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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Effexor Wellbutrin
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.

Effexor Wellbutrin

by mcalderon, Apr 06, 2006 12:00AM
I'm presently taking 150 mg of Effexor XR for fibromyalgia with anxiety. So far, I'm pleased with the results, but I did notice a distinct change when I was upped to the 150 from the previous dose. Much more sedated, a distict craving for sugar/carbs.

Anyway, I'd really like to change to a Effexor plus Wellbutrin combo, hoping that each would help mitigate the other's undesirable side effects.

Is this a reasonable option? And what kind of dosages would be indicated for each?

I'd like to have some suggestions for when I go talk to my doctor.

by Roger Gould, M.D., Apr 07, 2006 12:00AM
It is a frequently used combination.  You should reduce the dose of Effexor and start wellbutrin at lowest dose, and then raise it, and either leave the effexor at lower dose or lower it more depending on what you are feeling.
Member Comments (1)

by slittell, May 07, 2006 12:00AM
To: mcalderon
I am in the nursing profession and have been on effexor since 1998.  No one who has prescribed this for me has given me even a clue how bad the withdrawal symptoms can be.  I have been on a tapering dose and stopped them almost a week ago and have felt the worst side effects I have ever had.  I am also on wellbutrin xl 300 mg a day.  whenever  I tried to tell anyone about feeling "electric shocks" when I moved my head or even just my eyes, people would look at me funny.  Now I know I am not alone.  Please, before you take anymore medications; look up the side effects and withdrawal symptoms.  Don't just ask your doctor, they all say the same thing and its not correct. I am going to do everything in my power to get off these things.  Also, since being on the effexor, I can not sleep without taking trazadone.  If I don't take it, I will be up 24/7.

by Plinkyp, Jun 07, 2006 12:00AM
My doctor added Wellbutrin to augment the Effexor.  Unforunately, while it did lift my mood, I didn't tolerate the Wellbutrin very well (I was so sick to my stomach, I couldn't eat -- the only good thing was that I lost a bit of the weight I'd gained when I was on lithium before stopping that to try Wellbutring!).  I've been taking 225mg Effexor and my doctor kept me on that dose and added whatever the lowest dose of Wellbutrin.
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