Wellbutrin / Zyban

[UrbanMark]

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!

[Emphyrio]

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.

[UrbanMark]

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.

[Mark13]

May be TMI

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.

[lentils]

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

[UrbanMark]

Lentils
Is it Wellbutrin you've been on for 6 months?

[lentils]

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,,,,,

[UrbanMark]

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?

[Emphyrio]

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).

[UrbanMark]

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.