Anyone able to stay on Wellbrutin while taking hormone therapy?

aprildawn714

I do not want to switch my anti depressant. I told my family doctor I would have to start hormone therapy after my surgery. She told me she has a lot of patients that take Wellbutrin with these meds. I am reading all of the horrible side effects I will have to deal with starting this crap. I don't want to change my other medication and have to deal with side effects from that as well. I am pre menopausal and I have researched them all and I don't think I can take some of them that the Welbrutin won't interact with. Any insight would be great Thanks!

ChelseaSculler

I've stayed on Wellbutrin while being on Tamoxifen. My MO has been on board, did not even suggest changing it (and as his colleagues remind me, he has 40 years of experience!). He says it's been mouse experiments and not backed up with people, so not to worry. (That said, I'm not on the Wellbutrin right now.)

vlnrph

To clarify, try looking up the generic name buproprion when you search for info. It is more of a combination serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor as compared to the SSRIs which can also have interactions with the enzyme that activates estrogen receptor blockade.

April, you will certainly not experience all the side effects you read about. It is good to educate yourself in order to know what you mightexpect but it's not always worst case scenario for everyone! I was able to tolerate tamoxifen just fine.

aprildawn714

Thanks for the reply. I just read that you can't take the 2 meds because the Welllbrutrin causes the Tamoxifen to be less effective. I asked my family dr and she said she has quite a few patients that take both? So I was confused about it.

aprildawn714

Chelseasculler I am so happy to hear this! Have you had any problems with the Tamoxifen?

Tresjoli2

there are 4 antidepressants that do not conflict with tamoxifen: lexapro, celexa, effexor, and trintellix. Wellbutrin is not safe to take, as it will undermine your tamoxifen's effectiveness. You should either chose ovarian suppression and an AI, or switch antidepressants.

Good Luck!

aprildawn714

I haven't gone through menopause so I can't take the others from what I have rea

deweygirl19

Aprildawn71 what did Your MO say? I’m in the same boat, terrified of having to change to something other than Wellbutrin. And also terrified of OS+AI. As if breast cancer hasn’t caused enough havoc in our lives, it seems that I have no good choices.

Salamandra

I didn’t tolerate tamoxifen and I was able to persuade my doctor to support me trying toremifene. (I persuaded her to actually check with her department’s senior oncologist, he convinced her). It’s not FDA approved for premenopausal women but there’s solid evidence (according to me and more importantly the senior oncologist) that it is at least as effective as tamoxifen.

Bonus, it is completely compatible with Wellbutrin. (And at least so far, I’m tolerating it much better than tamoxifen).

I found more than one article suggesting that it could be suitable as a first line drug for premenopausal women whose other health conditions (like depression successfully treated with Wellbutrin) contraindicate tamoxifen, and second line treatment for women who can’t tolerate tamoxifen.

It makes me angry that my doctor at a top notch research hospital didn’t offer it to me proactively. She was pushing to move on to OS+AI. But I’m relieved that it’s out there as an option

aprildawn714

to tell you the truth I am in the process of changing MOs. Considering she didn't even notice I was on both meds! And she also didn't even bother to notice I did not have chemo or radiation when I came to see her for the second time. LIke she never even looked at my records. I sat at the office for over 2 hours to see her both times and I was the first scheduled appt. Not happy....I will let you know what my new Dr says for sure about the meds being taken together I see him in a few weeks

aprildawn714

I wish I could just switch to this and keep my Wellbutrin. I’m weening myself off my Wellbutrin and I’m feeling the difference in my mood. And the tamoxifen is making me tired and more moody and no sex drive

aprildawn714

what did you end up doing about your Wellbutrin? I’m slowly weaning myself off and I’m not happy. Seeing my primary dr next month to try another antidepressant.