{"id":630650,"date":"2024-12-05T19:25:08","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T00:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630650"},"modified":"2025-01-03T14:12:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T19:12:42","slug":"trazodone-and-wellbutrin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/trazodone-and-wellbutrin\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you take trazodone and Wellbutrin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wellbutrin<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>bupropion<\/span>) is a prescription <\/span>antidepressant<\/span> that treats <\/span>major depressive disorders<\/span> and seasonal affective disorders (SAD). <\/span>Trazodone<\/span><\/a> is another prescription medication that belongs to the medication class selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor <\/span>(SSRI). <\/span>It is used for the <\/span>treatment of depression<\/span><\/a> and is commonly prescribed <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> for anxiety and sleep problems, such as <\/span>insomnia<\/span><\/a>. According to medical experts, it can be safe to take these two medicines together depending on your health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take <\/span>trazodone<\/span> with <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to medical experts, depending on your health, using Wellbutrin and trazodone together may offer some benefits under a healthcare provider\u2019s supervision. Jahan Khan, MD, a psychiatrist and medical director at the <\/span>Neuro Wellness Spa<\/span><\/a> in Pasadena, California, affirms the combined use, saying, \u201c[The] combination of this <\/span>drug interaction<\/span> is very helpful at regulating <\/span>dopamine<\/span> and <\/span>norepinephrine<\/span> for energy and <\/span>serotonin levels<\/span> for a healthy sleep cycle,\u201d he says. \u201cOften, <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> and <\/span>trazodone<\/span> are taken together to create an adjunct treatment response as modulation of the main neurotransmitters starts to occur, which are responsible for <\/span>major depressive disorders<\/span><\/a> and anxiety. \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If your <\/span>healthcare provider<\/span> suggests you take <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> and <\/span>trazodone<\/span> together, they\u2019ll likely start both medications at starting doses and adjust the individual dose of each medication based on efficacy and tolerability. While there are no specific dosing guidelines for this drug combination, Dr. Jahan advises that the doses be adjusted or medications stopped if you have trouble tolerating them.<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens if you take <\/span>trazodone<\/span> and <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> together?<\/span><\/h2>\n

People who take <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> and <\/span>trazodone<\/span> together do so to help ease their insomniac sleep patterns and improve the regulation of <\/span>dopamine<\/span> neurotransmitters in the brain. The medication combination also helps regulate mood and aids in <\/span>smoking cessation<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to James Hook, MD, a wellness professional and MD at <\/span>Neurogan Health<\/span><\/a> in San Diego, California, taking these medications together could benefit some people. \u201cThe <\/span>stimulant<\/span> antidepressant<\/span> Wellbutrin<\/span> and the <\/span>sedative<\/span> trazodone<\/span> can work in synergy for mood stabilization during the day and better sleep at night,\u201d he says. \u201cThe dual strategy is usually recommended as over 65% of those using <\/span>antidepressants<\/span> have trouble sleeping.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While it seems fairly safe to take both <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> and <\/span>trazodone<\/span> together to treat mental health conditions and sleep-related issues, it\u2019s important to consider the potential risks as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Jahan, people with liver or heart problems may want to avoid this drug combination. \u201cIf the liver is not fully functional or compromised, caution should be exercised as levels of each individual medication can be affected to create subtherapeutic (low efficacy) or supratherapeutic (toxic) effects. As the liver metabolizes both medications through a similar process, the liver may prioritize the metabolism of <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> over <\/span>trazodone<\/span>. If the liver is busy metabolizing <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span>, then the <\/span>trazodone<\/span> cannot go through that process. This can result in the dose of <\/span>trazodone<\/span> to be greater and\/or longer than what the expectation should be, leading to supratherapeutic effects.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Jahan also explains that taking <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> and <\/span>trazodone<\/span> may be unsafe for people with heart problems. \u201cThe heart can be affected with this combination, so cardiac monitoring is preferred,\u201d he says. \u201cBoth medications individually can increase risk of QT prolongation, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, orthostasis, and syncope, so a combination of these medications would increase the risk of above-mentioned <\/span>adverse effects<\/span> further.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to heart or liver problems, Dr. Jahan advises against mixing <\/span>Wellbutrin<\/span> and <\/span>trazodone<\/span> if you\u2019re already taking other <\/span>antidepressants<\/span>, such as <\/span>selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors<\/span><\/a> (SSRIs)<\/span>. \u201cSuch combinations can induce a hypertensive crisis or cause <\/span>serotonin syndrome<\/span>,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>hypertensive crisis<\/span><\/a> is a sudden, severe increase in <\/span>blood pressure<\/span>. The <\/span>blood pressure<\/span> reading for this condition is 180\/120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater. It is a very serious medical emergency that could lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other potentially life-threatening health problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Serotonin syndrome<\/span><\/a> is another severe drug reaction that occurs if there\u2019s too much serotonin in your body. It typically happens when two or more medicines that affect your <\/span>serotonin levels<\/span> are taken together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Symptoms of <\/span>serotonin syndrome<\/span> can range from mild to severe, which include:<\/span><\/p>\n