Posted by JohnL on March 2, 2001, at 2:50:20
In reply to Wellbutrin SR... can I cut up my pills?, posted by TomV on February 28, 2001, at 10:42:06
> I have 100 mg pills of Wellbutrin SR, but I don't want to start that high. Is there anything I need to be concerned about (other than the med not doing its "Sustained release thing")if I cut the pills into, say quarters? I most likely will work up to 100mg anyway, but I'm a start low , go slow guy.
>
> By the way, my PDoc and I never discussed at what level I should start the med, so I never got a chance to discuss it with him.
>
> TomVHi Tom,
You can cut or break Wellbutrin into any size you want. It will affect the slow release though, so as Cam said you would have to take more frequent doses. Here's an example. Let's say you wanted to do 50mg, but all you have are 100mg pills. You could cut each tab into quarters. Do one quarter (25mg) in the morning and one more at lunch.They don't have to be accurate. If one chunk of a tab is say 10 milligrams larger or smaller than another it isn't going to make any difference.
One thing to keep in mind though is that Wellbutrin degrades quickly once the inside is exposed to air. So break or cut the pills as needed. Don't do a whole batch in advance.
And one final note, there have been clinical studies that showed that just once daily dosing of regular Wellbutrin was just as good as twice or three times or even sustained release. Since you expressed desire to go slow and low, I see no reason you couldn't start with just 25mg once a day. As I mentioned, there are clinical studies supporting once daily dosing. It will take longer to get to therapeutic doses, but that's ok if you are doing it the way you are most comfortable with it.
I say you can customize your dose any way you want. Results and side effects will be the determining factors as to how well or not well it works. Just be aware the pills will degrade fast once they are cut. Use cut or broken pills within a couple days.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:55104
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010221/msgs/55297.html