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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Wellbutrin SR with Effexor?
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.
Wellbutrin SR with Effexor?
by Jeanette, Aug 12, 2001 12:00AM
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
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
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 13, 2001 12:00AM
, Aug 13, 2001 12:00AM
Effexor has some of the same mechanisms of action as Paxil and it is not like WEllbutrin, which is an atypical drug.
Jeanette