zoloft & welbutrin for depression

[mm27]

I just wanted to know if anyone is on the zoloft/welbutrin medications.  I have had depression for many years and have been taking zoloft only.  Up until recently I have never had depression bad enough to have physical effects.  I didnt even know about the physical effects of depression.  My depression and anxiety have gotten severe over the past few months.  Today my doctor told me to keep taking the zoloft and he also told me to start taking welbutrin 150 xl.  Supposed to effect different parts or chemicals of the brain.  Today is only day 1 and I realize that it takes some time to take effect.  So my question is how has it worked for anyone out there taking this combo.  Do you feel better, worse, same.  I hope to feel better since it is supposed to effect the dopamine and make me happier and what not.  So any info would be great for what I should expect over the next couple of weeks.  

[PixieNYC]

you're very welcome! anytime! I sincerely hope you'll feel better soon! /Pixie

[mm27]

thank you very much for writing back.  I too am an extrovert and have zero energy.  I am hoping i will feel some of the effects that you explained.  I am also on ativan for anxiety but only as needed.  thanks again.

[PixieNYC]

Hey, I am on Wellbutrin, 150mg twice a day and you're quite correct in that it's affecting the dopamion levels, whereas most other anti-depressants are SSRIs, affecting mostly the serotonin levels. I refuse to take serontonin reuptake inhibitors although they probably would make me feel calmer, less upset, but I prefer anxiety to feelings of lethargy, a "nothing matters, but so what?"-feelings and being tired, having no sex-drive and no reactions to things. I am by nature very extrovert and would hate changing that, hence accepting my anxiety by helping my depression. Wellbutrin makes you often edgy, gives you insomnia, but keeps you motivated, energetic wheras it can give you more anxiety. The "others" (like paxil, zoloft, prozac, celexa) all makes one calmer, lethargic, makes certain people gain weight and lose their sex drive (not all, of course... ). So you see the difference? It's KIND OF either more anxiety and also more energy/ motivation OR less anxiety and also less caring about life, ie balnkness.

I think many people now get combos and maybe that is good. Give it some weeks and come back and do tell! I would never take serotonin re-uptake inhibitors regardless, but I am still very interested! Oh, and bupropion (the active ingredient in wellbutrin) usually takes less than two weeks to take at least some effect. For me it took effect after three days. Doesn't mean I was fine, just that I felt it, like an rush of energy, motivation. Good luck and do get back here!

Am not a doctor, so don't take it as more than a comment, etc, etc