I was (am) taking medication for depression...

[driver8]

A few years ago, I started taking Wellbutrin XL for depression. I also take Effexor for anxiety. Well, my insurance company substituted the generic version of Welbutrin on my last prescription (3 month supply) and I had to quit taking it. I took it for a couple of months and felt like absolute shit. This medicine seemed to make me more depressed and absolutely killed my libido (now that's a strange feeling!!).

I quit taking it a few days ago and feel better already. I have an appointment with my Doctor next week; I think I'm going to see if I can stay off of the Wellbutrin for awhile.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. Yup

Wellbutrin made me irritable. Wellbutrin XL made me even more depressed.

There's a boatload of different SSRIs out there, each a little different from the other because each human is a little different from the others. Often, you've gotta try a few to see which one works for you.

Good luck. :hi:

[SPKrazy]

2. shouldn't be a bit of difference

but ya never know between brand and generic


wellbutrin is actually considered an aphrodisiac by some psychiatrists, heard a presentation on that fact a few years ago. of course it was one of those where the drug company paid a psychiatrist to present on the drug.

:shrug:

i dunno how to explain the generic flaw.

it would be interesting if it could be analyzed to see what's in it.

there should be no difference

[Critters2]

3. Wellbutrin gave me the most awful skin reaction!!!

A rash that became like boils. Then some of them became infected--with staph!! What a mess!!

Effexor didn't cause any adverse effects--until I went off it. Believe me, you want to go off Effexor
G R A D U A L L Y! Even then I had this feeling like my brain was bouncing around inside my head.

Every anti-depressant I tried had some negative effect. The tricyclines were the least troublesome, but gave me a sweet tooth, so I gained weight.


I wish you well, but I am glad I'm not on meds anymore.

[Wapsie B]

4. If anything I feel better after using the generic version.

I just started using generic Wellbutrin this last month and I feel great. But I realize people react to meds in different ways. For me though generic Wellbutrin has been very positive.

[bamademo]

5. Lexapro! Lexapro!

While Wellbutrin did help me quit smoking, it's been Lexapro that's been most effective for battling
my anxiety and depression. I had some bad things happen all at once (parents going in the nursing home and my beloved Golden Retriever Scarlett died of cancer) and I sailed right through it all with Lexapro.

[Maestro]

9. Second the Lexapro!

At least for my chemical make-up, it is the best with minimal to no side-effects once my body got used to the drug.

[NewWaveChick1981]

6. My husband took Wellbutrin and then Wellbutrin XL over a four-year period.

:( He had a very similar experience to yours. Our insurance company changed policies and he had to take the generic or pay out the wazoo for the brand name. His libido was decent (although not what it once was) with Wellbutrin, but the generic killed it. :cry: He's been off it altogether for about a year and a half, and he feels better (and so do I ;) ).

[Orsino]

7. Yeah, someone close to me gave up Wellbutrin...

...a year ago, and has never felt better. Wellbutrin had worked better than Prozac, too, but things change. No more antidepressant--for now.

[mduffy31]

8. Wellbutrin is NOT an SSRI

Bupropion is norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It's action is different from the traditional antidepressants. As always talk with your doctor about stuff like this. I have worked in Psych in my nursing career and I know that there are a lot of different options out there.

Here is some info from Wikipedia for what it's worth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupropion