Hello All:

This is my first post on the first site I have joined. I had a major depressive episode approx. 3 years ago following a number of high stress incidents (build house, sell house, law suit, two mortgages, sale of home fell through, work place discrimination - to name a few) occurring together. It was like the depression planets aligned. The best I could do was sit in a chair - and that was a good day. I had never experienced anything like it. I was nonfunctional for over a month. Slowly, things have improved since then but ever so slowly and three years since, I am nowhere near where I was before my crash and burn. I have tried a NUMBER of medications but have unusual reactions to them and the search for a good medication foundation was awful.

However, and hope springs eternal, Lamictal and Wellbutrin in combination seems to work the best. Currently, I am on Lamictal 100 mg and Wellbutrin XL 300 mg for the past month. This was the only combination that helped me to feel quasi human again but not how I was before. I had been taking Lamictal with Wellbutrin SR at 200mg. This may sound weird but I take it at night because it makes me sleepy. My doc confirms that's a bit weird. I wanted to go up a bit on the Wellbutrin maybe to elevate the mood a bit more. But since you can't go above 200mg of SR at one time, I switched to 300mg of XL. I have found that the XL does not have the same effect as the SR on my mood. With the SR I find that my mood is much better, not too many crying spells etc. Has anyone else experienced the different effects between Wellbutrin SR and XL? If yes, have they found a solution? I may have to take the meds twice per day, but due to the sleep problem I had hoped to avoid that. Thanks

Hello GWoman,

So sorry to hear about your problems, but glad to hear that your depression seems more under control.

I am on 300mg Wellbutrin SR at 150mg twice daily. Strangely, but like you, I find also that it has helped me sleep great, and I'm only on it for about 2 1/2 weeks.

My understanding is that since the XL and SR both have different release rates that this can have an affect on some people, even if they are taking the same total daily dose. Perhaps the spike that you get from the SR faster release is something that you need to feel greater beneficial effects. As you stated, perhaps you could try 150mg SR twice daily, similar to what I take (and so far it seems to be helping). I suggest speaking to your doc to see if this is a viable option.

As to the sleepy problem, one question - do you take the Lamictal at night also? I ask since one of its side effects is drowsiness, so I wonder if it could be it rather then the WB making you drowsy. I'm sure you doc could help either way.

Good luck!

Guru

[quote name='Guru' date='Dec 3 2008, 05:13 PM' post='466806']
Hello GWoman,

"As to the sleepy problem, one question - do you take the Lamictal at night also? I ask since one of its side effects is drowsiness, so I wonder if it could be it rather then the WB making you drowsy. I'm sure you doc could help either way."


Thanks Guru - That is a really good point that I had not thought about. I do take Lamictal at night. I am trying to think back to see if I took the Lamictal in the AM along with the Wellbutrin. I can't remember, but I would guess that I did b/c I try to take everything all together so I don't forget. It makes sense to talk to doc about trying BID with Lamictal in PM.

Dear Guru,

This question must have been asked and answered somewhere, but I can't find it. So I hesitate to ask, please don't shout, OK.

I drink Wellbutrin 300 XL in the mornings, with Lamictal 100 mg twice a day, and Topomax 50 mg at night.

Wellbutrin is a real wonder drug for me!

Questions:

1. What is the difference between Wellbutrin SR and XL?

2. Before diagnosed BP, I drank Zyban on its own to help stop smoking, and nearly committed "the dead" twice.

My GP saw it as final confirmation that something serious was wrong, he stopped me on the Zyban immediately, put me on Lamictal, and off to the p-doc, and the rest is history.

Yet, along with Lamictal, the Wellbutrin is working like a charm. Why do I not have the same suicide feelings again? Is it because of the Lamictal and Topomax?

SR releases faster and the effects last about 6-8 hours, XL releases slowly and lasts for most of the day. So, you take XR once a day and SR 2-3 times.
And yes, it's mostly likely that the lamictal and topomax are keeping the wellbutrin from making you crazy. Wellbutrin is NOT officially approved for bipolar (as it tends to make them manic), but I do know that some people with bipolar can take it. Just be careful :)

I'm trying to start Wellbutrin generic 150 SR but insomnia is ******* me. I'm trying to take it every other day & always at 6 or 7 am but I just can not sleep.

I have noticed that already it has helped my depression so well as I don't drink as much wine, my mood is much improved & I don't want to eat everything in sight but I have such a hard time getting up for work when I haven't had any sleep.

I'm new to this site but not new to depression & it's so helpful to read what others have posted & not feel so alone in this fight. It's so difficult to deal with depression & then side effects that are almost as bad as the depression!

Hi, depmen! Looks like you're from my "neck of the woods." Personally I think this record-breaking heat in the middle of October is enough to make anyone depressed. But back to Wellbutrin....

...I haven't really had a good, refreshing night of sleep for years, except the first night or two of a prescription sleeping pill, then even it is not effective, so for me, Wellbutrin hasn't really affected my sleep one way or the other. I just ramped up from 150 generic Wellbutrin SR to 300 mg (this morning was my first day) and so far haven't noticed any side effects. I have read elsewhere that since Wellbutrin is a stimulating type of medication that drinking caffeine in the evening has kept others from sleeping, which is probably my problem as well since I tend to drink Pepsi too late at night.

Welcome to these forums. I'm new here as well, but like you, definitely not new to depression. And it is wonderful to have a place to come where people understand. Nice to meet you and we're all here to support each other.

Are you taking brand name XL or generic XL? If you do an internet search, you will find that certain generics of XL are not nearly as effective as the brand name. It was proven that the generic XL made by Teva was far inferior. I've taken both the generic and brand name of XL. Yes, there was a huge difference between the two. It has something to do with the way and rate they release the drug into your system.

If you can afford it or if your insurance covers it, try the brand name XL. You might like it. It's so much easier taking one pill a day.

Speaking of easy, was Lamictal easy to introduce into your system? I know that there is a section for this medication, but I couldn't find a Wellbutrin/Lamictal combo (with no other AD or antipsychotic) that reassured me. I'm considering Lamictal.

This post has been edited by Treatment_Resistant: Oct 13 2009, 09:01 PM

Hi, Treatment_Resistant,

Four years ago I was on Wellbutrin SR and Lamictal as well as other meds for a total of 9. Since I was on so many it was hard to tell what might have caused some initial side effects, but eventually they all went away and I felt good again.

As far as the Lamictal specifically, it has to be started on a very low dosage and increased very slowly, more slowly than any other psych med I've ever taken. My pdoc gave a Lamictal "starter pack" to me and once I was finished with it then I had a prescription for my maintenance dose. Pdoc spoke very highly of Lamictal. I was eventually weaned off most of the meds including Lamictal, but I had no difficulty with WB and Lamictal mixed.