How To Wean Of Wellbutrin And Start Sertraline?

Posted on Wed, 25 Jun 2014

Question: Thank you. I used sertraline fairly successfully for a few years, but did not like the side effect on my libido, so I took a break. I am now trying Wellbutrin (for the past 1.5 weeks) and realize the effect does not kick in for about 4 weeks, but I am feeling exhausted and *more* depressed and can't sleep. I believe I should go off Wellbutrin and return to Sertraline use but am unsure the safe way to do so.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
crosstitration

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.

I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.

Sertraline is a good drug and the better way to deal with the sexual side effects would have been to add up cyproheptadine to it. This would have reduced the sexual side effects of sertraline.
Now that you cannot wait for the welbutrin to start showing its effects, it would be wise to discontinue welbutrin abruptly if it is 150mg or to reduce it to 150 mg and then after 3-4 days to stop it. Meanwhile sertraline can be started at 25 mg and then increased to 50mg after a week and further 50mg every week untill 200mg if there is no improvement.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.

If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.

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Wish you good health,

Kind regards

Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar