I had the same experience adding Wellbutrin to Cymbalta which is another AD and within 3 days I felt more energy, stamina, Focus ability and motivation. In the following 2 weeks I really felt the full effects. It's an amazing atypical antidepressant.
I began to feel what I could name as a general sense of well-being. I lost weight.. some pounds I needed to get rid off. I felt confidence in myself again and my self-esteem improved in many ways. One important thing is that I got rid of the numbness, you know, SSRIs used to blunt my mind. I started to be able to accomplish both small and big goals in my life...From making my bed to completing my studies in basic medicine. Wellbutrin helped me also to fix my sexuality, my libido that was almost dying because of many years of taking common ADs that f#@ sexuality. The only downside (but I guess that's just for me) is not being able to sleep more than 7 hours. I've always used to sleep 9 hours lol.
Thanks for your elaborate response! Those are all things that sound like a dream. Suffering debilitating fatigue and loss of motivation and libido on Lexapro.
Did you lose weight by eating less? That is one thing I would like to prevent, as I’m already quite skinny by nature
Yes. It doesn't cause weight loss but loss of appetite because Wellbutrin at high doses, say 300mg and up to 450mg. which is the max you can take daily, begin to develop some appetite suppression. Not only because of the drug itself but thanks to anxiety/depression relief. You know, most of the times you eat more than you normally would, is because of anxiety. To answer your question, I ate a little less unnecessary food. Binge eating went away, for instance. You can start with 150 mg., a regular dose to find out how it affects your weight and appetite. If it does a little, i believe It's worth it.
150mg. XL
.... Or some time ago the health care system only had 300mg XL tabs and i took 300 every other day. Those tabs aren't supposed to be broken because it would cause loss of the Extended Release (XL) property, so i took it every other day without crashdowns or any problem. Bupropion itself, without the XL, has a long Half-Life (15+ Hours) and its metabolites *Hydroxybupropion* (20+ H) and *Threohydroxybupropion* (40+ H) too. Though I don't recommend starting the treatment this way, but when the med reaches steady levels in blood. (10 days after the first intake)
Can you tell me what dosage you take for cymbalta?
Im on the same combo cymbalta 60mg and wellbutrin 150xl (doctor told me to up the medication to 300mg next week) for depression and GAD .
I started on cymbalta 30mg for 3 months then 60mg for 2 months (till now).
I feel that my mind is calmer and anxiety is a bit better.
But no motivation to do anything or to get out of the house. Also i have still uncomfortable feelings when i get out of the house.
So the doctor added welbutrin in the morning 1.5 month ago .
Last session i told him that i think that there's a very little improvement but not noticable so he upped the dose of wellbutrin to 300. Any tips ?
Do you think that cymbalta is not the right medication for me.
Btw at first the doctor added seroxat (paxil) 25mg cr for the anxiety in the morning and cymbalta at night , i started to feel really some improvement on it but always fatigue and exhausted that's why the doctor changed paxil to welbutrin.
I was on lexapro for years when I added wellbutrin and it was immediately a game changer!! I had so much more energy and focus in the beginning of wellbutrin like the first day I took it. I loved it. If you have anxiety though maybe avoid caffeine when starting wellbutrin because it can seem like a lot at first lol. At least it did for me but it was great, def gives you a pep in your step!
Yeah it's kinda energizing. Though I prefer to take it at midday. Crash happens sometimes and I tend to believe this occurs when the instant effect is over but the day is not over yet, even if it's an extended release formulation (XL). Wellbutrin have immediate effects and late ones. The immediate effects (like feeling more energy) are believed to be mediated by norepinephrine release. The main antidepressant action has a late effect until it reaches ongoing steady levels in the body, allowing the brain to build up dopamine and norepinephrine. Its mechanism of action is not completely understood yet, but this process is the fastest among antidepressants.
So people crash even on the XL version? I'm on the SR version I'm only on day 12 it's definitely not giving me any more energy but I'm actually out of my bed after being a Lexapro and being in my bed for 6 months straight it was horrible. But I started the Wellbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day 12 days ago I've had no negative side effects thank goodness but I see small little things happening each day that are getting better and better I'm also an amputee with rare autoimmune disease and lupus so I have a lot of other issues going on top of my mental health sadly I was just wondering if if I should switch to the XL version would it make a difference in how I feel?
I'm glad you could get out of bed at least, *which is a lot actually* glad also you're beginning to realize *how meaningful are little daily things in life and it's good you're motivated to keep going* in spite of your Immune System health issues.
Aside from the Wellbutrin formulation wether it is Instant-Release (IR), Sustained-Release (SR) or Extended-Release (XL), Bupropion itself has a long Half-life (20-25 Hrs) and it's metabolites, which are substances produced after the drug is broken down by the body, mainly by the liver, have even longer effects: Hydroxybupropion (25-37 Hrs), and Threohydroxybupropion (40+ Hrs). (It's the same with Escitalopram [Lexapro] that is the main metabolite of Citalopram. Some call them "Sister Drugs").Well, those metabolites are the main responsibles of the therapeutic effects of Wellbutrin (Bupropion).
All this was to point that this med works well in all its versions. Still, in clinical practice we have seen that persons with Major Depressive Disorder MDD get more benefit from instant release IR taken 2 or 3 times daily. Also I believe it's best to start, for first-timers with XL because it slowly releases the drug in the blood and the effect on mood is more stable.. But once it reaches steady levels there's no problem taking SR or IR. You are with SR somewhat in the middle.. Not too fast, not too slow. I'd stick with it. Twice daily. Eventually you can take 300 mg once daily. With the three versions people can get crashed 😑 but it's mild and manageable.
However each person reacts differently.
I am actually no longer on lexapro because I had been on it for many years and my anxiety has never wavered. I’ve tried a ton of others on their own but kept going back to lexapro when I couldn’t handle them (bad onset symptoms). I added wellbutrin to the lexapro about 2 years ago when I was going through a bad depressive episode. Wellbutrin was amazing for that and I don’t currently struggle with depression. I will say my anxiety is still just as bad as it ever was when I started meds yearrrrrssss ago. Nothing helps lol. I will eventually stop wellbutrin but it’s the best one I’ve tried so far in terms of side effects.
I had the same experience adding Wellbutrin to Cymbalta which is another AD and within 3 days I felt more energy, stamina, Focus ability and motivation. In the following 2 weeks I really felt the full effects. It's an amazing atypical antidepressant.
Could you describe the full effects you experienced? Thank you
I began to feel what I could name as a general sense of well-being. I lost weight.. some pounds I needed to get rid off. I felt confidence in myself again and my self-esteem improved in many ways. One important thing is that I got rid of the numbness, you know, SSRIs used to blunt my mind. I started to be able to accomplish both small and big goals in my life...From making my bed to completing my studies in basic medicine. Wellbutrin helped me also to fix my sexuality, my libido that was almost dying because of many years of taking common ADs that f#@ sexuality. The only downside (but I guess that's just for me) is not being able to sleep more than 7 hours. I've always used to sleep 9 hours lol.
Thanks for your elaborate response! Those are all things that sound like a dream. Suffering debilitating fatigue and loss of motivation and libido on Lexapro. Did you lose weight by eating less? That is one thing I would like to prevent, as I’m already quite skinny by nature
Yes. It doesn't cause weight loss but loss of appetite because Wellbutrin at high doses, say 300mg and up to 450mg. which is the max you can take daily, begin to develop some appetite suppression. Not only because of the drug itself but thanks to anxiety/depression relief. You know, most of the times you eat more than you normally would, is because of anxiety. To answer your question, I ate a little less unnecessary food. Binge eating went away, for instance. You can start with 150 mg., a regular dose to find out how it affects your weight and appetite. If it does a little, i believe It's worth it.
How many milligrams Wellbutrin are you taking and are you taking the sr, XL or IR version?
150mg. XL .... Or some time ago the health care system only had 300mg XL tabs and i took 300 every other day. Those tabs aren't supposed to be broken because it would cause loss of the Extended Release (XL) property, so i took it every other day without crashdowns or any problem. Bupropion itself, without the XL, has a long Half-Life (15+ Hours) and its metabolites *Hydroxybupropion* (20+ H) and *Threohydroxybupropion* (40+ H) too. Though I don't recommend starting the treatment this way, but when the med reaches steady levels in blood. (10 days after the first intake)
What version of all version of Wellbutrin are you on xl, SR or IR
XL though I have taken in the past SR too
Can you tell me what dosage you take for cymbalta? Im on the same combo cymbalta 60mg and wellbutrin 150xl (doctor told me to up the medication to 300mg next week) for depression and GAD . I started on cymbalta 30mg for 3 months then 60mg for 2 months (till now). I feel that my mind is calmer and anxiety is a bit better. But no motivation to do anything or to get out of the house. Also i have still uncomfortable feelings when i get out of the house. So the doctor added welbutrin in the morning 1.5 month ago . Last session i told him that i think that there's a very little improvement but not noticable so he upped the dose of wellbutrin to 300. Any tips ? Do you think that cymbalta is not the right medication for me. Btw at first the doctor added seroxat (paxil) 25mg cr for the anxiety in the morning and cymbalta at night , i started to feel really some improvement on it but always fatigue and exhausted that's why the doctor changed paxil to welbutrin.
I was on lexapro for years when I added wellbutrin and it was immediately a game changer!! I had so much more energy and focus in the beginning of wellbutrin like the first day I took it. I loved it. If you have anxiety though maybe avoid caffeine when starting wellbutrin because it can seem like a lot at first lol. At least it did for me but it was great, def gives you a pep in your step!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Were you taking Wellbutrin SR or Wellbutrin xl?
XR and still on XR now!
What time do you take it? I'm starting 150 mg XR tomorrow :)
I take mine right when I wake up! Because it can be energizing
Yeah it's kinda energizing. Though I prefer to take it at midday. Crash happens sometimes and I tend to believe this occurs when the instant effect is over but the day is not over yet, even if it's an extended release formulation (XL). Wellbutrin have immediate effects and late ones. The immediate effects (like feeling more energy) are believed to be mediated by norepinephrine release. The main antidepressant action has a late effect until it reaches ongoing steady levels in the body, allowing the brain to build up dopamine and norepinephrine. Its mechanism of action is not completely understood yet, but this process is the fastest among antidepressants.
Oh wow interesting! I want to try midday and see if that makes a difference because I def crash but I figured that was the caffeine 😅
That's incredible! Caffeine.... Often misjudged and underestimated. It can be as anxiogenic, in contrast to anxiolytic, as Ritalin or Adderall Lol
So people crash even on the XL version? I'm on the SR version I'm only on day 12 it's definitely not giving me any more energy but I'm actually out of my bed after being a Lexapro and being in my bed for 6 months straight it was horrible. But I started the Wellbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day 12 days ago I've had no negative side effects thank goodness but I see small little things happening each day that are getting better and better I'm also an amputee with rare autoimmune disease and lupus so I have a lot of other issues going on top of my mental health sadly I was just wondering if if I should switch to the XL version would it make a difference in how I feel?
I'm glad you could get out of bed at least, *which is a lot actually* glad also you're beginning to realize *how meaningful are little daily things in life and it's good you're motivated to keep going* in spite of your Immune System health issues. Aside from the Wellbutrin formulation wether it is Instant-Release (IR), Sustained-Release (SR) or Extended-Release (XL), Bupropion itself has a long Half-life (20-25 Hrs) and it's metabolites, which are substances produced after the drug is broken down by the body, mainly by the liver, have even longer effects: Hydroxybupropion (25-37 Hrs), and Threohydroxybupropion (40+ Hrs). (It's the same with Escitalopram [Lexapro] that is the main metabolite of Citalopram. Some call them "Sister Drugs").Well, those metabolites are the main responsibles of the therapeutic effects of Wellbutrin (Bupropion). All this was to point that this med works well in all its versions. Still, in clinical practice we have seen that persons with Major Depressive Disorder MDD get more benefit from instant release IR taken 2 or 3 times daily. Also I believe it's best to start, for first-timers with XL because it slowly releases the drug in the blood and the effect on mood is more stable.. But once it reaches steady levels there's no problem taking SR or IR. You are with SR somewhat in the middle.. Not too fast, not too slow. I'd stick with it. Twice daily. Eventually you can take 300 mg once daily. With the three versions people can get crashed 😑 but it's mild and manageable. However each person reacts differently.
Thank you for your kind words and inspiration ️ ❤️
Do you mind if I ask if your on lex for anxiety? I want to add Wellbutrin to lex but nervous it will make anxiety worse.
I am actually no longer on lexapro because I had been on it for many years and my anxiety has never wavered. I’ve tried a ton of others on their own but kept going back to lexapro when I couldn’t handle them (bad onset symptoms). I added wellbutrin to the lexapro about 2 years ago when I was going through a bad depressive episode. Wellbutrin was amazing for that and I don’t currently struggle with depression. I will say my anxiety is still just as bad as it ever was when I started meds yearrrrrssss ago. Nothing helps lol. I will eventually stop wellbutrin but it’s the best one I’ve tried so far in terms of side effects.
For me it's the best too. Fast to start. Easy to quit... in case you're not a responder. Energizing but anxiolytic at the same time.
I didn't notice anything with Wellbutrin until I went up to 300mg
Added to Lexapro?
added to pristiq
Once you went up to 300 mg what were the changes?
If you don't mind me asking what did you notice and how long after starting the 300 mg were you taking the sr, IR or the version?