Wellbutrin/Bupropion for depression in UK

Just wondering if anyone in the UK/Europe knew if Wellbutrin/Bupropion is prescribed for depression?? I know it's given to stop smoking here but dont know of anyone who's been on it for depression. I've been doing some research and fancy trying this one next, after hearing all the reviews from US patients, and research into it acting in a different way to typical ADs. I'm pretty sure it's not licensed here yet but do Drs prescribe it off-license here??

Any info about this and accounts from ppl who've tried it before (positive & negative) very much appreciated
Thanks

*Willow*

My SIL is on 75 mg of Wellbutrin and it doesn't seem to be doing anything to combat the depression.

DV, I don't think 75 mg is considered a therapeutic dose of Wellbutrin for depression (too low). At the height of my Wellbutrin use, I took 300 mg/day. (Now I take 150 mg/day but have added a stimulant.) Can your SIL tell her prescriber about her symptoms and get her dose increased?

Actually in the US Wellbutrin has been used for years for depression and only off-label for smoking. Its falling out of favor here. Cymbalta seems to be the biggie for depression now. Wellbutrin caused me to have seizures. It lowers the seizure threshold so if you've ever had one don't take the med.

No, Buproprion is used "on label" for smoking in the U.S. It is marketed for this purpose under the trade name, "Zyban." WeepingWillow, if you want to try Buproprion for depression and it is only available on label for anti-smoking in the UK, couldn't your doctor prescribe it for you even though you really want it for depression? Or don't they do off-label prescribing in the UK?

Buproprion, the generic of Wellbutrin, is very popular for depression in the U.S. I hadn't heard it is falling from favor. IMO, it is underutilized. (Part of "falling from favor" may mean the drug has gone to generics so is not advertised heavily by its maker. Cymbalta, OTOH, is still not in generics, so is heavily advertised by its manufacturer.) Many people have trouble with the SSRIs, but these seem to be the "goto" entry drug for depression. People are usually not tried on Cymbalta until they have failed on SSRIs. Many people like Buproprion because it is activating, does not cause sexual dysfunction, and is not associated with weight gain. Some people use Buproprion in conjunction with an SSRI to help with the sexual issues. Cymbalta can be hell to come off of, but does help some people who are not helped by the SSRIs.

Agreed.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin/bupropion for depression last summer (here in U.S.). I'm not a smoker, but I realize it's also prescribed for that. Since SSRIs made me feel worse (lethargic, apathetic, sleepy, irritable), it was the only one that could get me out of bed in the morning and help me to remain active. I got up to 300mg/day, but that was too much as it made my heart race and caused anxiety and insomnia. I tried to go off it completely, but then I felt terrible, couldn't get out of bed. So, I'm back to 150mg in the am and it definitely helps with energy, doesn't cause sexual side effects like SSRIs and also, I've lost quite a bit of weight without trying. Not really good as I'm less than 110 pounds now, but I was 135 and that's too much for my height. At least my weight has stabilized around 109-111. Not sure what that is in stone. I hope this helps, but I don't know the precription rules in the UK.

Hey guys,

Thanks for taking the time to reply, really appreciate it
Saw my Pdoc today and she isn't keen on prescribing off-label as she has no experience of that drug and we haven't tried everything else yet...so I'm now starting Reboxetine, which according to Wikipedia (so forgive me if I'm wrong!) isn't licensed in the US - ironic! lol

I've personally tried Cymbalta/Duloxetine and was not a fan. I can't seem to tolerate SNRIs at all (was seriously ill with Venlafaxine/Effexor and lost 9lbs in 2wks; not good as I'm at the low end of my healthy weight range).

Quote:
Wellbutrin... lowers the seizure threshold so if you've ever had one don't take the med.
Agreed. Also at risk if you've ever had a head injury or if you are taking other meds which lower the seizure threshold.

Many thanks

*Willow*

Let's hope this one will work for you. I've been seriously depressed, weak and tired on Effexor also, so my P-doc is having me go off of it. Now to find out what shall replace it. I suspect Lamictal. I think we all just want to feel better already! AHHHHHHHHH. I hate lying around all day and not caring about anything. At least I can come on here and have some semblance of a life. Feel better soon. Sorry for dumping.

What Dr. is trying to prescribe it? Here in the states many nurse practicioners, etc. are allowed to prescribe it.
I was prescribed Wellbutrin for depression for its' "lesser" side effects. After approx 6 days, I developed hallucinations and my moods began to swing drastically, having to be hospitalized afterward. Although I wouldnt imagine the same effect happening with others, but there's always side effects with anti-deps. You take the good with the bad and chance it. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. Good luck with what you decide!

Hi, I live in the Uk. I have finally found a doctor who is willing to prescribe this to me after 15 years of trying every anti depressant under the sun, which I either didnt react particularly well to or gave me some sort of sexual side effect. It isnt licensed for use in patients with depression in the Uk and is only available as Zyban prolonged release and licensed for use as a smoking cessation aid. However your doctor can presribe this to you if he/she sees fit although this is risky for them as it isnt a licensed med for depression here. I had my first 150mg tablet earlier. I was expecting some sort of side effect on taking it after reading stories of other people who have used it, but nothing so far. I recently stopped taking duloxetine and venlafaxine which are SNRI's and make you feel a bit weird instantly on taking them for the first few weeks. I am going to stay on 150mg for a week then move up to 300mg. I will let you know how I get on. Hope this helps, I have found it hard to find any info myself on this subject before being prescribed it myself.

Good luck davenoz! My pdoc wouldn't prescribe it for me in the end as she said there was loads of meds left for me to try. Well 3 years down the line and I've tried a load more meds to no avail I'm not sure it's a good idea for me now though due to it messing with dopamine (I have psychotic features with my depression now and am on an antipsychotic already messing with my dopamine so I don't want to interfere with that). Otherwise I'd still be interested to try it. Especially for the weight loss as I've just been on imipramine which has made me balloon up

I hope it pays off for you davenoz especially as your pdoc has gone out on a limb. All the best,

*Willow*

Yeh, thanks. Still not feeling anything off it yet but its only day 3 and I know it takes a couple of weeks to get going. Ive not had one side effect yet though which is great. I do know somebody who has had psychosis in the past and used Zyban for help with smoking and said they where seeing green faces when they shut their eyes and they thought people where stood behind them. It was that bad he wouldn't go into his house and ended up staying at a friends, so its definitely not for everybody. Ill get back to you in a couple of weeks when it kicks in to let you know my experience with it. I go through recurrent major depressive episodes which are cycling pretty quickly at the moment and are usually accompanied by generalized anxiety/panic disorder with a social phobia and even some traits of ocd so Ill have to see how it works. Im feeling ok at the moment though after a horrible 4 weeks so I do hope Zyban sorts it out. I hope your getting by ok on your meds and that you start to feel better soon,
Cheers
Dave

When I started Wellbutrin XL I was paranoid, hearing things, unable to sleep, talking tons and feeling like I couldn't sit still or eat. Stuck with it and about a month in, I adjusted. Quit smoking too.

Really, if you want to try it and your doctor won't prescribe it for depression just tell them you want to quit smoking.

But, I quit taking Wellbutrin because of the loss of appetite and weight loss. The only two side effects that didn't wear off. Went from 300 mg to zero, absolutely no discontinuation issues. SSRIs are mildly uncomfortable but, with this? Nothing.

By the way, Cymbalta is not in the same class as Wellbutrin. It is an SNRI, the only other SNRI commonly used for depression is Effexor/Pristiq (Pristiq is the patented version of Effexor. When the patent ran out, the drug company came out with the same drug in a different form to keep making money on it so, if you're in the US and your doctor offers Pristiq ask for Effexor and save yourself some money.)

Interesting to hear that you had bad side effects that went away after a month. Its supposed to be pretty rare to get the hallucinations, did you feel bad straight away? or did it take a while. I cant feel anything yet. How would you say this compares to the SNRI's like effexor

IF you smoke, that is! lol I don't really want to have to start smoking to try a new med

*Willow*

I felt bad within the first few days.

I have bipolar disorder so, that might make a difference. I didn't tell my doctor what was going on (usually at that point I decide my doctor is out to get me...) And I pretty much live on the borders of reality anyway, I've got some strange ideas, beliefs, and thoughts I tell you! So, pushing it just a bit further to a few hallucination like experiences is not that hard especially if I'm not sleeping or eating, which I wasn't. If I wanted to, I'd skip a few meals, a nights sleep and be listening to my brain think out loud by Sunday afternoon.

Perhaps it was just that the insomnia and lack of appetite got slightly better.

Ironically my pdoc offered to prescribe buproprion today (3 years after I originally asked)!! I told her I was a bit dubious because it affects (increases?) dopamine and might increase my hallucinations, and she said that I obviously knew more about it that she did!!! Apparently she's never prescribed it before, but has one patient on it who's been on it for a while and doing well so she's left it.

How goes it davenoz?

*Willow*

I got put on Wellbutrin originally for depression and to up my energy/counteract fatigue from my Zoloft, and it actually made my hallucinations go away. I hadn't discussed the hallucinations with my doctor, and didn't realize most of them weren't normal. It might be worth trying for the hallucinations alone. I'm glad I never tried normal antipsychotics as they seem to have much more drastic/numbing side effects.

Interesting. Thanks ickydog! I've just started lamotrigine/Lamictal but I'll bear it in mind for the future.

*Willow*

Willow, I have taken buproprion off-label for depression in the UK. The doctors did not even question prescribing it to me as I was transferred from an American hospital on it -- I think it might be harder to convince them to try it as a new prescription. Are you going to try it now she's offered? It made my craycray far, far worse, but you know everyone reacts differently. (Incidentally, I don't believe any of the neurotransmitter stuff they go on about with the drugs is really indicative of anything -- best just to try it if you want it and can get it.)

Also, the lying-about-smoking thing won't work - the dose given under the BNF for smoking cessation is far below the target dose for depression, and if the doc REALLY thinks that you want it for stopping smoking they will give you an eight-week course. So, not very useful!

Yeah fish my pdoc continues it for somebody who started it somewhere else, but has never prescribed it herself. IDK about the neurotransmitter stuff in all honesty. I was just scared of trying something that may make everything worse. Things aren't great, but they're a hell of a lot better now without the voices constantly having a go at me. Still that's the risk you take on the med merry-go-round! The lamotrigine/Lamictal I've just started could make things worse too, but who knows eh? Things can't stay this way, that's for certain and the only reason I keep trying more stuff

*Willow*

I liked buproprion, it didn't have bad side-effects at all. As I said, it didn't work for me, but a lot of people really like it. I had anti-psychotics that made my psychosis worse, though

I'm glad things are a bit better

Hi Willow, Ive been taking Zyban for nearly 3 weeks now, 2 of those on 300mg, I cant really say its doing anything at all yet. I havent been sleeping very well but thats about it. apart from the sleep disturbances that Ive been having there has been no side effects. Maybe its just taking a while to kick in? I certainly don't feel full of energy, it isnt even helping me not to smoke lol. i'll give it another 2 weeks and get back to you. Take care

P.S Hallucinations are listed in the Zyban PIL as a rare side effect experienced between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000 people who take them