Should I tell?

I had been doing well until 2 weeks ago when I weaned off wellbutrin (my psychiatrist was aware and supported this). I then had some medical issues pop up and have been struggling. I haven't felt this bad in a long time. I've been having some thoughts about SH but haven't acted on anything yet. Should I tell my T this? Is that enough cause for him to make me go inpatient? I feel like I should tell him so he'll understand how bad I'm feeling, but I don't want him to report it and have me go inpatient.

Sorry to hear you're going through a rough time.

What was the reason for weaning off the Wellbutrin?

Are you still taking other antidepressants/psych meds?

I'm sorry you're struggling so much. Of course nobody can say for sure what your T will do in your situation, but I can say that both of my therapists would want to hear about these thoughts and neither would send me to the hospital because of them. I hope things start feeling better soon, regardless of what you decide to do.

You should tell. If you haven't acted on the thoughts, then they shouldn't make you go inpatient. Even if you acted on them, if it wasn't that severe, then you likely wouldn't be sent inpatient. This is assuming that you're in the U.S. I'm saying this based on my own experiences.


I wonder if you may have weaned off the Wellbutrin too quickly and could need a low dose of it or something else for a bit? Also, do you have a therapist as well or just the psychiatrist?

I had been doing well for the past year and I've always seen meds as a temporary solution. I really want to nor have to take anything and since I'd been feeling well, I thought it was time to try dropping one of my meds. I take Trintellix daily and xanax as needed.

Out of curiosity, were you always on Wellbutrin with the Trintellix before? If so, I'm wondering if it could be a possible side effect of the Trintellix that the Wellbutrin prevented/treated?

I ask because of something that happened about 8 years ago. I hadn't had those sorts of thoughts in years. Then I went on Effexor and started having those thoughts. Then I switched to Cymbalta and ended up acting on them. I suspected the medication contributed, as did my psychiatrist (though I was under some stress at the time, too). So she switched me.

Was this your first depressive episode?

Have you been to inpatient before?

What else have you been doing to support your recovery? dietary changes, exercise, tai chi/meditation?

I've been on trintellix and wellbutrin for the past few years. I've been on trintellix for the longest, it was the only med I took that worked as well as it does for as long as it does. Up until now at least. I'm hoping it's just a one time episode, I've had them before, but it's been a while.

I've been inpatient before (again years ago) but it wasn't especially helpful. Currently I go for walks in the morning and evenings and usually head to the dog park with my pup after I get off work.

Good to hear you are doing things to stay grounded. Having a pup sounds wonderful and a good way to have some fun and get some exercise!


As you said, you have thoughts of SH but haven't acted on anything yet. I think "yet" is the operative word. It is worth having a conversation with your pdoc over how you've been feeling lately, your other health challenges which may have triggered you, as well as your thoughts about SH.


They may ask you questions such as whether your other health concerns are causing you to obsess and whether that obsessing causes such fear and anxiety that you then have thoughts of SH. Or whether the thoughts of SH come from a place of deep sadness. You might write down your thoughts in points, beforehand, so as to be sure to cover this with them.


I'll tell you a bit about my story, I have MDD with psychotic features. Back in the day, when it was major depression-only, I weaned myself off of meds because I was feeling well or well-enough and I, quite frankly, was tired of taking meds. If anything, I wanted to feel 'normal' like everyone else and really to 'not have mental illness'. I didn't want to face the fact that my MI was going to be a lifelong condition. I was high-functioning individual who presented well and I think that in and of itself has hampered my getting appropriate and timely care. But again, I wanted to feel like everyone else and I looked alright, so why not? The thing is in my case, I did get worse... I developed major depression with psychotic features.


Maybe there's something in your story that reminded me of how I used to think. Anyhow, my point is that my condition did worsen, so I encourage you to reach out for care so you do not take a turn for the worse, like I did.


MDD in itself is cyclical, so as much as it's a drag to take medication, I think you should have the conversation with your pdoc as to whether you are at risk for more serious major depression which could include psychotic features at some point or whether the medication can be discontinued at some future point. See what the psychiatrist says.

What do you think?

Let us know how you get on.

And take good care...


Sending hugs, if wanted...

Talk about it. 2 weeks is bound to have negative effects. The body takes a long while to regulate agar ADs