Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1114164

Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Gabriel14 on March 19, 2021, at 23:29:10

I've been on Wellbutrin for close to a decade, mostly at a dosage of 300mg, for treatment of depression.

Over the years, my doctor has on a few occasions brought up the possibility of adding another drug into the mix, e.g. an SSRI.

I haven't taken him up on this so far, but I'm somewhat more open to it at the moment, and I'm wondering what additional drug folks have found works best in their personal experience? (Reading through the forum, it seems like Lexapro comes up the most, followed by Effexor, but that wasn't a thorough review or anything.)

Obviously, I know this can vary from person to person, but I'd be curious to hear what people's experiences have been, and what they've found the pros and cons to be. In particular, for folks who were originally just on Wellbutrin, and then added an SSRI like Lexapro, I'm curious what changes they noticed and, to the extent they noticed improvements, what the nature of those improvements was.

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 20, 2021, at 0:03:10

In reply to Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 19, 2021, at 23:29:10

'Wellzac' is known term for Prozac and Wellbutrin. Yes that is a very good pair

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Christ_empowered on March 20, 2021, at 10:53:03

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 20, 2021, at 0:03:10

it really depends on symptoms. if you're prone to ruminations and such, an ssri...i'd vote prozac or lexapro, just...tolerability for lexapro; my psych has pushed the prozac+wellbutrin combo on me (I declined, for now).

you have other options. if insomnia is an issue, maybe a lower end of effective dose of remeron. if lingering lethargy and fatigue are problematic, perhaps low dose ritalin, maybe Provigil if you have excellent insurance.

on and on and on...there is no 'standard treatment for depression,' except when psych 'experts' want to act as if there is some sort of magical treatment algorithm. hopefully, you have a provider who can match your residual problems/symptoms to effective, safe medication.

i would -personally- caution one to avoid paxil, just because it hit me like an elephant tranquilizer and was hard to discontinue.

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by linkadge on March 20, 2021, at 17:22:51

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 20, 2021, at 10:53:03

You could always try dextromethorphan. Google wellbutrin + dextromethorphan. It is being investigated for its effects on depression.

Linkadge

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Gabriel14 on March 20, 2021, at 20:24:04

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by linkadge on March 20, 2021, at 17:22:51

> You could always try dextromethorphan. Google wellbutrin + dextromethorphan. It is being investigated for its effects on depression.
>
> Linkadge

Interesting. I just read a few articles on it. It looks like it's still in development and/or testing, and is not commercially available yet...?

https://axsome.com/axs-pipeline/about-axs-05/

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Lamdage22 on March 21, 2021, at 3:40:10

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 20, 2021, at 20:24:04

I once did well on Wellbutrin+Venlafaxine. It is a heavy noradrenaline hit though and they had to check my blood pressure frequently at first. Everyone is different, it is hard to predict what will work.

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by linkadge on March 21, 2021, at 13:31:43

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 20, 2021, at 20:24:04

No it's not available at the moment, but you can get DXM OTC. That being said, I can't really recommend going that route until there is more data.

Linkadge

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin? » Gabriel14

Posted by SLS on March 21, 2021, at 15:24:19

In reply to Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 19, 2021, at 23:29:10

Wellbutrin XL 300 mg/day

PLUS

Effexor 150-300 mg/day

- OR -

Pristiq 100 mg/day


.


- Scott

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Gabriel14 on March 21, 2021, at 22:31:51

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin? » Gabriel14, posted by SLS on March 21, 2021, at 15:24:19

> Wellbutrin XL 300 mg/day
>
> PLUS
>
> Effexor 150-300 mg/day
>
> - OR -
>
> Pristiq 100 mg/day


Is there any consensus around (for purposes of pairing with Wellbutrin) the pros and cons of Prozac vs. Lexapro vs. Effexor vs. Pristiq? I know every person is going to be different.

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 21, 2021, at 23:40:16

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 21, 2021, at 22:31:51

effexor is more effective than prozac, all i know, it's effects are mre pronounced. I take prozac been on max dose for couple years, i rerember when first started it, i felt a warm uplift, but it wasnt potent. Effexor is more potent, but also more effective around 225-300mg

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 21, 2021, at 23:41:25

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 21, 2021, at 23:40:16

prozac is more energizing compared to lexepro, but effexor is also energizing

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 21, 2021, at 23:53:10

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 21, 2021, at 22:31:51

https://www.singlecare.com/blog/wellbutrin-vs-prozac/

effexor is superior to most all SSRI's, it's rated most effective for recorvery for depression. You could check effexor out, but...effexor has bad bad withdrawls, that's all i know wait for more posters to respond.

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Christ_empowered on March 22, 2021, at 12:33:02

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 21, 2021, at 22:31:51

id personally opt for prozac. long history, lots of data, very cheap generics, wide dosage range...

mildly activating, more at lower doses. long, long, long half life, so if you decide to stop, it should do a 'self-taper,' far less in the way of discontinuation problems.

--personal opinion--

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by Christ_empowered on March 22, 2021, at 12:50:42

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Gabriel14 on March 21, 2021, at 22:31:51

sad fact: for all the pills, pills, pills available...

there is -very- limited, often not so great quality data (when available...) on what specific combinations of psych drugs do, adverse effects, long term treatment results, etc. sad :-(

my concern with antidepressant+ ongoing wellbutrin treatment would be seizure risk. other than that, one might be well-advised to figure out what core 'symptoms of depression' are most bothersome...

and then go and see if these 'symptoms' generally respond to the pills...

and then see what pills are advised for those symptoms, do a drug-drug interactions checker for anything and everything else one consumes...

and see if medical coverage will pay for the pills...

on and on. -not fun- but...sadly enough, even with "well-respected psychiatrists,' one would be prudent to do some homework, 'be your own advocate,' etc.

hope this helps. :-)

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 23, 2021, at 1:28:42

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 22, 2021, at 12:33:02

yes Pro is activating, but from what i've read .. it's lesser effective than other antidepressants, but for me - pro gives a sense of contentment, i feel just this 'ok' feeling. I started out on 20mg, i felt the same, just this 'contentment'. Instead of dealing with dysphoric misery, i can actually be in a good mood

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by undopaminergic on March 24, 2021, at 3:58:19

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 22, 2021, at 12:50:42

> my concern with antidepressant+ ongoing wellbutrin treatment would be seizure risk.
>

In my opinion, the seizure risk has been much exaggerated - much smoke and little fire, so to speak. I took at least 750 mg, maybe 900 mg. No effect, and I mean not only no seizures, but also no stimulant effect. Bupropion was a pointless drug for me, but I hope others have better luck.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 24, 2021, at 21:06:50

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by undopaminergic on March 24, 2021, at 3:58:19

i took 600mg one time, and felt very....not siezure but i felt this tingle going through my head and felt extremly odd. Wellbutrin is good for ADHD in someway because it's weak dopamine effect, and stronger NE effect. But wellbutrin gave me anxiety, i've been on it about 3 times.

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 26, 2021, at 16:47:27

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 24, 2021, at 21:06:50

what is read, is effexor is superior in response ratingss than SSRI's, from what i read Prozac is lesser effective than other SSRI's, I just notice a mild antidepressant effect, not like warm feeling, just like i had tiny bit coffee and serotonin feeling. But effexor is superior in response rates. Pro just makes everyday seem a bit more happier, not happy like the term happy, but you can enjoy the day better. Effexor still is superior

 

Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?

Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 26, 2021, at 16:52:30

In reply to Re: Best medication to pair with Wellbutrin?, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 26, 2021, at 16:47:27

https://www.emedexpert.com/facts/fluoxetine-facts.shtml

"Less effective than sertraline, mirtazapine, and" venlafaxine for depression"

other websites and studies that say the same thing


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