Questions about Lexapro, zoloft and welbutrin?

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine used to treat depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression).

Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, or NDRI for short.
NDRIs affect specific chemicals within the brain, known as norepinephrine and dopamine. These are two of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.

As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release either norepinephrine or dopamine. The chemical enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough norepinephrine or dopamine reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any norepinephrine or dopamine that remains in the gap between cells. This is called "reuptake."

Normally, this process works without any problems. But when the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of conditions, including depression and seasonal affective disorder. Wellbutrin helps block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine so that more remains in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the chemicals a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell.

The only NDRI antidepressants approved for use are medications containing bupropion. Wellbutrin is the short-acting version of it. Bupropion also comes in longer-acting forms, including:

Wellbutrin SR (bupropion SR) or Budeprion SR, usually taken twice a day
Wellbutrin XL (bupropion XL) or Budeprion XL, taken once a day
Aplenzin (bupropion hydrobromide), taken once a day
Zyban (bupropion SR) or Buproban, used for smoking cessation (taken twice a day).

 

[redhen]

Good god..are you a Rocket Scientist?

Awesome info! Thanks VERY much... good to know!
I know i dont have depression..but i do have some social anxiety... i could GLADLY be a hermit and be happy...

Seems that all the anxiety pills treat depression also?

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:

I am an RN, and have worked psych for over 30 years.

 

[kathyinmo]

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to treat a number of conditions within the brain.
This medication is licensed to treat a number of conditions, including:
Depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia).

Zoloft is part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs for short. SSRIs act on a specific chemical within the brain known as serotonin. This is one of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.

As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin. The serotonin enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any serotonin that remains in the gap between cells. This is called "reuptake."

Normally, this process works without any problems. But when the levels of serotonin become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of conditions, including depression and panic disorder. Zoloft helps to block the reuptake of serotonin so that more remains in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the serotonin a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell.

Zoloft has been studied in numerous clinical trials for several conditions. Clinical studies have shown the drug to be effective for treating depression, OCD, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder in adults. Also, long-term studies showed that people taking it were less likely to have a relapse.

The medication has been shown to be effective for treating OCD in children as young as six years old. It has not been studied in children or teens for any other use.

Zoloft was studied in two clinical trials for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). These two studies did not include women on oral contraceptives (birth control pills). One study looked at using the drug every day for PMDD. The second study looked at using it only for the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle. Both studies showed that Zoloft was effective for treating PMDD.

 

[redhen]

Wow... that is great info, Kathy...
Thank you very much for taking the time to write all that out for folks.

 

[kathyinmo]

There are many different types of antidepressants, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. Some of these medications are used to treat a wide variety of conditions, some of which are completely unrelated to depression.

There are several types of antidepressants available to treat depression.These include newer medications, such as:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Tricyclic antidepressants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Miscellaneous other antidepressants.

It is not uncommon for a healthcare provider to try a variety of antidepressants before finding the most effective and best tolerated medication (or combination of medications) for a patient.

Generally, most antidepressants work by increasing certain brain chemicals.

General considerations for when and how to use these medications include the following:
*Follow the instructions your healthcare provider gives you for your particular antidepressant.
*Be aware that it may take awhile (sometimes as long as a month or two) for your medication to start working. You may develop side effects long before you feel any benefit. Try not to become discouraged by this.
*Be sure to take your dosage at the same time(s) each day to maintain an even level of medication in your blood.
*For antidepressants to work properly, they must be taken as prescribed. Do not stop taking your antidepressant without your healthcare provider's approval (Antidepressant Withdrawal).

In general, the newer types of antidepressants (such as SSRIs and SNRIs) are less likely to cause side effects than older antidepressants (such as tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs). However, all antidepressants are capable of causing side effects, which may sometimes be severe. Some of the more well-known antidepressant side effects include sexual side effects, changes in appetite or weight, sleep changes (including both insomnia and drowsiness).

Most antidepressants can interact with many different medications. Some of these interactions can be quite serious.

Although each individual antidepressant carries its own warnings and precautions, in general, you should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using antidepressants if you have any chronic medical condition, Bipolar disorder, a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, any allergies, including allergies to drugs, foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Let your healthcare provider know if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant or are breastfeeding. Also, any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

 

[Mama Austranought]

Hello, I have similar problems and take Citalopram but every person is different and every medication works differently on every persons chemical imbalance. My best advice is keep good relations with your doctor and keep regular and open conversation with him/her. Make sure you tell them al the things that you are experiencing so they can best monitor the sucess of your medication. Keep going! The world needs you to keep it going

It's so good of you to share this with us. I find that if I have been difficult to others, being open and letting them know that I am not feeling well, helps all round so that they don't think you don't like them or something...

 

[bburn]

Quote:
Absolutely.

Came to the bottom to reply this same answer. And Kathy way to go and educate folks! My daughter is 26, specail needs and has/had a seizure disorder on top of everything else.

After a year off all meds she had to be put back on something and they chose Lexapro. For her to be this age with her history to just be on one medication is a miracle. Right now this is working for her quite well. Along with that she has learned to talk about what is bothering her. And there is a key for all of us 'normal' people. TALK about it.

I have seen her take so many meds that all had side effects. But on multiple meds those side effects can layer and become worse.

Give whatever meds you are prescribed time to work. Keep track of how you feel. Make sure you talk to your doctor about them. And yes, there is a med out there that will work for you. Sometimes it take a while to find the right one for your body. Years ago when my daughter was first diagnosed I went down. Could not do anything except make sure her basic needs were met. Finally my Dad stepped up and came and got me and took me to the doctor. He put me on something....can't remember what it was. I took it for about six months and stepped down out of it. It did it's job and I was better able to cope with my life. There is no shame in having to take something. It does not have to be forever. But do keep track of it and talk to your doctor about it....sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right meds for your body.

Sometimes we have to be all things to all people. There is a great deal of stress involved in that. We do it because we have to, we want to and because we love the people we are being all things to. Long enough and we pay the price for it and sometimes we need a little help getting through.

Bless your heart and don't give up....and Kathy is so very right about the time it takes for the meds to build up in your system and for them to do the job they are intended to do.

 

[booker81]

I was initially diagnosed as bipolar years ago, and did the gamut of cocktail meds - Depakote, Seroquel, and a few more. Therapy helped more, but I kinda liked the "highs" of the BP, I got a lot done though it was excessive (like not sleeping for three days, and using that time to recarpet and retile my entire house).

Since then, I'd settled more into a lower level of BP, but the depression SUCKED still, not as much issues with the "high". Ended up on Zoloft while pregnant to help work with pain medications (due to heart problems, appendicitis, and kidney issues while preg. SSRI's apparently work well with pain medication, increasing the efficiency so you don't have to jack the pain meds up if you are on them long term.) Stopped the Zoloft one month before birth, due to a small chance of issues with the baby at birth. Ended up with Postpartum Psychosis, and was put on Zoloft again. I've been on it since, and have had to have to dose upped once (from 50mg to 100mg) and I'm very happy with it. I take mine in the morning because it makes me alert and ready to go. I probably run minimally manic on it, so my doc keeps a close eye on me to make sure I don't go full blown mania, but in the 3 years I've been on it, I haven't gotten there. Just very productive, alert, and satisfied. Antidepressants can be touchy with bipolar, but for me, it works out very well. I know my managers love it, because I get a LOT done, am creative, and I still think in circles and tangents. It doesn't make me dull or bland.

Everyone in my family (parents and siblings) are all on some sort of antidepressant or the like. Without them, we run the gamut of OCD, bipolar and PTSD, and are horrible to be around - violent, mean, hysterical, and even dangerous. Some meds make us work well. Wellbutrin make me a complete manic freak and it made my brother decide to go on a mission to kill Hitler. Zoloft works great for me but does nothing for my sister (I think she's on Lexapro now). My dad is on Paxil. I can't remember what everyone else is on. We all have chemical imbalances of some sort, and luckily there are more than enough types of medication that we were able to all find what we needed to be on to be productive and happy.

Along with working closely with your doc, it's VERY good to have someone who sees you daily who knows "you" and has the strength to tell you when you're out of control, and who has the ability to convince you to call your doctor, and make sure that you get in. This person for me is my husband. He's VERY stable mentally, no meds, and he knows the difference between a bad day and when it's time for me to get in (that's a hard thing to know when you're in the throes of a bad depression or mania). He's been the one to tell me to call the doc in the last two episodes I've had, one which put me on the Zoloft again, and one where they needed to up my dose. He has the strength to know that when I'm way out of whack, the things I say and do aren't really directed at him, and aren't really the "real me", but rather my mind being crazy. He doesn't take offense, just sits me down, and asks me to please call the doctor, and follows up to make sure I get an appointment immediately. Once I'm stable again, he never bugs me or demeans me or anything, just enjoys being with my good mind. He actually never mentions my medication, but accepts it as normal.

As long as no one takes away my Zoloft, I won't break anyone's fingers

 

[welsummerchicks]

My suggestion, Keep in mind that some people need months to respond to these medicines, and talk to your doctor.