Lexapro

I have taken Wellbutrin and Lexapro together everyday for the past 4 years and have had no problems at all. I initially took just Wellbutrin but after about 6 months started having anxiety so my doctor also added Lexapro which was the trick. Although, it may seem strange to be on 2 anti-depressants these two were given to me and was great!

In general, it's better to do what the doctor suggests, especially when anxiety and depression are involved.

BOTH medications are antidepressants but in a different class. IF you were prescribed both of them by different doctors, I would definitely check with the doctor or pharmacist. I would still ask even if they were prescribed by the same doctor; it never hurts to question prescriptions you are given. And as I always say, ask your pharmacist for a print-out of the medications. The print-outs have a great deal of information about the drugs including drug/drug interactions, drug/food interactions, it explains exactly what the drug is and how it should be used, just about everything and anything you need to know and then some. It also warns about reactions with over-the-counter drugs, which many people forget to take into consideration. BE SAFE....ASK QUESTIONS.

My mom's Dr. Just Prescribed her Lexapro to supplement the 300mg Wellbutrin XL a couple days ago. The Lex takes care of the serotonin and the Wellbutrin re-uptakes the dopamine and the norepeinephrine. Yeah it's gonna totally give your little engine a rehall. In theory, it takes care of all the main factors contributing to depression, but you really never know what chemicals you need and which ones need not be messed with. It's trial and error, dude. The scientific method applied. I hope it works for mama, the lady is in a rut.

The answer to this question is YES, Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Lexapro can be taken together. There is no negative interaction. Strangely, the addition of Wellbutrin to Lexapro is said to reverse some of the latter's tendency to interfere with erection, libido, and orgasm in males (and Lexapro is BAD in this respect). The normal dose of Wellbutrin after titrating up from 150mg is 300mg, preferably in the XL (released gradually over time) form, and the Lexapro is normally one 10mg tab QD. I have seen these two meds prescribed together this way but I have not checked with the patients to see if it helped (problem was sexual s/e on the Lexapro). More common for sexual s/e in males is simply a prescription for Viagra. These two antidepressants do inhibit the reuptake of two different neurotransmitters as someone above wrote, but the actual effect of the two meds together is subjective and will be slightly different for everyone. Two antidepressants do not give you twice the antidepressant effect, but may result in a slightly better antidepressant effect, with fewer sexual s/e or reduced anxiety. Fortunately, you can test-drive this combo safely and see what it does for you. Generally, Wellbutrin has mild caffeine-like effects which some pt's like, but others feel it increases their anxiety. It has no sexual s/e. Lexapro does not have the caffeine-like side effects and is supposed to reduce anxiety as well as depression, but it interferes with male sexual function to a greater extent than its maker lets on. Based on what male patients have told me, my guess is that sexual dysfunction is an issue in at least 50% of male pt's taking an SSRI. But the answer to your question is YES, they can be safely taken together. You won't get an adverse reaction like you would combining SSRI's and MAOI's, or MAOI's and tyramine, or even certain SSRI's with other SSRI's.

EDIT:

Why is female libido never mentioned? Lexapro (and most anti-depressants) do the same exact thing for females as they do for males. It is as though female libido is not as important as whether or not a man can get it up.

In my experience, Wellbutrin is a fantastic addition to if not replacement for antidepressants in regards to sex drive and the feeling of numbness you tend to get when taking antidepressants.

I have GAD, panic attacks, and depression...I have been on lexapro for a year and a half...take the smallest dose you can for sexual side effects for this drug. After a while of being on lexapro I have seen the sexual side effects somewhat subside...I was prescribed wellbutrin but haven't taken it yet for an extra oomph and to quit smoking. but I read the two can have interactions. I still am going to take the two and ride it out to see what happens...but as far as female libido at first I wasn't getting aroused at all then no orgasm but with time (and a little effort and patience!) I am somewhat back to my old self and can have orgasms and I want to have sex...also I just got off birth control about 4 months ago and since getting off the pill my libido climbed a little...hope this helps..good luck

I should also add that in addition to moving to Wellbutrin, I did some research on supplements to help combat anxiety. I now take a vegetarian multivitamin, evening primrose oil, Omega 3, and L-Theanine with my daily medication. I have not had any problems with anxiety since I started this regimen.

In studies, people treated with Lexapro experienced no clinically important weight change as a result of therapy. If you have concerns about any side effects, you should talk with your healthcare professional or doctor. The side effects listed for Lexapro are nausea, dry mouth, somnolence, insomnia, diaphoresis tremor, diarrhea, abnormal ejaculation, dyspepsia, fatigue, anxiety, vomiting, anorexia, sinusitus, sexual dysfunction, menstrual disorder, abdominal pain, agitation, decreased libido. But out of these side effects, only 4 to 8 % of all people who take this drug experience any weight change and that weight change has been reported as anorexia not weight gain.

Personal Experiences

Yes, I did gain weight. After 18 months of 10mg daily, I gained 20+ lbs. I am sure it's a chemical reaction to the Rx, as my diet did not change. In fact, the way the drug works changes your hormones and metabolism. Both medical professionals and patients who have taken the Rx confirm the weight gain side effect. I hope after the 4-6 week withdrawal period, my body will readjust to my optimal weight. Keep in mind it still takes time to lose the weight, but it shouldn't be impossible (FYI: I could not lose more than 1-2 lbs while on the Lexapro, no matter how healthy I ate or active I was)!

Anti-depressants take time to work. Most "reuptake inhibitors" start doing their job immediately but your body needs to react and that's the part that takes time.

Feeling better is not something that will happen over night. It's not as though thirteen days after starting the medication everything will be wonderful. That's not how it works.

Instead, you'll start to feel a little better, in fact at first it will be such a small difference that you won't be able to tell. Then over time the effect will start to build. While some effect may be felt within the first day or two, maximum effect may take 10-14 days. After that, insufficient response may indicate the need for an increase in dosage or change in medication.

First and foremost, it is not recommended to take a medication which has not been prescribed to you or in the improper dosages in an attempt to "get high".

Lexapro is used to treat anxiety and depression and usually has a drowsy effect on the user.

So your answer is no.

Although it will make you dizzy and usually sick to your stomach.

Two of the most likely possibilities are:

If you suddenly stop taking Lexapro, you may feel like you have the flu. You also might have trouble sleeping, have an upset stomach, have shock-like sensations in the arms and hands, feel dizzy, or feel nervous. This usually begins within 1 to 10 days after you stop taking Lexapro. It is not dangerous or life threatening and usually goes away within one week. Not everyone who stops taking antidepressants experiences this syndrome, and it is less likely if medicines are slowly tapered off over a few weeks.

The other possibility is the return of depression symptoms. Antidepressants need to be continued for at least 6 to 18 months in most people for depression symptoms to stay away when the medicines are stopped. Stopping them too early means that within days to weeks (occasionally 1 to 2 months) symptoms of depression return. These can include irritability, fatigue and change in appetite, among others. Sometimes people need to be on antidepressants for a longer than usual, or even indefinite period of time.

Always consult a medical professional before discontinuing your use of any antidepressant.

(See the discussion page in the link below for more input and personal stories from Wiki s contributors)