Has anyone else switched antidepressant meds from an SSRI to Wellbutrin? Could you share your results?

I have an appointment with my gp in a couple weeks and I think I'm going to try and switch up my meds. I have chronic major depression and will probably have to take meds for the rest of my life, but I haven't had much luck with SSRIs--I have always had to supplement even the max dosage with either seroquel or abilify...And even that's only just cutting it. I wonder what I should expect if my gp gives me the go ahead, though.

Another thing is that I'm coming to think that at least part of my weight gain in the last few years is due to my meds. I was never over 130 before I started on antidepressents (about 9 years ago)...and currently, I'm exercising 6 or 7 days a week and eating an average of 1800 cals a day (I'm breastfeeding) and losing next to nothing. I've always been relatively active (walking everyday, etc.) and although I like sweets, I don't usually overeat either...even before actively trying to lose weight.

So.............any thoughts?

I was never on SSRI's, the first antidepressant drug i ever tried was wellbutrin and i def have to recommend it. SSRI's are notorious for causing weight gain and because i was concerned about this I actually requested wellbutrin from my doc and didnt even give her a chance to suggest anything else. Part of the reason I went on it was for the help quitting smoking, although i went a full year after I started taking it to even try to quit (I was really afraid to give up that last cigarette ). When I did finally quit, on Jan 1, it was pretty easy, at least compared to all the times Ive quit smoking, and I am so impressed. I havent caved or even had a bad craving since I gave them up. Anyway, the wellbutrin works great for depression too, I've felt like my old self since Ive started it, not like "fake" happy, if you know what I mean, and it does give you the motivation to get up and do something, it gives you a lot of energy, especially initially, now that will eventually level out but I must say, if I get off track taking it and miss a couple doses, I can really feel it, I become an emotional wreck. Sorry this is turning into a book, lol. The point is, wellbutrin is an excellent drug, at least it is for me, and I wouldnt even be attempting this weight loss (for like to 50th time in my life, lol ). if I wasnt on it. One very important suggestion though, I started on the generic , which worked for a couple of months but then I started to feel really crappy and gain weight and was all blah. When I researched it, I found that most people dont do well on the generic, that it in fact is not at all anything like the brand name. So i decided to pay the extra 30 bucks a month for the real deal, and it is def a huge difference. If your doc or insurance co will will help you out, I would ask for a "brand name only" script if you decide to try it. Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.

Hi ktgk, sorry I'm late in responding. My doc gave me Lexapro (SSRI) when I first went to him in tears because I just couldn't cope with anything..it did help with my depression and rage however I was falling asleep all the time, even when driving. I also gained weight even though I was 'trying' (or thought I was) About 17 pounds later (up 17) I went back and asked for something else, and that's when I went on Wellbutrin.

I still have lots of down days, maybe I need to supplement it with something also, but at least once on WB I was able to try much harder at better eating and exercising.

Hi ktgk,

Just wanted to weigh in! I'm on lexapro now (SSRI), and I was recently prescribed low dose welbutrin as a piggyback to cut off the lexapro side effects. My psych told me that he wouldn't just put me on welbutrin by itself because it is an energizing anti-depressant and I also have generalized anxiety disorder, so a high dose of a drug that could make me jittery would likely trigger panic for me.

This is something to consider, good luck! Let us know how it goes.

I'm on 300 mg of Wellbutrin SR daily. I never could do SSRIs because they made me an emotional wreck and my sleep was always screwed up. I don't have many side effects from the Wellbutrin, although the one I do have is reduced appetite. So on the upside I think that has helped with my weight loss. The downside in that I don't really notice Wellbutrin helping at all with anxiety.

Thank you all for your input. My doctor switched me over today, so now I get to wait and see what happens!