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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Safety of taking 5-htp and Wellbutrin XL 150mg
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Safety of taking 5-htp and Wellbutrin XL 150mg
by BrianK, Nov 15, 2003 12:00AM
I have been having some issues with Anti-depressants actually working. Whether u are suppose to notice any major changes or not, it seems that while on SSRI's they seem to reach a point as if your body has gotten used to the drug like when a person takes a narcotic pain killer, the body gets used to it and the reduce the pain at that point,you have to increase the medication.. Well this is what it has felt like for the past year.. first it was zoloft, which I now hate, then prozac, then paxil then prozac and paxil, then no prozac but paxil cr 25mg and Wellbutrin @150mg daily, and now only Wellbutrin with 5-htp.
I guess I want to know, am I poisoning myself by taking both? Is the weird flu like symptoms, lack of balance, fuzziness (to name a few) being caused by the paxil withdraw, or mixing wellbutrin and 5-htp? ( I already know what 5-htp does, or I would not have been so eager to try it..) NOTHING seems to work anymore, and I am hoping one, or the other or both will fix the issues.. Am I seeing a shrink? not at the moment, but am looking into it (as in for one under my insurance).. The thing is, I take other meds for other issues.. chronic headaches, migraines
(i react poorly to migraine drugs on the market.) Ulcerative colitis (in remission.. i hope), depression.. seasonal allergies..hyper-acid stomach.. and a half of darvocet (morning time) for RLS. (i can't take NSAID's) (and i read that ssri's r known to be trouble maskers w/ rls.) because of having UC, i managed to have a yoyo weight problem.. but, hey, u know other than that stuff i'm healthy...(uh huh) ,... the really bad part of the depression is the irrational thinking that happens when the Anti-depressants fail to work properly. (And you REALLY do not want to know what that means.) My best friend pointed out that he has taken 5-htp before and it works miracles on him, he really doesn't want to do prescription drugs if he doesn't have to, unfortunately 5-htp is still too expensive for him so he suffers and tries to deal with issues as they happen.. (and I told him to call me if he really gets bad..) Back to the main question in hand... Is it safe to take 5-htp and Wellbutrin XL 150mg at the same time.. (ok, spaced by 10 hours.. another words, not swallowed at the same time). And have there ever been any weird weird side effects from 5-htp (such as in feeling hot and sweaty for about 90 minutes after consuming 100+ mg of 5-htp? as I remind my doctor, I am an atypical patient, what happens with others doesn't always happen with me... it has been this way all my life.. Ok, I know this is a lot to consume and a bit confusing so any help would be greatly appreciated.. I see my primary doctor in a few days of this message, I just want more than one or two opinions on the issues.. and if there is any additional reading on the subject u might want to suggest. Thanks. :)
I guess I want to know, am I poisoning myself by taking both? Is the weird flu like symptoms, lack of balance, fuzziness (to name a few) being caused by the paxil withdraw, or mixing wellbutrin and 5-htp? ( I already know what 5-htp does, or I would not have been so eager to try it..) NOTHING seems to work anymore, and I am hoping one, or the other or both will fix the issues.. Am I seeing a shrink? not at the moment, but am looking into it (as in for one under my insurance).. The thing is, I take other meds for other issues.. chronic headaches, migraines
(i react poorly to migraine drugs on the market.) Ulcerative colitis (in remission.. i hope), depression.. seasonal allergies..hyper-acid stomach.. and a half of darvocet (morning time) for RLS. (i can't take NSAID's) (and i read that ssri's r known to be trouble maskers w/ rls.) because of having UC, i managed to have a yoyo weight problem.. but, hey, u know other than that stuff i'm healthy...(uh huh) ,... the really bad part of the depression is the irrational thinking that happens when the Anti-depressants fail to work properly. (And you REALLY do not want to know what that means.) My best friend pointed out that he has taken 5-htp before and it works miracles on him, he really doesn't want to do prescription drugs if he doesn't have to, unfortunately 5-htp is still too expensive for him so he suffers and tries to deal with issues as they happen.. (and I told him to call me if he really gets bad..) Back to the main question in hand... Is it safe to take 5-htp and Wellbutrin XL 150mg at the same time.. (ok, spaced by 10 hours.. another words, not swallowed at the same time). And have there ever been any weird weird side effects from 5-htp (such as in feeling hot and sweaty for about 90 minutes after consuming 100+ mg of 5-htp? as I remind my doctor, I am an atypical patient, what happens with others doesn't always happen with me... it has been this way all my life.. Ok, I know this is a lot to consume and a bit confusing so any help would be greatly appreciated.. I see my primary doctor in a few days of this message, I just want more than one or two opinions on the issues.. and if there is any additional reading on the subject u might want to suggest. Thanks. :)
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Nov 16, 2003 12:00AM
, Nov 16, 2003 12:00AM
My recommendation is the same as I gave the previous person..don't spend your life with medication cocktails to control your symptoms of stress and depression. Deal with them in therapy...you are right, medications stop being effective because your life problems don't go away, they are just suppressed, and they break through...You could be on an endless question for this magical relief...get down to work instead. See a psychiatrist who will treat your mind...you can some help with both weight and the stresses of your life at www.masteringfood.com.
I went through Paxil withdrawal and had dizziness, ringing in the ears - it was horrible. I'd say it is totally the Paxil withdrawal but I haven't yet taken 5-htp so I don't know for sure. It just sounds like Paxil withdrawal.
I found this site because I was looking for info on 5-htp with Wellbutrin. How have you been faring with that mix? I'd like to know.
Thank you,
Theresa