Question: I am 45 yo female in pretty good physical health (taking crestor for hereditary cholesterol; taking XXXXXXX for hormone balance and birth control; taking synthroid for hypothyroidism -- and wellbutrin xl which is the reason for my inquiry).
I have anxiety and through a counselor it has been identified; and I have slight depression b/c I cry easily and unprovoked. I now weight close to 140 but about 8mos ago, I weight 120ish. I have gained a tremendous amt of lbs by taking (starting with 10mg Lexapro took for 3 mos and helped the anxiety but weight and sexual side effects horrible; was switched to 40mg of Viibryd to combat side effects -- used 2 mos and no difference; was switched to pristique -- it and Viibryd cost me $75/Rx and no change in any side effects; finally on 100mg Wellbutrin XL. Weight is now steady but still overweight (I'm 5'4"). Seems that it disables the "fullness" trigger in the brain. I'm not eating all day but I overeat when I do eat. It has also helped with the sexual dysfunction but it has made me somewhat hostile and does not help with the anxiety and panic attacks, and it seems to not help much with the depression, still crying at the drop of a hat; and now I don't sleep well. I was hoping to that my internist would Rx a Lexapro add on but she doesn't think I need to 2 meds. I feel like she either can't understand or doesn't believe me. My life is terribly stressful -- I'm a lawyer; have 2 girls in activities; my husband works long hours and travels some. This is a recent job change for him. My thinking about all that I have to do has given me panic attacks. I know that I need something but I can't have antidepressant that makes me depressed when I look at my weight gain. I no longer have time for "me" and need some kind of medication that will help alleviate the panic attacks and help me over the hump so I can figure out a balance. I have been to a counselor who identified the root and cause of the anxiety. There just doesn't seem to be fix for it, other than these meds -- which I do not plan to be on my whole life. Do you have any suggestions?