GladiatorBill

Giving an update for continuity. My result might be wildly unpopular ... but.., Peer Assistance in my state has been wonderful. They really heard me and heard my concerns and situation. They actually informed me that they didn’t feel i needed SUD monitoring but i told them i would be fine with it. My focus on an antidepressant was that a known side effect is that they cause rapid cycling, which was the case for me. I know some states treat IPN as a horrid draconian program, it does not appear that mine does. They have a responsibility to ensure that i am safe to practice, and i am on board with it completely. I was just horrified at the thought of having the book thrown at me.

Yeah, i hate the idea of getting a lawyer but.... this was literally ‘a medication reaction’. And once i was off of it I am fine. I don’t really know if i should go the IPN route at this time because of that. These things did indeed happen, but we are health care professionals - we know that these things can genuinely happen. One would think my history would support me.

God. That’s just insane. I even told my hospital investigator i was taken off an antidepressant 3 days prior that made me manic (and I’m not bipolar). And that my psych could corroborate.

I’m in Colorado. I haven’t entered yet. Given what i have now fervently researched all night, i have learned that dose increases on Wellbutrin can cause a switch into manic behavior. Which of course subside with dc of the medication, so now i get to fight THIS battle. Kool. I have the meeting w Peer Assistance scheduled but from what I’ve read here it appears they don’t care too much about the details surrounding the case.

Thanks. I’m kind of intimidated and freaked out, because i honestly don’t need help with substance abuse. I have a heck of a problem with Wellbutrin though, and it looks like research backs it up. I have never behaved that erratically in my life. I have contacted a lawyer and have a psych NP who can vouch for this. I already set up a Peer Assistance appt should i wait to see if i will need to enter it?

I am going to try to keep this as short and sweet as possible. I tested positive for drug use at work and I’m sure the plan is for me to enter an IPN. Okay but heres the thing. I have a diagnosis of MDD. About two months ago i started taking 300 mg Wellbutrin daily. About one month ago..... my brain broke. I went from ‘normal’ to ‘not normal’. I was having massive constant panic and anxiety, suicidality, i would sit at home and cry all day every day when i didn’t work, and then at work i was like a frantic madman. I went and bought drugs from homeless people in the park, don’t even know what i bought. I would IV it. I called and told my Psych NP something was really wrong. He told me to discontinue the Wellbutrin immediately. Prescribed Ativan. I THEN found out i was staying up hours later than i thought i was, running around the house speaking gibberish. (My sister and i live together). I got tested 3 days later. I have now been off the Wellbutrin for 10 days and all of these symptoms have completely resolved. I disclosed to my Psych NP and stopped the Wellbutrin JUST prior to this going down and i can supply the medical records to prove it. . I’m sure I’ll get fired I’m just waiting on the call.... but.... how the heck do i proceed from here? I don’t do drugs. I mean i did, for two weeks i was a fiend. I dunno. I’m pretty bummed about this.