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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by malynne on October 10, 2000, at 10:00:12
Hi,
I've been taking Wellbutrin for approx. 6 months now. It's helped to keep the depression away (most of the time) but due to the stimulating effects of it I find myself unable to sleep at night, and often irritable, and ALWAYS anxious.
I take Klonopin to help me sleep, though in an attempt to stop upping my dosages of it (since it's habit-forming) I also tried taking Neurontin at night. The Neurontin made me extremely disoriented and my memory completely disappeared.
I tried Trazodone for two days but the headaches and the nausea it gave me had me in bed for two days, unable to move or speak much.
I've been looking into other SSRI's to help the Wellbutrin out.
Has anyone here successfully tried combing Wellbutrin with Prozac? I looked in the archives and there doesn't seem to be too much in regards to this.Please advise and share!
Posted by Ted on October 10, 2000, at 13:37:11
In reply to Has anyone tried combining Wellbutrin and Prozac?, posted by malynne on October 10, 2000, at 10:00:12
I take Wellbutrin 150 mg BID together with Zoloft 175 mg. Although not Prozac, Zoloft is another SSRI. This combo is working well for me. Keep in mind that Prozac is a much more powerful SSRI, and it has a *much* longer half-life. I think Zoloft or Celexa would be better to start with, then go to Prozac or Paxil if they don't work.
Ted
> I've been looking into other SSRI's to help the Wellbutrin out.
> Has anyone here successfully tried combing Wellbutrin with Prozac? I looked in the archives and there doesn't seem to be too much in regards to this.
>
> Please advise and share!
Posted by Elizabeth14 on October 10, 2000, at 21:44:01
In reply to Has anyone tried combining Wellbutrin and Prozac?, posted by malynne on October 10, 2000, at 10:00:12
Malynne - I took Prozak and Wellbutrin together for three years - for depression. I moved twice during that time and different doctors and psychiatrists told me it was quite a sophisticated combination. Whatever that means. I started with the Prozak which resolved some problems but not all. Then a psychiatrist added the Wellbutrin four months later it and seemed to complete the circle. I felt more like myself than I had in years.
Now, here's the down side. It didn't last forever. Maybe a year and a half later problems gradually creeped back in. I was involved in a lot of life changes so I just chalked it up to that and kept going. But recently (after say 2.5 years of the combo) I really started having problems that I couldn't ignore. SLEEP was the BIG one. Insomnia and then not waking up until noon. Not good for a single working woman! I would say I had bad sleep maybe the year before but not nearly that bad. My doctor tried Sonota. Then I got a psychiatrist and she gave me Trazodone. I used each a little and they only helped the first and second time. I was also leary to take a sleeping pill for fear I wouldn't wake up on time which was already a problem.
I tapered off the Prozak on a hunch that it was the culprit of the sleep problem. Somewhere in there I cut down my wellbutrin dose a little too and my sleep has gotten much better but not completely. Listening to you I can't be sure if the Prozak or Wellbutrin is the culprit of my sleep problems.
More on the combination...The second problem I have is weight gain! Both Prozak and Wellbutrin tend to be the best for initial weight loss but I've heard recently that later Prozak can cause weight gain. So far, no weight loss and I'm very, very discouraged about that! I understand that Prozak takes a long time to wear off so I hope there is still hope. Anyone out there know about losing weight after taking Prozak for a long time and quitting???
It's really up to you. I wish I had the answer. I'm still searching myself. Combinations appear to me to be a great way to catch all your problems. However, any problems the meds may cause can make it very confusing when determining which med is the culprit. It just means you have to add and subtract one at a time which lengthens the time to resolution.
How much Wellbutrin are you taking. Maybe if you combine the two, you can cut back the Wellbutrin dose and reduce your sleep problem. What makes it worse is that they never seem to want to rule out any of the side effects from any of the anti-depressants.
I don't think I've been much help. I can only give you my story. My best advice is that you are closest to your body. Make yourself the expert by asking doctors, nurses, friends and researching and then go on your instincts and KEEP TRACK of your meds, side effects, dates, dosages in a spreadsheet if you can. It really helps.
While I'm at it... anyone have any advice on my situation? How do I get rid of the weight and where is it coming from this last year? Too extreme for just natural aging weight gain. I'm 27. I'm so discouraged and yes, depressed, about the weight! My looks are important to me and hey, I like to meet someone and marry. This weight is really breaking my confidence.
Posted by Alemap on May 2, 2001, at 7:35:03
In reply to Re: Has anyone tried combining Wellbutrin and Prozac?, posted by Ted on October 10, 2000, at 13:37:11
> I take Wellbutrin 150 mg BID together with Zoloft 175 mg. Although not Prozac, Zoloft is another SSRI. This combo is working well for me. Keep in mind that Prozac is a much more powerful SSRI, and it has a *much* longer half-life. I think Zoloft or Celexa would be better to start with, then go to Prozac or Paxil if they don't work.
>
> Ted
>
>
>
> > I've been looking into other SSRI's to help the Wellbutrin out.
> > Has anyone here successfully tried combing Wellbutrin with Prozac? I looked in the archives and there doesn't seem to be too much in regards to this.
> >
> > Please advise and share!I take 60 mg daily of Prozac, but after about a year and half it seems to have stopped working well. My doctor prescribed Effexor, but the side effects were horrific and I asked him to pull me off, which we did. He has now prescribed Wellbutrin, which I started yesterday (150 mg/d to start; then 200 mg/d afer a week).
Does anyone have experience mixing these two? I'm wondering if he plans to have me stop the Prozac eventually and is just trying to find a replacement by overlapping to make my life easier...
Posted by Joy on May 6, 2001, at 7:22:51
In reply to Re: Has anyone tried combining Wellbutrin and Prozac?, posted by Alemap on May 2, 2001, at 7:35:03
My friend tried this exact mix. She is on 60 mg Prozac and the doctor added Wellbutrin. It was very agitating for her. She seemed 'speeded' up. To put some more oomph into Prozac or other SSRI, Buspar seems to do the trick, though by itself it is not a very effective med for many. The combo works well however, Buspar with Prozac. Give it 4 weeks.
Joy> > I take Wellbutrin 150 mg BID together with Zoloft 175 mg. Although not Prozac, Zoloft is another SSRI. This combo is working well for me. Keep in mind that Prozac is a much more powerful SSRI, and it has a *much* longer half-life. I think Zoloft or Celexa would be better to start with, then go to Prozac or Paxil if they don't work.
> >
> > Ted
> >
> >
> >
> > > I've been looking into other SSRI's to help the Wellbutrin out.
> > > Has anyone here successfully tried combing Wellbutrin with Prozac? I looked in the archives and there doesn't seem to be too much in regards to this.
> > >
> > > Please advise and share!
>
> I take 60 mg daily of Prozac, but after about a year and half it seems to have stopped working well. My doctor prescribed Effexor, but the side effects were horrific and I asked him to pull me off, which we did. He has now prescribed Wellbutrin, which I started yesterday (150 mg/d to start; then 200 mg/d afer a week).
>
> Does anyone have experience mixing these two? I'm wondering if he plans to have me stop the Prozac eventually and is just trying to find a replacement by overlapping to make my life easier...
This is the end of the thread.
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