Hi - Just an FYI. I recently had to taper off Wellbutrin XL over a 6 week period (starting at 450 mg per day) due to side effects emerging. My last dose was December 2nd. Elimination half life is about a day, so it was gone to all extents and purposes within 4-5 days.

22 days later, yesterday Dec 24, I had to restart (at 300 mg per day) because of re-emergence of depressive symptoms serious enough to not ignore for fear they would get really bad and I would be unable to catch the falling knife, as it were, by restarting drug at that point.

About two years ago I asked my then pdoc, a very accomplished neuropsychopharmacologist, if I would always have to be on medications. He said if you go symptom-free for one year we can talk about it. I'm still on day 1.

I don't want to take drugs either. I don't try to be normal. And I don't have any particular reason to be depressed at the moment, other than being depressed

Tread carefully, and wisely. Don't let pride hand you a big setback.

One other thing. I felt like I was on top of the world from the first week of December (no more side effects!) until just a few days ago. I actually felt guilty about "being depressed" - i.e. I wasn't really depressed and would have to give that up. Then, whammo, my brain caught up to what was going on.