Getting off Wellbutrin Cold Turkey?

Hello all,

I've been on Lamictal since September 2016, and got on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg in September 2017.

I noticed that I was constantly having negative thoughts - i.e., beating myself up, and thought it might be a function of the Wellbutrin.

Ideally I want to get off meds entirely; I have no idea what they're doing to my system, and I feel "neutered" while on them.

Getting off Lamictal is not an option; I know that will kickstart mania and that will destroy my life. So when my supply of Wellbutrin ran out two weeks ago, I said to myself, "why don't I try getting off of it for a little while?"

So far it's been manageable. I am getting up a little earlier than usual, and do feel irritable. It's a different kind of irritability, however: I am not beating myself as much as feeling very overwhelmed. Also, I threw up today. Have less appetite in the morning, which is odd: I thought Wellbutrin was supposed to be an appetite suppressant, so being off it should make me hungrier (?)

I know it's not the best idea, as the following articles explain:
Wellbutrin Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, Treatment
Going off antidepressants - Harvard Health
Wellbutrin (Bupropion) Withdrawal & Detox | The Recovery Village

Anyway - I'm curious to know if any of you have tried this approach (getting off Wellbutrin cold turkey), and what was your experience.

Please share, thanks!

I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms going off it cold turkey.

I went off 200mg recently with no symptoms.

I titrated down when i went off it. If you stopped cold turkey and are okay, hey dont look a gift horse in the mouth!

Thanks everyone. It's amazing: it was only two weeks but wow - I could see the difference. I was waking up at 5am, and feeling really overwhelmed...it literally felt like hell. I was very irritable, fatigued, nauseous.

I am going to talk to my pdoc and ask about maybe lowering from 300 to 150, just to see how things go.

As much as I hate medication, the alternative (going unmedicated) was far worse!!

I went cold turkey from 450 mg with no symptoms. I guess it’s true that individuals vary. I hope your leveling down goes successfully and you start feeling better.

I dropped it cold turkey without any side effects

Just remember that it take time for your brain to go back to functioning sans meds. And that can be numerous weeks for most all meds.

I quit it years ago with no problem at all.

I went off Wellbutrin nearly a month ago after being on it at 300 mg for more than 2 years. The withdrawal has been tough so far. I have been on various ADs for chronic anxiety and derealization. Coming off Wellbutrin has made both quite a lot worse. I wasn’t expecting this! Contributing in the past 2 weeks, however, has been a trans-Pacific trip and back with serious jet lag.

450mgs cold turkey couldn't tell a difference that was about 10 years ago. Guess what they put me back on 450mgs of this year Still can't tell a difference and been on it a few months now so I think it does nothing.