Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 30902

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by Greg on April 21, 2000, at 20:44:40

I just returned from a visit to the pdoc and he added Prozac to my AD regimen. I have been experiencing irritation (anger, edgeyness) on Wellbutrin SR about every 3-4 days, and he says that the Prozac will help to "mellow" me out. He says it might also help with my insomnia. Does anyone have experience with this combo that could share it with me?

Greg

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by JohnL on April 22, 2000, at 5:23:24

In reply to Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by Greg on April 21, 2000, at 20:44:40

> I just returned from a visit to the pdoc and he added Prozac to my AD regimen. I have been experiencing irritation (anger, edgeyness) on Wellbutrin SR about every 3-4 days, and he says that the Prozac will help to "mellow" me out. He says it might also help with my insomnia. Does anyone have experience with this combo that could share it with me?
>
> Greg

Greg,
I really really had trouble deciding whether to respond to your post or not. That's because if you 'believe' and have faith in what the doc says, then that may indeed be the result. Kind of like the placebo thing. Or the power of suggestion. I would like you to feel confident in what the doc tells you. But the darn facts are just the opposite.

I couldn't let this go without commenting on the facts. Of all the SSRIs, Prozac is generally the most activating. One of its primary side effects is anxiety or agitation. It's not known for being a mellower. And of all the SSRIs, Prozac is the worst for sleep architecture.

Indeed Prozac can cause mellowing with some people, and may improve sleep with some people. But those would be exceptions to the rule. I would not at all be surprised to hear of increased edginess and worsened sleep after adding Prozac to Wellbutrin. But hopefully you will be an exception. :) JohnL

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by CarolAnn on April 22, 2000, at 8:46:28

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by JohnL on April 22, 2000, at 5:23:24

Greg,
On the "other" side of JohnL's post: I found Prozac to be quite sedating, it made me want to sleep all the time. One Pdoc told me that Wellbutrin and Prozac are a common combination, and are pretty regularly prescribed together.
So, as usual the answer here is, "your mileage may vary", and there's really no way to predict how the two meds. will react in your body. Good luck! CarolAnn

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by michael on April 22, 2000, at 12:25:21

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by CarolAnn on April 22, 2000, at 8:46:28

Hey Greg -

JohnL seems to be pretty on the ball, so my guess would be that what he says is accurate.

However, my personal experience is more similar to CarolAnn's. I don't find wellbutrin to be all that stimulating - however, I did find it very helpful for stopping smoking (but not until 400mg SR per day). Didn't find the addition of prozac too stimulating either - if anything, I was a bit zoned-out.

So, as I continue to find out, you can ask for other people's experiences, but you'll probably hear stories that a are so contradictory, you'd think the people were talking about two different meds (YMMV)... You can go w/the odds, but it seems you never know when you'll be the exception to the rule with this stuff... Good Luck.


> Greg,
> On the "other" side of JohnL's post: I found Prozac to be quite sedating, it made me want to sleep all the time. One Pdoc told me that Wellbutrin and Prozac are a common combination, and are pretty regularly prescribed together.
> So, as usual the answer here is, "your mileage may vary", and there's really no way to predict how the two meds. will react in your body. Good luck! CarolAnn

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by bob on April 22, 2000, at 23:12:13

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by michael on April 22, 2000, at 12:25:21

Sounds like quite a few of us were a bit hesitant to reply to this one. Maybe that's because the people for whom Prozac and Wellbutrin work for are out having fun somewhere ... ;^)

I'll chime in, tho, as one who has heard those two to be a good combo -- wellbutrin and SSRIs in general, but prozac in particular. When wellbutrin wasn't working for me, the first thing my pdoc did was add prozac. To make what could be a long, sordid story short -- it didn't work for me. YMMV.

I hope it does!
bob

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by Greg on April 23, 2000, at 13:46:25

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by bob on April 22, 2000, at 23:12:13

All,
Thanks for the input, it seems like these two meds are just like all the others, good for some and bad for others. I just took them together for the first time about an hour ago. So far everything seems to be fine.... I was supposed to start them yesterday, but had to go to traffic school and didn't want to have to deal with any adverse side effects there. You'll all be pleased to know that Red Asphalt is no longer required watching in traffic school. Bob, if you don't mind, could you tell me what exactly didn't work for you? I've been finding websites like the "Prozac Recovery Support Group" with some pretty bad horror stories there, and it has me just a little concerned...... Color me a little stupid, but what does YMMV mean?

Peace,
Greg

> Sounds like quite a few of us were a bit hesitant to reply to this one. Maybe that's because the people for whom Prozac and Wellbutrin work for are out having fun somewhere ... ;^)
>
> I'll chime in, tho, as one who has heard those two to be a good combo -- wellbutrin and SSRIs in general, but prozac in particular. When wellbutrin wasn't working for me, the first thing my pdoc did was add prozac. To make what could be a long, sordid story short -- it didn't work for me. YMMV.
>
> I hope it does!
> bob

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by Alemap on May 2, 2001, at 7:39:59

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by bob on April 22, 2000, at 23:12:13

> Sounds like quite a few of us were a bit hesitant to reply to this one. Maybe that's because the people for whom Prozac and Wellbutrin work for are out having fun somewhere ... ;^)
>
> I'll chime in, tho, as one who has heard those two to be a good combo -- wellbutrin and SSRIs in general, but prozac in particular. When wellbutrin wasn't working for me, the first thing my pdoc did was add prozac. To make what could be a long, sordid story short -- it didn't work for me. YMMV.
>
> I hope it does!
> bob


Been on Prozac 60 mg/d for about a year and half. Excellent results until a few months ago, when seemed to plateau; doc added Effexor. I asked him to pull me off due to horrific side effects. Am now just starting Wellbutrin (150 mg/d for 11 days, then to 300 mg/d). I hope this will be a good combo. I wonder, however, why not just stop the Prozac and do only Wellbutrin... but maybe the combo will work well. Here's hoping!

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by pam w. on May 4, 2001, at 14:05:09

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by CarolAnn on April 22, 2000, at 8:46:28

I have suffered depression in the past and now it's reared its' ugly head again. Has anyone tried Wellbutrin alone....I've heard it also increases libido, which Prozac does just the opposite.

pam w.

> Greg,
> On the "other" side of JohnL's post: I found Prozac to be quite sedating, it made me want to sleep all the time. One Pdoc told me that Wellbutrin and Prozac are a common combination, and are pretty regularly prescribed together.
> So, as usual the answer here is, "your mileage may vary", and there's really no way to predict how the two meds. will react in your body. Good luck! CarolAnn

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by Ameila on September 4, 2001, at 15:25:41

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by pam w. on May 4, 2001, at 14:05:09

> I have suffered depression in the past and now it's reared its' ugly head again. Has anyone tried Wellbutrin alone....I've heard it also increases libido, which Prozac does just the opposite.
>
> pam w.
>
> > Greg,
> > On the "other" side of JohnL's post: I found Prozac to be quite sedating, it made me want to sleep all the time. One Pdoc told me that Wellbutrin and Prozac are a common combination, and are pretty regularly prescribed together.
> > So, as usual the answer here is, "your mileage may vary", and there's really no way to predict how the two meds. will react in your body. Good luck! CarolAnn

I have been on AD's for 4 years, Prozac would always work great at first and then after a few months become ineffective. I had used Wellbutrin with good results but the high done (600mg daily) caused glossitis(swollen tongue) a rare side effect. I found a new shrink in Jan. of this year and he put me on 40 mg. of Prozac with a low dose 150mg. of Wellbutrin daily. It has been 8 months and I am feeling the best I have felt in a very long time. I have been doing talk therapy for four years also and I would never recommend medication w/o therapy but for me Prozac and Wellbutrin combo has been a lifesaver. It was explained to me that because Wellbutrin is unique in it's effect on dopamine & Nor-epinephrine it compliments Prozac's seratonin effect very well. My shrink says he often will see someone get a short relief from prozac but not be able to maintain it because once those levels are up to par the other two aren't. Whatever the reason I would recommend to anyone to give this combo a try.

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by DP on May 9, 2002, at 19:59:31

In reply to Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by Greg on April 21, 2000, at 20:44:40

I'm very interested in finding out more about this combination. I'm thinking about asking my doctor to switch me from Zoloft to Prozac on top of my Wellbutrin.

What do you guys think?

> I just returned from a visit to the pdoc and he added Prozac to my AD regimen. I have been experiencing irritation (anger, edgeyness) on Wellbutrin SR about every 3-4 days, and he says that the Prozac will help to "mellow" me out. He says it might also help with my insomnia. Does anyone have experience with this combo that could share it with me?
>
> Greg

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by Energetic on June 20, 2003, at 17:52:31

In reply to Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by Greg on April 21, 2000, at 20:44:40

I need Help I am currently taking 300 mg's of Wellbutrin, 20 Mg's of Prozac, and 3 Mg's of Klonopin. I have been fighting Depression for the past ten years. Prozac alone used to work, but stopped working for me, in the past year which is why My doctor put me on the above combination. Does anyone know how long it should take for me to feel happy and back to myself? Has anyone had any experiences on this type of combination? I feel really down in the dumps and have lost interest in mostly everything in life, I just am keeping the faith. I have never been on Wellbutrin SR, and I have read good things about it on www.remedyfind.com but I am just very worried about my future, and I hope at 300 Mg's of the Wellbutrin SR, I will be better soon, hopefully in 4-6 wks. The Prozac, my doctor has me on again in hopes that it will work again, since I have been off of it for 9 months. Klonopin is for my anxiety. I hope someone can help me, and I appreciate all feedback. God Bless All.

Energetic

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo? » Energetic

Posted by KimberlyDi on June 23, 2003, at 11:16:07

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by Energetic on June 20, 2003, at 17:52:31

Wellbutrin worked so well for me that I kept buying it even when I was without insurance. It was over $100 for a one month supply. It can work. It helped me get my act together enough to lose all the extra weight I had gained, plus find a new job, and buy myself a new car. Hmmm... now I wonder why I ever stopped taking it? LOL

> I need Help I am currently taking 300 mg's of Wellbutrin, 20 Mg's of Prozac, and 3 Mg's of Klonopin. I have been fighting Depression for the past ten years. Prozac alone used to work, but stopped working for me, in the past year which is why My doctor put me on the above combination. Does anyone know how long it should take for me to feel happy and back to myself? Has anyone had any experiences on this type of combination? I feel really down in the dumps and have lost interest in mostly everything in life, I just am keeping the faith. I have never been on Wellbutrin SR, and I have read good things about it on www.remedyfind.com but I am just very worried about my future, and I hope at 300 Mg's of the Wellbutrin SR, I will be better soon, hopefully in 4-6 wks. The Prozac, my doctor has me on again in hopes that it will work again, since I have been off of it for 9 months. Klonopin is for my anxiety. I hope someone can help me, and I appreciate all feedback. God Bless All.
>
> Energetic
>
>

 

Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?

Posted by KarenRB53 on June 4, 2008, at 22:09:34

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin and Prozac - A good combo?, posted by JohnL on April 22, 2000, at 5:23:24

> > I just returned from a visit to the pdoc and he added Prozac to my AD regimen. I have been experiencing irritation (anger, edgeyness) on Wellbutrin SR about every 3-4 days, and he says that the Prozac will help to "mellow" me out. He says it might also help with my insomnia. Does anyone have experience with this combo that could share it with me?
> >
> > Greg
>
> Greg,
> I really really had trouble deciding whether to respond to your post or not. That's because if you 'believe' and have faith in what the doc says, then that may indeed be the result. Kind of like the placebo thing. Or the power of suggestion. I would like you to feel confident in what the doc tells you. But the darn facts are just the opposite.
>
> I couldn't let this go without commenting on the facts. Of all the SSRIs, Prozac is generally the most activating. One of its primary side effects is anxiety or agitation. It's not known for being a mellower. And of all the SSRIs, Prozac is the worst for sleep architecture.
>
> Indeed Prozac can cause mellowing with some people, and may improve sleep with some people. But those would be exceptions to the rule. I would not at all be surprised to hear of increased edginess and worsened sleep after adding Prozac to Wellbutrin. But hopefully you will be an exception. :) JohnL
>
>

Just found your post and agree with you about Prozac and Wellbutrin because thats what I'm on presently. In your opinion which SSRI would work the best with Wellbutrin? I know I need an SSRI because Prozac was only AD that lifted my major depression but pdoc just added Wellbutrin because I had no motivation or energy on Prozac even though it causes that "inner restlessness" in me. So, I think I need an SSRI that will work for the seratonin and the Wellbutrin because it certainly helps with motivation and concentration.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Karen


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