Hello everyone.. I was just wondering if there is anyone out there taking Wellbutrin and Cymbalta together? I'm thinking about asking my DR about adding it.

Yes, I am.  It works very well for me.  I take 150mg WBxl and 30mg cymbalta a day.  So far I don't need to increase it.

Wow, that's really interesting... does your brain feel kinda "fried" from taking both?  I notice the Wellbutrin SR kicking in excatly 2 hours after taking it and it feels like the inside of my head is like sizzling and warm. I've read a lot of good things about Cymbalta so I was thinking about asking my DR about letting me start on it. One thing that really interested me about Cymbalta was that it decreases depression pain which I think I have. I've had like 3 MRIs, 2 catscans, all sorts of test on my brain (for chronic migraines) and stomach  over the last years and they found nothing wrong; yet, I'm sick all the time to the point of having to home school or do distance learning. Anyways, thanks  :)

I take 60mg. of Cymbalta and only 75 of Wellbutrin.  Cymbalta tends to increase my appetite and make me sleepy.  This is about the right dose of Wellbutrin to help counter those problems.  More works better but makes me too jumpy, so I have to compromise.  I think this is a good combination, however.  The doctor told me that Topomax is also used to decrease appetite resulting from antidepressants.  I haven't tried it, though.

Thanks for the help!! I'm actually starting cymbalta tomorrow and continuing wellbutrin SR.  :)

I don't have as much pain since I've been on cymbalta.  Sleeping better too.  No, my brain doesn't feel fried at all.  I've taken WB for several years now.  I just don't need 300mg anymore.  150mg works well for me with 30mg of cymbalta.  Everyone's different, you just have to figure out what works for you.  I think you'll like it, especially for pain. How much are you starting with?

Hi, I take Cymbalta and Wellbutrian together. I take 450 ml of the well...and 30 ml of cymbalta. I am not sure if it is working for me as I feel more depressed...I see the doc tomorrow so I am going to talk to her... :)

Sally, what type of pain were you having?  I'm glad the Cymbalta seems to be helping.  I have aches and pains in my joints (getting old!), and the Cymbalta doesn't help that at all.  I was hoping it would.

I've been diagnosed with fibro and can have pain different places.  Most of all my back hurt a lot and it doesn't anymore.  I have carpul tunnel also but still feel tingling and numbness, not so much pain.  At times it felt like my bones hurt but that seems to have cleared up too.  Not that I don't feel anything anymore but it's a lot more tolerable and I sleep better.  

Sorry it didn't seem to work for you.

Cymbalta + Wellbutrin combo is very effective.. Cymbalta seems to work a little better with depression, but if you decide to try it with or without WB just know you are going to have really bad nausea (like big waves up and down your throat) the first 2 days. I like "C" also cause it really helps with my migraines, stomach problems, and my back problem "C" can make you feel tired and WB can make your feel wired, they work together wonderfully, as with the sexual side effects Cymbalta is supposely have lower effect rate than the other antidepressants in other classes, but I'm having a little problem myself Wellbutrin is suppose to counteract sexual side effects...so...whoknows, but Okay  I'm done  

I too take the combo of Cymbalta, Wellbutrin XL, and Zyprexa.  The Cymbalta is new...added to replace Paxil.  So far so good.  The only side effect I have had was some dizzieness and my doc did not attribute that to the added cymbalta or the cessation of Paxil.  They wanted to attribute the dizzieness to a head cold & inneer ear infection which I may or may not have had.

Swede

Welcome CipherCode,

Sorry you're having problems but that's why most of us are here and we try to exchange what seems to work for us.  Just keep in mind everyone reacts different.  

For one thing 2 wks is absolutely not long enough to tell if the WB is working or not.  This is an AD that takes longer to work.  You may feel more depressed before you feel better.  That's why a lot of dr's add an ssri to take with it.  They help with anxiety too and should get you over the starting se's of WB.  Talk to your dr and see what he suggests.  Just hang in there.

Welcome to DF, CipherCode
I agree with Swinn - WB can take much longer to kick in than many ADs, and anxiety can go up in the beginning; and many people need 300 mg. as an effective dose.
Yes, please talk to your doctor - there are meds that can be added on, sometimes just temporarily, to help you over the starting hump on WB.
Plese keep posting, and let us know how you're doing.
Wishing you well...

I'm glad you're going to hang in there with the WB. Keep us updated on how you're feeling, OK?

CipherCode,

Just wondering if the combination worked for you or not?  How are you feeling? Let us know.  

Hi I know noone has posted here for a while, but I am wondering who is around that is still on this combo. I just started on both about a month ago. 150xl of WB and 60mg of cymbalta. I am trying to decide whether I should increase one or the other or both...but in general the combination is fantastic. They seem to cancel out the bad effects of each other, but enhance the good.

I've been taking 60mg cymbalta and 150xl of wellbutrin for about a month now. I do feel better, but my depression is not totally lifted and nor is my anxiety. Now, I don't want to be numb, and I'm not expecting these meds to be miracle workers, but I think I'd like to try an increase. But here's my dilemma: (and of course I will ask my doc about this too, but I was wondering what your opinions are) Primarily, I feel like the cymbalta helps my anxiety but makes me sleepy, and the wellbutrin helps my mood, and to counteract the sleepiness but increases my anxiety. Sooooo....I am wondering what I should do about an increase. I feel like if I just increase the cymbalta my anxiety will lessen but I may be so very sleepy all the time, which is difficuly because i have school, work, and an internship to deal with. I'm not good at motivating myself when I am tired. On the other hand, if I just increase the wellbutrin, I may have a better mood and more energy, but if it increases my anxiety it will just be pointless. Honestly, I'd rather be depressed without anxiety than free from depression but anxious. When I'm anxious, I can't do anything.

SO: my questions :

Should I increase both meds by a little? I don't want to take more than I need, but i think a bit more would help.

What is an average dose for wellbutrin? Is there a difference etween XL and SR in this situation?

For those of you that have increased from 150 to 300 or more, did you notice an increase in anxiety, irritability etc? Or was it about the same?

Is any one else on the combination of cymbalta and wellbutrin? If so, how is it working and what dosage are you on?


Thanks in advance!

This post has been edited by lizard: Feb 17 2006, 01:48 PM

It's not unusual for people to need 300 mg. of WB for it to be effective, at least on it's own. I don't know if that would be too much with the Cymbalta in the mix. Please check with your doctor.
When I increased from 150 to 300 mg of WB, I did notice an increase in side-effects (for me irritability was the worst). But everyone's different in their response; you might be just fine.
Let us know what you and your doc decide to do...

bump

I'm taking 300xl now. It certainly helped my mood. I've been taking it for about a week and a half now, I think. When you experienced side effects with an increase, how long did they last? Or are they still around? I've been more irritable, most noticeably in the evenings. Some of my anxiety has come back, but it seems to be more so physical (knotted stomach, shaking a bit, etc) than mental, so as of now I am able to deal with it unless something big comes up suddenly.

So far I'm doing better with the increase overall. I tried an increase of the cymbalta before this increase but it made me way too tired and I felt kind of sick, so I went back down.

Glad you posted this.

I was thinking of asking my psychiatrist if I could try Cymbalta with my Wellbutrin XL. I am currently taking 300mg of the Wellbutrin in the morning with 10mg of Paxil. It’s not working too well for me though. I have been taking Paxil for several years now. I stopped the Paxil last year and started Zoloft and that gave me too much anxiety and hand tremors. So I went back to the Paxil. I still need to try a different antidepressant though. The current combination isn’t working. I haven’t noticed any side effects with the Wellbutrin and have been taking it for about six months now.


Lone Wolf

Are you going to try the cymbalta? It might work for you, if the paxil and zoloft aren't working. It is very good for anxiety, from my experience, although it might upset your stomach a lot in the beginning. Don't give up tho if you try it and it does make you feel a bit yucky at first...I almost gave up on it but am *so* glad I didn't!! It really helped me, along with the WB. Let me know if you try it! Seems to be a good combination...to me, but I'm no doctor, so I guess all that's left is to try it and see! :)

i'm supposed to start taking 60mg of Cymbalta and 150mg of WellbutrinXL. don't know if it'll work or not :(

Japako:

When will you start the new meds? Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

-Bean

well... this is my new drug cocktail.

not sure yet when to increase wellbutrin, or when to decrease cymbalta.

been on cymbalta for a couple of months. just started the wellbutrin yesterday.

guess time will tell.

Hey everyone, what time of day do you take the SSRIs and the WB?

I'm having issues with sleeping , but that could just be something that will go away as my body acclimates. I take mine at night before bed.

Any long term success stories of the combination of Wellbutrin and Cymbalta?

I've been on Wellbutrin over 4 weeks (SR twice a day, total 300mg) -- and today the doctor wants to add Cymbalta 30mg to it because it isn't helping my depression. I'll start it tomorrow or Saturday so I'm hoping for the best. He said if it works within 4 weeks that we'll try to reduce the Wellbutrin to once a day and figure out if the Cymbalta is working well enough alone, or if I need the Wellbutrin also.

Things were so much easier before the Zoloft pooped out after 12 years!

Hi everyone,

I'm new here...I needed somewhere to talk about my meds.

I've been on Cymbalta (60mg) for about a year now and my doctor justed added Wellbutrin (150mg), and I took it only a few hours ago. I'm really worried about what side effect I might have from taking both of them together.
I had loads of side effects from Cymbalta but they subsided after a couple months...and now I am worried I might have new side effects of taking them both together.

For anyone who started with Cymbalta and then had Wellbutrin added...did you have any side effects?

The reason my doctor decided to add the Wellbutrin is because the Cymbalta has made me really tired and sluggish all the time. I sleep like 12+ hours a day and never really have any energy or sex drive. The Wellbutrin is supposed to counter act my current side effects...so I'm realllllly hoping it works....and that I dont get sick in the process.

Looks like this post has gone a bit a stale but it fits so very appropriately to my own question, although my focus is somewhat different. I'm a 62 year old male taking Cymbalta for my depression.

Cymbalta's effects initially were extremely welcomed by myself and my partner. I went from black moods and irritability to being able to see past small incidents and occurrences during the day and could keep a civil tongue in my head. Some of the initial side effects, like continual sweating and continual yawning went over rather quickly and the others were hardly worth the mention EXCEPT for the sexual side effects.

It was like someone had pulled the emergency brake on a fast moving train. Our sexual activity came to a crashing halt, not because of a lack of lust or even staying power (not ED or anything needing viagra's help) but because of the total frustration of anorgasm. Briefly stated it means my partner and I can have sex, I display all the symptons of arousal but I don't even come close to an ejaculation.

The anti-depressant qualities of the Cymbalta lessened after 3 or 4 months (I was on 60 mg) but the sexual side effects hadn't changed. Finally, after visiting an urologist, a sex-therapist, a marriage counsellor for 3 months and private therapy for countless visits, the frustration of the anorgasm drove me to point of considering either stopping the Cymbalta entirely or doubling the dosage to at least treat the depression.

I chose to double up on Cymbalta so I'm taking 120 mg now but the sexual frustration persists, if not even stronger. My partner has stood by, through all this, even though I have been far less enclined to engage in sex when I cannot perform. Recently I read that Wellbutrin can be taken concurrently with Cymbalta and can help against the anorgasm. But I have the feeling that my Cymbalta dosage is high, at least comparing with most posting here.

Does anyone know what Wellbutrin is called in Sweden? I asked both by brand name and bupropion hydrochloride but got no response at the drugstore.

I take a double dose of Cymbalta, 60 mg twice a day. I found that taking both pills in the morning kept me feeling better for most of the day but taking one pill early, when I get up for work and the second when I get home from work was far more effective. I am better prepared for the tensions of home life, TWO TEENAGERS, and all the other stuff after work.

I tried taking them at night but it was even harder to sleep with those meds at their most powerful during the night, when I don't really need them.

Hope this helps.

As many people here have said, each person can have a different reaction to meds or combos there of. I am currently taking 30mg Cymbalta & 300 mg XL (extended release), and it's working pretty well.

I took Prozac for years (since 95), but it finally got to the point that max dose wasn't helping. SO , my MD tried Wellbutrin added to it, but it didn't really hit the mark; so, she put me on the Cymbalta a couple months ago & told me to titrate down the Wellbutrin, but I noticed I was getting tired and sleepy, no energy, so I titrated myself back up to 300mg XL Wellbutrin and feel it's working much better.
I think I need get a little stomach reaction from Cymbalta in the beginning, but it went away. I also tried adding Topomax to the Prozac & Wellbutrin before I began the Cymbalta, but even after a month, still couldn't find my brain (foggy, no memory, useless!), so I stopped that.
My life is still extremely stressful, so I'm not sure if this will last, but it's good for now.

This post has been edited by Julbrock: Today, 10:47 AM

Full Edit Quick Edit

Question. I googled this and was brought here. My (new) doctor started me today on Wellbutrin SR 300 and Cymbalta 60mg. I always take Cymbalta 60 and Amrix 15 for pain managment (the fibromyalgia cocktail). It works pretty good for me. But the doctor added WB into the mix because I was diagnosed with emphysema a few weeks ago and HAVE to quit smoking. She also added advair on top of my albuterol inhaler.

Does anyone else take WB and Cymbalta together at doses as high as mine? What are you side effects? I'd really like to talk to someone with this cocktail with a COPD disease. A COPD sideeffect is irritability, and if WB and Cymbalta both cause irritability, I'm going to be a real peach to my friends.

Suggestions?

Backdoc,
I just started Wellbutrin 150 and will move up to 300 in a week. I have been taking Cymbalta 60 for about 2 years. So far I have no side effects, no irritability actually I feel pretty good. Will let you know how I feel once I move up to 300 if I have any side effects...

Good luck to you.

Hi everyone.

New member, but I've been lurking for ages.

After 9 months of refractory headaches (numerous MRI's, CT's, Lumbar Punctures) and no definitive diagnosis, I was on the verge of suicide just one day before my son's high school graduation (June 09). That same week, my Neurologist placed me on 5 weeks medical leave, because I had deteriorated from a high-achieving go-getter, to a useless slug.

These feelings of hopeless, impending doom, and death-on-the-horizon persisted until my NEUROLOGIST prescribed Cymbalta @ 30 mg/day on July 09). Within ONE DAY, I was feeling better (depression lifted and pain reduced by 80%) to the extent that I was able to return to work and get OUT OF MY HEAD.

This relief did not come without those pesky side effects, however. So, while the depression is no longer there, neither is my zest for life. I am not depressed, but I don’t care about anything. I could just lay on the couch all day and not talk to anyone, brush my teeth, or comb my hair if I could get away with it. LUCKILY, I have a 21 and 18 y/o that watch me very carefully, as they remember the OTHER lump of clay on the couch - before Cymbalta.

I struggle to pray, meditate, get up for work, work when I am there, dare anyone to ask me to work. Complete apathy.

Well, I'd been on WB in the past, so I asked my psychiatrist last week if I could add 150 xl's for energy. Well, being the pill-pusher that she is, she agreed, despite the fact that I am suffering from undiagnosed refractory headaches (WB causes headaches in some, and can be tougher on the liver than Cymbalta).

Anyway, yesterday was day 13 and I just said, enough is enough. I was so thick in the skull, stumbling over words, forgetting words...Since starting WB, I have been having crying jags, paranoid thoughts, and to top it all off, my hair color changed from dark to light-brown (had to die it back). One day, I have abundant energy, the next, I'm a lump. In my previous experiences, WB worked well (despite the irritability), but Cymbalta is new...

My Neuro prescribed it for pain, which, incidentally wiped out my depression along with my personality. My psychiatrist wants me to titrate to Cym @ 20 mgs, once I reach a steady state on the combo.

I have not taken the WB today, and frankly, am afraid to.

On Cymbalta, I've gained weight and developed apathy, muscle aches, and unsteady emotions.

Hi,
I started taking Cybalta about 2 weeks ago. It has been a lifesaver but I have the same problem. I can't have an orgasm. I am so devastated. Finally, I feel better but I have to live with this side effect? I just got off the phone with my Doctor and he suggested I try Welbutrin 75 mg. I am happy to see other people are taking these meds together too. I am willing to try it because I am in a happy relationship and I'm afraid this will cause problems. Good luck to you. Don't give up. I bet if you try thr Welbutrin you migght be able to lower the dose of cymbalta and hopefully get rid of sexual side effects. Take care.

Hi there. I currently take Cymbalta 60mg am, Wellbutrin 300mg am, Klonopin .5mg am & pm. I have been on the Cymbalta for 2 years or so. First couple months were awful as I was weaning up to 60mg. Felt like I had the flu all the time. But since then no side effects besides sexual. About 6 months, it just seemed to poop out. Or maybe my problem just increased. I began feeling terrible about myself. I wanted (still dont really) no social life. I rarely leave the house (stay at home mom). I have little motivation or desire for anything. So the Doc added the Wellbutrin about 6 weeks ago. After 5 weeks I went from 150 to 300mg a day. I have really tolerated this drug well which is surprising because I have a tachycardia problem as well as anxiety. Just yesterday I noticed something that never happened b4. My jaw bwgan twitching. Thinking it is due to raising the dose. I will take the wait and see approach.

I have noticed SOME improvement. I have heard such great stories I was really hoping for this big change. But I am still pretty moody, anti social and tired. I am less tired however and do have more energy just to get thru the typical day. I have not yet been able to quit smoking. But I am really hoping that happens very soon!! No weight loss and I have been eating less and exercising more.

Anyway....thought I would share my combo story :)

Heather, 35, WI

I've been taking Cymbalta for 2 months and have finally hit 60mg, and after the adjustment periods to new dosages, it really helps my sleep and eases depression noticeably. Yesterday, my psychiatrist prescribed Wellbutrin for sexual side effects from the Cymbalta and as a supplemental for depression. I'm also taking 2mg Risperidone at night.

I've seen some of the dosages people take - my question is: is it safe to start with 200mg Wellbutrin with 60mg cymbalta? Is that a safe combination of dosages in any case?

Thanks