So interesting to find this post. I had to add up all the meds I have been on for this book I am finishing writing about my state hospital hospitalization. I have been on somewhere around 54 meds, since 1997. The vast majority of these have been antidepressants, as my bp 1 was initially mistaken for major depression w/ addiction issues. Sort of had that backwards. Oh well.

So, anyhoo, when I look back on all those ADs, the two that clearly stand out as having been head and shoulders above all others in efficacy for me have been Cymbalta and Wellbutrin. They were much better even than Emsam for me, for whatever reason.


I do think they share some commonalities. Maybe it is the SNRI properties of Cymbalta that is responsible for some of this in me, I dunno. But in any event, I have found it a tad activating/stimulating, like Wellbutrin, which is what my particular brain needs. I got none of that SSRI fatigue/whatever from Cymbalta that I have had with other pure SSRIs, which, again, for me, was quite welcome.

All that being said, when I was in a massive, dangerous depression in 2005, my then-psychiatrist desperately put me on both Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. Boom!! Massive manic episode! Hospital. Etc. My current psychiatrist has told me several times that in more than 20 years of practice, he has never seen Wellbutrin induce mania by itself, in his opinion.

So, that's what I know. Currently on 300 of the XL version of the Wellbutrin and it is working nicely.

Good luck to you!!!!