Date: Wed Feb 21, 2001 1:01am Hi everyone, I'm new here as of today. I was on paxil for 2.5 years and started to wean off of it in Dec. 2000. I still can't get off it. I'm down to 5mg every other day but I can't afford another bout of withdrawal sickness due to demands of work right now. I wanted off paxil because, after 2 years, it wasn't helping my anxiety/depression anymore. Plus, it made me so tired and lazy that I never wanted to go out of the house. I gained 20 lbs despite exercising. Lost my sex drive; didn't even want to be touched. My withdrawal symptoms have been pretty severe given that I wasn't on a very high dose; however, the amount of time I used it most likely accounts for why my body depends on it so badly. I've had respiratory flu, arthritis-type symptoms, extreme muscle soreness and pain, the usual dizzyness/zaps/vertigo, extreme nausea and diarrhea, constant stomach upset and discomfort, headaches, spine pain, nightmares, head and ear pain, psychotic episodes, crying fits, confusion, memory lapses, suicidal depression, insomnia and rage. There's probably more stuff I've experienced coming off this drug but I don't feel like writing that much. It's been hell, and I'm not off it yet. Was wondering if anyone has any information about the drug Wellbutrin? I will not take another SSRI again but I've been hearing good things about Wellbutrin (ie: no fatigue, no weight-gain, no lost libido). Of course I'm skepical but I'm feeling really crappy and have too much on my plate in the next 5 months (I'm in intense web design program). I was thinking I could go on Wellbutrin just to help with paxil withdrawal and help me cope with the next few months. Then I'd get off Wellbutrin and go the natural route. I ultimately want to be off antidepressants altogether but I have somewhat severe social anxiety (with resulting dysthymia) to deal with. I'd appreciate any info. regarding this including any opinions about my course of treatment. I don't want to get into another paxil-hell type of situation with Wellbutrin. Are they all made equal? I mean, I can deal with a few side-effects but not being robbed of some of your most important functions (being awake and alert, being slim and healthy, being sexually aroused and capable.) Thanks, Stephanie Date: Tue Feb 20, 2001 10:02pm Response1: Stephanie, Welbutrin can be just as bad, I started on that drug and because of the problems it created, I could not even see it anymore. There is now death associated with it and has many bad long term effects. Read Dr. Glenmullens "Prozac Backlash". It works with most brain chemicals (including serotonin) but mostly dopamine. Alot of people after taking it become dopamine supressed and it can take years for your sytem to bounce back. Any drug that especially blocks the (re)uptake of the receptor is bad. It is a way of falsly elevating it, therefor shutting down your natural process. Just like someone on steroids, especially body builders who take thyroid. It shuts down there natural process and they get fat when they stop. There are healthy alternatives to fight depression. One of the best is exercise. Hope your ok. Patrick Date: Wed Feb 21, 2001 1:19am Response2: Stephanie, well, first of all I want to say welcome, I hope we can help you make the right choice for you. About hearing the good things about Welbutrin, dont you hear the wonderful things about Paxil...., and look at what your feeling, its not so great is it ? Your so close to being off the Paxil, if it were me I would not take anything else, we have a lot of people who have had problems with Welbutrin. I would also like to mention that its not supposed to be good to take it every other day (the paxil). I just found out that they make the Paxil in liquid form, that should be easier for you to use to wean off, you could take it every day and lower the daily doses, go to the files section and there is info on how to properly wean off. I wish you luck, and its not worth taking the chance of freaking out on Welbutrin and loosing your mind. Take care and ask as many quesions, this is YOUR mind and life your talking about. Cynthia Date: Wed Feb 21, 2001 7:27pm Response3: Hi Stephanie, My name is Collissa and I am not only a survivor of Wellbutrin, but an active researcher/advocate who is working with other survivors in regards exposing the other half of the picture behind Wellbutrin. I highly, highly advise you to go to rxlist.com and type in Wellbutrin and look over everything contained there exclusive of the patient information. Pay special attention to the adverse events tables, listings and the Warnings and Precautions section. What you will find there is no joke as far as the possible repercussions this highly touted "safe and efficacious" drug could have on you. It is most probable that you have a highly sensitized body at this time, and to expose yourself to Wellbutrin COULD be a mistake you wish you had never made. You speak of the fact that you want nothing to do with SSRI's and that you have been hearing good about Wellbutrin. The reason you have been hearing good is that the full disclosures as to what this drug is capable of doing to one's CNS system and entire body system is largely undisclosed due to some very clever media maneuvers on the part of the manufacturer since the drug's launch in 1985. As to it's serotogenic properties, it DOES indeed affect serotonin. That is a largely unknown fact. The symptoms you report that you have already experienced have been reported by many we are in contact with, including ourselves, who have been exposed to Wellbutrin. Yes, it is reported that many do well on the drug, but this is gleaned many times from short term studies that are NOT controlled, i.e., no placebo controls, etc. Even the two page tiny print product insert clearly disclaims any definite cause and effect as to adverse events reported there, so mainstream MDs haven't a clue what this drug can do and most psychs figure the side effects are just an unavoidable evil. I often wonder how unavoidable they would find it were they to have their lives virtually stolen from them by these numerous psychoactive magic bullets they so often doll out like candy. The adverse effects, as per different bodily systems in regard the Wellbutrin are no joke and nothing to be taken lightly. I highly advise you to soberly weigh your decision to expose yourself to this drug. Myself and many I work with have been very ill, neurologically, psychologically, immunologically, and in other health areas long after our exposure and cessation of the drug. Some have recovered. I am VERY thankful for that. In my case, I found out AFTER taking the drug very short term, that the movement disorder I have had now for over two years, (which is only a portion of my other physical limitations, ailments and mental impairments), was reported to have occurred frequently - in 1/100 people in the disclaimed clinical trials and post marketing reports listed in the product insert. Did my doctor tell me this? Did they know what to do with me once I was a total disaster area? Did they have a clue why I was so sick after taking the drug, or even conclusively link my symptoms to the drug early in my disability? Did I even know what dyskinesia, akathesia, or dystonia was? Of course not. My money would not have been neatly extracted from my pocket to the manufacturer's bank account had I known. As to the known seizure risk associated with the drug, the average person would assume one may have a seizure, end of story. Not so. Myself and others have various seizure type activity to this day and I have been out of work for months once again since my first 911 ER trip so many months ago. My journey has been of two and a half year's duration. Others' journeys have been upwards to four years. I do NOT want to see you added to our growing list of victims. I truly hope you weigh the real risks for yourself and wish you the best in your struggles... Colissa