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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rme on July 30, 2009, at 15:40:44
my good friend lost her job and lost her health insurance. she can't afford to go to doctor or pay out of pocket for her meds, but she really needs something to help with depression. I have a bunch of wellbutrin (bupropion hcl 100 mg tablets) left that my Dr. prescribed after I gave birth last year and I told her she could have them. will wellbutrin help in lieu of zyprexa, or do they address totally different medical problems? Thanks!
Posted by chumbawumba on July 30, 2009, at 23:13:33
In reply to wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by rme on July 30, 2009, at 15:40:44
Zyprexa is an antipsychotic that is is used in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant. My guess is that if she was prescribed Zyprexa, Wellbutrin would not be a good replacement. It might or might work well in addition to Zyprexa, but not so much as a substitute. If possible she should look into ordering her Zyprexa from Canada, or an Indian or New Zealand pharmacy. It will be available as generic olanzapine. The cash price will be much cheaper. For example 100 of the 10 mg tablets for $109.32. I have used this pharmacy before with much sucess and savings. They are reputable.:
http://portal.ca-usrx2.com/(c4qcbc3vfpcmrjzj3essci45)/productsearch.aspx?product=ZYPREXA
Posted by chumbawumba on July 30, 2009, at 23:22:09
In reply to wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by rme on July 30, 2009, at 15:40:44
PS
the home page is
Posted by morganpmiller on July 30, 2009, at 23:51:00
In reply to wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by rme on July 30, 2009, at 15:40:44
A small dose of wellbutrin may help with her depression but she may find herself with more anxiety and agitation.
Exactly why was she on Zyprexa and at what dose?
Posted by rme on July 31, 2009, at 0:15:31
In reply to Re: wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by morganpmiller on July 30, 2009, at 23:51:00
I have no idea what dose she was on but she has ADHD and depression. I guess the Zyprexa was for the ADHD? I dunno. I think the Zyprexa worked okay but even when she was on it she had trouble focusing and staying on task. Off it she's all over the map these days.
Posted by morganpmiller on July 31, 2009, at 0:29:33
In reply to Re: wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by rme on July 31, 2009, at 0:15:31
Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic often used off label for bipolar.
Is it the only medication she is on?
She is probably bipolar, all that "all over the place" energy is a common symptom.
How close are you? Close enough to give her your Welbutrin I guess.
I guess she has no family that can help her.
This sounds like a situation where she has kept some things to her self and many that are close to her don't even know exactly what is going on. Maybe I am wrong.
Posted by rme on July 31, 2009, at 7:52:36
In reply to Re: wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by morganpmiller on July 31, 2009, at 0:29:33
We are pretty close. She is my neighbor and, since I have no family in town, she is like an aunt/big sister to me. She's probably 30 years older than me and she lives with her sister - so she's not isolated and there are several people in her life who she is close with. But money is tight for all of them so I don't think there is much chance of anyone helping her financially, at least not with enough money to help her pay each month for expensive drugs.
My sister is a pharmacist and I posed this same question to her last night. She said that Walmart offers $4 generic drugs and that there might be something on the $4 list that would work for my friend. So I think I'm going to suggest that she scrape together enough money to pay for a doctor's visit, take the Walmart generic drug list with her, and ask her doc if there is something on the cheap list that might work for her.
I'm certainly a lot more comfortable doing that --and just giving her the $4 for the meds if necessary -- than taking a chance on her having a negative reaction to some drugs I gave her.
Thanks so much everyone for your help!
Posted by linkadge on July 31, 2009, at 17:03:15
In reply to Re: wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by rme on July 31, 2009, at 7:52:36
This is a *bad* idea for a number of reasons.
Giving somebody medication that was not prescribed could put you on the line if they react adversly to it. Wellbutrin can cause seizures in some people for example.
You don't really know why the medication was prescribed. Sometimes patients say one thing, but the doctor knows another. Zyprexa is a dopamine angatonist wherase wellbutrin is an agoinst. I.e. their effects are clinically opposite.
If zyprexa was prescribed for agitation or hallucinations, then the wellbutrin could greatly exaserbate this. It could also worsen her anxiety.
Next, what happens when she runs out??? Now she is hooked on a medication which she has no prescription for and perhaps can't afford. I.e. its not a long term solution.
Linkadge
Posted by morganpmiller on July 31, 2009, at 23:01:45
In reply to Re: wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by linkadge on July 31, 2009, at 17:03:15
You're right link. I never should have said it "might" help. It could turn out to be disastrous for her.
Posted by morganpmiller on July 31, 2009, at 23:12:57
In reply to Re: wellbutrin instead of zyprexa, posted by rme on July 31, 2009, at 7:52:36
I know times are tough financially. I can't imagine that collectively everyone cannot raise enough money to help your friend out until she figures out a long term solution.
I'm not crazy about taking Zyprexa and other neuroleptics long term unless someone has psychotic symptoms. The off label uses should be kept short term if possible.
This is the end of the thread.
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