Posted by Ritch on May 16, 2003, at 12:50:13
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin plus Effexor? (and Prozac too!) » adniL, posted by Quinn on May 15, 2003, at 22:06:09
> I had been on desipramine for over 15 years (I had a severe depressive episode in the mid '80s, and after trying most everything short of ECT available at that time, desipramine with Xanax finally pulled me through).
>
> A few years later we added Prozac to the mix and life was good.
>
> Until 9 months or so ago when things started to unravel. My Dr. added Zyprexa (2.5mg), and although I was functional, I felt overly sedated, weak, and sometimes a little agitated. I was also putting on weight. I asked to be taken off the zyprexa after 3 months.
>
> My doc took me off the Zyprexa and gradually substituted Effexor, and then EffexorXR, for the desipramine. I had a rough time the next 6 weeks (I'm not sure if it was withdrawal from the desipramine or side effects caused by the Effexor, probably both). But once that unpleasant transition subsided; nothing . . . it didn't work. I was depressed and constantly fatigued and couldn’t concentrate. After another 6 weeks of 225 mg. EffexorXR daily (I think my doc wanted to take me up to 300mg., but held off because of the fatigue) we both agreed it wasn’t going to work and that I needed to try something else.
>
> I started to taper off the EffexorXR and onto WellbutrinSL. This seemed to be working and in short time I was on 300mg. WellbutrinSL and 75mg. EffexorXR and feeling much better. A few days ago I went off the EffexorXR altogether and now I feel like I’m backsliding. Could it be that the 75mg. EffexorXR in combination with the 300mg. WellbutrinSR (and my other meds which we’ve held steady, Prozac 70mg. and Xanax 3mg. 3x a day) was working better than the WellbutrinSR alone?
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> Should I add back the 75mg. EffexorXR and see what happens? Or have my doc increase the WellbutrinSR? (doc said he'd put me up to 400mg of the Wellbutrin if I did start to backslide).
>
For my bipolar depressions I've found Wellbutrin+Effexor to be the most effective antidepressants (thus far anyhow-haven't been on MAOI's yet). Either one by itself, just doesn't quite cut it for some reason, even if I crank up the dose of either. I'd ask your doctor about adding back the Effexor. Who knows, maybe just 37.5mg would be enough?
poster:Ritch
thread:550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030514/msgs/227053.html