How Is Bupropion Different From Other Antidepressants
One of the key differences between bupropion and other antidepressants is that it doesnt affect the users libido, and it doesnt cause any weight gain as other antidepressants usually do. In fact, its often prescribed along with other antidepressants to help counteract the sexual side effects of other medications.
Most antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , which means that they boost the levels of serotonin in the brain. Bupropion, on the other hand, is different. It is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor . An NDRI boosts levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline and dopamine.
As well as being an antidepressant, bupropion is an antagonist to nicotinic receptors. This means that it blocks receptors where nicotine normally binds, making it useful in helping people quit smoking.
The overall effects of bupropion are complex, and its neurological effects and mechanism of action are only partly understood.
How To Take Wellbutrin And Side Effects
Typically, youll need at least two weeks of treatment of Wellbutrin before a sufficient supply builds up in your body to show results.
Common side effects of Wellbutrin include mostly mild issues like weight loss, constipation, excessive sweating, ringing in the ears, dry mouth, nausea, headache, drowsiness, loss of appetite, sore throat, uncontrollable shaking of body parts, vomiting, stomach pain, anxiety, frequent urination and changes to your sense of taste.
Rare but serious side effects include confusion, muscle or joint pain, hallucination, irrational fears, seizures and rapid heart beat. You should bring these to the attention of a healthcare professional immediately if you notice any of them.
You should also contact a healthcare professional if you experience adverse effects such as rash, fever, blisters, swelling hives, hoarseness, itching or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Can I Take Wellbutrin And Zoloft Together
Yes, you can take Wellbutrin and zoloft together only if prescribed by your healthcare provider. However, benefits of this combination can only be achieved at low doses. As both of them are antidepressants, higher doses can cause significant complications. It can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome and can also cause mental confusion and hallucinations.
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Does Wellbutrin Itself Cause Anxiety
Like most medications, Wellbutrin does have some potential side effects.
One of these is anxiety, and others include restlessness, agitation, and insomnia. Generally speaking, any anxiety-related side effects will likely be at their worst right after treatment starts, or in the short time period following any dosage increases.
The good news is that only about 2% of people end up stopping their usage of Wellbutrin as a result of these side effects, providing insight to how manageable these side effects can be.
These side effects can also be a result of your Wellbutrin dosage being increased too quickly. If you do start experiencing any side effects, consulting your doctor can help you get to the bottom of it.
Generally, using Wellbutrin in low doses, and only changing those doses very slowly, can help prevent side effects from occurring, or at least lessen the severity of any side effects.
What Are The Dosage Instructions For Lexapro Vs Wellbutrin
Lexapro drug interactions
- The usual starting dose of Lexapro for treating depression in adults or adolescents is 10 mg once daily in the morning or evening. The dose may be increased to 20 mg once daily after 1 week.
- Benefit may not be seen until treatment has been given for up to 4 weeks. A daily dose of 20 mg may not be more effective than 10 mg daily for treatment of depression.
- The dose for treating generalized anxiety disorder is 10 mg once daily.
- Lexapro can be taken with or without food.
Wellbutrin dosage instructions
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What Are The Side Effects Of Lexapro Vs Wellbutrin
Lexapro side effects
- irritability, or
In order to avoid these symptoms, the dose of SSRI can be slowly reduced instead of abruptly stopped.
Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in short-term studies in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Lexapro or any other antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared with placebo in adults beyond 24 years of age. There was a reduction in risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared with placebo in adults 65 years of age and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients who are started on therapy with antidepressants should be closely observed for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior.
Common side effects of Lexapro
Common side effects associated with Lexapro include
- agitation or restlessness,
Wellbutrin side effects
WARNING
Four of every 1000 persons who receive bupropion in doses less than 450 mg/day experience seizures. When doses exceed 450 mg/day, the risk increases ten-fold. Other risk factors for seizures include past injury to the head and medications that can lower the threshold for seizures.
The most common side effects associated with bupropion include:
Is Wellbutrin Used For Anxiety
Antidepressant medications are not just for depressionthey are also a common treatment for patients with anxiety.
Currently, Wellbutrinalso known as Zybanis approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating depression, seasonal affective disorder, smoking cessation, and sexual side effects related to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications.
Depending on the circumstance, doctors may also prescribe Wellbutrin for certain types of anxiety.
Wellbutrin XL has been shown in one clinical trial to be as effective for anxiety as escitalopram , a common antidepressant doctors prescribe for patients with anxiety.
Some research also suggests Wellbutrin can help mitigate anxiety symptoms related to depression. If youre using Wellbutrin to quit smoking or help with sexual dysfunction from an SSRI, it may also help reduce situational sources of stress and anxiety.
For some people, however, wellbutrin can make anxiety worse, especially for the first few weeks after starting the medication, or just after a dose change.
Whether your provider recommends Wellbutrin for anxiety depends on a number of factors, including your specific diagnosis, symptoms, and potential drug interactions.
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Who Should Avoid Taking Bupropion
You should not take bupropion if you have ever had an allergic reaction to bupropion.
Bupropion can cause seizures, especially in people with certain medical conditions or when it interacts with certain other drugs. So it is important to inform your doctor of any other medications youre on to avoid adverse reactions.
It is also helpful to inform your doctor of any medical condition you may have as bupropion may not be suitable for certain medical conditions such as:
-
Liver or kidney disease
-
Patients with alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder
-
Eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia
-
Abruptly stopped using alcohol, seizure medications, or sedatives
Though bupropion is often used in children and adolescents, it is not FDA approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years of age. Bupropion has been associated with a risk of suicidal ideation in children.
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture .
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
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Medications To Not Use If You Are On Wellbutrin
Like most medications, its important to tell your doctor about any other treatments, vitamins, or supplements you are taking in case they interact with how Wellbutrin affects your body. Creating a written list of all supplements and medications you take is a good way to keep on top of this.
The following are medications that can be dangerous when used alongside Wellbutrin and can increase the risk of side effects.
Certain antidepressants
A group of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors should not be used with Wellbutrin.
This is because this combination can lead to dangerously high blood pressure levels. Other antidepressants, such as sertraline, imipramine, and venlafaxine, can increase your risk of seizures when used alongside Wellbutrin.
Antipsychotic medication
Certain antipsychotic medications can also increase your risk of seizures on Wellbutrin, so be sure to talk to your doctor about the safest way to manage both treatments.
Heart medication
Certain heart medications, like beta-blockers or antiarrhythmics, can result in low blood pressure or impact your heartbeat when used with Wellbutrin.
If you are using heart medication with Wellbutrin, your doctor may want to move to a lower dose of both.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroid use with Wellbutrin can also contribute to higher seizure risk. You may require a lower dose if both medications are necessary.
Blood thinners
HIV medication
Anti-seizure drugs
But Doesnt Wellbutrin Cause Anxiety
There is a little confusion about how Wellbutrin can treat anxiety. This is because Wellbutrin has a reputation for inducing anxiety rather than treating it. So what should you believe?
Yes, Wellbutrin can cause anxiety, but the risk of developing a side effect from Wellbutrin is roughly the same as the risk posed by other antidepressants.
All antidepressants can cause anxiety, with roughly 1 in 10 depressed patients experiencing this side effect. While there is a small risk that Wellbutrin may cause anxiety, it can also be an effective anxiety treatment for others.
Wellbutrin seems to have developed more of a reputation for causing anxiety than other antidepressants, and it is the fourth most frequently prescribed antidepressant. This is surprising considering that the risk of developing further anxiety symptoms is essentially the same with Wellbutrin as with other antidepressants.
Wellbutrin has fewer common side effects than other antidepressants, like weight gain, reduced energy, sexual performance issues, and apathy.
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Rated For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/attention Deficit Disorder Predominant Hyperative
Just had an anxiety attack, almost fainted at work, vision was way too blurry while driving the day before almost passed out on the wheel. Cant eat, nausea all day, massive migraine a day after I started taking it. Tremors started at work today along with all of the side effects I just stated. Cant sleep. Im a waitress and it was very embarrassing couldnt see anything felt like a dizzy spell to the Max. Anxiety anxiety anxiety. Agitated after 3 days. Calling doctor tomorrow and taking an actual adhd medication not this bs
Wellbutrin Dosage For Depression And Anxiety
Bupropion is available in several doses, and for depression treatment, theres a fairly standard understanding of how much medication should be taken.
First, there are immediate-release bupropion tablets, which are available in strengths of 75mg and 100mg.
Extended/sustained-release versions of bupropion can contain 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg or 450mg of bupropion in a single dose per tablet. This may also vary based on the brand of medication youre using make sure to consult the label before taking any medication.
Typically, a starting dose of bupropion for depression starts around 150mg per day, and might go up to three times that. Doses may be adjusted after a few days or weeks at the discretion of your healthcare provider.
For anxiety, the dosage will likely be much smaller.
Theres not ample discussion on the appropriate daily dose for anxiety treatment, and it could be considered experimental at this point, given that anxiety treatment is off-label.
But some healthcare professionals suggest going with the low and slow approach, using about half the recommended depression doses as a starting point.
Based on your symptoms, health history, response to the medication and several other factors, your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage of bupropion over time.
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A Closer Look: Lexapro
Lexapro, the brand name of the generic drug escitalopram, was approved in 2002. It is an SSRI. It is mainly used for depression and major depression, as well as anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder .
People who take Lexapro report improvements in energy, sleep quality, mood, and appetite, often within 1-2 weeks. With more serious conditions, improvements may take 6-8 weeks. The typical dosage for Lexapro is 10-20 mg per day, depending on your age, weight, any medical problems you may have, and other medications you may be taking. Off-label uses of Lexapro include treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorders and panic disorders.
What To Discuss With Your Doctor Before Taking Wellbutrin
Here are some things to discuss with your doctor to ensure that the drug is safe for you.
- If you use alcohol or other drugs. Alcohol can make the side effects worse.
- If you are breastfeeding, expectant or plan to get pregnant.
- Other non-medication you are currently using . Your doctor will then explain how Bupropion works with the medication and adjust your dosage accordingly.
- If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- If you start experiencing side effects with your medication, alert your doctor while some may pass with time, it may be a warning that you need a change in medication.
- Any other medical problems or psychiatric issues you have including seizures, anorexia nervosa or bulimia and bipolar disorder history.
- Any other medication you are using or allergies you may have.
- The most disturbing symptoms of your condition.
- Other medications you took in your past and their effects.
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Pharmacotherapy Of Anxiety Disorders: Current And Emerging Treatment Options
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- 2Silver Hill Hospital, New Canaan, CT, United States
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- 4Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- 5Department of Psychiatry and Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- 7Clinical Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- 8Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
Is Bupropion Your No 1 Antidepressant Choice
Three reasons clinicians skip over bupropion.
RESEARCH UPDATE
Why isnt bupropion the most widely prescribed antidepressant? asked Zimmerman and colleagues in 2005.1 This is still a good question. All other antidepressants have been strongly associated with weight gain.2-5 All the serotonergic antidepressants frequently cause sexual dysfunction .6,7
Discontinuation of serotonergic antidepressants requires careful tapering, which takes as long as 6 to 8 weeks and sometimes 3 months or more.8,9 This prompted Fava and colleagues to suggest, Clinicians need to add SSRIs to the list of drugs potentially inducing withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation, together with benzodiazepines barbiturates . . ..10
Why, in the face of all these disadvantages of serotonergic antidepressants-none of which are shared by bupropion-is the latter not by far the preferred starting point when patients elect an antidepressant over psychotherapy?
Three reasons providers skip over bupropion
1. Clinicians fear that bupropion will not treat co-morbid anxiety and, indeed, may make it worse.
Yet available data do not support this impression. A pooled analysis of 10 studies compared bupropion and various SRIs in the treatment of major depression.12 Response rates were equal among patients withnon-anxious depression.
Got that? Bupropion produced a 50% reduction in anxiety in just over half the patients with anxious depression, almost as much as that seen with the SRIs.
Disclosures:
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Verdict: Wellbutrin Vs Lexapro
Is Lexapro better than Wellbutrin, or does Wellbutrin work better than Lexapro? We know that one of the most significant differences is Lexaproâs potential to cause sexual dysfunction side effects. And we know that Wellbutrin carries more risk if you are prone to seizures.
Further answers lie in understanding each personâs needs, age, and weight, the use of other medications, the personâs medical conditions, and medical history. Taking the time to consider these matters with your doctor can make a considerable difference in your reaction to either medication.
Does Wellbutrin Help With Anxiety
If you deal with anxiety, know this: You are not alone. Anxiety is actually the most common mental health disorder there is.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million adults deal with an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are extremely treatable. Unfortunately, only 37% of people who suffer from them seek treatment. If you want to avoid falling into that statistic, there are a variety of options available to you.
Anxiety is commonly treated with psychotherapy, but it also can involve the use of medication.
One of the medications sometimes prescribed is bupropionmore specifically, the brand name version Wellbutrin®. To learn more about Wellbutrin and its effectiveness, keep reading.
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Wellbutrin Storage & Disposal
Wellbutrin should be kept at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture. Keep it in a child proof container in a safe location that is out of reach and sight of children to prevent access for young children.
Medication that is not needed anymore should be disposed of properly to ensure that other people, children and pets are not able to consume it. If you are unsure of how to dispose of the medication, contact your doctor or your local pharmacist.