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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on July 18, 2022, at 13:09:32
Why isn't this med used more frequently?
Does it not work? Or, is it the side effect profile?
I have never tried it, but am considering it.
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on July 18, 2022, at 13:45:07
In reply to What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by linkadge on July 18, 2022, at 13:09:32
> Why isn't this med used more frequently?
>
> Does it not work? Or, is it the side effect profile?
>
> I have never tried it, but am considering it.
>
> Linkadge
From my vantage point, I have observed that the greatest value that Wellbutrin has is as an augmenter of serotonergic drugs - especially Effexor / Pristiq. I don't know about Cymbalta. I see side effects as being minimal. It is a relatively benign drug from what I know of it. I tried Wellbutrin while it was still investigational. I was given 900 mg/day. The only "side effect" I experienced was a mild-moderate worsening of depression. I didn't find Wellbutrin to be the least bit stimulating.I can't think of any reason not to try Wellbutrin. As far as seizures are concerned, this arouse primarily in people who were anorexic. I guess their electrolyte balance may have been compromised. I'm not sure.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on July 18, 2022, at 18:48:15
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by SLS on July 18, 2022, at 13:45:07
Hmm. Strange. It just seems that if you've got a med that is free from apathy and/or sexual issues that it would be a first line med.
I get the feeling that it is not as effective as some other meds.
Linkadge
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 19, 2022, at 12:01:57
In reply to What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by linkadge on July 18, 2022, at 13:09:32
the misery of depression is real. the scales used to measure the misery and the treatments...not always reliable. :-(
from what little I've skimmed on the subject, wellbutrin is regarded as less effective than the "real antidepressants," plus there's the seizure risk and drug-drug interactions. and yet...
I found it helpful. it does seem to be used -with- other psych drugs, not alone. Honestly, I think I found it helpful because it helped counteract some sedation from aripiprazole and trileptal.
maybe its the kind of doctor you're going to? shrinks seem to have disdain for it, but I imagine general practitioners would be more OK with it, since its generally well tolerated, etc. just a thought.
Posted by SLS on July 20, 2022, at 5:44:07
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by Christ_empowered on July 19, 2022, at 12:01:57
Do you remember "Welloft"?
The only thing a friend of mine ever responded to is Pristiq + Wellbutrin. She cannot do without either of them. I judge her to be in full remission. She has been well since the time Pristiq first became available.
I have taken Wellbutrin two or three times. Each time, it made me feel moderately worse. The full scope of the features of my depression were exacerbated, not just a few of them.
That using Wellbutrin as monotherapy is a disappointment, it is nevertheless a crucial component to many treatment successes.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on July 20, 2022, at 8:10:57
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by SLS on July 20, 2022, at 5:44:07
Interesting. Studies comparing wellbutrin to other antidepressants seem to suggest the efficacy is comparable. I wonder what accounts for the trial efficacy and the real-world efficacy.
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on July 20, 2022, at 10:32:11
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by linkadge on July 20, 2022, at 8:10:57
> Interesting. Studies comparing wellbutrin to other antidepressants seem to suggest the efficacy is comparable. I wonder what accounts for the trial efficacy and the real-world efficacy.
Money and investigator bias.
- Scott
Posted by undopaminergic on July 20, 2022, at 12:18:00
In reply to What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by linkadge on July 18, 2022, at 13:09:32
> Why isn't this med used more frequently?
>
> Does it not work? Or, is it the side effect profile?
>
> I have never tried it, but am considering it.
>
> LinkadgeI thought the use of bupropion was by no means unusual. I tried it myself, under the name Voxra. It didn't help, but it didn't make anything worse.
-undopaminergic
Posted by PeterMartin on July 20, 2022, at 13:01:58
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by undopaminergic on July 20, 2022, at 12:18:00
I tried it twice and both times it was a bad experience. Lethargic and no help with motivation. Also, without going into too much detail, it caused an odd side "bathroom side effect" w/ spots of blood.....so yea seeing that was an instant "this isn't the medication for me".
I wish it worked, cause on paper it sounds perfect.....no sexual sides and if anything weight LOSS? No go though.
Posted by NKP on July 21, 2022, at 1:59:14
In reply to What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by linkadge on July 18, 2022, at 13:09:32
If I had to rank the medications that I've been on for extended periods of time, the order would be:
(1) venlafaxine + lamotrigine
. . . . . (only combo with significant side-effects, greatest improvement in my cognition)
(2) sertraline + flupentixol + atomoxetine
. . . . . (greatest improvement in my motivation)
(3) sertraline + flupentixol
(4) sertraline
(5) duloxetine
(6) bupropion
(7) venlafaxine
Posted by SLS on July 21, 2022, at 10:34:17
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by NKP on July 21, 2022, at 1:59:14
Hi.
> If I had to rank the medications that I've been on for extended periods of time, the order would be:
>
> (1) venlafaxine + lamotrigine
> . . . . . (only combo with significant side-effects, greatest improvement in my cognition)
> (2) sertraline + flupentixol + atomoxetine
> . . . . . (greatest improvement in my motivation)
> (3) sertraline + flupentixol
> (4) sertraline
> (5) duloxetine
> (6) bupropion
> (7) venlafaxineConspicuously absent: venlafaxine + lamotrigine + bupropion
- Scott
Posted by Jay2112 on July 21, 2022, at 18:41:35
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin? » NKP, posted by SLS on July 21, 2022, at 10:34:17
<polite snip>
>
> Conspicuously absent: venlafaxine + lamotrigine + bupropion
>
>
> - ScottI turned into a beast...horrid anger, aggression...yuk..
Bupropion is not the drug for me.
Jay
Posted by SLS on July 22, 2022, at 12:41:18
In reply to Re: What's wrong with wellbutrin?, posted by Jay2112 on July 21, 2022, at 18:41:35
Hi, Jay.
> <polite snip>
>
> >
> > Conspicuously absent: venlafaxine + lamotrigine + bupropion
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> I turned into a beast...horrid anger, aggression...yuk..
>
> Bupropion is not the drug for me.
>
> Jay
Good. I was hoping you hadn't neglected that combination treatment.I experienced some improvement when I combined Effexor with nortriptyline. With as many different treatments that I have tried and failed to respond to, I consider any improvement with a treatment significant and perhaps worth it for others to consider. I guess we all want to share our experiences hoping that doing so would help fellow sufferers.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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