Thoughts on adding Wellbutrin to Sertraline

My first thoughts would be "why?" Are you not having the good results on the Zoloft alone and what it the intent of beginning Wellbutrin?

Hi and thank you for your comment.
I told my PCP that I wasn’t feeling myself as far as brain fog, agitated, and very very low energy.
Here’s some background. I’m 60 years old and suffer with Fibromyalgia, daily pain from two back surgeries which he said leads to anxiety and depression.
I’ve been on other antidepressants and about 9 months ago he changed me to Sertraline. But like I said I’m not sure it’s helping.

I have gone around and around with my physicians and strongly contend......I am no depressed thus have anxiety and vertigo.......I am depressed because I HAVE anxiety and vertigo. If this makes sense! Hopefully your physician is addressing the pain. Pain can make you crazy and neurotic! I found that Zoloft gave me brain fog and somnolence as well. I quit taking the anti-depressants and have pursued resolution for the vertigo/dizziness which has been going on for 8 months and still no thorough neurology assessment.......lots of NPs. Will no go to any more NP's or PA's and seek out well trained physicians even if it means traveling to another State.

Hey lapruzzese:

I first started with Wellbutrin and after some relatively high PHQ-9 scores (7-9 if I remember right), the consulting psychiatrist recommended I take a low dose of Sertraline. So, my experience is backwards to yours. At first, I did not notice anything, but I eventually it took me over the edge emotionally.

After a few weeks, I was emotionally all over the place. I had thoughts of self-harm. I had real emotional highs. I was losing my inhibitions. I did not really notice this for a few weeks. Once I did, I told my doctor I was getting off this. Months later, I was in the group therapy session and one of the other members of the group said I was experiencing mania...not I know how that feels.

Anyway, that was my experience. I do not want to scare you, but my advice would be to watch your emotions if you start both meds. In your case, it might help. If anything like what I experience starts, then contact your doctor right away. I kept with Wellbutrin (a psychiatrist friend of mine recommended it) and have had no issues.

my experience has been that drug interactions can be dangerous for ME

in my case, often the less the better

Thank you very much for your reply and valuable feedback.
I wasn’t aware you could take Wellbutrin alone, therefore I will ask my PCP if I could possibly just take that.
I’m so sorry you had to experience what you did and hopefully you’re doing much better.

Thank you for your input.
I believe that as well and might just try Wellbutrin alone.

Thanks. I am ok now. It was a learning experience 😀

Wellbutrin/Buproprion affects the dopamine receptors and is very effective at helping move people from the state of malaise that is a symptom of the underlying trauma that they incorrectly call depression.

SSRIs like Zoloft do not work; they are just about the same as a placebo, and the difference is not clinically significant. What SSRIs and SNRIs do is retard cognition and blunt emotions (really the same thing); this can feel like a relief from the depressive symptoms and frankly can be a welcome break from the suffering.

Unfortunately retarding cognition takes away the most critical resources needed to recover from whatever the underlying trauma is, thinking and feeling.

Pharmaceutical companies have known this for a very long time. All we are is profit centers to them.

I hope you live in peace and good health.

Thank you for taking the time to share this valuable information. I greatly appreciate it.
I’m thinking of possibly decreasing my Zoloft slowly and maybe even getting off it as I don’t like the way it makes me feel.
I will try Wellbutrin on its own and see if I have good results.