Does the combination of Wellbutrin and Buspar have good reviews?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does the combination of Wellbutrin and Buspar have good reviews?
Wellbutrin (Bupropion) and Buspar (Buspirone) have good reviews and are often prescribed together. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder, and Buspar is an anxiolytic used to treat anxiety disorders.
The addition of Buspar in antidepressant therapy is generally considered beneficial, especially in people who are resistant to antidepressant monotherapy (1). However, individual responses do vary.
Although this combination can help manage the symptoms of both anxiety and depression, it should not be taken if not prescribed (2). Each individual is unique and what works for one may not work for another. So, make sure you properly follow your doctor’s directions.
What have people experienced so far?
The combination of Wellbutrin and Buspar has worked wonders for some but worked not so well for others. Amanda, a 47-year-old user stated:
‘I have switched a lot of antidepressants and I can’t even remember exactly how many I have used since my depression was diagnosed, but I can tell you which one changed my life. I also struggled with finding the right doctor because I kept complaining about antidepressants and most doctors did not seem to care.’
She continued:
“Finally I came across this great doc who put me on the combination of Wellbutrin and Buspar, and bam! It was amazing. I did not find it heavy on my body and suffered from minimal side effects. They worked so well together that I started feeling like myself again in just a few months. It made me wonder why I didn’t find this combination earlier and wasted so many years with terrible antidepressants.”
Another user of this combination, 39-year-old Mathew shared his story. He stated:
“My doctor put me on Wellbutrin when I failed to respond well to Zoloft and it made me gain a tremendous amount of weight. I had high hopes for Wellbutrin and I also expected to lose some of the extra weight I gained. I kept taking Wellbutrin properly and I did lose weight and my depression did start to get better, but I suffered from a nightmare of a side effect.”
Mathew continued:
“I started biting my tongue and grinding my teeth. It was not so bad at first, but as my treatment continued, this habit got so bad that my tongue started bleeding and my teeth aching. That’s when my doctor put me on Buspar, and I tell you what – this medication saved my life! My teeth grinding started to go away and Buspar worked well with Wellbutrin to help my anxiety and depression.”
This review indicates that Buspar when used in combination with Wellbutrin can prevent some of the side effects this antidepressant causes. However, this combination may not work well for everyone. Another user, 28-year-old Lizzie stated:
“Wellbutrin and Buspar have been my biggest nightmare so far when it comes to antidepressants. I read so many good things about it so I had high hopes when my doc put me on this combination, but it did not work well for me. Nothing about it was worth it, and the side effects were too many to handle. I guess these meds work differently in each one of us, and it just wasn’t the best for me.
Potential side effects of the combination of Wellbutrin and Buspar
Wellbutrin and Buspar are associated with some side effects, that may vary from person to person and can depend on the doses prescribed. Some of the potential side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Dizziness- common with Wellbutrin
- Lightheadedness
- Headache
- Insomnia- common with both Wellbutrin and Buspar
- Dry mouth
- Increased anxiety
- Restlessness
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Tremors and seizures- more common with Wellbutrin
- Muscle twitches
Final words
Antidepressants affect every individual differently. Determining the best antidepressant or combination of antidepressants is a trial and error process, and some people may take multiple attempts until they find the best-suited antidepressant.
Make sure you monitor your side effects and report them to your healthcare provider. If this combination is not the best possible option for you, your doctor will safely switch you to another one. Just make sure you don’t make any changes to your prescription on your own.
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References
1.-
Dimitriou EC, Dimitriou CE. Buspirone augmentation of antidepressant therapy. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1998 Dec;18(6):465-9. doi: 10.1097/00004714-199812000-00009. PMID: 9864079. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9864079/
2.-
Fava M. The combination of buspirone and bupropion in the treatment of depression. Psychother Psychosom. 2007;76(5):311-2. doi: 10.1159/000104708. PMID: 17700052. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17700052/
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