Just took my first wellbutrin, with my prozac

[STALLQUEEN]

I am hoping I will feel ok,

How has wellbutrin made everyone else feel ?

please list all symptoms for me, so I am prepared,

I decided to do this first and if it does not help then I will try the efflexor..

anyone else on wellbutrin and prozac, if so, please talk to me....

worried about the combination.

[Lv2Sun]

I started taking Wellbutrin about 2 months ago. It was actually prescribed for me because I was complaining about memory loss due to cancer meds I take.

I have spent my life "fighting" depression and anxiety and have managed to be very successful but it takes a lot of energy. About 5 years ago I started taking St Johns Wort which to me was a wonder drug! I couldn't believe the difference in how I felt--just like "normal" people (I guess). However, it interferes with the Tamoxifen I was taking so had to stop. By the time I was prescribed Wellbutrin, I was beginning to experience a continual "low grade" depression and some anxiety again.

Well, bottomline, the Wellbutrin is quite wonderful. I feel just as I did on St Johns Wort. It has also help my memory loss. Guess I'll be on it for another 3 years until I can quite taking the cancer meds than I'll go back onto St Johns Wort.

[Mjsturg1]

Why someone would have to take 2 different meds? I mean I have heard of it before but am just curious if your Dr. gave an explanation how it works, as I am just taking Wellbutrin...

[Nijushiho]

I just started taking Wellbutrin-SR a week ago today. A good buddy of mine mentioned today to me that I've been a lot more social. I didnt think I was acting any different, but I know that today and yesterday, I've felt great.

[queenbeear]

:daizy: STALLQUEEN, That is an appropriate combination of medications your MD/ARNP has put you on. I work in the the psychiatric field, and if I have a patient on adequate doses of one antidepressant, but not getting the positive response that I am looking for, it is not uncommon to augment with an additional antidepressant from a different classification of antidepressants. You have been prescribed antidepressants from 2 different classifications. Both of these will affect different receptors in your brain to get the specific results your MD/ARNP is looking for. What I mean is decrease in depression, anxiety, insomnia, with increased concentration, energy, etc. An added often postitive benefit Wellbutrin has is sometimes it helps to enhance one's libido! Can't complain about that! Good luck, and remember to give the combination adequate time to take effect.
Queen Bee

[Paul_D_234]

Wellbutrin for me caused wieght lose and more energy and strange dreams - very strange. the strange dreams did pass.

However, after 1.5 years - Wellbutrin alone stopped working and I had to go back to Zoloft.

Zoloft works fine for depression for me however causes big weight gain (50 pounds) and lowered sex drive (not none but lowered).

I think all of these ADs have affects and it varies by individual.

[nikkil]

I was taking Wellbutrin (to quit smoking) for about 2 weeks and had a 'delayed' reaction to it. I had the usual vivid dreams, a bit of dizziness and ringing in my ears that went away, lack of appetite, etc, but after about 2 weeks, I had a huge anxiety attack and fell into a depression with frequent anxiety attacks that is finally lifting after over 3 weeks. That was my negative reaction to Wellbutrin. I actually took it one time before (last year) and had anxiety attacks, but didn't realize at the time that it was attributable to the Wellbutrin, not just a coincidence. Wish I'd known that, could have saved me a lot of suffering these past several weeks.

Anyway, that was my experience and I will never, ever touch Wellbutrin again.

Hope it works for you!

Nicole

[ketodiva]

I have Anxiety and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia. I have been on a combination of medications for this condition for about 12 years. I take Prozac (80mg) and Klonopin once a day.

Because Prozac takes away one's libido, my psychopharmacologist suggested I decrease my prozac and add wellbutrin. We did it progressively and I must say, I was the old "Red Hot Mama" I used to be. But I started having more anxiety. I had to weigh the quality of life with panic attacks along with the increase in my libido. I chose to go back on Prozac and leave the wellbutrin alone.

But, now that I'm LCing, I'm getting my libido back. I'm really excited (I didn't mean it like that, but hey). But remember, and this is important, AS YOU LOSE WEIGHT, HAVE YOUR DOCTOR REEVALUATE YOUR DOSAGES. I'm finding that I need less of many of the meds I was taking before this first 40 pound loss. Maybe one day I'll be able to get by on baby doses or none at all.

Good luck. :wave:

[STALLQUEEN]

Queenbee

Thanks,

I have been taking only one wellbutin instead of 2, so far, with one prozac, I have noticed a big improvement in my mood,

Im afraid to take the other wellbutin in the afternoon, for fear of insomia, I took this years ago to quit smokong and could not sleep,

What do you think

[queenbeear]

:daizy: Hi Stallqueen. Yes, insomnia can accompany the Wellbutrin. If you have been prescribed 2 Wellbutrin tabs, there are a couple of options for you. Often if you take one in the morning and take the second dose around lunch time that is early enough to prevent the insomnia. Another option is to take both together in the morning. I have worked with a number of patients who tolerated both of these without any problems, plus helps with compliance if meds are only taken 1 time a day instead of 2-3. Again just check with your healthcare provider for further guidance. Hope this helps!

[uniquesoul]

my hardest part of taking Welbrution is remembering to take it in the morning and again at night.... I am so depressed that I know it would help, but I really have trouble remembering. I tired all kinds of tricks... my last resort was to put the two pills in a shot glass in the bathroom and if there is any pills in the glass, then I need to take one. Still forget, but not as often. My doctor has had me on lots of anti depresants, but this one was not suppost to gain weight, so we thought we would try it..... Depression is a hard on to get over for me, but I am not as bad as I was last summer and that is a good thing! I have had no side effects that i can think of and no one has mentioned anything... maybe if I was more regular.????


good luck!

-Pam

[nikkil]

I would definitely check with my Dr/pharmacist before taking 2 (150 mg) doses of Wellbutrin at the same time. Any literature that I've read all says to NOT take more than 150 at a time, and to make sure to have 8 hours between doses. If you take the first by 7 am, you can take the second at 3 pm and you should be fine for bed time.

I've been on Paxil before (for post partum depression) and it wasn't difficult to remember--I felt so horrible and knew that my meds were going to save me!! Maybe try setting a timer or alarm? Put post-its around the house?

Best wishes to you all!
Nicole

[Cimorene]

In addition to being an overweight woman with ongoing dysthymia (chronic, low-grade tendency to depression), I am a mental health professional, and from working with clients in addition to my own experience, I can tell you that the combination of Wellbutrin and Prozac is not at all unusual. So many people are using these new antidepressants long-term (a questionable practice, by the way), that it is becoming apparent that after awhile, some of them stop working well. The practice is to either increase the dosage or combine two, and this is what you're doing. I have been on these meds since my hysterectomy some 10 years ago, and I am one of the people who has had to look at the effects of long-term use, although I can say nothing major has happened, except that they haven't proven to be the huge help they were supposed to be. Because my insurance stopped when we relocated recently, I have stopped taking most of my meds, and I can't say it has made a huge difference, which certainly makes me think. I am more and more inclined to feel that long-term change in diet and exercise and thinking seems to be a better solution, because although these newer meds are certainly better and safer, they still don't solve the underlying problem, except in those few individuals who truly have a short-term chemical imbalance that can be corrected easily. For the chronic types, I wonder....... anyway, a doctor I worked with told me recently that the medical establishment really doesn't know exactly how Wellbutrin works--or IF it works, which may interest you. I felt that it helped. Prozac seems to have a proven track record, but a lot of people have sexual problems with it, so it's a trade-off. On the other hand, you may be one of the people for whom the combination is just the right solution, so good luck.

[Paul_D_234]

Be careful as sometimes in takes quite a while for a depression to recur when one stops the ADs.

Agree with all your said, especially the long-term practice.

[scootersno]

i'm currently taking 400mg of wellbutrin and 40mg of celexa per day. i was just moved up to the 400mg from 300mg. i tried stopping the celexa on my own and got really dizzy, so i went back on it. apparently, both drugs do different things, or so i was told by my doctor. i used to be on effexor and that didn't do anything. i've also been on xanax and that made me sick.

[rhaazz]

Watch out for Prozac. It caused my body to become EXTREMELY resistant to my efforts to lose weight. I tried everything -- from eating nothing to eating only tuna and grapefruit to running up to 40 miles/week to the Atkins diet -- and NOTHING worked. I did not lose one effin' pound. Not one. This agony continued FOR FOUR YEARS (because my incompetent doctor "forgot" to tell me about that side effect).

I hope your experience is more positive, I really do. I'm not saying that prozac is bad for everyone -- just that it was definitely the wrong drug for me.

Good luck. :wave:

[georgene7]

I started taking Wellbutrin last fall and I love it. I had tried Celexa before that and it numbed me out a bit too much (and I hated the lower sex drive). The first couple of weeks on WB I had difficulty sleeping but, on the plus side, it really curbed my appetite. These side effects, however, eventually subside (sadly, so did the amazing loss of appetite) but I feel less depressed, have more energy, and don't obsess about food as much.

I hope it works as well for you as it has for me. Good luck!

(BTW, I've gone up slowly in dosage; I now take 150 mg SR in morning and 150 short-acting in afternoon.)

[paty]

I've been on Lexapro for several months now & love it. Then I hit an all time depressive low that I couldn't knock out of & my dr gave me wellbutrin along with the lexapro to see if that helped. The first time I took it (only 100 mg) I was jittery & flying off the walls. I abstained from it for about a week & then tried it again. No problems the second time around. Now, 2 months later I take 200 mg of Wellbutin SR in the morning and 10 mg Lexapro as well. No negative side effects except lack of libido. I have OCD & also take anti-anxiety meds as needed. I wish Wellbutrin would decrease my appetite but it hasn't!

Paty

[scootersno]

hi paty-
i am starting to suspect that part of my problem is ocd. could you let me know some of the symptoms and what drugs have worked for you?

thanks a lot.

[New Start]

I had a pretty bad depression relapse just over a year ago. My doctor prescribed Prozac. It definitely took away that feeling of sadness and desperation, but it also made me kind of numb to everything. The worst parts for me were: 1) I totally lost my sex drive, 2) I found it very hard to sit still and concentrate at work, and 3) my appetite became voracious! I gained 40 lbs.... which I have yet to lose.

A few months ago I got a new doctor. I told her I couldn't stand to gain anymore weight and she witched me to Wellbutrin. Since then, my sex drive has returned and my appetite has decreased. But... I don;t know if it's all that much better. My irritability had definitely increased - I get frustrated or in a bad mood very easily now. And, when I forget to my pill in the morning, I start crying at work for any reason at all.

The worst part for me now is being overweight. I was really hoping that the weight would come off when I stopped taking Prozac, but it hasn't. It's going to be a long hard road to get back to where I used to be. When I first started taking Prozac I was in great shape - I got that way by working out hard at the gym for 3 years. I was proud of my shape and my strength (from weight training). I used to feel totally confident baring my abs in a bratop at the gym or sitting on the beach in a swimsuit. Now I look like a completely different person. Everytime I see myself in the mirror, I cringe. I have been forced to spend hundreds of dollars buying new (bigger) clothes. I hide from acquaintances who used to know me a year ago because I can't stand the embarassment of people's eyes popping out when they realize that the "fat girl" is me.

It's been so hard that sometimes I wish I had just suffered through the depression instead of taking those damned Prozac pills.

Anyway, that's my story, in case anyone is interested.

[rhaazz]

I can relate. Doesn't it make you mad that nobody discloses Prozac's very serious side effect of weight gain? They just say "oh, this will make you feel better, have some. In fact, have some more!"

[scootersno]

i had no idea that prozac influenced weight gain. that is one drug that i have not tried yet, and will certainly think twice before i do. i've had no problem with weight loss while on wellbutrin and celexa, and they don't seem to have effected my sex drive. i still don't feel as good as i want to, but better than i have in years. good luck with the wellbutrin and the weight will come off as long as you are committed to getting it off.

[skeeweeaka]

I am hoping I will feel ok,

How has wellbutrin made everyone else feel ?

please list all symptoms for me, so I am prepared,

I decided to do this first and if it does not help then I will try the efflexor..

anyone else on wellbutrin and prozac, if so, please talk to me....

worried about the combination.

Hello, I am a manic depressant and have been on both Wellbrutrin and Effexor... Effexor was okay but caused me to become manic so they took me off and put me on Wellbrutin... If helped me to lose about 30 pounds and helped my depression at 100 mg a day. However, it became less effective and he upped the dosage. At 300 mg it made me very ill...so he switched it... Recently, I am back on it and feeling better...it is supposed to aid in weight loss, and not have any side effects on your sex drive... By the way, I took the 300 mg's in 2 dosages a day so yes they do prescribe it like this... But I would see how the one dose works for a while first... Doctors like to go by the book but not everyone reacts the same to meds...I am very sensitive to it... I've been on every antidepressant, mood stablizer, and a few other drugs... Hope this helps you..good luck!!!

[deb g e]

I just started 150 mg Wellbutrin on top of 150 mg Effexor to counteract sexual dysfunction and weight gain..but now I have vaginal bleeding. Anybody had experience with this combo? Deb G E

[greenman]

I was on Wellbutrin for about a year for help in treating depression. On the positive side I lost a considerable amount of weight and the drug really helped my depression. But the negatvie effects of the drug were just too overwhelming. I discovered that I really was dealing with an anxiety problem and the wellbutrin seemed to exascerbate those symptoms. Wellbutrin also made it very difficult for me to concentrate. I could just not retain any information while I was on wellbutrin.

[Lessara]

Wellabutrin caused a major increase of anxiety for me. I'm on Lexapro, which helped both my anxiety and depression.

[KristieP]

I also take lexapro 25mgs daily. My dr gave me a script for Wellbutrin to conteract the weight gain, my pack a day smoking habit and non exsistant sex drive. I haven't started taking it though.

Remember that everyone reacts differently to different medications. Some people gain weight and some lose weight. I had a friend who took zoloft and couldn't gain a pound. Another who gained weight on it. I developed a rash while taking it. So see it just depends on the person. You have to find out which one works right for YOU :)

[KristieP]

Oh I forgot to add this!

Avlimil works for decreased libido. I got the 30 day trial for 4.95 online and after about 25 days.. I felt like a teenager again!

http://avlimil.com/index.html

it doesn't cause any problems with any drugs and my dr said it was ok to take with my lexapro :)

ketodiva- I also have agrophobia. No panic attacks in 2 years. The SSRI's are great aren't they? :)

[Rhonda S.]

:cheer:
In Nov 1999 I started taking Wellbutrin for my depression and it was also rec to help me stop smoking. To date I am 2 months away from celebrating 5 yrs SMOKE FREE! A wonderful side effect is that my sex drive was wonderful and I started excercising and dieting (all of a sudeen it was a no brainer that you took care of yourself) so 30 lbs later my life was wonderful. Then my brother died from un-diagnosed lupus. Needless to say I hit rock bottom and it was a long time before I was able to get back on track. I yo-yo'd from then on when it came to dieting. I was also an alcoholic and new that alcohol with my medication was not doing me any good, and the weight I gained and bloatedness was all a result in my alcoholism. It wasn't until Jan 1, 2001 that I had the strength to tackle my alcoholism. I have not had a drink since. I had never felt better in my life and the weight started to melt off without even trying. Before I new it I had substituted my alcohol for a pint of decadent ice cream every night and again the weight is back on plus. (Boy do I sound pathetic) So here I am smoke free, alcohol free :Party: :Party: :Party: AND heavier than I've ever been before!
I take 400mg a day of Wellbutrin (200mg tabs 2 x's a day, they must be taken 4 hrs between each dose) I also take Effexor 75mg a day. I am looking into going off my effexor but with my history who am I to tempt fate.
I started Atkins on 8/1/03 and as of today I have lost 13 lbs. and 10.25 inches. This way of eating is very easy for me and I'm hoping to get my sugar craving under controll for ever.
My weight is the last thing I have to conquer on my list of things to do to get my life to "normal" My most frustrating moments were when I would look at others and say to myself "Whats it like to be normal" Hopefully I will know soon, I know I'm closer than I have ever been in my life.

Taking every day at a time!
Rhonda

[rhaazz]

Rhonda -- that was a really beautiful post, and inspiring. Thank you.

It's amazing to me how the topics that come up in this forum end up touching on everything under the sun. We start out talking about weight and metabolism and we end up talking about everything.

[ThinnerMe]

I went on Zoloft/Wellbutrin about 6-8 wks ago due to family, infertility, stepkids/Ex issues, and the stresses in general right now. :cry: I was precribed Wellbutrin to take in addition to my Zoloft to help curb the side effects I was having from the zoloft (insomnia at night, tired during the day, sexual side effects).

It has helped alot! So far my side effects are minimal and I don't really have any from the Wellbutrin. :yay:

[Eri Z]

I've been on Wellbutrin SR150 2x/day (total 300 mg) for nearly 4 years and it's worked out well.
About 2 weeks ago, I and my doctor decided to see if we could cut the dosage in half. Well, last Tuesday, I became suicidal, so I went back to the 2 pills a day.
My initial complaint 4 years ago included a lack of libido and Wellbutrin certainly helped with this--at least it didn't hinder it :)

And good mental health to us all!!!

Eri