Can Lexapro and Wellbutrin be taken safely together and are there increased side effects?

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I buy my medicines from http://www.drugstoreamerica.org/wellbutrin.php . They are US licensed and located so you can order with confidence!

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While all medications can have side effects, if your doctor wants you to use those two medications it's because of a problem that he thinks can be solved with that combination. Using the two meds together can be effective for some people. The side effects do not affect all people, that part depends on your body chemestry and even if you do have side effects, reports are that they go away after going off the meds.

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

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BOTH medications are antidepressants but in a different class(antidepressants)IF you were prescribed both of them by different doctors, I would definately 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.

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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.

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Check out drug interactions (you can plug in different drug names) at:

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Interaction/ChooseDrugs/1,4109,,00.html

~ T

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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.

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I have been taking 10mg Lexpro for three years, and about 3 months ago was put on 150mg wellbutrin xl to counter sexual side effects, most notably lower libido, but most frustratingly, lack of ability to orgasm. There has been some improvement in my mood and activity, and there is a definate change in libido, but the inability to orgasm has again returned. Along with those side effects, I have suffered from headache, transient nausea, muscle cramping and increased tinitus. From other boards I have read, this seems to be side effects from Lexapro, and also Lexapro withdrawal. I want to discontinue the Lexapro, but stay on the Wellbutrin for now. Has anyone done this? I plan a fairly lengthy taper, but I definitely don't want to be on it anymore. It did its job very well, as it stopped my GAD and panic attacks almost immediately and I haven't had a PA for three years, but I can't take the other side effects, especially the sexual effects anymore. I would rather have an occasional panic attack than be asexual right now.

First answer by Redbeard. Last edit by Depthdose. Contributor trust: 6 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 90 [recommend question]