Zoloft to Welbutrin

[stefanie]

I have been taking 100mg of Zoloft for a year now for depression.  It is effective but my sexual desire is pretty much gone.  My doctor suggested I try Wellbutrin.  I am wondering if Wellbutrin is as effective as Zoloft, how much would be a good amount to take as compared to 100 mg of zoloft, will my sexual desire come back and how quickly it will help with my depression. I know, many issues to cover, I really appreciate your time and effort here!  Thank you!!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The shift from one antidepressant to another is quite common with this particular side effect. Everyone has their own personal reaction to each of these medications, and all you can do is experiment until you find the right one..the one that has the most positive effect and the least side effects.

If your doctor is experienced with these two medications, he will be the best one to help figure out the right starting dose for you, given your sensitivity to medications. He will also be able to advise you about possible waiting periods between these two medications.

There is another approach you might think about. You have been on zoloft for a year. Maybe your life is working better and you need less, or possibly none.  Consider reducing the dose first and see what happens to your libido. Since you are comfortable with this medication, that might be the best approach to try first.

[justme]

wow! I just literally stumbled onto this site...I've been taking 75mg. daily of Zoloft for about 4-5 yrs. It's been a GODSEND! It started as a prescription for 'depression' but ended up being the 'chemical balance' I lacked since I was a teenager ... does that make any sense??

  Anyway ... I'm quite concerned now, cause I've opted to switch from Zoloft to Wellbutrin, primarily cause of the weight gain ... YIKES!! approx. 25-30 lbs. in the yrs. I've been on Zoloft ... but boy, I'll tell ya, the transition is really scary!!  My Doc prescribed a kind of 'weaning off' Zoloft and onto Wellbutrin over the course of a week ... I THINK I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable with the Well, but for a few days there I started to feel the same 'angst', drop of a hat anger/tears that I'd felt before Zoloft and it was really scary!!! ... my questions ....

I saw someone recommended switching over the course of a month ... was a 'week' not long enuff??

Also, someone previously asked if Wellbutrin would basically have the same effectiveness of Zoloft ... neither did I see an answer here, but my own Dr. never really definitively answered it either ...

Can anyone address my issues???  I'd SOOOO appreciate it!!!
Thanks!

[Jaz]

RE:  Comment by "Cathy" on Fri. Jan. 26, 2001.  

I've been on Wellbutrin for almost a  year now. My dosage started at 100mg per day and over a 3 month period was increased to 300mg per day. Needless to say I was in a complete "FOG."  I started reducing the dosage GRADUALLY and am now taking the original dosage of 100mg per day. However, I'm waiting to get into an Alternative Medical Doctor. Why?  My sex drive is virtually non-existent!!!! It wasn't until I started taking Wellbutrin that I began experiencing a total disinterest in sex. I'm 47 and I've always had a healthy, active sex life and quite frankly I'm not getting the joke. :-)

Thanks Cathy, for sharing. I'd never heard of Wilson's Syndrome before but I will research it,Thanks to you!

The moral of MY story? Listen to your instincts as I do. Something chemical is not right in my body and I intend to find out what and why.

Think positive!

[pete]

I have been on Zoloft only one week .25mg and noticed my sexual functioning changed, I have now delayed ejaculation, but have firmer erections, I am I going to get my normal functioning back once I get used to the Zoloft?

[Cathy]

My therapist prescribed Wellbutrin (300 mg / day) for me three months ago for Depression and it didn't increase my sex drive, which was already low before.  Since then, I've gone to see an Alternative Medicine doctor who found what was causing my Depression and low sex drive.  It's called "Wilson's Syndrome" (www.wilsonssyndrome.com).  You may want to check into this before you continue to feed your body anti-depressants which have adverse affects on other parts of your body down the road.  Best wishes.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I checked for a second opinion from a well respected psychopharmacologist, and he wrote the following;

,
      I agree with the content of your letter.  Assuming that Stephanie is
experiencing a first episode of depression, she should try to taper off after
a year; if not , then a two year trial is probably more appropriate. Another
approach to her  problem is to add  another agent to her regime to
"counteract" Zoloft"s effect on libido. These are usually  adrenergic agents
such as Wellbutrin, Desipramine, or psycholstimulants.If I decided to switch
from Zoloft to Wellbutrin, I would keep the patient on Zoloft, start the
Wellbutrin, and taper the Zoloft after a month.
                                      

[Randy]

Just wanted to thank you for your candor about losing your sexual deires while on Zoloft.  I've been taking 200mg for the last year and a half.  In the begining, I was not able to have intercourse with my wife at all.  After a few months, it was still very rare.  My sexual desires are also very low.  I'm going to ask him about Wellbutrin, too.

[raymond]

Just wanted to thank you for your candor about losing your sexual deires while on Zoloft.  I've been taking 200mg for the last year and a half.  In the begining, I was not able to have intercourse with my wife at all.  After a few months, it was still very rare.  My sexual desires are also very low.  I'm going to ask him about Wellbutrin, too.