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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on August 26, 2015, at 20:10:05
I've read on here that Haldol+Wellbutrin is a nightmare. I take Abilify+Wellbutrin, and its been good to me. What's the difference?
Do you think it affects the TD risk? Is it just a low potency stimulant, sort of like the poor man's Ritalin?
I've been taking it for a while, and my anxiety and weird mood swings within depression (if that makes sense) have both gotten better. I'm more stable overall and I have somewhat improved concentration and less agitation. Good times. But...why should an AD that's stimulating do a lot of things that SSRIs do, but without turning me into a zombie?
If Wellbutrin works this well, why aren't there me-too drugs for wellbutrin...maybe ones without the seizure risk?
Thanks in advance.
Posted by SLS on August 26, 2015, at 22:20:25
In reply to wellbutrin combined with AP/AAP drugs, posted by Christ_empowered on August 26, 2015, at 20:10:05
> I've read on here that Haldol+Wellbutrin is a nightmare. I take Abilify+Wellbutrin, and its been good to me. What's the difference?
As a partial agonist of dopamine D2/D3 receptors, Abilify will stimulate these receptors when the concentration of synaptic dopamine is low. That's the idea, anyway. Perhaps the two drugs act synergistically, since Wellbutrin is supposedly a dopamine reuptake inhibitor.
> Do you think it affects the TD risk? Is it just a low potency stimulant, sort of like the poor man's Ritalin?
Abilify is not without risk of producing TD according to several anecdotal reports. However, it may be less apt to produce TD and more apt to produce akathisia than the other atypical neuroleptics.
> I've been taking it for a while, and my anxiety and weird mood swings within depression (if that makes sense) have both gotten better. I'm more stable overall and I have somewhat improved concentration and less agitation. Good times. But...why should an AD that's stimulating do a lot of things that SSRIs do, but without turning me into a zombie?Perhaps it doesn't matter too much which domino is tipped first by a drug, as long as the path of falling dominos reaches the same end-point.
> If Wellbutrin works this well, why aren't there me-too drugs for wellbutrin...maybe ones without the seizure risk?Wellbutrin is perhaps the least understood antidepressant. Even if there were a series of bupropion-like drugs synthesized, I doubt any drug company would be interested in developing a compound whose patent has already expired or that does not have sufficient therapeutic advantage.
> Thanks in advance.I really haven't offered you anything more than conjecture.
There is a drug called cariprazine that might be approved by the U.S. FDA soon. It acts much like Abilify, but is supposed to be more selective for D3 receptors. It might thus act more potently as an antidepressant and a therapy for the negative symptoms of schizphrenia. I'm hoping that the FDA decision comes within the next six months. It is my understanding that the FDA has acknowledged that cariprazine is safe and effective. They just wanted more data on dosing.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on August 26, 2015, at 22:32:16
In reply to Re: wellbutrin combined with AP/AAP drugs » Christ_empowered, posted by SLS on August 26, 2015, at 22:20:25
Company statement in 2013:
It looks like the FDA officially extended the period of consideration for cariprazine approval to September, 2015. I guess we should know any day now.
- Scott
Posted by baseball55 on August 27, 2015, at 19:52:53
In reply to Re: wellbutrin combined with AP/AAP drugs » SLS, posted by SLS on August 26, 2015, at 22:32:16
Scott - Do you know if this drug has caused weight gain? Abilify was a miracle AD for me, but made me gain tons of weight and I had to stop it. I still use it PRN if I fall into too deep a hole, because it can pull me out within 48-72 hours. But I can't stay on it because of the weight gain. I have to hope that just pulling me out will be enough to "reset" my mood and sometimes it is.
But an abilify-like drug that doesn't cause weight gain. That would be amazing.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on August 28, 2015, at 21:57:51
In reply to wellbutrin combined with AP/AAP drugs, posted by Christ_empowered on August 26, 2015, at 20:10:05
i read some where in an article that bupropion and amphetamine, at certain doses slow down the firing of dopamine but at the same time block the reuptake and keep it in the synapse, yet amphetamine or methyphenidate taken at high doses produce more dopamine release, i....i rerember looking this up years ago when i was on adderall xr that it slowly down the dopamine firing, but keeps it stable in the synapse.....and thats ... what causes the zombie effect, there's no spontaneous firing and feel zombie ish
and haliparidol is stronger than abilify and less selective.....thats why it's known to be used in serious psychosis maintenance cases, and paranoia, abilify is widely used with many people even without psychosis or only mild mood problems, haliparidol is a serious anti psychosis med, and it's not the 1st choice of treating the symptoms......it's used in established cases, along with clozapine.....
it stops the dopamine firing while wellbutrin blocks the reuptake......and that's not really any stimulation at all......
ill have to look up the sources i read years ago about that to show what i mean.....but yea....
there's always effexor to choose as an option, similar wellbutrin meds......(that are not psychostimulant)
Posted by Lamdage22 on September 1, 2015, at 14:11:06
In reply to Re: wellbutrin combined with AP/AAP drugs » SLS, posted by baseball55 on August 27, 2015, at 19:52:53
If you have regular kidney checks, you could get rid of the weight gain with Metformin. It works to suppress appetite.
> Abilify was a miracle AD for me, but made me gain tons of weight and I had to stop it. I still use it PRN if I fall into too deep a hole, because it can pull me out within 48-72 hours. But I can't stay on it because of the weight gain.
This is the end of the thread.
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