Prozac and Wellbutrin are both antidepressant medications that work in slightly different ways.
Wellbutrin is known as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). On the other hand, Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are all key neurotransmitters that can affect your mood, energy levels, and emotional regulation. Therefore, when someone is depressed, increasing the levels of these key hormones through medications can help enhance mood and feelings of well-being.
In cases of severe depression, some may consider taking these two medications together for a targeted increase to all three of these key types of neurotransmitters. However, there are potential risks when taking Prozac and Wellbutrin together.
If you’re considering taking these medications, it’s important to have all the information to make an informed decision. Let’s take a deeper dive into the uses and risks of the Prozac and Wellbutrin combination.
Overview of Prozac and Wellbutrin
Both Prozac and Wellbutrin are commonly prescribed to treat depression and anxiety.
When you take these medications, they work through a process called the “reuptake” of neurotransmitters. Basically, when your brain releases hormones like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, they’ll stay in the brain for a short duration of time and then get absorbed into nerve cells.
However, taking a reuptake inhibitor blocks the absorption into nerve cells so that those key hormones stay in your brain longer. This leads to higher overall levels of these neurotransmitters, which can make you feel better when you struggle with depression and anxiety.
Why These Medications Might Be Combined
These medications would potentially be combined when someone struggles with severe depression or anxiety and hasn’t responded well to other treatment options. However, it’s rare that they’d be prescribed this way since there’s little to no research on this combination, and there are possible interactions between these medications.
The premise is that since Wellbutrin increases norepinephrine and dopamine while Prozac increases serotonin, this combination boosts all three key neurotransmitters that can impact your mood and emotions.
In the very rare case they’d be prescribed this way, it would only be a short-term treatment option while a patient goes through therapy, support groups, and life skill-building activities to work on coping mechanisms that help manage mental health long-term.
Taking two similar medications at once like this can lead to an increased risk of side effects and health complications. You’d need to work closely with a doctor to ensure proper dosage and immediate adjustments if any adverse effects happen.
The Hazards of Combining Prozac and Wellbutrin
In most cases, the combination of Prozac and Wellbutrin should be approached with caution because it can be dangerous. Let’s review some of the most serious side effects that can occur from this combination.
Increased Risk of Seizures
Studies have shown that both Prozac (fluoxetine) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) have a small risk of causing seizures when they’re taken alone. This is particularly common when patients are on high doses for extended periods. When taken together, there’s an increased risk of seizures occurring since they both affect the body similarly.
Potential for Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is a serious condition that occurs when there’s too much of this neurotransmitter in the brain. It can cause severely high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and hyperventilation. These symptoms are all dangerous and can be life-threatening.
In general, the risk of developing serotonin syndrome when taking NDRIs like Wellbutrin with SSRIs like Prozac is fairly low. However, research does suggest that the risk is greater compared to taking these medications alone, so it’s important to be aware of that and watch for common symptoms of serotonin syndrome.
Mood Swings
Antidepressants can occasionally cause mood swings or agitation as a side effect, which could increase when taking two medications together. This is especially common if dosages or the timing of doses isn’t managed correctly.
Therefore, it would be essential to strictly follow directions from your doctor if they prescribe these medications together.
Potential for Withdrawal Symptoms
When you take Prozac or Wellbutrin for an extended time, both antidepressants can have a risk of withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly stop taking them. Common withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, anxiety, trouble sleeping, headaches, and brain zaps (small electric shock feelings in the head).
The chance of experiencing withdrawals could be greater if you’re taking two antidepressants at the same time. Therefore, it would be important to work with a doctor to taper off slowly and manage any side effects as they happen.
Warning Signs and When to Seek Help
If you or someone you care about is prescribed Prozac and Wellbutrin together, there are some common warning signs you can watch for to determine if a bad reaction is occurring. Those include:
- Increased agitation
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Blurred vision
- Significant weight gain
- Trouble sleeping
- Suicidal thoughts or feelings
- Abnormal bleeding or bruising
- Hallucinations
- Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes
- Seizures
In many cases, these signs can be very serious, so seeking immediate medical attention would be important. You’d want to call 911 and tell them you or someone you know is experiencing signs of a bad reaction to antidepressants so they can provide the right support.
Safer Alternatives and Medical Supervision
In many cases, there are safer alternatives that can help improve mental health symptoms rather than combining antidepressants.
A good starting point alone or in combination with medication is attending therapy sessions. Therapy will help deal with underlying causes of depression and provide coping mechanisms to help manage symptoms. You could also attend support groups or group therapy for more of a community feel.
Changing habits and lifestyle can also help, such as exercising more, eating a well-balanced diet, and limiting alcohol use.
If an antidepressant is necessary, doctors will typically recommend starting with one medication, adjusting dosage as needed, or trying other medications with a different mechanism of action to find the right fit.
Conclusion
Due to the potential for serious side effects, combining antidepressants like Prozac and Wellbutrin isn’t usually recommended. Doctors and treatment professionals will usually opt for alternative routes that will provide safer and better long-term solutions.
If you or someone you care about was prescribed Prozac and Wellbutrin and are considering stopping these medications, it’s important to be aware that withdrawal symptoms could occur and will need to be properly managed.
Resources are available that can help. We offer medical detox and residential care at the United Recovery Project that can help with drug and alcohol withdrawal. All our solutions are tailored to your needs to achieve long-term success.
Contact us today to learn how we can support you.
References
- Suchard, Jeffrey R. “Fluoxetine Overdose-Induced Seizure.” Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 9, no. 3, Aug. 2008, p. 154, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2672257/
- Kara, Hasan, et al. “Seizures after Overdoses of Bupropion Intake.” Balkan Medical Journal, vol. 30, no. 2, 1 June 2013, pp. 248–249, doi:10.5152/balkanmedj.2012.094. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4115959/
- Simon, Leslie V, et al. “Serotonin Syndrome.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482377/
- Bai, Anthony D., et al. “Association of Linezolid with Risk of Serotonin Syndrome in Patients Receiving Antidepressants.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 5, no. 12, 19 Dec. 2022, p. e2247426, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47426. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799688
- National Health Service. “Side Effects – Antidepressants.” Nhs.uk, Nhs, 4 Nov. 2021, https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/side-effects/
- Harvard Health Publishing. “Going off Antidepressants – Harvard Health.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health, 15 May 2022, https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/going-off-antidepressants
