View Full Version : Wellbutrin / Zyban
Wellbutrin apparently isn't available in the UK, but Zyban is. Zyban is the same as Wellbutrin.
I am asking if anyone has taken either for Depression?
I have been on Citalopram for around four years and my libido has suffered badly. I had a very high sex drive before taking the SSRI and for the past few years it's been non-existant. My girl and I are trying for a baby at the moment and I wanted to switch to a medication that would not dampen my sex drive.
Does anyone have any opinions on this?
Thanks in advance! :)
Good luck getting it prescribed. Its not licensed for depression, only for smoking cessation, and then I think only for 2 months. You would only be likely to get this through a psychiatrist - I doubt a GP would ever prescribe it 'off label' as an antidepressant. You could always try asking for it though, but I doubt you'd be successful.
The good news is is that there are a number of other antidepressants out there which have minimal sexual side effects or which can in some cases increase libido. Mirtazapine is one, as is trazodone. Trazodone can also be added onto your current SSRI - it can in rare cases cause priapism though!
Moclobemide is another antidepressant which either has no sexual side effects or which can increase libido slightly. Its classed as a MAOI but it doesn't have any dietary restrictions associated with it.
Of course, you could also try natural remedies - rhodiola rosea is reported to raise libido, as can ginkgo biloba - I think you'd need to take either for a couple of weeks to notice a difference though. I'd also confirm with your GP whether you can take them with your SSRI - reports on the net are conflicting, though I doubt you'd get anything like serotonin syndrome from it as their effect is fairly weak.
Hi Emphyrio,
Thanks for the info.
The GP prescribed me Calis 5mg, but it's not that good.
I bought Viamino and it does work, but it does seem to make me uncomfortable when I'm trying to get to sleep.
May be TMI :blush:
I may be repeating what you've already been told, but I've gone through many ADs and experienced all the sexual side effects.
I can confirm that mirtazapine has the least side effects, certainly in the short term. ED after long term use for me, though, fixed with Viagra, but an expensive solution.
Trazodone is good also, but I found delayed ejaculation and some loss of sensation too.
SSRIs & SNRIs - the lot: loss of libido, ED, lack of sensation, delayed, unpleasurable or even painful ejaculation - not pleasant.
yeah I been on it for 6 months now start up is horrific but get though that and its yhe best ad I had plus other side effects like massive weight loss and no sexual side effects like others , but good luck getting it prescribed for depression but it is the best anti deppesion med I have ever taken life is now liveable
Lentils
Is it Wellbutrin you've been on for 6 months?
its zyban but it is exactly the same even says wellbutrin on the packaging having had no joy on any other anti dep my gp suggested trying this for bad depression and it seems to working great , the first 6 to 7 weeks are hell when you start and you cant drink alcohol as this can bring on seizures and your appetite just disappears and the weight loss can get a bit worrying so you must remember to eat and unlike other anti deps theres none of the sexual side effects if anything its the other way around start at 150mls for one week then go to 300mls the general rule is that you take your last tablet by 3pm or you can get bad insomnia hope this helps,,,,,
Thank Lentils.
You were prescribed this by a GP in the U.K ? I was under the impression that U.K GP's were banned from giving this to people?
I don't think they are 'banned' as such, I think that it does come with a lot of risks like increased chance of seizures (I think this is why it is not licensed for depression). As such a GP would have to justify prescribing it off label, and as such, they would probably not be likely to do it (I've heard of a few people being prescribed this via a psychiatrist though in the UK - but only when everything else has failed).
Hi all,
I seen my GP yesterday and had a talk about Zyban.
He has referred me to a Psychiatrist to see if that could help get me these on prescription.
Here's hoping, but I'm not looking forward to the start-up. :unsure:
good luck if you do start these ask me if you want to know anything but have a good talk with your shrink to see if there are any others that do the same job,because these come with a lot of baggage and ask him about all of the side effects.....lentils
Thanks Lentils.
How long did it take you to come off your previous medication and get settled onto Zyban?
about six weeks ,you see for depression its great absolutely stomps it into the ground but if you have anxiety it properly makes it 10 times worse for the first six weeks they literally had me crawling on the floor ,on week one you get what is known as a honeymoon period where everything is just brilliant then you decend into madness till you come through the other side but fingers crossed you wont get any side effects just don't drink alcohol or you will end up in hospital with a gran mal seizure. ps try looking on the internet forums about them because there are some weird and wonderful side effects wont list them all as ill take all day let me know how you get on good luck....... lentils
---------- Post added at 13:28 ---------- Previous post was at 13:20 ----------
don't know why I just thought of this but quite a few people have reported that zyban worked very well when taken in combination with another anti depressant,,,,,,, lentils
Yes, Zyban does seem to have good effects added on to an SSRI - Most SSRIs primarily target serotonin, while bupropion targets norepinephrine and dopamine. So essentially it prevents the reuptake of all 3 neurotransmitters.
In the US bupropion seems to be a common 'augmenting' strategy which helps to reduce some of the sexual side effects gained from other meds. Apparently trazodone as an augmentation strategy has a similar effect.
Hi all,
I seen my GP yesterday and had a talk about Zyban.
He has referred me to a Psychiatrist to see if that could help get me these on prescription.
Here's hoping, but I'm not looking forward to the start-up. :unsure:
Hi, I'm just wondering if you ever saw a Psychiatrist and got this med prescribed?
I've tried a lot of other stuff now and the antidepressant I started recently isn't working either. Reading about Wellbutrin/Zyban/bupropion it sounds like it might suit me... particularly the weight loss, lack of sexual side effects, energising effects, etc.
Kinda strange how it is licensed to treat depression in other countries but here in the UK it is quit smoking aid only.
I'm wondering if I could persuade my Dr to let me have a go on it.
Sober2000june
04-02-14, 10:22
Hi Yenool,
Did You ever get your Zyban?
I'm currently on it, but it was prescribed by my doc off label when my psych told him. This being due to trying Citalopram, setraline:scared15:, Mitrazapine, Venlafaxine, Clomipramine with worsening results. I had the "honeymoon period as described for a couple of weeks at start, well few a few hrs in the morning after taking it then aft would come and the insanity the comes with it. I am currently into week 7 now and have little motivation but from waht ive read this is the norm and may take another few weeks to see the good stuff.
all the best,
Paul
---------- Post added at 10:22 ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 ----------
oh for got to mention also was on Escitalopram for last six months. The thing i have learned in the last 2.5 yrs on this journey being serotonin reuptake is not for me:scared15:
Hi Yenool,
Did You ever get your Zyban?
I'm currently on it, but it was prescribed by my doc off label when my psych told him. This being due to trying Citalopram, setraline:scared15:, Mitrazapine, Venlafaxine, Clomipramine with worsening results. I had the "honeymoon period as described for a couple of weeks at start, well few a few hrs in the morning after taking it then aft would come and the insanity the comes with it. I am currently into week 7 now and have little motivation but from waht ive read this is the norm and may take another few weeks to see the good stuff.
all the best,
Paul
---------- Post added at 10:22 ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 ----------
oh for got to mention also was on Escitalopram for last six months. The thing i have learned in the last 2.5 yrs on this journey being serotonin reuptake is not for me:scared15:
No I haven't tried it, my doctor suggested Moclobemide.
Moclobemide is the best I've tried so far because the lack of side effects.......BUT it isn't helping my depression really.
I'm reluctant to change again because everything I have tried has either made things worse or had intolerable side-effects.... it is a long list in no particular order: sertraline, citalopram, amitriptyline, lofepramine, venlafaxine, paroextine, mirtazapine.
My anxiety is better controlled at the moment with Lorazepam but I am severely low in mood and have horrible (death) thoughts daily. I have zero energy still. I just found out I have a couple of vitamin deficiencies and I hope fixing that might help.
Hi, I'm just wondering if you ever saw a Psychiatrist and got this med prescribed?
I've tried a lot of other stuff now and the antidepressant I started recently isn't working either. Reading about Wellbutrin/Zyban/bupropion it sounds like it might suit me... particularly the weight loss, lack of sexual side effects, energising effects, etc.
Kinda strange how it is licensed to treat depression in other countries but here in the UK it is quit smoking aid only.
I'm wondering if I could persuade my Dr to let me have a go on it.
-------------------------------
Hi guys,
Yeah I've seen the Psychiatrist, I talked with him about Zyban, and he explained that Zyban would be no use fir me. He has put me on Mirtazipine. My Libido certainly has returned with a bang, but after six weeks off the Citalopram and on 30mg of Mirtazipine, I've started to feel kinda anxious in the past couple of days.
-------------------------------
Hi guys,
Yeah I've seen the Psychiatrist, I talked with him about Zyban, and he explained that Zyban would be no use fir me. He has put me on Mirtazipine. My Libido certainly has returned with a bang, but after six weeks off the Citalopram and on 30mg of Mirtazipine, I've started to feel kinda anxious in the past couple of days.
What reason did he give for the Zyban (bupropion) being no good?
I will be seeing a psychiatrist soon and I hope they are open to some ideas, Zyban being one of the things I want to discuss.
I've tried so many drugs there are not a lot of 'standard' ones left to try. Only the specialist and 'off label' stuff.
MyNameIsTerry
20-12-14, 06:57
What reason did he give for the Zyban (bupropion) being no good?
I will be seeing a psychiatrist soon and I hope they are open to some ideas, Zyban being one of the things I want to discuss.
I've tried so many drugs there are not a lot of 'standard' ones left to try. Only the specialist and 'off label' stuff.
Hi yenool,
There is an off label style on discussed on this thread on the Depression board http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34587
I don't know if its any use but thought worse posting when you mentioned you've tried all the standard stuff and got nowhere.
I don't know how it stacks up against SNRI's but since they all affect us in different ways, anything seems worth a mention.
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