Can I switch to Wellbutrin?

[playagirl]

Hi! I have had anxiety my entire life and just about two years ago I developed chronic hives. I never had allergies of any kind in the past and now by entire body explodes in hives, my lips swell. I have been to the ER a few times. Doctors cannot find a cause or cure. The only medication that works like a miracle for me is Doxepin so that is why I thought maybe this was related to anxiety or the fact that Doxepin is an H1 and H2 antagonist. However doxepin has caused me to gain about 15lbs and I want to get pregnant in the near future so I am not sure what to do and doctors aren't much help. Does Wellbutrin work in a similar way to doxepin? Do you think that would work for my hives? I have read that wellbutrin is safe to take during pregnancy and can cause weight loss (I am talking weight loss before pregnancy), so if it works as an antihistamine as well, it might be perfect for me. Thoughts??

[Paxiled]

Prozac has the least reported weight gain of the ssris and is the easiest to quit taking, so it's not a bad place to start if you decide to go the ssri route.  Lexapro would be the second least likely to cause weight gain.  But of course, it's very individual.

[playagirl]

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it.

[M4Y0U]

Paxiled is right. Also Wellbutrin doesn't affect serotonin. It will block the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. That makes it a very stimulating antidepressant.

Most serotonin receptors antagonists like H1-H2 will unfortunately cause weight gain.

What you can do is to talk to your doctor about a soft SSRI like Zoloft. Zoloft in the literature is not linked with a lot of weight gain. One of the few SSRI not linked with weight gain.

M4

[Paxiled]

Wellbutrin is a stimulating anti-depressant, not usually used when anxiety is the primary problem.