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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theo on December 25, 2003, at 20:51:09
Is Provigil (100mg) safe to take with low dose 150 mg Wellbutrin XL?
Posted by hawkeye on December 25, 2003, at 21:26:27
In reply to Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by theo on December 25, 2003, at 20:51:09
Any time you add a stimulant to Wellbutrin you increase the risk of a seizure. However, that being said, I have taken 200Mgs of Provigil with 300 Mgs of Wellbutrin for several months without any problems.
Posted by theo on December 25, 2003, at 22:19:28
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by hawkeye on December 25, 2003, at 21:26:27
I took 100mg Provigil for the first time yesterday a few hours after taking 150mg Wellbutrin XL, that I've been taking several months, and felt a little uncomfortable, edgy around people for the first couple of hours. Also felt a little spacey this morning when I woke up and only took 50mg of Provigil today because I was going to be around a big group for Christmas. Will the initial side effects wear off in a few days? The doc wants me to take 200mg a day but I'm a little scared. Will it smooth out?
Posted by Viridis on December 26, 2003, at 3:04:21
In reply to Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by theo on December 25, 2003, at 20:51:09
I've taken both together with no problems. I should add that I absolutely hate Wellbutrin, but quite like Provigil. I'd just start with a low dose of Provigil (the tablets are easy to divide) and see how you do.
The seizure issues with Wellbutrin are a bunch of nonsense, based on early trials with extremely high doses. Those who seem to be at risk of seizure with normal doses are anorexic or bulemic patients. Again, I can't stand Wellbutrin, but the seizure concerns appear to be totally unwarranted for normal patients and I don't understand why they continue to be repeated.
Posted by dreaman on December 26, 2003, at 10:16:28
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by Viridis on December 26, 2003, at 3:04:21
Viridus- Just wondering why you hate Wellbutrin?
and why is provigil better?
Posted by theo on December 26, 2003, at 15:08:41
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by Viridis on December 26, 2003, at 3:04:21
What do you consider a low dose to start with?
Posted by squids on December 26, 2003, at 17:29:11
In reply to Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by theo on December 25, 2003, at 20:51:09
I was on 300mg wellbutrin (3x day) and 300mg provigil (3x day) plus 100mg zoloft. No problems except don't take the provigil too late in the day or sleep problems may occur. I did this combo for a month.
This was just my experience
Posted by Viridis on December 27, 2003, at 2:30:05
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by dreaman on December 26, 2003, at 10:16:28
I reacted very badly to WB -- it caused severe anxiety and a bunch of weird side effects (light sensitivity, shaking, bursts of anger, dizziness, etc.) that are totally uncharacteristic for me. I took it for about two months and the side effects didn't go away, so I discontinued it and the problems disappeared immediately.
The GP who prescribed it said that my reaction was "imaginary" since WB "can't cause side effects". However, my current pdoc wasn't at all surprised, and told me that everything I described was consistent with what some of his other patients have reported. He generally avoids prescribing Welbutrin for patients with anxiety issues, because he says the side effects can be severe.
But, WB is a great med for some people; I'd just try it cautiously.
I found Provigil useful for energy and motivation, and had no anxiety problems with it. However, I do best with Adderall (which I take for ADD), and my pdoc prefers that I not take Provigil and Adderall together, mainly because he just doesn't have that much experience with Provigil yet and is a bit cautious.
So, I'm not trying to attack WB -- it's very good for some people -- but it does seem to have more potential for nasty side effects than Provigil, based on my experience, that of others I know, and posts I've seen here.
Posted by Viridis on December 27, 2003, at 2:37:01
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin? » Viridis, posted by theo on December 26, 2003, at 15:08:41
For me, 75 mg of Wellbutrin SR wasn't too bad; 150 mg (usual starting dose; I finally went down to 75 mg) was terrible, and 300 mg/day was absolutely intolerable. But of course, that's just me -- 300 mg is a very reasonable dose for many people, and some take more.
Posted by theo on December 27, 2003, at 14:54:43
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin? » theo, posted by Viridis on December 27, 2003, at 2:37:01
I'm sorry, I meant starting dose for Provigil, and do initial side effects (headache) wear off??
Posted by theo on December 27, 2003, at 16:31:01
In reply to Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin?, posted by theo on December 25, 2003, at 20:51:09
Is Provigil a drug you need to take daily to get the full effects or just something people take as needed, taking on days when their tired and skipping days when not tired?
Posted by Viridis on December 28, 2003, at 4:15:15
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin? » Viridis, posted by theo on December 27, 2003, at 14:54:43
I started very cautiously with about 25 mg (1/4 of a 100 mg tab), but soon found that 100 mg was fine for me. My impression is that most people take between 100 and 200 mg/day; I seem to recall that the clinical trials for Provigil involved doses of up to 800 mg.
I think that Provigil can be taken PRN (=as-needed), and is used this way by some people to combat fatigue. However, I'm not sure if its antidepressant benefits would be consistent without regular use. I really don't know, since I only used it fairly briefly, then switched to Adderall (which helps me more with concentration).
I've certainly felt the energy-inducing effects of Provigil after a single dose (i.e., it produced positive effects for me without requiring weeks of adjustment etc.).
It's worth a try, and you should be able to get some free samples from your doctor. Good luck!
Posted by Viridis on December 28, 2003, at 4:22:50
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin? » Viridis, posted by theo on December 27, 2003, at 14:54:43
Re: headaches: I didn't have this problem, but then I'm just not prone to headaches to begin with. Perhaps others here might have some insights?
Posted by squids on December 28, 2003, at 16:20:51
In reply to Re: Is Provigil safe with Wellbutrin? » theo, posted by Viridis on December 28, 2003, at 4:15:15
>It's worth a try, and you should be able to get some free samples from your doctor. Good luck!
Yah, I don't have medical insurance and the stuff runs about $100 for 20 100mg pills. And I'm supposed to take up to 4x/day - can't afford that I just take as needed for antidepressant and energy needs.
This is the end of the thread.
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