Effexor withdrawals or Wellbutrin side effects? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

wobbly · 11-16-2003, 06:36 AM

Hi everyone,
I am in the process of switching from Effexor to Wellbutrin. Here is the situation. I took my final dose of Effexor 4 days ago and have been on 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL for 2-1/2 weeks. Ever since I quit the Effexor I have been noticing the following:
-Electric zaps both in my brain and body
-Terrible night sweats. I wake from a deep sleep in a freezing cold drenching sweat, have to change pajamas and sleep on the couch 'cuz my sheets are soaked.
-Anxiety on waking up, severe enough that I have to take an Ativan. I usually only need them 2 times a week and my anxiety was actually decreasing, but now it's increasing.

So is this all from going off the Effexor, or could the Wellbutrin be causing it? Is it a passing phase or something I should be really alarmed about? The thing is, Wellbutrin really does seem to be getting my depression under control. I would really hate it if I then had to stop taking it because it was wrecking the rest of my life.

I am also on Lamictal 200 mg, Remeron 30 mg, Zyprexa 10 mg.

If anybody can shed some light on this I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
wobbly

Janik · 11-16-2003, 08:48 AM

I got similar symptoms when I quit Zoloft. Not the same as Effexor but close, as both deal with serotonin.

Later on I was put on Wellbutrin. It was very good with depression, but so-so with anxiety.

jgurl1976 · 11-17-2003, 07:52 AM

I went from effexor to welbutrin. Coming off effexor was hell but I was given xanax to help. When I started taking welbutrin I had those side effects. I didnt sleep for 4 days. They did finally go away. I am still on welbutrin today.

Steve_the_elf · 11-17-2003, 08:28 AM

I wouldn't count on those symptoms ever going away. I'm very sour on Wellbutrin. I had terrible sweats and panic attacks that occured one right on the heels of the other. After about a month the panic attacks lessened to about four times a week, but the sweating never went away. I waited a
(un)reasonable four months and then demanded I get of it.