Question:
reaction to meds

Has my yearly physical nurse practionar changed my paxil to the wellbutrinxl. I am not doing to good havebeen really hyper angery cryingjust a horriable person, I have called Docotrs office to speak with my Dr. but is not in the nurse will not return my calls. Could I be having a reaction because I was not weened from my paxil? I took my paxil Sunday started the other Monday. Please help I feel like I am going crazy. Christine Glover    — christine G. (posted on November 22, 2003)

November 22, 2003
Hi, Christine, I am sorry you are going through this. My husband was on Paxil for social anxity but was having sexual side effects so they perscribed Wellbutrin in addition to the Paxil. It was the worst three days of my life till I told him he could no longer take the Wellbutrin. Now, it was the old Wellbutrin not the XL, but there was no real reason why he reacted like he did. Not sure if it was the combo or just the Wellbutrin. If I were you I would go back to the Paxil till you can talk to your doctor because you do not deserve to feel the way you do. Make an appt to see your physician ASAP. Good Luck!
   — Angela A.

November 22, 2003
Correct me if I am wrong bit isn't the XL sustained release. If it is you are not getting the proper dosage. Also there is a withdrawal from the Paxil. and welbutrin has not kicked in yet. Call the do and ask him to adjust dosage.
   — snicklefritz

November 22, 2003
To be honest with you I am so I against Dr.'s who are not psychiatrist perscribing medications because they do not know how to wean people off of meds. The Paxil should never be stopped abrubly. It is possible to lower the dose of Paxil while still beginning someone on Wellbutrin. It took me a full week to be weaned off of Paxil and put on Prozac. Wellbutrin is not a bad drug..however, it sounds like getting off the Paxil has set you in a tail spin. I would insist that they titrate your Paxil so it slowly reduces it's effect and add Wellbutrin. Also, I personally could not take Wellbutrin because it just made me too excited and nervous. Can you find a pdoc who can help you? I hope so. They are more knowledgable and deal with meds more frequently. Take care
   — Karen Renee

November 22, 2003
Christine, I would say that it's the break from the Paxil that has you so out of whack. Keep in mind everyone is different and some drugs work better for others, but I was one that had a bad time with Paxil. I was put on Welbutrin and the only time I have ever had any difficulty with it is when I haven't been able to take it for a few days. The first day or two I do fine, then towards the end of the second day and the third and fourth I become so extremely irritable. Like PMS magnified! Then it passes. I would say that you are going through a withdrawl of sorts (from the Paxil) and I would definately see about getting the SR, not XL! I still take the SR and do fairly well with it. Hang in there! It's almost Monday and you can call the doc then. Take care. Pam
   — Pambylah

November 22, 2003
hey Christine, I was on wellbutrin sr, prior to surgery. I didnt take any the entire time I was in the hospital (8days) and didn't take any a couple of days home, my psychiatrist told me I would have to take regular wellbutrin 4xs a day, because of the wls my body won't absorb the sr correctly. Well I have not been able to swallow those horse pills 4x's a day. I could get 1 or 2 (I think one day I got 3 in), so when I returned to my psychiatrist I was like 25days postop and i told him the trouble I was having taking the meds, so he took me off of it. And since I basically have not been able to take it right, I guess I was weaning myself down unintentionally. He didn't put me on any other antidepressant and I thought I was doing great, well yesterday was such a horrible day, I think I have to call and ask perhaps about a liquid form of medication or maybe a smaller pill. I know my antidepressant isn't working when even the smallest problem seems insurmountable. I was crying, I hate it when I feel so overwhelmed like that. So now I will see what he says. I guess i still need the meds, I guess I did only have stomach surgery and not head surgery....LOL....sorry, but I gotta laugh, or I'll cry. Good luck to you on you quest. if you need to talk feel free to email me. Lisa Hackenburg (postop 10-23-03 lap/rny dr. williams) 331/298?/140?
   — Lisa H.

November 22, 2003
I haven't taken wellbutrin but i have taken paxil in the past and it sounds to me like you are having paxil withdrawal. I took paxil for several years at a high dose and when i was weaning off of it I was the most irritable, angry, "feel sorry for me" person EVER. I think if I were you I'd talk to the doc about get off of the paxil a bit slower...boy i do feel for you hon..i've been there and it's not a good feeling. it ended up taking me almost 6 mos to get off of paxil--partly because i would be so fearful of the withdrawal symptoms i wouldn't want to lower my dose..???? so glad i'm off that stuff! good luck sweetie!
   — huggygrrl