If you or a family member suffers from Anxiety, you’ve probably heard of the medications Lexapro and Wellbutrin. Lexapro vs Wellbutrin are known to be two of the most mentioned and dispensed options for treating Anxiety, and for good reason. When they work, they can change the way you feel, think, and function from day to day. It is very normal to ask yourself if it makes sense to fill both prescriptions, Wellbutrin and Lexapro, and/or if either one of the prescriptions could be effective by itself. This article will examine the differences between Wellbutrin and Lexapro, including the mechanisms of action. The well-documented side effects of the drugs, as well as the circumstances in which Lexapro and Wellbutrin have been administered.
Understanding What Are Lexapro and Wellbutrin?
Both Lexapro and Wellbutrin an antidepressants and are used for mood disorders, but they work in distinctly different ways. SSRIs heighten serotonin levels. Lexapro can treat anxiety and depression. It has an established reputation for being a calm agent. Being an NDRI, Wellbutrin increases dopamine and norepinephrine, which in most cases enhance motivation and energy. It is also used to help stop smoking and treat seasonal lows. For the most part, Wellbutrin does not cause weight gain or sexual side effects as Lexapro might. Every medication has a goal of its own; some individuals might even use both. Always seek out the opinion of a health professional to evaluate the path in mind regarding your mental health.
What Is Lexapro?
Lexapro is used as an anti-anxiety with generalization and major depressive disorder (MDD), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that increases the level of serotonin in the brain. Patients taking Lexapro have reported reduced depressive symptomology with concomitant reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and a reduced sense of worry. Lexapro is sometimes one of the first medications used when a patient has both anxiety and depression, due to the calming and stabilizing effects involved in taking Lexapro.
What Is Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin or bupropion is considered a typical antidepressant. While it is typically against most SSRIs, Wellbutrin acts on dopamine and norepinephrine instead of serotonin. Energy, motivation, and focus are all increased by this action. Wellbutrin is certainly accepted for usage with major depressive disorder, and it is also used for seasonal affective disorder and smoking cessation as Zyban. It does not reduce anxiety like the majority of cases; it may even make anxiety worse.
Lexapro vs Wellbutrin: Key Differences
Many people want to know, “What is the difference between Lexapro and Wellbutrin?” Both are antidepressants, but they differ in the following very important ways:
- Lexapro has a greater effect on serotonin and is more sedating, making it more useful in the treatment of people who are overwhelmed, anxious, and emotionally hypersensitive.
- Wellbutrin is more active on dopamine and norepinephrine, causing an activation “lifting” effect, making it more suitable for those who are fatigued, foggy-minded, or unmotivated.
- Lexapro is more sexually impairing, as well as contributing to the more common problem of weight gain.
- Wellbutrin has fewer sexual side effects and, in some patients, may promote weight loss.
It is a matter of your symptom profile, medical history, and treatment objectives that would determine the choice between the two.
Lexapro vs Wellbutrin Side Effects
Understanding the side effects of Lexapro vs Wellbutrin is essential when choosing the right medication. Here’s what to expect with each:
Lexapro Side Effects
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Dry mouth
- Increased sweating
- Emotional flattening in some individuals
Wellbutrin Side Effects
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Dizziness
Lexapro vs Wellbutrin for Anxiety
Lexapro is the sensible option if you’re weighing Wellbutrin vs. Lexapro for anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder treatment with Lexapro is effective in bringing about symptom relief of such problems as nervousness, panic attacks, and so on. If you are depressed and anxious, Lexapro generally provides people with effective relief for both.
Although Wellbutrin can be a reasonable choice for individuals who experience low energy and aren’t very attentive. It is probably not the best option if anxiety is your main concern. Wellbutrin can also be stimulating, and if your core issue with anxiety is jitters and sleep issues, then it can be problematic. Some duly perplexed and very bewildered folks must feel dimmed rather than illuminated and sure a while by that funny feeling of being excitedly unable to think due to having lost touch because of the affliction.
Can You Take Lexapro and Wellbutrin Together?
It is not unusual to take Wellbutrin and Lexapro together, especially if each prescription does not have an adequate effect. For example, think of the patient who is going to start taking Lexapro. While they are on Lexapro, they could still have some level of anxiety, some level of depression, lethargy, some type of sexual side effects, or fatigue. Because of this, the decision is made to add Wellbutrin to the regimen to eliminate the sedating effects of Lexapro. The thought behind this combination is that Wellbutrin stimulates motivation while Lexapro calms and stabilizes moods.
Combination therapies should only be conducted on a clinician’s recommendation, or after appropriate and careful contemplation, and it should be acknowledged that nearly any two or more medications will produce some interaction or side effects.
Which is Better, Lexapro or Wellbutrin?
It depends on your symptoms. Lexapro is better for anxiety and emotional instability, while Wellbutrin is better for low energy, motivation issues, and avoiding weight gain or sexual side effects. Some might decide to keep their choices dependent on what symptoms they describe. These are the main ideas:
- Lexapro is better for those, if anxious feelings, reactivity has built up over the years, or if there’s just so much going on that one can’t get proper sleep.
- Wellbutrin is better for, if lethargy takes over, motivation disappears, or if there is an inkling of concern or experience alongside those “weight gain and sexual side effects” that seem to be controlling the majority of the other SSRIs.
Others will switch to or add the second to their original medicine after their symptoms have gone through changed. At the core it is important for patients to work well with their doctors and to keep giving feedback about any changes they experience.
FAQ: Lexapro vs Wellbutrin
Is Wellbutrin Good for Anxiety?
Not typically, while some people tolerate it well, Wellbutrin can worsen anxiety in others, especially in the early weeks of treatment. It’s not usually recommended for those with severe or chronic anxiety.
Does Lexapro Cause Weight Gain?
Lexapro may lead to weight gain in some individuals, especially over time. If this becomes a concern, your doctor might recommend switching medications or adding Wellbutrin.
Does Wellbutrin Help With Focus and Energy?
Yes, Wellbutrin’s stimulating effects make it helpful for people with low energy, poor concentration, or symptoms of ADHD. It’s often favored for its “activating” properties.
Conclusion
This question does not have an apparent answer. Both medications have merit and may be superior for others depending on how each one’s symptom profile of depression and/or anxiety manifests. Lexapro is good for sedating anxiety, but may have mood dysregulation potential (not determined yet if the person enters a baseline low mood state before the intake of Lexapro). Wellbutrin does not calm the nerves; instead, it may energize people, improve mental focus, and lessen sexual side effects.
Whichever gets chosen first-Lexapro or Wellbutrin-just know that mental health treatment is a process. You are not alone, and understanding your treatment approach can go a long way toward helping you. It all boils down to what you can do for yourself (depending on your circumstances), committing to engage in what you and your doctor have discussed with execution style (instructions provided actively), and maybe something that is not an easy part in mental health, but requires patience.