Wellbutrin/Buspar

Hi, I have been on Wellbutrin for 3yrs. It helped with my depression but I've noticed that my anxiety lately is getting worse. I am terrified of taking most medications because of the sexual and weight gain side effects. I refused everything for 8 or 9 years until I heard about WB from a family member who had success with it. I'm a recovering anorexic so the thought of the weight gain is pretty horrifying to me.

I tried once getting off the WB and immediately went back into being depressed and even more anxious than when I was taking it- so its clearly working. I was looking into some anti-anxiety meds and came across Buspar. What are your thoughts on the combo of those two? I've read in a few places people have taken them together, for this very reason (to blunt the anxiety caused by WB), but there's not much information other than what I'm finding on public message boards.

My anxiety lately is making it hard to do anything functionally, and its starting to make me depressed. I live in a big city, and the commute on the train is proving to trigger mild attacks. Just this morning I was completely racing, sweating, panicky and started hyperventilating from being late for class, then couldn't think straight for the rest of the day. Ugh.
Thanks!

Buspar is mainly an anxiolytic, and a minor antidepressant. Its downside is that it takes a couple of weeks to take effect. It has no known side effects to increase appetite, rather the reverse - it can cause nausea and other gastrointestinal issues.

Wellbutrin is sometimes used in the treatment of obesity, therefore it should not increase appetite. But because of that it should NOT be prescribed to persons with Anorexia.

Neither medicine should have a negative effect on sexuality, rather the opposite.

Yes, you can use Buspar, but not Wellbutrin.
Please discuss this issue and the medicines with your doctor.

I am on Wellbutrin too and I don't think it may cause weight gain.
I take Wellbutrin to treat my bulimia and anorexia but it doesn't helped so much so I'm planning to get off the medication and search for other ways to treat eating disorders.I think you shouldn't rely too much on medication.

I've always thought that the reason people who have been or are anorexic shouldn't take WB is because of the increased risk of seizure- not the loss of appetite. Here is a quote from an article about it:

"GlaxoSmithKline advises that bupropion should not be prescribed to individuals with epilepsy or other conditions that lower the seizure threshold, such as alcohol or benzodiazepine discontinuation, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, or active brain tumors. "

However, the reason it can lower seizure threshold is because anorexics and bulimics are often dehydrated. Actually, because I'm happy I feel less guilty about eating, its really helped me a lot. I've heard of quite a few recovering anorexics taking it with success. Also the key is the recovering part- I'm at a healthy weight and eat- so dehydration is not really a factor- but I still have overwhelming fear of gaining more weight. In any case, thanks for the info; but, its been 3 years and I'm doing very well on WB, if I was going to fall into anorexic misery-or have a seizure- I'd assume it would have happened by now, so I'm going to hold to the opinion that it's safe.

I've done a good deal of research on these meds effects when taken separately- so what I really need to know is what happens when they are taken together. What drew me to Buspar was its lack of sexual and weight side effects- the same for WB.

Hey -- not sure if you're still around reading...... just thought I'd chime in.....

I've read that zoloft is a good combo with wellbutrin. this mix is called- "well-off"

I've been on celexa and lexapro in the past and both of those caused weight gain and absent libido..... since I've been on wellbutrin(3 weeks) I've lost 5 pounds.... I was already at a healthy BMI but now I think I'm going a bit below.... but that's OK as I fear being too heavy also.
I understand your concern of the side effects..... maybe you can research "well-off" ....... perhaps that's a good mix for you??

anyway-- good luck

mariposa

Wellbutrin and buspar can be taken as a combo and is common. Not as common as Zoloft/buspar, but some people can't take zoloft. If you google this combo you will find many people on it.

-- Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:40 pm --

Wellbutrin and buspar can be taken as a combo and is common. Not as common as Zoloft/buspar, but some people can't take zoloft. If you google this combo you will find many people on it.