Zoloft vs Wellbutrin

[Troy81284]

I have been taking 25 mg of Zoloft for over 10 years now as well as 0.5 mg Lorazepam for anxiety.  I am considering switching to Wellbutrin to reduce the sexual side effects. Zoloft treats my depression just fine,  My concern is the effect of alcohol with Wellbutrin vs Zoloft.  I would consider myself to be a moderate drinker, maybe a glass of wine or 2 with dinner during the week and maybe 5-6 drinks per day on the weekend. With Zoloft, I do not have any side effects that I notice and have no problem with Zoloft and alochol.  In reading, about Wellbutrin it appears that the reaction with alcohol can be more severe and can increase the risk of seizure.  My doctor is considering prescribing 150 mg per day of Wellbutrin.  I have never had a seizure before.  If I switch to Wellbutrin, can I continue to drink as I am?  Is Wellbutrin more taxing on the liver vs. Zoloft?  Am I better off staying with Zoloft and dealing with the sexual side effects or make the switch?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Since you are doing so well on so little, you might even try 25mg every other day, and even less if that works out, then you won't have the sexual side effects to deal with.  I can't tell you any thing different than you have already read re wellbutrin. All the side effects are unpredictable in any particular case, so not easy to predict what will happen with you.

[Starzstuff]

HOLLYWOOD stars Kirsty Alley and Kelly Preston have launched a public drive to restrict the use of anti anti-depressants and medicines they say can cause suicide and violence among children and teens.

The pair has joined a group of doctors who are pushing for US authorities to slap tougher warnings of their possible sideeffects

on prescription medicines such as the anti-depressants and drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder.

Both Alley and Preston, who is married to John Travolta, are members of the Church of Scientology that strongly opposes the use of psychiatric drugs.

"We can no longer sit back and let the clock tick, waiting for more deaths, suicides or people driven to violent acts by psychotropic drugs," the pair and a group of doctors opposed to the use of psychotropic drugs said in a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Parents in particular have been misled about the effects of these drugs," Alley said in a statement. "They are highly addictive; kids are using them more than street drugs to get high," she said.

The actresses said they were taking action to raise public awareness after the FDA warned that stimulants prescribed to six million US children can cause "hallucinations and psychotic, suicidal and violent behaviour".

But the actresses say that even stronger warnings are needed.

"Parents don't know that these drugs are turning kids into walking time bombs," said Preston.

"Eight out of the last 13 school shooters were taking prescribed psychiatric drugs, and only now is the FDA investigating the fact these drugs can cause violence," she said.

[Marciand]

So Kirsty Allie and John Travolta and now Tom Cruise are on the campaign trail to warn folks not to take these drugs.  What do they suggest as an alternative????????  Some people are psychotic and suicidal without them.  Help me out here.

[momtoconnor]

I think each person, each family needs to make medical decisions based on the individual needs of the patient.  I think it is poor to make generalized statements like "children should not take antidepressants."  If a child is suicidal/severely depressed, the family needs to seek psychiatric help and let this expert guide their decision making.  Second opinions would be good too.  If my child was prescribed an antidepressant by her pediatrician, I would definitely make an appointment with a psychiatrist and begin therapy.

[KittyMeghanLeah2]

Well keep in mind Kirstie Alley used to abuse cocaine, I don't know about the "others."  But sounds to me like she was "self-medicating" which is what people normally do without prescribed medications available.  I think they are grossly ignorant.  I think medications should be prescribed when needed, but not prescribed freely and carelessly.

[KittyMeghanLeah2]

By the way, sexual side effects versus seizures.. I would pick the sexual side effects.  Seizures can cause brain damage.  That's what I would choose.  I've taken both wellbutrin and zoloft.
What I say is only my personal perspective, I'm not a doctor.