Wellbutrin vs. Prozac

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

Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Prozac (fluoxetine) are antidepressants used to manage major depression.

Wellbutrin is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

Prozac is also used to treat bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

The Zyban brand of bupropion is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects.

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

Side effects of Wellbutrin and Prozac that are similar include dry mouth, insomnia, headache, nausea, constipation, stomach upset or pain, dizziness, decreased sex drive, sore throat, changes in appetite, or weight changes.

Side effects of Wellbutrin that are different from Prozac include agitation, vomiting, ringing in the ears, vision problems or blurred vision, muscle pain, itching or skin rash, increased sweating, increased urination, tremor, joint aches, strange taste in the mouth, diarrhea, and seizures (especially at higher doses).

Side effects of Prozac that are different from Wellbutrin include anxiety, drowsiness, nervousness, heart palpitations, cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing), impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

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).

Common side effects of Prozac include:

• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• constipation,
• headaches,
• anxiety,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• nervousness,
• heart palpitations,
• loss of appetite or increase in appetite,
• weight changes,
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat),
• dry mouth,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

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

Prozac 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 nottreating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Prozac is used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Bulimia Nervosa*
• Panic Disorder*
• Depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder, taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Treatment Resistant Depression (depression that has not gotten better with atleast 2 other treatments), taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa)*

*Not approved for use in children

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting betterwith Prozac treatment.

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.

Prozac may interact with cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures or anxiety, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other antidepressants, blood thinners, or migraine headache medicines.

Prozac may also interact with alprazolam, clopidogrel, clozapine, flecainide, haloperidol, nebivolol, vinblastine, or seizure medications.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Prozac.

• 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.

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

Prozac may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Prozac, 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 nextdose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Prozac at the same time.

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