I've been taking 150 mg of Wellbutrin for the past 7 months, and it isn't enough, and I'm still constantly depressed. Additionally, I wasn't taking anything for anxiety, and recently learned about buspar in combination with wellbutrin. I asked my doctor if I could increase my Wellbutrin dose and add buspar, and she refused saying I could only do one or the other. I opted to add buspar because my anxiety was severely out of control, but now am left with so many questions. First, has anyone had a similar experience and can shed light as to why I wasn't allowed to increase my Wellbutrin dose as well as add the buspar? Second, does buspar help treat depression? And third, does anyone have suggestions as to what to do if my doctors continue to refuse to help me tackle my depression? I haven't been on buspar very long, only about 2 weeks, and I know that's not enough time for it to start working; but I'm a graduating college student with 21 units and a part time job, and really can't waste time experimenting with/ convincing my doctors of this for months when my conditions have such a severe impact on my schooling and focus, which is why I am so desperate for answers. (My buspar dose is 7.5 twice a day)
Depression - Can anyone help explain the combo of Buspar and Wellbutrin?
Question posted by BrBd on 3 April 2015
Last updated on 24 October 2019 by Srhaight
11 Answers
I was taking 300mg wellbutrin a day previously. At my last appointment I started taking 15mg buspirone and increased wellbutrin to 450mg. I think the reason why your doctor didn't want to do both is because wellbutrin can increase anxiety. So most likely they will adjust the wellbutrin later, and further down the road they can see if more adjustments need to be done to balance the benefits with the side effects
If I understand your question correctly, it was "why won't your doctor increase your wellbutrin and add buspirone at the same time"? Versus "why won't my doctor allow me to take wellbutrin and buspirone at the same time"? The simple answer is, because it takes time for these types of drugs to build up in your system. The goal is to reach the desired effect with the least amount of drugs. Another reason is, should you have issues, it is easier to diagnose where the problem is coming from. It's like adding software to a computer, it should be done one at a time to insure proper installation and operation, before adding the next new software. When you add 5 new programs at the same time, and you have an issue, you're left guessing which one caused the issue. I have no doubt your doctor would be willing to increase your wellbutrin dosage, but only after enough time has passed to prove that the addition of buspirone isn't reaching you and your doctor's set goals. Just my 2 cents.
i started taking buspar a few months ago, assumed i'd be taken off Wellbutrin b/c the only reason that was added was b/c of sexual side effects of citalopram but the issues b/c too much and thru my own research discovered buspar and asked for that. I've had no adverse effects from taking both, I take 150 xl once a day of well and 10mg twice daily of bus.
I took 300mg of Wellbutrin along with 30mg of BuSpar for many years with no adverse reactions and the combination controlled my depression and anxiety very well.
https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=441-206,440-203&professional=1
Not knowing your medical history or what other medications you might be taking it's hard to guess why your doctor is being so obstinate. My guess is that she/he just isn't familiar with these medications. I'd recommend a second opinion preferably from a psychiatrist who is trained in prescribing psychotropic medications.
I used to take 60mg Buspar & 450mg Wellbutrin xl years ago with great results also. Maybe my chemistry has changed. Were you taking Wellbutrin xl or sr? I was taking the sr most recently, thinking the two have completely different side effects. Yes, trying to make an appointment with a psychiatrist to prescribe something for me instead of my primary.
Hi, Barney! I was taking the SR formulation simply because that was what was prescribed and because all my other medications are taken twice daily. Convenient to remember. As far as side effects, it wasn't a factor as I am one of the lucky majority of people who have no, or only the most mild, side effects from any medications.
I, too, am trying to find a new psychiatrist as I just moved from PA to NY. Everyone here is booked solid until October and I need scripts!!
Best regards and good luck to you!
Thank You for your responses, good luck to you as well!
I was taking 30mg buspar for anxiety and 150 mg Wellbutrin for depression. All was ok UNTIL I increased Wellbutrin to 300 mg. After only 4 days - HOLY CRAP - it made me absolutely PARANOID at night alone in my house, thinking someone was going to come around every corner to attack me. It was a VERY scary feeling. Maybe if the buspar was increased more, it would counteract.
I've taken 300 mg wellbutrin for many years and have been taking 7.5 mg buspirone for the last couple of years. Just upped it to 15 mg. There doesn't seem to be any reason why they can't be taken together.
I joined just to make this comment in case anyone comes across this thread like I did.
I'm willing to bet the reason the doctor only let the poster do one or the other is because if you make too many changes to your medication at once, you have no way of knowing which is causing side effects or which is helping you.
Many times, I've suggested multiple things I'd like to try (or, for instance, reduce a dose of something and add something else, etc.) here my psychiatrist has said to just do one for now and see how it goes first.
So it's quite possible you CAN increase your dose of wellbutrin, they just didn't want to do it all at the same time - you might have improved dramatically because of the increased dose and not even needed the second med but you would have no way of knowing if you made both changes at the same time.
I was on wellbutrin 150 for almost a year and my psych and i decided to increase to 300mg. BAD IDEA. I was having hallucinations, visions and crazy stuff I had never experienced before so maybe the mixture of 300 and buspar is what they are concerned about. My guess is they want to increase first, see how youre doing then add something if necessary.
Okay, RIDIC. If you know what I'm saying. FIRST OF ALL, you're on half the where most people find relief, which is at 300mg Wellbutrin. I wouldn't throw that out there or make such a bold statement if it weren't for the fact that you are clearly suffering and not getting benefit from the medicine.
BuSpar, in my opinion, really has nothing to do with your depression, and is meant more for addressing your anxiety. I think your doctor was being a little bit of a butt head with the 'you can choose one or the other' when you're having two separate issues, but that's the situation you're in, so might as well roll with it.
BuSpar can be very successful for a lot of people so give it a try, You will find that it may really good do a good job to help with mmki the anxiety aspect of your mental "portfolio" LOL
Make sure you carry that around with you everywhere you go because you never know when you're going to need it. In fact I have a little an old pencil lead container that holds six of the bars, and that that fits in the pocket of my planner notebook.
If you find that it's not working for you at the current dose, do not be afraid to ask for a higher dose. You deserve to be able to ask for this. If your doctor is going to act this way, in my opinion you need to get a second opinion ( get a new doctor) LOL
It is not at all unnatural to take a higher dose of the Wellbutrin, and people take that along with anxiety medication all the time. It's a shame that your medical doctor is either too uptight or uneducated. Sorry to put it that way :-(
I would ask your provider for a clear reason why not Wellbutrin in combination with Buspar. I don't know if you're taking other medications etc. I take both. Also I take melatonin at night with Buspar ( 2nd dose of day ) .It has been shown to treat depression, promotes neurogenesis. I encourage you to communicate with your Dr. If that presents with issues, you can entertain a change of Dr. Communication usually is the problem . Hope this helped.
Not sure why the doc won't prescribe both. The BuSpar will not help the depression unless it is a result of the anxiety. Maybe hard to say which came first the depression or the anxiety though. Your only choice is to talk to the prescribing doc about addressing the depression along with the anxiety. If the doc is unfamiliar with these type meds might be part of the problem. Getting a second opinion is always a possibility.
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buspar, wellbutrin, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder
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