Posted by ChrisW on November 1, 2000, at 1:51:03
Had an interesting experience that I thought I'd share.
I've been taking Remeron 45 mg for several months and p-doc added Wellbutrin 300 mg about 10 days ago. I noticed an increase in the effects (and side effects) of the Remeron which I thought was odd until I discovered a useful web site. http://www.rxlist.com
Basically in the information on Wellbutrin pharmacokinetics it mentions "Many drugs, including most antidepressants (SSRIs, many tricyclics), beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, and antipsychotics are metabolized by the CYP2D6 isoenzyme. Although bupropion is not metabolized by this isoenzyme, bupropion and hydroxybupropion are inhibitors of the CYP2D6 isoenzyme in vitro". It goes on to talk about a study involving concomitant administratiopn of Wellbutrin and desipramine (a tri-cyclic) in which it was found that desipramine levels were higher and that the desipramine took longer to be metabolized. And then when I went to look up Remeron on the same website, it turns out that Remeron is metabolized by the CYP2D6 isoenzyme. Meaning that the increase in effects that I experienced was not my imagination but a result of the inhibition of this enzyme by bupropion (wellbutrin). Perhaps this is another way in which someone taking a drug with a short half life like Effexor and Paxil can alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms. If they have some Wellbutrin lying around I'll bet that one Wellbutrin would increase PBCs and T 1/2 s in much the same manner as Prozac seems to work for Effexor withdrawals. Am I way off base here or has anyone tried this?
poster:ChrisW
thread:47895
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001022/msgs/47895.html