I was on 450 mg of Wellbutrin and 40 mg of Lexapro with not much relief. I've been on both for 4 years. My doctor recently switched me from Wellbutrin to the new antidepressant Auvelity. I now take one Wellbutrin with two Auvelity and two 20mg pills of Lexapro. The Auvelity is also Bupropion but has another added ingredient in it. For any of you that has started Auvelity that was taking Wellbutrin, does it seem to help? I have high hopes but wanted to get feedback from any of you with this combo. I understand all of us react different to medications but am looking forward to some relief. Thanks!
Depression - Has anyone switched from bupropion to Auvelity (new antidepressant)? Advice please!?
Question posted by momto1son on 23 Jan 2023
Last updated on 6 March 2024
6 Answers
cuvtixo
6 March 2024
Medicare covered my prescription for Auvelity. I took 450mg WellbutrinXL(actually the generic Bupropion) for several years, then 300mg for several more in addition to other meds. I have been on various antidepressants for roughly 30 years, including ECT treatments, so it's been established that I have "treatment resistant major depressive disorder", whether any insurance will cover other any other diagnoses, I do not know. I turned to my doctor for Auvelity because I could not afford ketamine treatment, but Auvelity is also an (NMDA) receptor antagonist like ketamine. So far the results are promising, although I do feel a difference going from 300mg to effectively 210mg bupropion, but this is perhaps okay because I'm grinding my teeth down nightly as a side effect from bupropion, anyways.
I'm not sure if 150mg bupropion might be prescribed adjacent for those who are already taking higher dose of bupropion, because twice a day Auvelity pill seems to be the maximum recommended dose. After trying half dozen SSRIs and SNRIs and even MOAIs, I don't think I would give much in the way of definitive advice about any antidepressent. Everyone responds differently. But for over a month now I'm pleased with the results for me.
Jamie O
8 Aug 2023
FYI for those on MediCare - Auvelity was denied by MediScare and costs $500/month out of pocket. Bupropion is covered, and dextromethorphan is available over the counter in pill form to avoid the nasty liquid form. (I just ordered some pill form on Amazon). Auvelity lists 105mg bupropion and 45 mg dextromethorphan as active ingredients per dose. I'm going to adjust the dosages and hope so much it helps with lifelong, treatment-resistant depression. Apparently, Auvelity works on dopamine issues, unlike the popular SSRIs and SSNIs that are unhelpful to those who struggle with dopamine processing. The only 2 psychiatrists in my area who accept MediScare are NOT recommended, but my primary care provider is helpful on this long, strange trip.
Sugarcube
22 July 2023
Hi there! I have been on Wellbutrin XL (bupropion) for 9 months in the past, starting at 150 mg then stabilizing at 300 mg, and noticed improvements in my depression. I previously abused dextromethorphan, so I knew about dextromethorphan and bupropion being studied as a treatment for depression before it became FDA-approved. When it finally got approved, I spoke to my psychiatrist about switching over to Auvelity because I have had such good experiences with both bupropion and dextromethorphan by themselves.
I am now taking Auvelity for 4 months, and out of all of the anti-depressants I've taken, I truly believe I have found the one medication I know I want to stay on for good.
TrudyMCD
25 June 2023
I have taken Wellbutrin in the past but didn’t get much help with negative mood. I’ve been on Auvelity for 4 days and woke up this morning feeling calm and happy. I usually have intrusive thoughts and a depressed mood all day but today the intrusive thoughts are quiet. I was taking Trintellix 10 mgs and Wellbutrin 100 mgs. But only had partial relief from depressed mood. I’m very happy with Auvelity and pray it continues to work. Good luck
SutthernSereniti
17 June 2023
I take 450mg of Wellbutrin now and I am coming TOTALLY off it. Auvelity has Wellbutrin IN it and you are not suppose to take them both together. My Dr has me fully weaning off the 450mg I take now to then start 1 pill for one week then go to 2 pills per day. Good luck
WildcatVet
27 Jan 2023
Hi, mom! These are the reviews for Auvelity but it's a new drug so that it's not being heavily prescribed yet... so not many reviews. What there are so far are fairly positive:
https://www.drugs.com/comments/bupropion-dextromethorphan/auvelity-for-major-depressive-disorder.html
Personally, I take high doses of bupropion and high doses of dextromethorphan for a chronic bronchitis cough and haven't noticed any difference in my depressive episodes.
If this doesn't work out for you you might want to ask your doctor about adding Abilify or Rexulti to your antidepressants.
Best regards and I hope you're feeling better quickly,
Wildcat
momto1son
29 Jan 2023
Hi Wildcatvet! Thank you so much for responding, I appreciate it! I was on Rexulti for almost 4 weeks, and unfortunately, it didn't do much, so the doc took me off. I understand we're all different but what combos have you heard good things about? I am on Lexapro and Wellbutrin and it was working well together but stopped working completely. I'll ask my doctor about Abilify. I'm terrified of weight gain as I have to watch my sugar levels. I do exercise and currently, watch what I eat so hopefully I won't gain any weight. I'm looking so forward to finding the right combination so that I can get some relief. Gosh, as we all know, this is awful :( but I have high hopes for the new medication! Thanks
cuvtixo
6 March 2024
I've been on most antidepressants, and have worked in mental health as a caregiver myself for several years. My advice is to stay away from SSRIs because they tend to have long term side effects that are not immediately apparent, and it takes quite a long period of time to get off of them without suffering withdrawal effects. I would also be open to trying MOAIs. The list of foods to avoid has gotten much smaller. For example commercial pizzas aren't as much of a hazard because they don't contain mozzarella, and therefore have little to no tyramine. Moclobemide isn't available in the US, but Selegeline is. MOAIs have the best reports of satisfaction, but they are "unfashionable", and if you web search for "best antidepressants", you will get many lists and studies which do not include MAOIs at all. Every patient should question this, and be suspicious of why that might be.
Related topics
lexapro, wellbutrin, depression, bupropion, major depressive disorder, doctor, antidepressant, antidepressants, auvelity
Further information
- Lexapro uses and warnings
- Wellbutrin uses and warnings
- Bupropion uses and warnings
- Auvelity uses and warnings
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