Published on 01 December 2021

Can We Take Wellbutrin And Prozac Together?

Prozac (Fluoxetine) can-we-take-wellbutrin-and-prozac-together
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Depression, mood swings, and anxiety are more commonly seen, which harm your entire life. It can cause emotional and physical disturbance and loss of interest to function in your day-to-day activities. These are not such big things you should worry about because, in most cases of depression, nearly 80 to 90 percent of patients are treatable and respond well to treatment.

It is necessary to diagnose conditions wherein physical examination and blood tests can also be carried out. There are many medical inventions developed to treat your illness so that you can get out of such conditions.

According to the report, one in six Americans takes antidepressant drugs. About 13.2% of people take depression drugs in the U.S. Wellbutrin, and Prozac are antidepressants. Both medications are used to treat major depressive disorders and other mental health problems. Wellbutrin and Prozac are widely prescribed for treatment. Let us know whether two medicines in the body would be preferable.

What is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin belongs to the aminoketone antidepressants, which come under the XL (extended-release) and Wellbutrin S.R. (sustained release). The generic brand name for formulations of the drug is Bupropion.

The FDA-approved drug to treat major depressive disorders and seasonal disorders. It is used as an off-label drug for ADHD in adults and children, also bipolar disorder associated with depression, etc.

What is Prozac?

Prozac is a drug belonging to the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). It comes under the brand name fluoxetine. The most prescribed medication caution in the U.S. helps in stimulating specific chemicals.

It is an approved drug by the FDA for the treatment of Major depressive disorder. Prozac also treats bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions like panic disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Migraine headache, and Bulimia nervosa.

How Does Wellbutrin Work?

Wellbutrin is not SSRI; Wellbutrin is an aminoketone class group focusing on the brain's dopamine and norepinephrine chemicals. The medicine works as a chemical messenger, transmitting information from the neurons to other tissues in the body.

Neurotransmitter Dopamine functions as a regulator, maintaining a mood, sleep pattern, and pleasant environment. The drug works by blocking the nerves in the brain and releases the Neurotransmitter called dopamine; it functions as a regulator, maintaining a mood, sleep pattern, and a calm and pleasant environment. Hence, increasing the neurotransmitter dopamine automatically reduces the symptoms of depression. Thus the drug works effectively on your system.

How Does Prozac Work?

Prozac belongs to an antidepressant drug, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It usually works by increasing the level of certain neurotransmitters called serotonin. A chemical in the brain helps in mood, behavior, and sleep patterns and restores your daily activities. Because a low serotonin level will impact your mood with depressive episodes, the drug Prozac helps in increasing the classes for patients with depression. It can be used over the age of 10 years old.

Can You Take Wellbutrin And Prozac Together?

Yes, Wellbutrin and Prozac can be taken together depending on an individual's tolerance and medical history. Wellbutrin and Prozac are widely prescribed antidepressants. Both medications have the same antidepressant effect on the body, but the working of these drugs are different.

Wellbutrin and Prozac can be combined as a combination medication to treat depression. This combination can help to lower the symptoms associated with major depressive disorder, and it can be more effective than individual medication in some conditions.

While taking any medication in combination, you should only be taken it under proper medical guidance. 

How Effective Is The Combination Of Wellbutrin And Prozac?

Both Wellbutrin and Prozac affect the chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin, which significantly affect. Thus, this combination can be more effective in some cases than individual medication with less severe symptoms. Wellbutrin is widely used with other SSRIs and SNRIs as a combination medication for the treatment of depression. Using an antidepressant, SSRI, and SNRI can reduce adverse sexual side effects.

A study was conducted to observe the effect of Wellbutrin and Prozac on individuals suffering from depression and alcoholism with past suicide attempt history. 42 patients were under observation and given six months of Wellbutrin and six months of Prozac. The primary outcome measure was to check the suicide events or an attempt during the trial.

Wellbutrin and Prozac were seen to be effective against depression and alcoholism as suicide events or suicide attempts were reduced and lowered. Also, the alcohol relapse prevention was better, which helped them tackle the side effects. Thus, it was observed that Wellbutrin and Prozac could efficiently treat alcoholism.

Some Similarities Between Wellbutrin And Prozac

  • Both are drugs that target neurotransmitters.
  • Both aim to improve mood.
  • Both are commonly prescribed for depression.
  • Both take around eight weeks to show full results.

Some Differences Between Wellbutrin And Prozac

  • Wellbutrin commonly increases anxiety, so it is not a good choice for patients with predominant anxiety. On the other hand, Prozac is primarily prescribed to treat MDD, bulimia nervosa, OCD, panic disorder, and PMDD.
  • Wellbutrin is an Aminoketone, and Prozac is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor.

Possible Side Effects Of Wellbutrin And Prozac Together

Side effects are unwanted illnesses that affect your health due to the drug status. Some may find it challenging to adapt to the new drug and has adverse reactions. Therefore, combining these drugs can lead to Seizures.

This combination may also lead to severe side effects, which can be fatal. This combines one of the actions that can lead to addiction, similar to most other antidepressants. This combination can hurt if the person has a history of seizures and alcohol addiction.

Wellbutrin Side Effects Prozac Side Effects
Dizziness Headache
Insomnia Drowsiness
Nausea Dizziness
Headache Weight gain
Sore throat Nausea
Dry mouth Stomach cramps
Weight loss High blood pressure

For people taking antidepressants, the symptoms will go on for 2 to 3 weeks; the main effects are weight gain and sexual drive; If you find any thoughts of suicidal changes in your behavior, inform your doctor immediately and seek help.

Precautions For Using Wellbutrin And Prozac Together

Drug precautions are an essential guide to how to proceed with the drug; it helps to know how to use medicine and a combination of drugs that can be used. It is a way of Safety measures that allows you to treat your health and overcome the illness. Inform your doctor priorly about your medical history.

There are some standard precautions present while combining these drugs are,
If you are hypersensitive to allergic particles, you will quickly get an infection with the drug, so inform your doctor about all the medications you are using currently, like vitamins, Herbal supplements, because some can help lead to unwanted interaction.

People with any other existing health conditions like

  • Kidney or liver insufficiency
  • Respiratory condition
  • Heart failure
  • Any other mental illness

During pregnancy: Taking antidepressants will affect your fetus due to the high-risk medication. So inform your doctor about your drug history.

During breastfeeding: The drug will pass into your breast milk, so inform you about your history and avoid taking antidepressants as much as possible.

Drug interaction

Drug interactions are chemical substances of one or two drugs interacting at a time sometimes, which will worsen your symptoms; not all drugs have possible interactions, so you should be aware while taking interactive drugs. Consult with your respective doctor.

Wellbutrin

  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI): selegiline and phenelzine.
  • Blood pressure medicines.
  • Dopaminergic drugs: Levodopa and Amantadine

Prozac

  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors will increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, so avoid taking Prozac after 14 days of
  • discontinuing the MAOI.
  • Serotonergic groups: opioid
  • Tricyclic antidepressants,
  • Seizure drugs,
  • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs)
  • Mood stabilizers.

Also read

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

The efficacy of consuming Wellbutrin and Prozac drugs together depends entirely on an individual's treatment, response, and medical history. Combining therapy is not bad because this method is widely used in many health conditions and has proven effective. But all other aspects, Prozac drug interactions, and an individual's medical history should be considered.

As discussed earlier, taking Wellbutrin and Prozac together can be effective for some people, while it can negatively impact some cases.

It is better to consult a medical practitioner or doctor before taking such a combination of medications to avoid the associated risk.

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