Wellbutrin or Lexipro

[steamvessel]

I am seeing a therapist and she suggested these drugs. I was on Anti-depressents about 10 or 12 years ago; effexor, paxil, prozac but found them ineffective, in fact the side effects were brutal. She mentioned these new Anti-depressents are a lot more effective for people that traditionally don't respond well to the other ones. I was curious if anybody has any experience with either drug and can give me some feedback to make a better decision. Any help is much appreciated.

[LiveURLife]

hey i take wellbuterin.. i have only been on it for about 3 weeks now but i feel better now then i have in months... i was on lexapro about 5 years ago and i dont really remember it working to well for me... i definetly recomd wellbuterin... not only did it make me feel better it also helped me cut back on smoking.. isnt that crazy?!?!?!

[steamvessel]

Yeah, instinctually this seem like a drug that would work for me. I'm not really the panic/anxiety type, my depression is more insidious and results in kind of a draining energy/ melancholy/ hopeless apathy type thing, I really need something that can just bring me up, which from what I have read is kind of what Wellbutrin does. Granted my reading has been very brief, I am known to drink too much caffeine with energy drinks and soda though, so I will have to watch that habit. I am hopeful I can get a prescription even without insurance and this works, I've been waiting a really long time to get the aid of a medication that works for me. I've tried so many things to treat my depression, I am just praying that this works.

[LiveURLife]

my depression was really bad.. especially after i got clean... for months i couldnt figure out what was wrong with me... when i saw my psyciatrist and explained to her that i had really bad fatigue, no energy, crying constantly (over nothing), i was all around lazy... i couldnt even take care of my kids properly... she put me on this and it kicked in about a week later... it is definetly a very good anti-depressant...whatelse helped with me as well was walking, positive thoughts in my head and of course going to meetings

[Rowan]

A friend here turned me on to this site for excellent insight into many psychiatric drugs:

Crazy Meds! The Good, The Bad & The Funny of Neurological Medications

What works for one, doesn't always work for another. I've had to run through many meds in order to find one that hits the right buttons.

[SelfSeeking]

I am on Celexa and Wellbutrin (Celexa is chemically thisclose to Lexapro... just about 60 bucks cheaper b/c it's generic). Being on Celexa got me out of suicidal crisis and basically functional. I started Wellbutrin about 5 weeks ago and it's like everything's in color. I'm not just NOT suicidal, I'm actually happy to be alive I still have down times but I'm no longer crippled by them. I think maybe this is how "normal" people feel? Lexapro and Wellbutrin or Celexa and Wellbutrin are a very common/popular combination with the p-docs nowadays.

I have also quit smoking. It just doesn't feel the same- I don't get that rush anymore if I take a drag. It's like, Meh.

I _love_ that Crazy Meds site. Great information source.

[mattcake79]

Disclaimer: this is my experience, not medical advice.

SV, I've taken both drugs, both on their own and simultaneously.

On their own (monotherapy): Lexapro worked very well for my anxiety, it made me feel very calm and collected - for once .. which I needed at the time. It killed my libido (nothing I couldn't work around, but still); more importantly, though, after a year it killed my motivation as well - I was waaay too mellow.

Wellbutrin was much more activating, it was definitely a more "emotional" experience: it didn't numb out my emotions at all, in fact it seemed to amplify them... but it made me quite anxious.

My pdoc eventually okayed me taking both drugs simultaneously, and the combo worked very well for a few months, but I eventually discontinued the Wellbutrin due to excessive weight loss (10-20 lbs). And I quit the Lexapro a year after that.

Hope this helps, keep us posted

PS. Alcohol is off-limits if you're on Wellbutrin - it's not technically a deterrent, but mixing Wellby with booze may cause problems... Ask your doc

[Cleansing]

I was on both in 2005 , and it worked great. I felt alive. It was so good, I was only out of work for less than a month. I eventually stopped working, went back to school, and started using again. That's when the meds stopped working. I spent the next 4 years switching antidepressants, none of them really working, probably because I was using.

4 years later, I was back on Lexapro, and I was feeling pretty good. Problem is that everytime my mood went up, I'd go on a binge, then come out feeling depressed. After one binge, the Lexapro effect seem to have dwindled.
I'm back on the Lexapro/Wellbutrin combo since the Lexapro on it's own was no longer enough. It was the perfect combo back in 2005, but it's not the same nowadays. I don't feel the energy I used to feel, and I'm not as happy. I did just relapsed, so maybe that's part of the reason why I'm down. plus my sleep is off. Stayin clean is really the best thing you can do while on these meds.

Definitely don't drink on Wellbutrin, it won't work, and you get drunk quicker, and sicker.

As for anxiety, I don't really feel it as much anymore. I was on Valium for the past three months (just got off it). I'm feeling fine anxiety wise. I guess what little anxiety I have left is being treated by the Lexapro and the metoprolol (beta block for high blood pressure)

[steamvessel]

Thanks, I am very interested in Wellbutrin, I will ask my therapist about it on Wednesday. As for not being able to drink on it, well that is fine with me because I don't want to drink anyway

[LosingmyMisery]

I have taken Wellbutrin for over 5 years. When I first started taking it, I continued to drink until I finally got sober. After getting off of the booze and staying off of it, I feel wonderful. I am a whole new person. My anxiety, fear and depression has vanished and my mind has opened up and I have discovered myself. The booze took my soul and I have found it again. I also will add, since I've been on the Wellbutrin and been sober, I have not had one craving for a drink, ever. Good luck and I hope you are successful with this. I also will add that after taking the drug for a few weeks, all negative side effects lifted and stabilized. I tolerate the drug very well. I have a very low tolerance so this is definitely a positive factor for many who have a difficult time with meds.

[Waterman]

Lexapro works for me, and no bad side effects, either. Wellbutrin didn't work for me.....I called it "nightmare in a bottle".......

[steamvessel]

Very interesting, I've always been kind of jealous of people that have gotten anything out of anti-depressants, they never did a thing for me except make me anxious, vomit, or have seizure like activity. I'd be happy if Wellbutrin or Lexipro did anything like you guys have surprised because it shows that there is hope that my brain will react to something. I really think I need it because I do a lot really to help myself but always seem to be battling the perpetual battle against depression. Thanks again for your excellent feedback.

[hauntedbyjmb]

Hello Steamvessel,
Lexapro works great for me!
Good luck on your decision!

[Waterman]

There are SO many different types of meds on the market, that I think at least one of them will fit anybody. I have found that you may have to try several before finding the "right" one. Lexapro is fairly "new", and I think it is engineered a little better against many side effects. But, it's not for everyone, I'm sure. Good luck.

[mattcake79]

Steam, I can really sympathize with what you're saying. I've been plagued by anxiety and depression for a very long time. The anxiety has responded very well to therapy, but the depression... well, I'm still working on it. It's a process.

I've read so many accounts of people getting amazing results from pharmacological treatment. When I said that my response to these meds was "very good", I overstated and wasn't clear enough: they did help some, but it was nothing wondrous. In fact, my own experience with medication has been iffy at best - some seem to help a bit, but I certainly haven't had any life-changing success on any of them. The one medication that has worked for me is riddled with side effects, so I take it as a last-resort, when my depression gets too unbearable. But, at this point, I have basically surrendered the hope that a pill will change my life; many people have had stellar results, which is great, but I'm not one of them. So, like you, I'm committed to putting in the effort necessary to bring about that change with other approaches - that's all I can do and, quite humbly, I think it's plenty.

Having said all that, I really do hope you'll find some relief with whatever med you try next Have hope, don't feel discouraged.

Originally Posted by steamvessel

Very interesting, I've always been kind of jealous of people that have gotten anything out of anti-depressants, they never did a thing for me except make me anxious, vomit, or have seizure like activity. I'd be happy if Wellbutrin or Lexipro did anything like you guys have surprised because it shows that there is hope that my brain will react to something. I really think I need it because I do a lot really to help myself but always seem to be battling the perpetual battle against depression. Thanks again for your excellent feedback.

[TTOSBT]

Hi SV,
I have taken both. I took Celexa (generic) while I was drinking....did not help
Quit drinking and taking it, had no libido!
Now on Wellbutrin and I am happy with it. Sexual side effects gone and I quit smoking
Though I think the amount they have prescribed to me is on the low side....

[mxchaos]

the biggest thing here is that you are clean now and meds might just do the trick. They did nothing for me while I was drinking and I tried a rainbow of them. now that I'm sober my meds help alot.

[SelfSeeking]

Oooo... seizure-like activity? Wellbutrin is not good for people prone to seizures- it lowers the seizure threshold. Hrm. But yes there are so so many meds out there, and not just SSRIs or tricyclics anymore. Just gotta hang on while you do test runs

[spittake]

Those are the two I've been on.

Lexapro was a few years ago (20 mg), and I was on it for two years. It was very effective, but I did not like the effect it had. I was complacent and lacked ambition, I felt no emotions, and I had significant sexual dysfunction. But, I wasn't suicidal, which was the whole reason I was taking it. All of this was noted in retrospect. When I went off of it, I had a real rage problem for about 8 weeks. It was then that I realized I had not felt angry in two years. I had not felt much of anything.

I am currently on Wellbutrin XL (300 mg), and have been for 8 months. I think of it as a miracle drug. I'm a former speed addict, which I've used to self-medicate depression. In my experience, Wellbutrin acts as a mild stimulant, but I can sleep fine on it. I have some appetite problems, but I've always had appetite problems so I just have to focus on eating enough (I'm hit or miss). Not only have I experienced no sexual dysfunction, Wellbutrin has actually improved my libido and response. As others have said, I still feel emotions, though I must admit that they have been waning in the last 3 months. When I started, I felt that they were very present, but manageable and this pleased me.

But my favorite thing of all is that Wellbutrin has made a huge impact on my addictive cravings. For everything - meth, weed, alcohol, cigarettes, food, coffee, etc. I firmly believe that I would not be clean and sober right now if it weren't for the Wellbutrin. What I experience now are more like thoughts about using, without the emotion. It's hard to explain. I might have a thought about it, maybe even run through the fantasy in my head, but I have no desire to make it happen. It doesn't excite me, the way it normally would. (Used to be just thinking about it felt like I was half-way there.) Even these have all but disappeared over time.

One giant warning: you said something about antidepressants making you anxious in the past. As I said above, Wellbutrin does have stimulant qualities. For the first 2 months, I felt like I understood what it must be like to be manic, mildly. (For a unipolar depression sufferer, this was a dream come true.) It went away and I no longer feel very stimulated at all, but if you have anxiety, you must take care with this drug. Three months ago, my psych upped my dose b/c some of the depressive symptoms were creeping back, and I had heart palpitations as a result, many times a day. I went completely off it (palps are serious), and was experiencing immense cravings for my favorite drugs within days. I went back on it at the 300 mg dose, and have been doing great ever since. No palps, no suicidal daydreams, no jumping out of my skin if I don't get my hands on something.

[ranae1221]

Wellbutrin is also marketted under the name "Zyban", and is used to help people quit smoking. That may be why so many had success quitting smoking when you took it

I am currently on Effexor, and have been for about 8 years. Lately depression has worsened slightly (nothing like it used to be though); mainly lack of energy and motovation. I am on as high dose of Effexor as I can be, so my doc added a low dose of Wellbutrin to see if that would help. It's only been a week so far. I have had some better days, but I am not sure if it's actually the medicine or just the fact that I am taking something new and thus my mind tells me I should feel better.

[spittake]

Sorry, one more thing.

I see it was a therapist who suggested these. I don't know about yours, but my therapist is not very knowledgeable about meds.

I am under the strict observation of a psychiatrist. I started out seeing this one weekly, now biweekly. Be careful with meds, and make sure your psych is too.

[mattcake79]

Originally Posted by spittake

Lexapro was a few years ago (20 mg), and I was on it for two years. It was very effective, but I did not like the effect it had. I was complacent and lacked ambition, I felt no emotions, and I had significant sexual dysfunction. But, I wasn't suicidal, which was the whole reason I was taking it. All of this was noted in retrospect. When I went off of it, I had a real rage problem for about 8 weeks. It was then that I realized I had not felt angry in two years. I had not felt much of anything.

My experience with Lexapro was very similar; your description is much more accurate than what I originally posted, though... the key words being "in retrospect".
Lexapro "helped" me by restraining my emotions; this was arguably useful at the time -during very early sobriety.. until I found myself in a state of complete anhedonia. Quite literally, it felt like I could have lounged around on a couch indefinitely, contentedly staring at the ceiling, oblivious to the world, basically sailing through life, feeling nothing. That's the problem with apathy: you don't care about not caring. It was scary! I tapered off, and my emotions came flooding back soon enough, LOL. I'm not bashing Lexapro, BTW, the med did help for a while.

[steamvessel]

Thanks everybody, it looks like I will have to jump through some hoops to get prescribed. The place I am going to doesnt' have a Psychiatrist yet and the other agencies around town aren't taking any new patients It's unbelievable how hard it is to get help if you don't qualify for the state health insurance and don't have any of your own. So it looks like I will need to just be patient and explore new avenues to try. I understand that the bulk of me getting better is the work that I put in, I have just been in such a stupor of depression that I was really hoping for some aid. Like most things, I'll just have to wait it out.

[otterbearcat]

Hey Steam,

I wasnt going to reply, but seeing as how it doesnt sound like you can get a script right now I wanted to tell you about what I take. 5 HTP is natural and over the counter. There is a night and day difference in my mood after taking it for only 3 days. I started at 50mg the first 2 days then went to 50mg twice a day for 2 weeks, and now Im 100mg in am and 50mg in pm. I saw a naturopath who said she is ok with me taking 200mg a day. Im increasing to 100mg am / 100mg pm tomorrow. This has worked wonders for me. I have been dealing with depression for a long time.

[steamvessel]

Thanks for the 5-HTP suggestion, I might try that if all else fails. I am a little reticent asking this next question, but has anyone ever ordered anti-depressants online? I am surprised this is an option but with all the blockades I am facing, it is quite tempting. I'd thought I would throw it out there, I would obviously have to be very careful with this route and read up on appropriate doses, etc.