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Wellbutrin vs. Celexa

Are Celexa and Wellbutrin the Same Thing?

Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) are antidepressants used to treat depression.

Wellbutrin is also used to manage seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Wellbutrin and Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) are different types of antidepressants. Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Wellbutrin an aminoketone.

 

What Are Possible Side Effects of Wellbutrin?

Common side effects of Wellbutrin include:

What Are Possible Side Effects of Celexa?

Common side effects of Celexa include:

  • constipation,
  • nausea,
  • diarrhea,
  • upset stomach,
  • decreased sexual desire,
  • impotence,
  • difficulty having an orgasm,
  • dizziness,
  • drowsiness,
  • tiredness,
  • sleep problems (insomnia),
  • dry mouth,
  • increased sweating or urination,
  • weight changes, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose,
  • sneezing, sore throat, or
  • cough.

What Is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a certain type of depression called major depressive disorder.

What Is Celexa?

Celexa is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Celexa is also used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Celexa treatment.

 

What Drugs Interact With Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin may interact with insulin, blood thinners, and asthma medications. Wellbutrin may also interact with many medications including heart or blood pressure medications, HIV or AIDS medications, seizure medications, other antidepressants, medicines to treat a psychiatric disorder, antibiotics, antihistamines that make you sleepy, bronchodilators, birth control pills or hormone replacement estrogens, bladder or urinary medications, diet pills, stimulants, ADHD medications, oral diabetes medication, medicines for nausea/vomiting/motion sickness, medications to treat or prevent malaria, medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, medication for restless leg syndrome, medication for pituitary gland tumor, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, narcotics, numbing medicines, steroids, theophylline, or ulcer or irritable bowel medications.

What Drugs Interact With Celexa?

Do Not take Cymbalta if you:

  • take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid or intravenous methylene blue.
  • Do not take an MAOI within 5 days of stopping Cymbalta unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • Do not start Cymbalta if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Cymbalta and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Do not take Cymbalta with any other medicine that contain duloxetine.

 

How Should Wellbutrin Be Taken?

  • Take Wellbutrin exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not change your dose or stop taking Wellbutrin without talking with your healthcare provider first.
  • Swallow Wellbutrin tablets whole. Do not chew, cut, or crush Wellbutrin tablets.
  • Take Wellbutrin at the same time each day.
  • Take your doses of Wellbutrin at least 6 hours apart.
  • You may take Wellbutrin with or without food.
  • If you miss a dose, do not take an extra dose to make up for the dose you missed. Wait and take your next dose at the regular time. This is very important. Too much Wellbutrin can increase your chance of having a seizure.
  • If you take too much Wellbutrin, or overdose, call your local emergency room or poison control center right away.
  • Do not take any other medicines while taking Wellbutrin unless your healthcare provider has told you it is okay.
  • If you are taking Wellbutrin for the treatment of major depressive disorder, it may take several weeks for you to feel that Wellbutrin is working. Once you feel better, it is important to keep taking Wellbutrin exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Call your healthcare provider if you do not feel Wellbutrin is working for you.

How Should Celexa Be Taken?

Take Celexa exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Celexa until it is the right dose for you.

Celexa may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Celexa, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Celexa at the same time.

If you take too much Celexa, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.