Effexor XR vs. Wellbutrin

• Are Wellbutrin and Effexor XR the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Effexor XR?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Wellbutrin?
• What Is Effexor XR?
• What Is Wellbutrin?
• What Drugs Interact with Effexor XR?
• What Drugs Interact with Wellbutrin?
• How Should Effexor XR Be Taken?
• How Should Wellbutrin Be Taken?

Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are antidepressants used to treat major depression.

Effexor XR is also used to treat panic and social disorders.

Wellbutrin is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

Effexor XR and Wellbutrin are different types of antidepressants. Effexor XR is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) and Wellbutrin is an aminoketone.

Common side effects of Effexor XR include:

• nausea,
• constipation,
• insomnia,
• dizziness,
• asthenia,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• nervousness,
• strange dreams,
• blurred vision,
• changes in appetite or weight,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence,
• difficulty having an orgasm, and
• increased sweating.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Effexor XR including:

• easy bruising or bleeding,
• decreased interest in sex,
• changes in sexual ability,
• muscle cramps or weakness, or
• shaking (tremors).

Serious side effects of Effexor XR include clinical worsening of symptoms and suicide risk, especially in younger patients. Tell your doctor if you experience worsening depression or thoughts of suicide while taking Effexor XR.

Common side effects of Wellbutrin include:

• agitation,
• dry mouth,
• insomnia,
• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• stomach pain,
• dizziness,
• ringing in the ears,
• vision problems or blurred vision,
• loss of interest in sex,
• sore throat,
• muscle pain,
• itching or skin rash,
• increased sweating,
• increased urination,
• tremor,
• changes in appetite,
• weight loss or gain,
• joint aches,
• strange taste in the mouth,
• diarrhea, and
• seizures (especially at higher doses).

Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release) is an antidepressant used to treat patients with major depressive disorders such as panic and social disorders. Effexor XR is available as a generic.

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

Effexor XR may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures or anxiety), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cimetidine, ketoconazole, linezolid, lithium, haloperidol, tramadol, L-tryptophan, warfarin, almotriptan, frovatriptan, sumatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, other antidepressants, or other drugs.

Do not take Wellbutrin if you:

• have or had a seizure disorder or epilepsy.
• are taking Zyban (used to help people stop smoking) or any other medicines that contain bupropion hydrochloride, such as Wellbutrin SR Sustained-Release Tablets or Wellbutrin XL Extended-Release Tablets. Bupropion is the same ingredient that is in Wellbutrin.
• drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy) or benzodiazepines and you stop using them all of a sudden.
• have taken within the last 14 days medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as Nardil (phenelzine sulfate), Parnate (tranylcypromine sulfate), or Marplan (isocarboxazid).
• have or had an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
• are allergic to the active ingredient in Wellbutrin, bupropion, or to any of the inactive ingredients. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Wellbutrin.

The recommended dose of Effexor XR for most patients is 5 mg taken orally twice daily.

Take Wellbutrin exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

• 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 tablet to make up for the dose you forgot. Wait and take your next tablet 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 using Wellbutrin unless your doctor has told you it is okay.
• 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 doctor. Call your doctor if you do not feel Wellbutrin is working for you.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking Wellbutrin without talking with your doctor first.