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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by debsidoo on January 10, 2006, at 12:05:18
Hi all. New to this website. I have been on medication for a number of years. I am currently on Lexapro 20mg, but I am still not as well as I had done in the past on Paxil. Anyway, my dr just added 150mg Wellbutrin to the mix to try to help. I only started my first pill last nite & I am going through the whole get-used-to-the-new-meds feelings. (jump out of skin, teeth grinding, etc) I really dont mind putting up with that, knowing its only a couple of weeks, as long as this combo helps. Has anyone else done this combo? Did it work?
Posted by Lucia Francisca on January 10, 2006, at 12:13:21
In reply to Lexapro Wellbutrin, posted by debsidoo on January 10, 2006, at 12:05:18
Hi. What's your dx? I was taking Celexa (similar to Lexapro) and pdoc added Wellbutrin because I complained about sexual side effects--no desire, etc. I HATED Wellbutrin. I only took it for 3 days. It made me feel so agitated and anxious, and I think it gave me insomnia. I've heard that Wellbutrin is actually very bad for those with bipolar disorder, makes them feel very agitated and anxious. I stopped after a few days. At the time, my dx was unclear whether major depressive or bipolar. Now, a few years later, I've been diagnosed as bipolar, so I guess it makes sense that I hated and couldn't tolerate the Wellbutrin.
Good luck and best wishes.
Lucia> Hi all. New to this website. I have been on medication for a number of years. I am currently on Lexapro 20mg, but I am still not as well as I had done in the past on Paxil. Anyway, my dr just added 150mg Wellbutrin to the mix to try to help. I only started my first pill last nite & I am going through the whole get-used-to-the-new-meds feelings. (jump out of skin, teeth grinding, etc) I really dont mind putting up with that, knowing its only a couple of weeks, as long as this combo helps. Has anyone else done this combo? Did it work?
Posted by debsidoo on January 10, 2006, at 13:27:10
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin » debsidoo, posted by Lucia Francisca on January 10, 2006, at 12:13:21
Hi Lucina,
I have had a dx of bipolar in the past, but frankly I think that dr was reaching for some answers to why I might have acted so strangely a couple of years ago. The truth to that is not bipolar, but, I let my morals slip. Simple as that. My problem is truly a single phobia disorder - nothing else seems to bother me except this 1 issue - the weather. As long as the weather is good...i'm good. Weather gets bad or volient - I'm not so good. Stems back to a feeling of loss of control. Thanks for your comment.
Posted by Racer on January 10, 2006, at 14:11:00
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin, posted by debsidoo on January 10, 2006, at 13:27:10
That sounds like Seasonal Affective Disorder or some variation on it, rather than a phobia, per se. Have you looked into using a light box to help with it? The way I see it, it might help, it can't hurt, so it's worth a try, right?
As for Wellbutrin, I take it, have done for over a year, it's not perfect, but it's been better to me than most any other antidepressant I have taken. I haven't found full remission, by any means, but I'm not even looking for that right now. Just for enough relief that I can come close to functioning. Haven't quite gotten there, yet, but closer than I have been in recent years. The reason I like it so much, though, is that there's none of the emotional blunting I've gotten from SSRIs and the only TCA I could tolerate. And the side effects are more manageable for me than with other drugs.
Unfortunately, increased anxiety/agitation is one of those side effects. For now, I'm putting up with it.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2006, at 20:02:02
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin » debsidoo, posted by Racer on January 10, 2006, at 14:11:00
Racer how come it's combined so often with effexor and a lot of other SSRI's. As monotheraphy it made me appear hypomanic to my pdoc at the time. Put me in the hospital for a week. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Racer on January 10, 2006, at 20:36:31
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin » Racer, posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2006, at 20:02:02
> Racer how come it's combined so often with effexor and a lot of other SSRI's. As monotheraphy it made me appear hypomanic to my pdoc at the time. Put me in the hospital for a week. Fondly, Phillipa
Wellbutrin is often added to serotonergic drugs in hopes that it counters some of their side effects. I am not sure that it does, but that's because pretty much all the people here who have tried it have had poor results.
The biggest issue that it's prescribed for, as an adjunct to SRIs, is sexual dysfunction. I'd be very interested to hear from someone for whom it had worked for that purpose.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 11, 2006, at 0:50:23
In reply to Lexapro Wellbutrin, posted by debsidoo on January 10, 2006, at 12:05:18
I've sorta done the opposite. I took Paxil for 1.5 yrs (50mg, I think) and needed WB to combat the sleepiness associated w/ the high dose. For the 1st few days it was like I was high/drunk (I'll admit, sorta fun). Then I settled in and it worked well.
After a while my combo wasn't helping anymore. Then (after some other stuff) I switched to Lexapro. When I tried to take WB w/ that my anxiety went through the roof. I was able to tolerate it only a day or two.
So, I share this by way of saying that if you feel like jumping out of your skin, call your doc and ask if you should discontinue it. I wouldn't wait a couple weeks. My pdoc said that if it was as bad as it was for me, that meant that it was probably more than start up effects, and that it was probably not going to settle down.
Do you take these meds for depression only or anxiety and depression? I think that may make a difference. I have anxiety problems and depression and so maybe that's why it was hard for me to tolerate.
BTW, have you tried to increase the Lex? 20 wasn't enough for me (but I usually need high doses). I take 40mg.
Sorry to keep blabbing--I hope something I said was helpful!!
Best,
EE
Posted by debsidoo on January 11, 2006, at 8:34:23
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin » Phillipa, posted by Racer on January 10, 2006, at 20:36:31
The reason my doc added the WB was because I needed better results & he was leary to up my Lexapro because of the weight gain side effects unless it was absoluty necessary. (All the different meds had already put quite a bit on me) He wanted me to try this for a couple of weeks to see if I felt better. The problem is, I only have problems if the weather gets violent (I live in Houston)so I may not know if its working for a while. Who knows? But last time there was a tornado watch, I was not doing well.
Last nite I took my 2nd dose of WB (I take Lex in the morning)& I could really feel it, I did sleep, but woke up briefly every couple of hours. Today its not nearly as bad as yesterday. It's also hard to tell cuz I'm on a diet plan that has me on herbs that kinda feel the same way sometimes. LOL. I'm a mess, huh? - debsidoo
> > Racer how come it's combined so often with effexor and a lot of other SSRI's. As monotheraphy it made me appear hypomanic to my pdoc at the time. Put me in the hospital for a week. Fondly, Phillipa
>
> Wellbutrin is often added to serotonergic drugs in hopes that it counters some of their side effects. I am not sure that it does, but that's because pretty much all the people here who have tried it have had poor results.
>
> The biggest issue that it's prescribed for, as an adjunct to SRIs, is sexual dysfunction. I'd be very interested to hear from someone for whom it had worked for that purpose.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 11, 2006, at 9:04:20
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin, posted by debsidoo on January 11, 2006, at 8:34:23
Whoa! Did you say that you take WB at night? That's pretty unusual. It is known to be stimulating and give energy so most people take it in the morning. Is there a reason that your doc told you to take it at night? It shouldn't be a prob to take it at the same time as the Lex. You might get better quality sleep (and the resulting improvement in mood and anxiety) if you take it in the am.
best,
EE
Posted by Racer on January 11, 2006, at 11:05:43
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin, posted by debsidoo on January 11, 2006, at 8:34:23
I agree with EE -- take the WB in the morning, so that it doesn't disturb your sleep.
I assume you're taking the XL? Otherwise you'd be taking it multiple times per day, so that's a safe bet, right? Try taking it in the morning, and if you just can't take them together, take the Lexapro at night. That should help the sleep problems, and maybe some of the other issues, too.
Good luck.
Posted by debsidoo on January 12, 2006, at 9:34:10
In reply to Re: Lexapro Wellbutrin » debsidoo, posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 11, 2006, at 9:04:20
thanks so much for the input. I wish I would have read that last nite! It took me SOOOOO long to get to sleep & then again....woke up many times during the nite, at least I always went back to sleep tho! I had decided this morning that I would at least take it in midafternoon. Now however, after your advice, I will just take both in the morning. Thanks again! Debsidoo
> Whoa! Did you say that you take WB at night? That's pretty unusual. It is known to be stimulating and give energy so most people take it in the morning. Is there a reason that your doc told you to take it at night? It shouldn't be a prob to take it at the same time as the Lex. You might get better quality sleep (and the resulting improvement in mood and anxiety) if you take it in the am.
>
> best,
> EE
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