Antidepressant question

mar dhea · Mar 06, 2024 at 03:21 PM

Antidep I've been taking for years [tried both generic & namebrand] don't seem to be doing much anymore. Wellbutrin is the name. Bupropion. Extended release. 300mg once a day.

Would like to hear from any long-term users of this med who switched to something they found to work better.

TheGal · Mar 06, 2024 at 06:18 PM

I take Wellbutrin 300 mg once a day, but I also take Prozac 40mg in the morning and in the evening: mirtazepine (Remeron) 30 mg. Mirtazepine has really been good for me as it's fast acting, takes away SI and helps me sleep.

mar dhea · Mar 09, 2024 at 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGal

I take Wellbutrin 300 mg once a day, but I also take Prozac 40mg in the morning and in the evening: mirtazepine (Remeron) 30 mg. Mirtazepine has really been good for me as it's fast acting, takes away SI and helps me sleep.

Hi. May I ask how long you've been taking Wellbutrin? I've been taking it at 300mg daily for over 20 yrs now. I've also switched back and forth from name brand to generic several times. Wondering if I've worn it out. A significant uptick in bad days [versus decent days] is beginning to worry me. Has been for about a year now. Could be other factors involved in that but maybe making a med change/s is the best first step? Thank you for answering TG.

TheGal · Mar 09, 2024 at 08:24 AM

Yeah, I can see why you're thinking of changing meds.

I've been taking Wellbutrin for 9 years now.

But, for me, it's the mirtazepine that seems to work best for me in terms of rapid symptom relief. I think I'd be less stable, if I didn't have the others, though, including the antipsychotic Abilify, also PRN Ativan.

I'd like to look into gabapentin for anxiety...

Let us know if you change meds and how you do...

mar dhea · Mar 12, 2024 at 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGal

Yeah, I can see why you're thinking of changing meds.

I've been taking Wellbutrin for 9 years now.

But, for me, it's the mirtazepine that seems to work best for me in terms of rapid symptom relief. I think I'd be less stable, if I didn't have the others, though, including the antipsychotic Abilify, also PRN Ativan.

I'd like to look into gabapentin for anxiety...

Let us know if you change meds and how you do...

Will do that. Abilify was mentioned to me by my last psy-doc. Lithium too was recommended but I deferred. After trying 3 diff antipsychotics over the course of a year [this was way back] I just gave up that route. I was pretty miserable at the time. Should have persevered though. A lot of wasted years that I'll never have back. The topic is def going to be brought up next time I see my family doc. I hope anyway. One more kick at the can.

TheGal · Mar 12, 2024 at 05:02 PM

I know it's so hard getting treatment and not knowing what we don't know. And let's face it, it is difficult to advocate for ourselves, espeically when we're not feeling well. Then it happens that feeling poorly (or less than optimal) becomes normal.

But let's not blame ourselves.

Let's practice self-compassion... we deserve it!!

It's good you'll have the conversation about your meds with your psychiatrist. An antipsychotic may or may not be what you need, but it's worth having the conversation.

My Dx is severe major depression with psychotic features.

I hope you feel better soon...

Take good care...

Hugs, if wanted.

Tart Cherry Jam · Mar 12, 2024 at 09:25 PM

I have an acquaintance with MDD w/o psychotic features for whom several ADs have lost their effectiveness, including Wellbutrin and Prozac. It is a difficult situation to handle.

mar dhea · Mar 14, 2024 at 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGal

I know it's so hard getting treatment and not knowing what we don't know. And let's face it, it is difficult to advocate for ourselves, espeically when we're not feeling well. Then it happens that feeling poorly (or less than optimal) becomes normal.

But let's not blame ourselves.

Let's practice self-compassion... we deserve it!!

It's good you'll have the conversation about your meds with your psychiatrist. An antipsychotic may or may not be what you need, but it's worth having the conversation.

My Dx is severe major depression with psychotic features.

I hope you feel better soon...

Take good care...

Hugs, if wanted.

I'll soon see how it all goes. Or starts anyway. Appointment on 20th. Hugs ok! ((hugs back))

mar dhea · Mar 15, 2024 at 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I have an acquaintance with MDD w/o psychotic features for whom several ADs have lost their effectiveness, including Wellbutrin and Prozac. It is a difficult situation to handle.

Hi. Thankfully the list of meds that operate with differing recipes is long and has been growing. I hope everything works out. Beginning everything all over can be tough but can also be the best thing one can do.

16PennyNail · Mar 17, 2024 at 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mar dhea

Antidep I've been taking for years [tried both generic & namebrand] don't seem to be doing much anymore. Wellbutrin is the name. Bupropion. Extended release. 300mg once a day.

Would like to hear from any long-term users of this med who switched to something they found to work better.

My psychiatrist has me in Bupropion and and added something called Trintellix, it seems to work rather well for me. I had been on Lexapro forever, but she finally switched that for the Trintellix. All is quiet on the western front thus far.

mikrw33 · Mar 26, 2024 at 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mar dhea

Antidep I've been taking for years [tried both generic & namebrand] don't seem to be doing much anymore. Wellbutrin is the name. Bupropion. Extended release. 300mg once a day.

Would like to hear from any long-term users of this med who switched to something they found to work better.

You have just a little more room to go up with bupropion. You can go up to 450 mg/day safely. Beyond that increases the risk of seizures without any additional benefit.

Also, you could ask your pdoc about adding sertraline (Zoloft). It's a great adjunct to bupropion because it's a CYP2B6 inhibitor, which inhibits bupropion's metabolism to hydroxybupropion, which is primarily a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Adding sertraline balances out the dopamine reuptake inhibition relevant to its norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, plus adding serotonin reuptake inhibition to the mix. Also, sertraline is a mild dopamine reuptake inhibitor to boot.

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mar dhea Grand Magnate Member Since Sep 2022 Location: na Posts: 3,124 (SuperPoster!) 2 1,117 hugs given	Mar 06, 2024 at 03:21 PM #1 Antidep I've been taking for years [tried both generic & namebrand] don't seem to be doing much anymore. Wellbutrin is the name. Bupropion. Extended release. 300mg once a day. Would like to hear from any long-term users of this med who switched to something they found to work better.
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TheGal Poohbah Member Since Aug 2022 Location: The House Posts: 1,200 2 819 hugs given	Mar 06, 2024 at 06:18 PM #2 I take Wellbutrin 300 mg once a day, but I also take Prozac 40mg in the morning and in the evening: mirtazepine (Remeron) 30 mg. Mirtazepine has really been good for me as it's fast acting, takes away SI and helps me sleep.
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