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[elevenoceans]

During 2 months I was on Lexapro 10 mg but this week I received the results of my blood tests and the serotonin level is too low. My serotonin level is 15 and the normal range is between 117 and 193. Because of this my pdoc stopped the Lexapro and started Wellbutrin 150 mg. This morning I had my first pill and I hope this med works for me. I was also prescribed Mirtazapine 30 mg for bedtime.

[lindahurt]

I hope wellbutrin works for you.  It has been a wonderful antidepressant for me.  I'm currently on 300XL and have taken it for several years.  I hope it works for you.

Lindahurt

[jimbow15]

Hi elevenoceans,

Well at 10mg of Lexapro I am not surprised your Serotonin level was low, did your Doctor not consider an increase to 20mg to see if would be efffective at that level?

Wellbutrin should suit you fine and again it will be effective at the right level for you (therapeutic level)   Hope you get a speedy result and feel really great soon.

Best Wishes

Jim Bow

[elevenoceans]

jimbow15, on 27 January 2012 - 01:02 PM, said:

Hi elevenoceans,

Well at 10mg of Lexapro I am not surprised your Serotonin level was low, did your Doctor not consider an increase to 20mg to see if would be efffective at that level?

Wellbutrin should suit you fine and again it will be effective at the right level for you (therapeutic level)   Hope you get a speedy result and feel really great soon.

Best Wishes

Jim Bow

Hi Jim. My doctor didn't consider increasing Lexapro to 20 mg. He said that with my serotonin levels Lexapro wouldn't be of many help.

[elevenoceans]

I am on the 6th day with Wellbutrin and I feel that depression lifted a little bit. The main problem now is the side effects, especially because is affecting my sleep and I do not sleep as I used too. I hope as I get used to Wellbutrin that me sleep will get back to normal again.

[LaurynJcat]

Hi elevenoceans.   I found that the insomnia for me only lasted about a week.  Hopefully it will be the same for you.

Good luck.
Lauryn

[scottyg354]

I was on Lexapro for nine months last year. Totally relieved me of my anxiety but made me too care free and lazy. Not good at all. Went off it was good for about 4 months and started feeling depressed. I am now taking Bupropion HCL XL 150. Going back to the doc Feb 24, see how I feel and see if I need an increase. I've been on it for two days, last night I didn't sleep but I am feeling a little tired tonight and think I might pop a Melatonin before bed and see how that goes.

[elevenoceans]

^{Another night sleeping poorly. This weekend I will resort to some sleeping pills to have a rest and start next week fresh. If the insomnia persists.by the end of next week I will have to talk with my doctor.}

[scottyg354]

elevenoceans, on 03 February 2012 - 07:30 AM, said:

^{Another night sleeping poorly. This weekend I will resort to some sleeping pills to have a rest and start next week fresh. If the insomnia persists.by the end of next week I will have to talk with my doctor.}

Last night was my second night and I slept. I took a Melatonin right before I went to bed and it seemed to work. I woke up once or twice, but fell right back to sleep.

[kesrnmd]

i would also suggest that if you are still continuing to experience symptoms of insomnia to take the medication in the morning instead of at night. I have been on lexapro for years and there have been occasional times i would run out of it for like 2 weeks and then when i start to take it again i have severe insomnia for a few days. Your body will settle down once therapeutic levels have been reached. just make sure the you always take the correct dose and at a consistent time and you will see that it will all work out for you. :) It is just sometimes your body needs some time to get used to new things. SSRI's or the "new generation" of antidepressants are the best form because they harbor little to no side effects.

Edited by Spiritual_Wanderer, 08 February 2012 - 04:22 PM.
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[imrj]

elevenoceans, on 27 January 2012 - 04:27 AM, said:

During 2 months I was on Lexapro 10 mg but this week I received the results of my blood tests and the serotonin level is too low. My serotonin level is 15 and the normal range is between 117 and 193. Because of this my pdoc stopped the Lexapro and started Wellbutrin 150 mg. This morning I had my first pill and I hope this med works for me. I was also prescribed Mirtazapine 30 mg for bedtime.

am very puzzled by the meaning of this, because serum levels of neurotransmitters has no relationship to whats actually on the brain (ie. blood/brain barrier).....most of serotonin is produced in the gut but as far as brain levels and receptor activation that means nothing at all......

[kesrnmd]

lexapro and wellbutrin together have helped me a lot

Edited by kesrnmd, 09 February 2012 - 07:53 AM.

[elevenoceans]

<sub>It's been 2 weeks on Wellbutrin and the insomnia persists, actually is getting worse. I would like to contact my pdoc to talk about my situation but it is impossible to reach him. It seems he has a lot of patients and do not give his contact to anyone. My next appointment would be only on February 28th and I can't wait so long to have a new evaluation. Maybe I chose the wrong pdoc to treat me, but this is another story.

One possible solution is to consult a general practitioner as soon as possible and ask for an opinion, if I need to get an adjustment in my meds or not.

For the short term, I can add some sleeping pills but I think this is not an option because the sleeping pills are limited only for a short time ,and when I quit them the insomnia probably will come back. Maybe I will have to change from antidepressant again. That's why I need to consult a doctor.</sub>

[elevenoceans]

It's been 4 weeks on Wellbutrin 150mg (breakfast) and my insomnia is getting worse. Last week I was able to consult my pdoc and he prescribed me Tarzodone 50mg (bed time) to help with my sleep. After 6 days I didn't feel any difference and increased the dosage of Tarzodone to 100mg to saw if it helped. This new dosage worsen even more my insomnia.

With these facts it is clear that Tarzodone is not helping me and I will stop taking it. Wellbutrin has been a great help me in healing my depression but I am afraid that because of the side effects (insomnia) I will have to stop taking this medicine.

On February 28th I will have the next appointment with my pdoc to give him an update of my situation.