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Can Pristiq, Wellbutrin And Clonazepam Be Taken Together?

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Posted on Wed, 2 Sep 2015
Question: Hello, I have been taking pristiq 200 mgs daily for two years. Now, because my depression worsened doctor has prescribed 300mgs wellbutrin Xl, starting with 150 mgs and increased until reaching 300mgs.

His goal is to combine 200mgs of pristiq +300mgs of wellbutrin Xl. Also I take  clonazepam 4 mgs dayli.

I have chronic depression and high anxiety disorders. Have been a patient for 20 years.

Is it safe to combine this three medications? Is it safe to use that high doses on wellbutrin  and pristiq?

My doctor refuses to reduce pristiq dose.

Please, I will be very grateful with your answer. 
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (47 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes it's safe to take these medicines together

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic

I can understand your concern. Pristiq is a SNRI drug and the drug is an antidepressant and anti anxiety drug. Wellbutrin is also an antidepressant drug. The drug is mostly used as augmentation drug for resistant depression or in patients who respond poorly to conventional antidepressants. So any SNRI or SSRI drug can be used without any fear with Wellbutrin. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine abs have different mechanism of action.

Over all there is no harm in using the drug combination. It's safe to take all these three drugs together in the doses you are taking. Take the drug as per prescribed doses only.

Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (17 minutes later)
Thank you Dr. Bishnoi.

My biggest fear is that pristiq 200 mgs is a very high dose. My doctor insists that the theory of doses overr 50 mgs are uuseless is not correct , since practice is different from theory, and that he has used pristiqt several times like this..

If I combine this dose with the 300mgs of wellbutrin X. l
Do you think I might be over medicated? ,

By the wa, he has been my Doctor the last 10 years, and we have been wworking fine ttogethe.

Best regards.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I don't think you are overmedicated

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up

In some studies it has been found that Pristiq 50 mg (in some cases 100) is found to be effective in controlling the symptoms of depression. Increasing the dose doesn't result much benefit but increase the risk of adverse effects. But yes in practice the scene is different. Even I have used Pristiq in high doses and observed significant improvement in patients compared to 50 mg doses. So in my opinion adding Wellbutrin to 200 mg Pristiq is a good idea and this will increase the efficacy of combination. Though 200 mg doses are high but I don't think you are being overmedicated. Start taking medicines without any fear, your symptoms will improve.

Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you still have more doubts you can ask again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (12 minutes later)
Thank you Doctor.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
thanks and take care

Detailed Answer:
Thanks and take care

Wish you a good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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Can Pristiq, Wellbutrin And Clonazepam Be Taken Together?

Brief Answer: Yes it's safe to take these medicines together Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic I can understand your concern. Pristiq is a SNRI drug and the drug is an antidepressant and anti anxiety drug. Wellbutrin is also an antidepressant drug. The drug is mostly used as augmentation drug for resistant depression or in patients who respond poorly to conventional antidepressants. So any SNRI or SSRI drug can be used without any fear with Wellbutrin. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine abs have different mechanism of action. Over all there is no harm in using the drug combination. It's safe to take all these three drugs together in the doses you are taking. Take the drug as per prescribed doses only. Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again