I've been on anti-depressants for 3-1/2 years now and what a difference they had made in my life. Except for sex, I've been a fully functional human being -- able to leave the house, talk on the phone, do work, make friends, have fun. Unfortunately, the combination of medications I was prescribed (30mg Paxil, 50mg nortriptyline)meant that despite watching my diet and exercising regularly, I gained 35 pounds. My psychiatrist didn't see either the weight gain or my general exhaustion (which was not thyroid related) as a big deal. At my insistence, I tapered off the paxil and started taking wellbutrin. My psychiatrist dismissed my concerns about paxil withdrawl, but as people at this site know, it was a horrific experience: spinning rooms, terrible nightmares, and a lot of irrational anger. Nevertheless, seven weeks into the switch everything's evened out. I haven't lost weight, but that will take time. What I am concerned about though is getting off the nortriptyline. I don't trust my psychiatrist, but he's free (I'm a student). So, I have three questions. What "discontinuation symptoms" should I expect from nortriptyline cessation? How fast, and in what increments, should I decrease my dosage? And if I need to counterbalance the wellbutrin with a low dosage of a medication that is better with anxiety, what options do I have that don't cause weight gain? Thank you.