Wellbutrin vs. Irenka

Irenka (duloxetine capsule) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are antidepressants used to treat major depressive disorder.

Irenka is also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Wellbutrin is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

Irenka and Wellbutrin are different types of antidepressants. Irenka is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and Wellbutrin is an aminoketone.

Side effects of Irenka and Wellbutrin that are similar include nausea, headache, dry mouth, insomnia, constipation, dizziness, diarrhea, changes in appetite, and increased sweating.

Side effects of Irenka that are different from Wellbutrin include drowsiness, fatigue, and abdominal pain.

Side effects of Wellbutrin that are different from Irenka include agitation, vomiting, stomach pain, ringing in the ears, vision problems or blurred vision, loss of interest in sex, sore throat, muscle pain, itching or skin rash, increased urination, tremor, weight loss or gain, joint aches, strange taste in the mouth, and seizures (especially at higher doses).

Both Irenka and Wellbutrin may interact with other antidepressants, medications used to prevent blood clots, and theophylline.

Irenka may also interact with alcohol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, some antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids, caffeine, desipramine, triptans for migraine, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John's wort.

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

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 Irenka include:

• nausea,
• headache,
• dry mouth,
• drowsiness,
• fatigue,
• insomnia,
• constipation,
• dizziness,
• diarrhea,
• decreased appetite,
• increased sweating, and
• abdominal pain

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

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

Irenka (duloxetine capsule) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

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.

Irenka may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, warfarin, aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids, theophylline, caffeine, desipramine, alcohol, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John's wort. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

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.

The dose of Irenka is 40 mg/day (given as 20 mg twice daily) to 60 mg/day (given either once daily or as 30 mg twice daily) for major depressive disorder, and 60 mg/day for generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.