combining prozac, wellbutrin and abilify?!


Question: Combining prozac, wellbutrin and abilify?
My boyfriend has been dealing with depression for a couple years. He started taking Prozac 20mg a day, I think, not sure the dosage, but it was increased and still not working so his doctor added Wellbutrin and increased that over time and last month Abilify was added to his medications. I have asked my boyfriend if he has felt any different and he says no, he is still depressed. He does have trouble communicating how he is feeling and he has said the same thing every time the Prozac was increased and when Wellbutrin was added and increased, he insists he has not felt any difference each time. I think this must be impossible since that is a lot of medication to be taking.
He has an appointment tomorrow. I am concerned about the amount of medication he is being prescribed. I am not a doctor and I am not trying to tell any doctor how to do their job but it seems like a lot of medication to be on and still be depressed. He is also prescribed Ativan, which I know can be dangerous.
Can anyone tell me from personal experience if all this medication is OK to be taking at once or are there side effects to combining so many Rx's? I am worried that at his appointment tomorrow the doctor will increase the amount of Abilify. I know anti depressants work for some people and that is great but it isn't working for my boyfriend. Any suggestions?

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I'm no doctor or pharmacist, but I know that combining Prozac and Wellbutrin could be dangerous. I strongly recommend against that unless he's talked to his doctor first.



Prozac works to increase serotonin (brain chemical).
Welbutrin is an antidepressant and is particularly popular as an add-on medication in the cases of incomplete response to the first-line selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.(prozac is an SSRI antidepressant).

Welbutrin works to increase serotonin AND norepinephrine (another brain chemical). it is of the SNRI category.
I don't know much about Abilify--but here is their link;
www.abilify.com
I don't know how long he has been on Prozac before Welbutrin was added--and then until Abilify was added.
Many people have to be on an antidepressant for 4-8 weeks to reach a therapeutic level. if it isn't working, the psychiatrist will often try a different type, or add a different type.
Each medication has possible side effects--but everyone is different and may have NO side effects.

I would express concerns to the doctor and ask any and all questions.
best wishes.

24 years psychiatric nursing



prozac is not forever you can become a wreck from too much of it, your BF needs therapy, talking with a professional about his problems, drugs don't cure depression




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