Wellbutrin (Bupropion) as an AD?

[Anon54]

What do ppl generally think of Bupropion as an AD?
I know it can be mixed with SSRIs but what about SNRIs as Bupropion is also a noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor as well as dopamine?

I've recently quit smoking which was making me lethargic & I find that the nicotine gum seems to give me a mood lift. Its clean because it only contains nicotine & doesnt contain the other 1000 carcinogenic substances.

Bupropion also works on the same receptors as nicotine so im thinking it may help with my depression/anxiety & .
I was wondering what how ppl generally think it compares with the typical SSRIs/SNRIs to treat depression/anxiety.

Currently I take Zyprexa a antipsychotic off label for anxiety. I take benzos too which works well but I need atleast 100mg of diazepam or 200mg of temazepam to get any effects so it's not practical to take every day & i buy it. i dont get a script for it.

Ive also cut down my caffeine use from 4 strong cups of coffee to 3 regular strength. I already feel alot calmer without so much caffeine.

So yeah nicotine gum seemed to help my depression so im hopeing Bupropion might be a good option for me. So im just im just interested in other ppls experiences with Bupropion & how it compares with traditional ADs.

 

[n3ophy7e]

I tried bupropion for depression for a few months, late last year. It worked VERY well for me. But everyone is different so you really need to discuss this with your doctor.

The main things I would note as words of caution are that bupropion can initally make you a bit agitated when you first start taking it due to decreased DA reuptake (I believe) and it can also increase suicidal ideation. So you really need to be careful (especially if you're under the age of 25...I have no idea how old you are though ). Bupropion also decreases the seizure threshold so be very careful when binging on depressants such as alcohol and benzos.

Bupropion will probably make you detest the nicotine gum by the way, so don't expect to keep enjoying the gum if you start on bupropion :D

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

^Very well said.

In the end, you and your doctor should decide which antidepressants to try, everybody really does react differently. I've heard stories both good and bad about bupropion...but n3o is on-point about the nicotine.

 

[scramdor]

As far as AD's go, Wellbutrin stands near the top as far as effectiveness. I was on Wellbutrin for two years, 150mg sr twice a day, and found it to work very well. Unlike the AD's I tried previously, Wellbutrin had a positive effect on sex drive where as the others, Prozac and Zoloft, had negative effects on that.

Some people report increased anxiety initially. Personally I didn't have a problem, and anxiety has always been something I struggle with.

It seems like the best fit for you based on the information you gave us, but doctor knows best Usually

 

[Anon54]

I tried bupropion for depression for a few months, late last year. It worked VERY well for me. But everyone is different so you really need to discuss this with your doctor.

The main things I would note as words of caution are that bupropion can initally make you a bit agitated when you first start taking it due to decreased DA reuptake (I believe) and it can also increase suicidal ideation. So you really need to be careful (especially if you're under the age of 25...I have no idea how old you are though ). Bupropion also decreases the seizure threshold so be very careful when binging on depressants such as alcohol and benzos.

Bupropion will probably make you detest the nicotine gum by the way, so don't expect to keep enjoying the gum if you start on bupropion :D

what's DA reuptake?
I know its a dopamine reuptake inhibitor but u'r obviously talking about something different because it increases dopamine, not decreases.

and yeah. i havnt smoked for about 3 weeks. I didnt have any gum for a few days & felt fine. than when i had a piece of gum again it gave me a mood lift.

Im pretty sure nicotine is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor (is this correct?) so u could call it a kind of AD really. I wonder if ppl who dont smoke & suffer from depression could benefit from chewing the gum... I actually knew someone who quit smoking but chewed the game for like 8 months not to avoid cigarette w/d but simply because they liked the effect of the gum. The person found it difficult to quit using the gum.

the gum doesnt contain all the active drugs contained in tobacco which is interesting btw. this is quoted from wikipedia

Tobacco smoke contains anabasine, anatabine, and nornicotine.[citation needed] It also contains the monoamine oxidase inhibitors harman and norharman.[28] These beta-carboline compounds significantly decrease MAO activity in smokers.[28][29] MAO enzymes break down monoaminergic neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. It is thought that the powerful interaction between the MAOI's and the nicotine is responsible for most of the addictive properties of tobacco smoking.

but i dont like smoking because of all the carbon monoxide, tar etc. which reduce oxygen levels. the gum is a clean source of nicotine & seems to be helping me focus. Ive also read that nicotine can improve memory & alot of other stuff but id have to find the source for that. it might be on the wikipedia page

heres some other interesting info on nicotine from wikipedia

there is evidence that nicotine itself has the potential to prevent and treat alzheimer's disease.[82] Nicotine has been shown to delay the onset of Parkinson's disease in studies involving monkeys and humans.[83][84][85] A study has shown a protective effect of nicotine itself on neurons due to nicotine activation of α7-nAChR and the PI3K/Akt pathway which inhibits apoptosis-inducing factor release and mitochondrial translocation, cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activation.[86]

Recent studies have indicated that nicotine can be used to help adults suffering from autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy. The same areas that cause seizures in that form of epilepsy are responsible for processing nicotine in the brain.

the only SNRI ive found to work well with me was tramadol which is very similar to effexor so ive read. I might give Effexor a try. than i might give Wellbutrin a try separately. than i might try them together.

It's safe to mix effexor & wellbutrin right?
im asking because they're both noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors

another Q...
Does Pristiq, effexors active metabolite have the same effect as effexor or is it stronger.
I tried Pristiq & found it to be quite an uncomfortable stimulant so im hoping effexor isnt as stimulating but if they're pretty much identical in effect i might not even try effexor or just try it in a low dose.

its max dose is 300mg right? someone told me once but i cant remember if that was right. I suppose I can look it up

what's the range of doses wellbutrin gets prescribed. i want a dose which isnt uncomfortably stimulating. I even found tramadol to be uncomfortably stimulating if I took 400mg its max dose

 

[effie]

Good advice in here

Bupropion is only licensed for smoking cessation in the UK but I have heard good things about it as an antidepressant on BL. There is a paper here reviewing the evidence (epublish only at present, and only abstract available without journal access) which found that bupropion has a good evidence base and could be recommended first line - but it is not as effective for anxiety as the SSRI/SNRIs. It lacks the sexual side effects many other antidepressants have, which is a definite point in it's favour!

However, as everyone said this is a very individual decision and what suits someone else may not suit you. Your doctor is best placed to assess what is the most appropriate treatment for you, and often you just need to give things a (decent) trial to see if they are going to suit or not.

 

[n3ophy7e]

what's DA reuptake?
I know its a dopamine reuptake inhibitor but u'r obviously talking about something different because it increases dopamine to decreases.

No, that's exactly what I mean. It's a dopamine(DA) reuptake inhibitor, therefore it inhibits DA reuptake, i.e. it decreases DA reuptake, i.e. it increases the amount of DA in the synapses.
Sorry, that can be confusing

Unlike the AD's I tried previously, Wellbutrin had a positive effect on sex drive where as the others, Prozac and Zoloft, had negative effects on that.

This is the exact reason why I prefer Wellbutrin over other ADs. It sounds pathetic, but when you're in a long-term relationship (or any relationship for that matter) and you have NO sex drive whatsoever because of the meds you're on, it can be pretty devestating to both you and your partner.

I eventually went off Wellbutrin because a) I wasn't feeling depressed any more, and b) (more importantly) I would get quite verbally aggressive whenever I got drunk, which is VERY unlike me. Not cool.

 

[Anon54]

Good advice in here

Bupropion is only licensed for smoking cessation in the UK but I have heard good things about it as an antidepressant on BL. There is a paper here reviewing the evidence (epublish only at present, and only abstract available without journal access) which found that bupropion has a good evidence base and could be recommended first line - but it is not as effective for anxiety as the SSRI/SNRIs. It lacks the sexual side effects many other antidepressants have, which is a definite point in it's favour!

However, as everyone said this is a very individual decision and what suits someone else may not suit you. Your doctor is best placed to assess what is the most appropriate treatment for you, and often you just need to give things a (decent) trial to see if they are going to suit or not.

wellbutrin is prescribed here in australia under the name zyban to help quit smoking also.
i dunno about wellbutrin but the nicotine gum ive been chewing seems to be giving me a mood lift & it doesnt have all the unpleasant side effects as smoking like shortness of breath & lethargy.
i feel so much better not smoking. & ive cut down my caffeine intake too. my trick was to buy decaf. i drink normal coffee in the morning & than when i feel like a cup in the arvo i have dec. so just by cutting down on caffeine & quitting smoking my anxiety has dropped heaps. I hope this is motivation for anyone out there suffering from anxiety that u can help stay calmer from just making the same life changes im trying to do.
im still doing codeine & valium though.. but i think the biggest problem with them is addiction & they arnt to bad on ya health

more info on the nicotine gum ive been chewing from wiki

Nicotine appears to improve ADHD symptoms. Some studies are focusing on benefits of nicotine therapy in adults with ADHD

 

[Benzopiates]

Wellbutrin really does nothing for me, I tried both the SR and XL formula, 100mg and 150mg and I didn't notice any difference so I stopped

 

[DroneLore]

I took it for a couple months. Started at 150 / day, then went up to 300 mg / day. Basically stopped cold turkey. it worked for me. Elevated my mood and kept it there.