9 replies to this topic

[acantelopepope]

1.) Does prolonged use of Wellbutrin actually deplete dopamine and/or serotonin/norepinephrine over time, similar to Prozac which "enhances" the serotonin a user does have, but doesn't supply any new serotonin, requiring ever increasing dosages?

2.) Also, has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with using tryptophan or 5-htp for depression and/or alleviation/improvement of concentration difficulties?

I would reaaaaaally appreciate your answer. Thank you.

[csrpj]

for me, taking 5htp makes me feel pretty good, but this effect comes from 5htp only if i use it once in a while. Once your serotonin levels are restored with the 5-HTP you can't feel it if you take more because you're already releasing the maximum amount your body is supposed to release at once. i take it like once a week or two.

[Rational Madman]

1.) Does prolonged use of Wellbutrin actually deplete dopamine and/or serotonin/norepinephrine over time, similar to Prozac which "enhances" the serotonin a user does have, but doesn't supply any new serotonin, requiring ever increasing dosages?

2.) Also, has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with using tryptophan or 5-htp for depression and/or alleviation/improvement of concentration difficulties?

I would reaaaaaally appreciate your answer. Thank you.

Although I'm not aware of any documented cases, I think receptor sensitivity is more likely to be the result of a high dose over a long period. As for supplementary 5-hydroxytryptophan, very little is likely to be metabolized in the brain, or pass the blood brain barrier, and because researchers remain dubious about the efficaciousness of 5-hydroxytryptophan, I would advise against supplementation.

[acantelopepope]

1.) Does prolonged use of Wellbutrin actually deplete dopamine and/or serotonin/norepinephrine over time, similar to Prozac which "enhances" the serotonin a user does have, but doesn't supply any new serotonin, requiring ever increasing dosages?

2.) Also, has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with using tryptophan or 5-htp for depression and/or alleviation/improvement of concentration difficulties?

I would reaaaaaally appreciate your answer. Thank you.

Although I'm not aware of any documented cases, I think receptor sensitivity is more likely to be the result of a high dose over a long period. As for supplementary 5-hydroxytryptophan, very little is likely to be metabolized in the brain, or pass the blood brain barrier, and because researchers remain dubious about the efficaciousness of 5-hydroxytryptophan, I would advise against supplementation.

So you believe Wellbutrin should only increase in efficacy over time? Meaning what exactly? More dopamine reuptake inhibition (if you can call it this with wellbutrin)?

As for 5HTP, if it doesn't metabolize into Serotonin well... what will?

[Johann]

 I'm curious about this as well.  

Does increase DA cause the receptors to be more sensitive to it?  Or does the sensitivity get blunted requiring more DA for the same effect?  And would these effects come from other DA increasing supps or just wellbutrin?

[Rational Madman]

 I'm curious about this as well.  

Does increase DA cause the receptors to be more sensitive to it?  Or does the sensitivity get blunted requiring more DA for the same effect?  And would these effects come from other DA increasing supps or just wellbutrin?

I was suggesting that with chronic high-dose Wellbutrin use, that it's possible that receptors might become less responsive to stimulation. With elevated levels of neurotransmitters in the synapses, receptors might simply adjust through downregulation.

Edited by Rol82, 25 September 2009 - 05:16 AM.

[2012pharmD]

Dopamine and NE are both synthesized from Tyrosine obtained in your diet. I'm not sure if supplements of tyrosine absorb as well in the GI tract as from other whole, natural sources. Without the normal amount of re-uptake of DA and NE [read: taking Wellbutrin] the role of diet is more important. If you're not taking an additional med that blocks 5-HT [serotonin] then there is no point in considering tryptophan in your diet.

Not very scientific, but I do feel that for myself & classmates, whether taking large amounts of caffeine or using d-amphetamine or modafinil, we all feel less "crash" when we supplement Tyrosine, at least for the NE involved with these stimulants.

Both DA and NE synthesized in the same type of neuronal vesicle, the only difference is DA neurons lack the last enzyme to convert DA to NE.

Both receptor types can down-regulate when flooded for an extended time. Personally, I would not get anywhere near "high doses" - the seizure threshold of Wellbutrin - unless I was clinically depressed and unresponsive to SSRI's. Just have a license to learn but that's my opinion...

Edited by 2012pharmD, 25 September 2009 - 05:18 AM.

[yoyo]

prolonged use might increase dendritic growth/sprouting "neurons that fire together wire together"

neither it nor ssris 'deplete' anything or whatever OP was getting at,

[Pike]

I suppose the real question would be: does extended use of a dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor like wellbutrin have the same effect on hippocampal neurogenesis as SSRI's do?

[yoyo]

i don't think ive seen a study looking at that specific drug/effect combo.

do ssri's though? i don't remember looking into hippocampal volume much, this seems negative:

http://www.journals....0448-2/abstract