Modafinil and Wellbutrin | What you should know

Curious about the effects of taking modafinil and Wellbutrin? This article is a must read.

Modafinil is a wakefulness agent for sleep disorders, while Wellbutrin is the brand name for bupropion, an antidepressant.

Although they are made for completely different purposes, there may be some overlap between them, especially in people who simultaneously suffer from a sleep disorder and a mood disorder.

This article reviews what we currently know about modafinil and Wellbutrin.

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What is modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription medication used to increase wakefulness in people with sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, shift work disorder, and sleep apnea. It is also used for a number of "off-label" uses, including for people with depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and more. [1, 2]

Additionally, modafinil is a potent and well-known nootropic agent, meaning it provides cognition-enhancing benefits beyond simply promoting wakefulness. [3]

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Modafinil benefits

Here are some of the benefits of modafinil:

• Energy and alertness. The main use of Modafinil is to increase energy and wakefulness in people with sleep disorders. However, it is also used to combat fatigue in other conditions such as depression and multiple sclerosis. It has also been used to good effect to improve alertness in healthy, sleep-deprived fighter pilots. [4, 5, 6]
• Focus and concentration. There are many anecdotal reports of improved attention and concentration with modafinil, so it is of interest to nootropic researchers. Published research has also noted that modafinil also helps with attention and concentration. [7, 8]
• Decision making and testing. One study noted that 200 mg of modafinil once could improve pattern recognition, executive function, and decision making. [9]
  Mood and confidence. Modafinil in combination with antidepressants has been shown to help relieve depression. There are some anecdotal reports that modafinil also increases feelings of confidence, and this finding has also been noted in the scientific literature [6, 10].

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Modafinil Side Effects and Safety

The US National Library of Medicine lists the following possible side effects of modafinil: [1]

• "headache
• dizziness
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• drowsiness
• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• acidity
• loss of appetite
• unusual tastes
• dry mouth
• excessive thirst
• nosebleed
• redness
• perspiration
• tight muscles or difficulty moving
• Back pain
• confusion
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body
• burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin
• difficulty seeing or pain in the eyes

Additionally, they list the following serious side effects that require urgent medical attention: [1]

• "rash
• blisters
• peel skin
• mouth ulcers
• urticaria
• itching
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or
• swallow
  swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• chest pain
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• frantic and abnormally excited mood
• hallucinate (see things or hear voices that do not exist)
• anxiety
• depression
  thinking about killing you or hurting you”

The most common side effects reported by nootropic researchers appear to be headache, loss of appetite, and insomnia.

Investigators should also note that it is important to screen subjects for other prescribed medications, pre-existing medical conditions, and pregnancy or lactation status before administering modafinil.

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Modafinil and Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin, or bupropion, is a commonly used prescription antidepressant drug. Because modafinil shows promise in reducing fatigue in people with depression, it is sometimes prescribed off-label to people already taking Wellbutrin. [11]

Effects

Several studies have investigated the potential of modafinil in combination with antidepressants, especially in people who do not appear to fully respond to antidepressants.

A review of six randomized controlled trials noted that adding modafinil to depression treatment significantly helped reduce fatigue and improve depression remission, and that side effects were no different from a placebo. [10]

Additionally, a case report of a 30-year-old woman taking Wellbutrin for depression detailed that she had a good response to the addition of modafinil. Before starting modafinil, she suffered from excessive fatigue during the day which affected her quality of life. [12]

After taking 200 mg of modafinil daily for just 2 weeks, she reported that her energy levels had improved significantly.Additionally, the severity of her depression symptoms had decreased to the point that she was considered in remission. Even 6 months after starting modafinil, she was still in remission. No side effects were listed in the case report. [12]

Possible side effects

There do not appear to be interactions between Wellbutrin and modafinil. However, subjects may experience side effects from both Modafinil and Wellbutrin if they take both medications at the same time. Here are the possible side effects of Wellbutrin (both mild and severe) listed on the US National Library of Medicine website: [11]

• "drowsiness
• anxiety
• excitement
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• dry mouth
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomachache
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
• loss of appetite
• weightloss
• constipation
• excessive sweating
• Ringing in the ears
• changes in your sense of taste
• frequent urination
• sore throat
• seizures
• confusion
• hallucinate (see things or hear voices that do not exist)
• irrational fears
• muscle or joint pain
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• fever
• rash or blisters
• itching
• urticaria
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• chest pain"

Anecdotal reports

Anecdotally, some researchers who have tried Wellbutrin and modafinil together report good results, such as increased energy and mood. Some say Wellbutrin is more subtle, while Modafinil's effects are more immediately noticeable. Several researchers say it appears to be a great combination for ADHD and depression, improving mood, energy, focus, and motivation.

However, we have seen at least one anecdotal report that modafinil and Wellbutrin together actually caused an excessive increase in energy, leading to insomnia and restlessness. Another researcher noted that the combination made them hyperfocused on one task, making it difficult to switch between tasks.

Should they be mixed?

The combination of Wellbutrin and modafinil can be extremely beneficial for people who do not respond well to antidepressants or who experience high levels of fatigue while taking depressants. Modafinil may relieve some of that fatigue and may also help with other depressive symptoms.

However, because both medications require a prescription, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before combining them.

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Modafinil and Wellbutrin | Verdict

Modafinil is a wakefulness agent that may also provide other benefits, such as improving mood, concentration, and memory.

Wellbutrin is an antidepressant used in the treatment of depression.

Modafinil is often added "off-label" to depression therapies because it helps reduce fatigue, and many studies have noted that it may help remit depression in combination with antidepressants. One published case report and many anecdotal reports They also affirm it.

However, both Modafinil and Wellbutrin have side effects, and some people have reported that the combination did not work well for them.

Anyone interested in combining Wellbutrin and modafinil should engage in dialogue with their healthcare provider before taking further steps.

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