Wellbutrin SR with Effexor?

I had been taking Wellbutrin SR with Paxil for three and a half months (300mg of Wellbutrin SR + 5mg of Paxil in the morning, and 150mg of Wellbutrin SR in the evening).  I was prescribed 37.5 mg of Effexor to replace the Paxil.  

9 months ago when the depression started, I was only taking Paxil.  I was upto 40mg a day and I didn't feel that it was working as much as it should, plus many many side effects (mainly sexual and weight gain). Thats when I weaned myself off Paxil and had no problem (I took it very slow, slower than my doctor suggested) until I hit 5mg.  When I stopped the Paxil for a few days, I was in hell.  I quickly got back on the 5mg of Paxil, and have done so until now.

My Psychiarist intructed me to start the Effexor in place of the Paxil, and I am frightened to death to start.  My regular GP said that she felt it wasn't a good idea because Effexor is almost exactly like Wellbutrin SR and that something must have been needed in my system from the Paxil to keep me stable.  As you can imagine, I am very confused.  My Psychiarist is now on vacation, and my next appointment isn't until September 13.  If possible, could you tell me a little more about Effexor and what it may do with the Wellbutrin SR then the Paxil could?  My GP also stated that she had never heard of this combination of anti-depressants.  Any suggestions and/or comments are greatly appreciated.  Thank You.
Jeanette

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Effexor has some of the same mechanisms of action as Paxil and it is not like WEllbutrin, which is an atypical drug.

[Jeanette]

I am a 19 year old female.  Not to sure if that helps at all.
Jeanette

[Alyson]

My husband was on wellbutrin and effexor and he had no side effects and felt great.He has decided to try it now without medication and with the psychiatrists help has been weaned off both.A psychiatrist is pretty versed in medications and I would intend to do as he says bec ause he keeps up on those meds more so than a GP.If he thought you needed the two I would give it a try if I were you.Good Luck.

[Katkan]

I am currently taking wellbutrin sr , prozac and zanax. i have Bi-polar and what my dr. calls a rapid recycler. I'm just wandering am I going to have to take these meds the rest of my life . the dr. seems to think so. Before I was put on these meds I was very suicidal . I can atleast function now and am able to live a much more normal lifestyle. it just depresses mer that I have to take so many meds I also have Ra so of course that is even more meds. how do you shake this depression?   Katkan