coming off lexapro & starting wellbutrin how to?

Question

I have been on lexapro for a couple of years. Our insurance now does not cover lexapro but does cover wellbutrin. I want to know the best way to come off lexapro and start wellbutrin.

Answer 1

I tried that medication change and it did not work for me. I felt like a page was turning everytime i turned my head. I went to celexa see if that works if the other doesnt for you. but you have to wean down from one and up to the other. Your doctor should advise you. Do NOT do it alone.

Answer 2

The two meds are both antidepressants but that's about where the similarities end. They work on different nuerotransmitters in the brain. The way Lexapro works for you has little to do with the way Wellbutrin will. Now, if the Lexapro wasn't really doing it for you, then the switch could be a really good one. If it was though, you might have better luck staying with another SSRI.
I've been on both and actually have nothing but good to say about Wellbutrin. I have severe treatment resistant depression (as part of bipolar). Both meds have helped me with the depression. I went off of Lexapro because I wasn't willing to deal with the sexual side effects, other than that I really had no problems with it. You definitely want to go off of it gradually though. If it's a problem with the insurance company for you to do that, see if you doctor has (or can get) samples for you. Stopping it cold turkey will not be particularly pleasant.
Someone else mentioned Celexa. Lexapro is basically a part of what makes up Celexa, so if one works for you, it would make sense that the other would too. (Not that this stuff always makes logical sense.) Theoretically, Lexapro has less side effects than Celexa. Personally, the main side effect of both was the sexual stuff and it was significantly worse when I was on Lexapro oddly enough. My sister had the same results.
Insurance companies piss me off when they pull that kind of stuff. It's hard enough to find the right medication(s), if you find one that works it's really messed up to make you go off of it.