[KatesShadow]

I went off my meds about a month and a half ago..maybe 2 months? I am going through a lot of stress right now...job layoffs, getting married in August, fiance and I starting a new business, and i am feeling pretty depressed and wanting to SI (cut once yesterday for the first time in months) Am I having a normal reaction to a stressful time, or do I need to get back on the Welbutrin??

[jbug]

Sounds like you might want to go talk to your doc about what is going on. I'd go back on it if I were you.

Jbug

i'd runnnnnnn to the doctor and discuss this with her/him......especially since you cut.....please keep us posted on your progress...xoxoxo pat

[KatesShadow]

Thanks for the advice guys....I went to my T last night and admitted to her that I have not been taking my Wellbutrin, my Levoxyl (thyroid medicine) or my birth control. The BC and the L are forms of hormones, so she said that could mess with my emotions as well. I have not been on the levoxyl for a twisted reason. I have Hypothyroidism, but I react the opposite of most people with this, instead of gaining weight when off meds, I lose a lot. I am not overweight now, i can recognize that....but i just wanted to lose some weight before the wedding....the BC same thing, when on BC I tend to have more carb cravings and stuff...so i went off of it. (my fiance cant have kids) But when I am not on the BC I get periods like every 20 days, so that gets real old real quick. So blah blah tears tears , end of session....I took my meds today. I just have to take it one day at a time. My fiance was really upset that I have been doing all this "behind his back" but he said he is not mad, just sad...which makes me sad... I will try to stay on it all and just start exercising more. (5'6" I know I'm not fat...I just feel fat....)

[Jerrypharmstudent]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
KatesShadow said:
Thanks for the advice guys....I went to my T last night and admitted to her that I have not been taking my Wellbutrin, my Levoxyl (thyroid medicine) or my birth control. The BC and the L are forms of hormones, so she said that could mess with my emotions as well. I have not been on the levoxyl for a twisted reason. I have Hypothyroidism, but I react the opposite of most people with this, instead of gaining weight when off meds, I lose a lot. I am not overweight now, i can recognize that....but i just wanted to lose some weight before the wedding....the BC same thing, when on BC I tend to have more carb cravings and stuff...so i went off of it. (my fiance cant have kids) But when I am not on the BC I get periods like every 20 days, so that gets real old real quick. So blah blah tears tears , end of session....I took my meds today. I just have to take it one day at a time. My fiance was really upset that I have been doing all this "behind his back" but he said he is not mad, just sad...which makes me sad... I will try to stay on it all and just start exercising more. (5'6" I know I'm not fat...I just feel fat....)

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Hey Kate -

I'm sorta confused as to why you stopped the Wellbutrin and thyroid meds? Your friend was right when she said that stopping your birth control and thyroid meds effect your emotions. We mostly think of "neurotransmitters" when we think of chemicals that effect our emotions and "hormones" as chemicals that just effect our bodies - when in fact, neurotransmitters and hormones effect both the physical and the emotional processes that go on in our bodies. Many times researches use "neurotransmitters" and "neurohormones" interchangeably. Just like there is serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain - they are also found all over the body - especially in our "other" brain: the digestive system. And just as hormones like estrogen and testosterone flow throughout our bodies - in both male & females - similar versions are working up in our brains as well.

For example - when you get stressed out - your brain releases a hormone (or neurohormone) called cortisol. When this is released - it sets off the release of other chemicals liel adrenaline which makes our heart beat faster, increases sweating, etc. But cortisol also effects serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain and visa versa. Everything is connected - hormones, neurotransmitters, etc.

Abruptly stopping medications that work on these hormones and neurotransmitters sets off a shock wave throughout the whole body (including the brain) which in turn causes your body to yell at you - "HEY! What happened to the birth control??! HEY! Where's all that thyroid hormone we've been used to getting?!?!" It's like you pull the rug out from underneath yourself - physically and emotionally - and in doing so your mind and body scramble to deal with it all - and while doing so - they're chaotic and let you know by making you more depressed/anxious or sad or angry or hot or cold or achy ....etc.

So, hopefully by knowing that everything is working together in a symbiotic relationship you can understand why you don't feel so well all the sudden.

Do you gain weight on Wellbutrin? Usually Wellbutrin causes weight loss as it is more stimulating and because it's related to another compound that used to be used as a short-term "diet pill."

Is your fiance usually supportive? Perhaps he's trying to communicate to you that he wants you to be well and that he's sad to see you when you're not so well?

Anyway, keep us posted on how you're doing. I hope I didn't come across as too preachy!

hang in there!

Jerry

[Larry_Hoover]

Good answer, Jerr.

Lar