Wellbutrin and Lithium?

Hello, I am a guy 25 years old and I am taking Lithium for my anger management program I am currently being treated for depression with Wellbutrin and something is telling me that I shouldn't. Tell me, should I take both, or...? What would be the appropriate action? Thanks in front.

A good question. Although Lithium is used as a mood stabilizing drug, it is also effective against depression. So, in some way, you are taking too much of the medication, a double dose so to speak. You should check with your doctor what you should take. He will either exclude Wellbutrin from your treatment, or just cut the doses of both medications.

Both of those medications have risk of seizure, therefor taking them both increases that risk. Taking 300 mg wellbutrin successfully working on depression, lithium starter dose was added and a seizure did occure.

There is no "right" answer to that. I am taking the same meds for different reasons. A big question is how the Lithium affects you. Some people can't take it at all. If you can take it, it acts as a mood stabilizer, so most doctors will not prescribe Wellbutrin (or any other antidepressant) because it works against the stabilizing effect of the Lithium. If the doctor does feel as though the combination might be helpful, the trick is to be stable enough with the Lithium that the Wellbutrin can actually be helpful, but not be taking so much of the meds that it harms your body.

Guest wrote:

There is no "right" answer to that. I am taking the same meds for different reasons. A big question is how the Lithium affects you. Some people can't take it at all. If you can take it, it acts as a mood stabilizer, so most doctors will not prescribe Wellbutrin (or any other antidepressant) because it works against the stabilizing effect of the Lithium. If the doctor does feel as though the combination might be helpful, the trick is to be stable enough with the Lithium that the Wellbutrin can actually be helpful, but not be taking so much of the meds that it harms your body.

Well, body chemistry varies pretty impressively from person to person so there is no one true or correct answer to this question. Thanks for posting information on this!