Wellbutrin questions

[DanishMom]

Hi mamas,

Can somebody please explain to me why Wellbutrin is often combined with another anti-depressive med? As far as I remember wellbutrin is "stimulating" but I'd love to know some details.

TIA!!

[yogachick79]

way back when I was given a mix of Wellbutrin and Depakote (for BP). My understanding is that they tend to balance each other, keeping you out of too deep a depression or too high an upswing. This is just my personal experience though. I personally do not tolerate either well

[LemonPie]

It has a different metabolic pathway than a lot of the other antidepressants. Several of the common ones (Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa) are SSRIs (selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors). Wellbutrin is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

[dipmama]

Just wanted to pipe in and add that in my experience, when WB was added to my Lexapro, the effect kicked in much sooner than it did when I first went on Lexapro and was going through those first few hellish weeks of waiting for it to kick in. It has made all the difference, I now feel like my normal self after months of trying different doses of Lex, only for it to work awhile, and then poop out. I've been on WB since January and have felt great ever since.

Good luck, I hope it works for you!

[DanishMom]

Originally Posted by LemonPie

It has a different metabolic pathway than a lot of the other antidepressants. Several of the common ones (Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa) are SSRIs (selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors). Wellbutrin is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

Yes, I know about the different pathways. I was just wondering what the clinical differences are??

Originally Posted by dipmama

Just wanted to pipe in and add that in my experience, when WB was added to my Lexapro, the effect kicked in much sooner than it did when I first went on Lexapro and was going through those first few hellish weeks of waiting for it to kick in. It has made all the difference, I now feel like my normal self after months of trying different doses of Lex, only for it to work awhile, and then poop out. I've been on WB since January and have felt great ever since.

Does that mean that you can lower the SSRI dose when WB is added?

[dipmama]

In my case my Lexapro wasn't lowered when we added in the WB. What it did was help the Lexapro work more effectively. It also countered some of the sexual side effects of the Lexapro. I think most psychiatrists take a wait-and-see approach- if you improve with the addition of WB, they and watch that first before lowering the SSRI, the idea being changing only one variable at a time. At least this is how my psychiatrist seems to approach things.

I've been on my current doses for 9 months now, and at my last appointment I asked him if it meant we could lower something. His response was a vehement NO- if it's working well we don't want to touch a thing, and I'm okay with that.

[sidandspencersmom]

I am thinking of totally going off of Lexapro and going solely on Wellbutrin. In one year of being on Lex, I have gained 22lbs!

I just cannot live with myself like this anymore. I seriously would rather be depressed than fat.

[DanishMom]

Originally Posted by sidandspencersmom

I am thinking of totally going off of Lexapro and going solely on Wellbutrin. In one year of being on Lex, I have gained 22lbs!

I just cannot live with myself like this anymore. I seriously would rather be depressed than fat.

Please share your thoughts on this subject. I've gained about 8lbs. It's not much but I'm afraid it will continue if I stay on the meds (I've been on cipralex for 3 months) and I can't seem to get this extra weight off. Before starting the meds I was at a perfect weight and I've always been able to eat what I want.

Is Wellbutrin just as good on it's own for treating depression? And what about sexual side effects? I think it takes me a bit longer to reach orgasm with cipralex. I'd really love to hear from others who take wellbutrin as the only treatment.

TIA!

[sidandspencersmom]

I get a lot of info from crazymeds.com

Lexapro is an SSRI- which deals with one of the three neurotransmitters, serotonin.

Wellbutrin deals with the other two, norepinepherine and dopamine.

Since doc's can't tell which neurotransmitter is out of whack and causing your depression, they give you something for serotonin, and it works, they'll assume it was the serotonin that was not working right......

I am willing to give Wellbutrin a shot, I think Lexapro is pooping out on me anyways. Going from 118lbs to 140 is not easy- had to get new clothes, etc. And I look pregnant, most of the weight went to my midsection.

The plus with Wellbutrin is that a side effect is weight LOSS---- and doesn't have the sexual side effects that other SSRI's have (mostly anorgasmia)--

So I am looking forward to changing meds----> losing this weight, and having an orgasm after a year of not being able to!

[kellygal59]

i lost weight on wellbutrin but it made me a angry in disposition...LOL so to be thinner and angry or fatter and calmer...hmmmm. I feel ya the same thing happened to me....

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I am on wellbutrin and thrilled that my sex drive is back. It has been 8+ years since my libido was this high. I am still not up to where I used to be but compared the zero drive this is great. So far no weight gain have been on it now since Jan of this year.

My anxiety & depression is much improved as well though I think I could use a higher dose.