HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Suggest Alternate Over The Counter Medication For Wellbutrin

Posted on Thu, 24 Nov 2016

Question: Looking for a psychiatrist's opinion. My sister is 23 and she was diagnosed with bipolar in February. She is on 80 mg of Prozac, 20 mg of Zyprexa and last week they put her of 100 mg of wellbutrin. She had a seizure, which we believe was caused by the wellbutrin. We are going to have the psychiatrist ween her off of it. What are the alternatives for wellbutrin? Thank you so much for your help.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Lamotrigine or Lurasidone can be used.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking from Health Care Magic

I can understand your concern. Wellbutrin or Bupropion is known to lower the seizure threshold. If she had seizures after starting Wellbutrin then its not advisable to continue the drug.

She has been diagnosed with Bipolar and for bipolar depression other drugs can be used. Drugs like Lamotrigine or Lurasidone can be added to her prescription. Lamotrigine is commonly used in bipolar depression patients and the drug helps to stabilise the mood. You can consult with her doctor for these drugs.

Hope this helps you, please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Thanks. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)

Ok, thank you so much. It's really helpful to get some insight so quickly, since it's a Sunday and we can't get ahold of our psychiatrist yet. For now, we had her take the wellbutrin again this morning, rather than stopping cold turkey. Do you think she is going to have to ween off of it slowly even though she's only been on it a week?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need to continue the drug

Detailed Answer:
Hello again, and thanks for asking a follow up

Wellbutrin is relatively safer if withdrawal is considered so in my opinion it can be stopped cold turkey. Since she developed seizures so I don't think continuing Wellbutrin is a good idea. No need to continue the drug.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 days later)

My sister fainted today and my have had a seizure. She was by herself. They took her off of the wellbutrin and on 50 mg of Lamictal on Monday. She is going to have an MRI done. Could this be aftershocks of the last seizure on Saturday? I was hoping that she wouldn't have another seizure or faint since she is off of the wellbutrin now.
Thank you

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Lamotrigine will control the seizures

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

MRI can be done and this might show a little brain edema which could be after effect of seizure but this is not a permanent thing.

Lamotrigine will not only control her mood swings but will also prevent recurrence of seizures. Lamotrigine is an mood stabiliser as well as an anti epileptic drug.

Just remain relaxed everything will be fine.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (4 hours later)

Ok, thank k you. She had experienced psychosis in February, which is why she is on the 20 mg of Zyprexa. She is roughly 115 pounds, if that matters. Do you believe that this is the dosage that she should be on? Do you think our psychiatrist would be open to possibly lowering the dosage?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Zyprexa too lowers the seizure threshold

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

Zyprexa dose of 20 mg is perfectly fine. In bipolar mania or psychosis these doses help to control the symptoms. No need to worry. Zyprexa too lowers the seizures threshold and might increase the risk of precipitation of seizure. You can talk with her psychiatrist for lowering the dose of Zyprexa too.

Thanks

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar