AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Question I was recently started on a regimen of wellbutrin (generic) after it was determined that neither the lexapro or cilexa (also both generics) no longer had affect on me after several years. The wellbutrin did what i hoped it would do..and more. I responded well only after a week at 150mg daily. The second week, we increased to 300 mg daily. I still felt great, even a had a glow about my face, and was excited to be a ph.d student again. Then around day 26 on the med, i had a seizure while shopping at an office supply store. Needless to say, i immediately stopped the med.
The next possible time i could see my dr, i did and he prescribed lamictal for depression and prevention of seizures, taking me completely off the wellbutrin. This regimen of lamictal is starting at 25 mg daily for 14 days, then 50 mg for 14 days, and then 100 mg after 4 weeks. Also, he added xanax (generic) to help with the panic attacks i've been having ever since the seizure, i doubt i will be on it for a long period of time.
My question is this: Since we know the wellbutrin was working..and working great, what could a combo of lamictal and wellbutrin do for me? The wellbutrin treating the depression, lack of energy, and ever present tiredeness....and then the addition of lamictal to treat the seizures that are possible for me on the wellbutrin. I've read some places that some drs do prescribe both together for patients (in fact some even start patients on lamictal or another anti-seizure med before bringing wellbutrin into the picture). My dr. is not always clear about his methods nor does he like explaining his decisions to me (this is what i have to deal with as a graduate student with only school health insurance and he's the only psych doctor on our campus or in the network i can see without getting charged excessively)..but all this aside...could a combo of welbutrin and lamictal work for me? if so, i would like to suggest it to the dr.; he seems like he's lost sometimes looking for another possible drug or cocktail thereof for my case.
Answer Dear Lynn
There is usually no reason why you cannot take the Wellbutrin and the Lamictal together. Wellbutrin (and some other antidepressants) are well known to induce seizures. In Australia, antidepressants which have caused seizures are frequently combined with Lamictal. Unfortunately, Wellbutrin, although available here is not often used as an antidepressant so I have no direct experience with this but cannot see that there would be a problem. Lamictal on its own is not much use for depression not associated with mood swings ie bipolar but is an excellent antiseizure drug . Try not to take the Xanax for more than 3-4 weeks as it can be addictive and difficult to withdraw from. I am sure your return to the Wellbutrin plus Lamictal will suffice.
