Wellbutrin & alcohol...

Factual Questions
1

I just got a scrip for wellbutrin to help me quit smo… uh… to help me with depression. Wink wink, HMO.

Anyway, the doctor told me that I wouldn’t have to worry about the occasional couple of beers. The pharmacy, on the other hand, has placed a sticker on the bottle informing me that I’m not to take alcohol with the medication.

So is my fortnightly sixer of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale out the window for the next two months? Or am I just supposed to avoid beer + wellbutrin + heavy machinery or something?

Thanks.

Oh, it’s 150mg SR, twice a day.

2

I don’t have an answer on the alcohol except to say I’ve been taking Wellbutrin (2 150 mgs. in the a.m., it was disturbing my sleep to take one at night) for about three weeks now, and I drink a glass or two of red wine a night, maybe three or four on a weekend night, and other than that sick sick feeling for a week while you get used to it, I seem to have had no ill effects. I think in some people the alcohol may adversely interact with the drug and so the pharmacy has to put that label on there. “I am not a doctor,” but I’d say if you don’t experience any problems a beer or two a night is OK.

Results vary of course, but the Wellbutrin has helped me immensely in quitting smoking; the cravings are just not there. It has also helped me begin to lose the 20 lbs. I put on while taking Remeron, I think because my stomach felt so icky I didn’t feel like eating. Three weeks and I’ve lost almost 10 lbs.

So if your stomach feels crappy and you feel a little wacked out, stick with it for a week or two and it should level out.

Sorry no cites or scientific info; perhaps one of the resident pharmacy folks here can answer your question with some facts.

3

Your best bet is to discuss this with your doctor.

Wellbutrin seems to come with this warning about alcohol:

4

Hmmm. I guess I’m living in Bizarro World. When I was on WB, my tolerance for alcohol, increased, and I never woke up in the morning feeling cloudy-headed. I chalked it up to the stimulant effect of WB.

5

That’s what I figured. I don’t fall into any of the risk groups that I’ve seen mentioned, and I’m not exactly gonna be going on a daily bender, so I’m not too worried.

Thanks y’all.

6

I think they put it there because beer and cigarettes are like peanut butter and jelly, Fred and ginger, bert and ernie.

Last time I quit I used zyban, made it 3 months. Downfall? Saint paddies day. Beer. Large amounts.

WARNING: Do not take beer with this drug, it’ll make you want a smoke fool!

7

I have been taking Wellbutrin for several years now, for depression. Because my depression is seasonal I usually stop taking it in the summer and then I feel like I can safely enjoy a cold one.

The risk you take when you mix alcohol with this medication is that it could increase the possibility of experiencing a seizure. I would exercise extreme caution with this or any other medication as many do not react well with alcohol.

On the other hand, it does a wonderful job of handling depression, there are minimal withdrawl symtoms when you stop taking it, and it does not usually cause sexual dysfunction as often as SSRI’s or MOA’s. (Other types of anti-depressants)

The biggest complaint I have heard is that because of it’s stimulating effect, taking it too late in the day can cause insomnia. I never take my afternoon dosage after 5 pm becuase when I have, I have ended up bouncing around the house into the wee hours.

8

I’ve been taking Wellbutrin for a while now and have never had any problems with having a couple of beers and a drink or two a week.

IANAPharmacist but according to one I talked to the problem is more closely related to sudden changes in alcohol consumption. In other words, regular moderate drinkers are ok but binge drinkers may need to be careful. She also told me that heavy drinkers who suddenly stop have the same risk factor.

So, light drinking seems to be OK. Sure beats suicidal depression.