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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pellmell on September 14, 2001, at 20:46:47
Hello all,
I know this has been discussed before, but I'm not in the mood for something from PB's freezer: I want some fresh advice.
So yeah, Effexor is working for me, but not as well as I'd like. I saw my pdoc this week, but for reasons you can imagine wasn't in the mood to whine about myself too loudly. He recommended playing with my dose to see whether 150mg or 225 is better in terms of efficacy vs. side-effects, and if I didn't want to do that he'd try me back on Prozac or one of the other two SSRIs I haven't tried (Paxil and Celexa).
I've decided to take matters into my own hands. Maybe in the future I'll test his imagination, but I didn't have the heart this week. Anyway, I have a bottle of sixty 150mg tablets of Wellbutrin SR from a failed trial at the beginning of the summer. I'm thinking with the calm that Effexor brings me I'll be able to handle it this this time, and with the bleh that Effexor brings too the activating effects of Wellbutrin will be helpful.
I guess I'm asking, then, for other peoples' experiences with this combo, and advice on how to mix it (ie, what time of the day should I take the Wellbutrin, etc.). Today was my first day trying this, and I took the Effexor XR last night (it tends to make me sleepy) and the Wellbutrin at noon today.
Thanks in advance. Oh, any other augmentation suggestions that you think I should bring up with my pdoc are welcome, too.
-pm
Posted by DebbieLynn on September 16, 2001, at 10:29:31
In reply to Augmenting Effexor with Wellbutrin: a reprise, posted by pellmell on September 14, 2001, at 20:46:47
> Hello all,
>
> I know this has been discussed before, but I'm not in the mood for something from PB's freezer: I want some fresh advice.
>
> So yeah, Effexor is working for me, but not as well as I'd like. I saw my pdoc this week, but for reasons you can imagine wasn't in the mood to whine about myself too loudly. He recommended playing with my dose to see whether 150mg or 225 is better in terms of efficacy vs. side-effects, and if I didn't want to do that he'd try me back on Prozac or one of the other two SSRIs I haven't tried (Paxil and Celexa).
>
> I've decided to take matters into my own hands. Maybe in the future I'll test his imagination, but I didn't have the heart this week. Anyway, I have a bottle of sixty 150mg tablets of Wellbutrin SR from a failed trial at the beginning of the summer. I'm thinking with the calm that Effexor brings me I'll be able to handle it this this time, and with the bleh that Effexor brings too the activating effects of Wellbutrin will be helpful.
>
> I guess I'm asking, then, for other peoples' experiences with this combo, and advice on how to mix it (ie, what time of the day should I take the Wellbutrin, etc.). Today was my first day trying this, and I took the Effexor XR last night (it tends to make me sleepy) and the Wellbutrin at noon today.
>
> Thanks in advance. Oh, any other augmentation suggestions that you think I should bring up with my pdoc are welcome, too.
>
> -pm
I too take Effexor and Wellbutrin. I was on 225mg of Effexor XR and 200mg a day of Wellbutrin SR. I initially started to take for sexual side effects.Anyway...too get to your question, I now take 150 mg of Wellbutrin in the morning because it gives me energy. I also take 150mg of Effexor in the morning because it also gives me energy. Then, I take 75mg of Effexor in the afternoon.
A hint...225mg of Effexor seems to be a magic dose for a lot of people. When I was at the 150mg of Effexor, I was really sleepy also. 225 mg was more energizing for me!
Hope this helps!
Debbie
Posted by pellmell on September 19, 2001, at 11:03:12
In reply to Re: Augmenting Effexor with Wellbutrin: a reprise, posted by DebbieLynn on September 16, 2001, at 10:29:31
Debbie,
Thanks; your response was helpful.
Taking clues from you and others on this site, I've dropped down to 75mg Effexor XR and kept with the 150mg Wellbutrin SR in the afternoon.
I've feeling a whole lot more energetic, clearheaded and self-aware, but unfortunately those Wellbutrin side-effects are coming on again: irritability and anxeity mostly. Fortunately I think the Effexor is mitigating them a bit, because so far they're a lot milder than they were when I tried it alone. Hopefully I'll be able to ride them out this time.
If this mix doesn't resolve my symptoms, I'm thinking about talking to my pdoc about switching back to Prozac from Effexor or giving Celexa a try. An SSRI alone isn't good for me. They make me feel better, but it's at the expense of motivation and self-awareness. Hopefully he won't be irritated that I've taken matters into my own hands, but I think I've had enough of the monotherapy blues.
JohnL makes anafranil sound quite tempting, but even though it's "dirt cheap" it isn't approved by the FDA and therefore still a whole lot more than my $10 copay.
So anyway, thanks again.
Until next time,
-pm
Posted by v on September 22, 2001, at 7:13:49
In reply to Re: Augmenting Effexor with Wellbutrin: a reprise » DebbieLynn, posted by pellmell on September 19, 2001, at 11:03:12
hello pellmell....
i think you need to discuss this with your pdoc - keep records of your "experiment" and bring it to your next appointment... if you think the combo has possibilities, he could probably suggest taking 75mg effexorXR & 100mg wellbutrinSR in the morning, followed by a second dose of 100mg wellbutrin... and i think adding .5mg of klonopin to both your doses might be a big help
just my 2¢ for what it's worth... i also take effexor XR & wellbutrin SR... adding klonopin has really helped.
good luck,
v> Debbie,
>
> Thanks; your response was helpful.
>
> Taking clues from you and others on this site, I've dropped down to 75mg Effexor XR and kept with the 150mg Wellbutrin SR in the afternoon.
>
> I've feeling a whole lot more energetic, clearheaded and self-aware, but unfortunately those Wellbutrin side-effects are coming on again: irritability and anxeity mostly. Fortunately I think the Effexor is mitigating them a bit, because so far they're a lot milder than they were when I tried it alone. Hopefully I'll be able to ride them out this time.
>
> If this mix doesn't resolve my symptoms, I'm thinking about talking to my pdoc about switching back to Prozac from Effexor or giving Celexa a try. An SSRI alone isn't good for me. They make me feel better, but it's at the expense of motivation and self-awareness. Hopefully he won't be irritated that I've taken matters into my own hands, but I think I've had enough of the monotherapy blues.
>
> JohnL makes anafranil sound quite tempting, but even though it's "dirt cheap" it isn't approved by the FDA and therefore still a whole lot more than my $10 copay.
>
> So anyway, thanks again.
>
> Until next time,
> -pm
Posted by galtin on September 22, 2001, at 14:19:26
In reply to Augmenting Effexor with Wellbutrin: a reprise, posted by pellmell on September 14, 2001, at 20:46:47
> Hello all,
>
> I know this has been discussed before, but I'm not in the mood for something from PB's freezer: I want some fresh advice.
>
> So yeah, Effexor is working for me, but not as well as I'd like. I saw my pdoc this week, but for reasons you can imagine wasn't in the mood to whine about myself too loudly. He recommended playing with my dose to see whether 150mg or 225 is better in terms of efficacy vs. side-effects, and if I didn't want to do that he'd try me back on Prozac or one of the other two SSRIs I haven't tried (Paxil and Celexa).
>
> I've decided to take matters into my own hands. Maybe in the future I'll test his imagination, but I didn't have the heart this week. Anyway, I have a bottle of sixty 150mg tablets of Wellbutrin SR from a failed trial at the beginning of the summer. I'm thinking with the calm that Effexor brings me I'll be able to handle it this this time, and with the bleh that Effexor brings too the activating effects of Wellbutrin will be helpful.
>
> I guess I'm asking, then, for other peoples' experiences with this combo, and advice on how to mix it (ie, what time of the day should I take the Wellbutrin, etc.). Today was my first day trying this, and I took the Effexor XR last night (it tends to make me sleepy) and the Wellbutrin at noon today.
>
> Thanks in advance. Oh, any other augmentation suggestions that you think I should bring up with my pdoc are welcome, too.
>
> -pmPellmell,
When my doctor augmented Effexor with Wellbutrin it produced positive results. Also, don't rule out Effexor based on too low a dose. I had to get to 225. My depressions are noreprinephrine related and Effexor does not address this until the daily dosage surpasses 150mg. An increase in dosage lowered rather than raised the severity of the side-effects.
Good Luck,
galtin
Posted by maxleo on September 22, 2001, at 17:44:40
In reply to Re: Augmenting Effexor with Wellbutrin: a reprise, posted by galtin on September 22, 2001, at 14:19:26
Does the combination help thinking faster? I have problem making exams with effexor.
Posted by Simcha on September 24, 2001, at 7:37:42
In reply to Re: Augmenting Effexor with Wellbutrin: a reprise » DebbieLynn, posted by pellmell on September 19, 2001, at 11:03:12
My pdoc had to add Celexa to my Wellbutrin to keep me grounded. I switched from Effexor to Wellbutrin because my libido was nil on Effexor. Effexor was great for my depression but terrible for my sex life. Now I can have some sex in my life and I am not depressed.. Not bad. Not perfect but much better..... ;-)
> Debbie,
>
> Thanks; your response was helpful.
>
> Taking clues from you and others on this site, I've dropped down to 75mg Effexor XR and kept with the 150mg Wellbutrin SR in the afternoon.
>
> I've feeling a whole lot more energetic, clearheaded and self-aware, but unfortunately those Wellbutrin side-effects are coming on again: irritability and anxeity mostly. Fortunately I think the Effexor is mitigating them a bit, because so far they're a lot milder than they were when I tried it alone. Hopefully I'll be able to ride them out this time.
>
> If this mix doesn't resolve my symptoms, I'm thinking about talking to my pdoc about switching back to Prozac from Effexor or giving Celexa a try. An SSRI alone isn't good for me. They make me feel better, but it's at the expense of motivation and self-awareness. Hopefully he won't be irritated that I've taken matters into my own hands, but I think I've had enough of the monotherapy blues.
>
> JohnL makes anafranil sound quite tempting, but even though it's "dirt cheap" it isn't approved by the FDA and therefore still a whole lot more than my $10 copay.
>
> So anyway, thanks again.
>
> Until next time,
> -pm
This is the end of the thread.
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