Bupropion?

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Seasonally Apathetic & Disillusioned
joined 24 Jul 2005
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Posted by Seasonally Apathetic & Disillusioned, 19:41 2 September 2005

Has anyone, who doesn't respond to light therapy or serotonergenic drugs, tried bupropion (brand name: Wellbutrin) for treating their SAD with any success?

sebrown
joined 18 Nov 2002
221 posts

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Posted by sebrown, 07:30 3 September 2005

not heard of it

Seasonally Apathetic & Disillusioned
joined 24 Jul 2005
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Posted by Seasonally Apathetic & Disillusioned, 09:36 3 September 2005

Buprpion HCl is primarily a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It is also the active ingredient in 'Zyban', the drug used to help people quit smoking. 'Winter Blues' (1998) does mention bupropoin, and it is now licensed in the UK in the 'Zyban' form at least. My GP and psychiatrist have never mentioned it - venlafaxine is their ultimate antidepressant drug of choice. Venlafaxine is primarily a serotonergenic drug and doesn’t affect the dopamine system, so I thought bupropion could be worth a try where tricyclics and SSRIs have all failed.

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
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Posted by Anonymous, 15:57 21 September 2005

Hi there

why would this drug be considered a last resort rather than a preference to SSRI's? I have read that people who take it are less likely to have sexual problems and less likely to put on weight than those who take SSRI's. I have been prescribed SSRI's again by my GP and dread the side effects, esp the sexual ones. Is it worth requesting my GP tries me on this drug? My fiance was on this for giving up smoking and he didnt seem to have any side effects. I have only just learned that Zyban/Wellbutrin are the same thing, so I will ask him if the tablets had any antidepressant effects, but then if he wasnt depressed at the time, he would not notice would he???

siddy
joined 22 Jan 2003
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Posted by siddy, 09:37 23 September 2005

Hello Debbie,

Joel is a little dramatic at times.

There is quite a clear warning with this drug that it could increase suicidal ideas which is probably why doctors will be hesitant to prescribe it over other anti-depressants. I know there were a few cases in the 1990's where changeover from ssri's to drugs acting on the dopamine system led to a few nasty incidents. Now if people change over from these two groups there is a gap in treatment to allow the drugs to leave the system.

Maybe discuss with your doctor this issue, there are other meds in the same family which might be less risky?

Anonymous
joined 4 Dec 2008
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Posted by Anonymous, 12:59 14 October 2005

Siddy, all SSRI and other ADs carry a warning about increased suicidal thoughts. In the US at least.

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