Taper and d/c of Wellbutrin XL

I am going through that now. I’m taking it very slow because I was on it for so long. Much longer than you. I took the 150 xl. My first step my doc prescribed 150 SR once a day. I took this for 6 months. I just got the prescription for 75 IR twice a day and I plan to be on this for a week or so before I start reducing the pills by 1/4. The morning pill I will reduce for a month and then reduce the evening pill by 1/4 for a month: if I keep this going I will be off of it in 8 months. That being said some people have no issue at going at a faster rate and even my doctor said it wouldn’t take that long but I can go as slow as I want. It took about a year to quit lexapro a few years ago. Hope this helps. Good luck!

I've been taking Wellbutrin XL for 12 years. One Dr. tried to reduce it and I started to have black out panic attacks. Be very careful. Why do you want off it?

Im not a medical professional, and I’m not recommending anything, but I was on bupropion (Wellbutrin) 150 XL once a day for only a few weeks…I quit cold turkey because the side effects of taking the medicine were awful.
I don’t think I had any withdrawal symptoms, but if I did, they weren’t as bad as the medicine’s side effects.

It made me very agitated and angry, insomnia, racing thoughts….. the worst was the extreme agitation and anger blow ups.

What are others’ experience with Wellbutrin? Did it help you? Has anyone else had side effects like mine?

Best wishes for your recovery

I tried Wellbutrin last year and I couldn’t cope with the side effects either…I actually tried about four different meds with no results.. I tried Paxil a long time ago and it helped me for a while and then I stopped them with doctors advice but when I tried them again years later they didn’t work for me. I would like to find a med that lifts my spirits instead of making me feel like I am in a fog ..other brands I’ve tried all had some adverse effects that outweigh the benefits.

I’ve been taking 450mg for thirty years. Every time I’ve tried to get off it, I’ve not been able too.

It has to go, side effects are killing me. But first the Effexor has to go. Yup, I’m on both.

My first Psychiatrist said I didn’t need any meds. Received psychotherapy from him for nine years, my life improved greatly. Second doctor put me on all the meds I’m on now, that was thirty years ago, every year I’ve gotten worse.

No one has been willing to try to discontinue them until recently.

Whatever you are trying to reduce. Get good care and remember pharmaceutical companies make money selling drugs.

Sorry I digress; Wellbutrin is tough. But it is largely a dopamine antagonist. Meaning vigorous exercise can help a lot.

Thanks for letting me handout!

I'm on 300 mg of Wellbutrin, after upping from 150 because I felt no effect. I had felt perhaps a bit depressed. I don't think the 300 made much of a difference, and wondering if it's my left temporal brain tumor that is causing me symptoms and not mild depression. I am wondering why use it at all. What are these difficulties that everyone is experiencing while using Wellbutrin? I see my doctor in 3 days and I'm considering going back down to 150 or tapering off completely.

I am currently tapering off Bupropion XL. Working with provider. Went from 450 to 300 a month ago. Energy and mood levels are lower. Also get infrequent brain zaps. Been on Bupropion over 25 years. I am tapering to see if I get a reduction in nightmares related to my RBD diagnosis. (REM sleep behavior disorder). Have others had similar tapering issues. I am seeking feedback from those who did not go cold turkey. FYI ... I have also been getting Spravato treatments for just over a year now. Any tapering feedback would be appreciated.

My sister is a pharmacist, so I asked her for advice. When I mentioned your situation, she said that 25-plus years is a really long time, and the brain and body get very used to it. So, lower energy and mood are unfortunately super common and expected even with a slow taper.
She also said that brain zaps are a classic sign of the body adjusting, and since Bupropion has a very long half-time (especially the XL form), it can take a while for the 300mg dose to fully clear out and stabilise before dropping further.
It sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing by working with your provider and taking it slow.

@bridgeback2 thank you so much for your very helpful and kind response.

@1k194 2 nights ago my boyfriend had a extremely violent Wellbutrin induced seizure. My boyfriend is 38 and has no history of seizures and is not on any drugs or alcohol. It’s only been 2 days but it’s as if he is someone I do not know anymore, he’s very rude, mean, no empathy…: his behavior has changed so much I lay awake all night scared because I feel like I’m sleeping with a stranger