier whole, real foods in an effort to get healthier and lose weight. I've lost 17 pounds so far and I had hoped the switch to wellbutin might possibly help with my weight loss too. Now, I can honestly barely function. From the different forums I'm reading I believe these are definitely lexapro withdrawal symptoms. My dr. Here in South Africa and two other doctors here I've talked to just seem nonchalant and uneducated on these issues. At this point "chatting with my dr" doesn't seem to the best source to find health. That's why I'm on this forum. I'm an American working as an aid worker here in South Africa and I need some help!
In the past 3 months I have also changed my diet to much healthier whole, real foods in an effort to get healthier and lose weight. I've lost 17 pounds so far and I had hoped the switch to wellbutin might possibly help with my weight loss too. Now, I can honestly barely function. From the different forums I'm reading I believe these are definitely lexapro withdrawal symptoms. My dr. Here in South Africa and two other doctors here I've talked to just seem nonchalant and uneducated on these issues. At this point "chatting with my dr" doesn't seem to the best source to find health. That's why I'm on this forum. I'm an American working as an aid worker here in South Africa and I need some help!
Your doctor doesn't understand these meds very well, which is common when you don't see a caring experienced psychiatrist. As stated above, wellbutrin is a stimulating antidepressant, and two weeks is too short a time for weaning off, and taking another drug while you're weaning off just gives you two sources of side effects. What were the Lexapro side effects you were trying to avoid? If they were sexual or weight gain, the way wellbutrin is used is to add a small dose to the Lexapro, not switch, as wellbutrin isn't generally friendly to people with primary anxiety.
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Wellbutrin is a more stimulating antidepressant, compared to Lexapro, and IMO, the doctor did not transition you optimally. It's really best to slowly and gradually taper off one medication before introducing the next. That way, if you DO run into problems, you don't have to wonder if it's symptoms of a discontinuation syndrome (aka withdrawals) from coming off the first med, or side effects of starting the new one.
Definitely chat with your doctor. What were the side effects of Lexapro that were bothering you? Sexual side effects perhaps? It's not uncommon to see this kind of recommendation in that case (switching from Lexapro or similar, to Wellbutrin).
Please let us know how you're doing!