[adel34]

Hi Everyone,
I've been on welbutrin the extended release version 150 mg for a little over two months now. Sunday night into Monday I had stomach flu. So I didn't take my meds sunday night (zoloft), or welbutrin in the morning. I figured that at that point in the morning as I was just trying to see if I could keep tea and toast down that I could hold off on the meds for now.
Well by last night I was very emotional, anxious, crying, and had brain zaps. I thought it might be from not taking the zoloft, though usually with that med that would only happen if I was off it r for at least a few days.
I took it, slept well last night and thought things would be fine. As I got up and was doing things this morning I realized I still had brain zaps, and also was having some stomach issues again though not as bad at all as when I was sick originally. I decided to look it up and saw that one of the withdrawal issues from welbutrin is upset stomach! So I didn't take it because I thought it would make my stomach worse, and then I got an upset stomach anyway! I just can't win, I guess.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like that after only missing one dose? I know some meds are more flexible than others in when you take them, like some cause symptoms if not taken within a few hours of the usual time, but I was really surprised that I would experience this much from just missing one dose. It makes me wonder how they take people off it if they're at 150 MG, because there's no lower dose than that. And stopping just at that dose doesn't sound like it would be fun considering how I've been feeling yesterday and today from just one day without it. Even now I still have the brain zaps. I think they're gone and then move my head too fast and they're there again. I tookit at ten this morning, my usual time, and it took awhile for my stomach to feel better again.
Any thoughts? Maybe next time assuming I'm not violently sick I should just take it? I was just feeling halfway normal yesterday morning so didn't want to take the chance but I don't want this happening again.
Thanks.

[rainbow8]

I'm sorry you're having brain zaps, Adel. That sounds awful! Hugs to you! You had the upset stomach first, before you didn't take the meds, so I don't think it's from skipping them. But the brain zaps must be. I'm not experienced with meds as you know, but I read about them, and never heard of brain zaps happening other than going off these kinds of meds.

Did you ask the dr. or pharmacist? I sure hope that you feel better soon!!!

[adel34]

Hi Rainbow,
Thanks so much! You're right, I did have the upset stomach before not taking the meds, but it seemed like it got better for awhile and then worse again this morning, as did the brain zaps and emotional intensity. I looked it up and it said stomach issues were part of withdrawing from it. My pdoc really doesn't answer questions very well, so I honestly just do all my research online/ talk with others here about it and then go in and tell him what I want to do. He teases me that I'm "running the treatment," but if he can't speak english well, and in my oppinion doesn't give thoughtful answers to my questions what am I supposed to do?
I took a shower and am feeling a little bit better. I will tell my doctor the next time I see her about this though, and my caseworker friday.

[cocoabeans]

I went off 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL "cold turkey" and didn't notice anything at all except the side effects gradually went away.