Starting Wellbutrin XL 150mg Tonight, I am quitting Cymbalta 30mg, I couldnt handle it, What should I expect??

Question

The cymbalta made me a zombie, I only took it for 6 days. I felt stoned, drunk, dizzy, and couldnt concentrate. I have anxiety, and they think depression, though i argue that. I sure am scared about starting this new one, has anyone stopped cymbalta and went to wellbutrin, what are the common side effects not on paper, but through real life people? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Answer 1

I take Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) in the evening, for depression and anxiety.  That has worked very well for me - and I feel so much better!!



The Wellbutrin SR seems to make me more active, and feeling like I want to do things, and the Lexapro seems to make me more docile - and it does help me sleep better, too.



When the doctor prescribed that to me, he said not to take the Wellbutrin SR in the evening - because it would keep me from being able to sleep.  I don't know if Wellbutrin XL works the same, but I thought I'd mention that to you in case you have a sleeping problem taking it.



The Best of Luck to you :-)

Paul.

Answer 2

I've never taken Cymbalta--but I take Wellbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day...basically the same as the 150 mg dose of XL.

When I FIRST started taking Wellbutrin, I felt really dizzy.  However, it went away.  The side effects for me were minimal (and I even quit smoking)--but I notice my hands can sometimes be a little shaky.  Whatever.  I wanted to stop taking the Wellbutrin, but what I noticed in this medication is that it actually started to work...within day 5 I started to feel more positive (and cigarettes started to become nasty).  Don't drink with it, you will feel intoxicated after one drink (at least I do).

It can up the anxiety though (very much a mood lifter--and with that comes excitement--anxiety etc.)--so watch for that.  Unlike the rest of the SSRIs (and Cymbalta)--Wellbutrin will probably make you lose a little weight.  I did, about 5 lbs.  Big deal, but SSRIs made me pack on the pounds.  

Full effects kick in after about 6 weeks, but I noticed after 5 days.  I had gotten to the point where I was so depressed I wondered what it would be like to just "fall asleep, and never wake up"--the reason I'm so open with this, is that it REALLY did help me!  Different anti-depressants work different for everyone--but it's worth a trial.  Make sure to be open with your doc about how you are feeling.