My MDS recently put me on Azilect in addition to my Requip. I was also taking Wellbutrin.......have been for about 2 years. When I went to get my Wellbutrin renewed this time, the pharmacist refused to refill the Wellbutrin saying it was strongly contraindicated with Azilect. Said they would need to speak with my MDS first. He is out of the country and won't be back for another two weeks. Just out of curiosity, is anyone out there taking Azilect and Wellbutrin???? This MDS is in a very responsible position at a university teaching hospital. Could it be he doesn't know what he is doing......or is the pharmacist out in left field. Any comments from anyone in the know would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Caya

the pharmacist has flags in the computer system, that will red flag meds that
that tell them, you can not take these medications together, your doctor
relies on a good pharmacist -the pharmacist is a doctor of his field which is
making sure you will not get hurt from a bad combination of meds -
all is well, -

Hello Caya I had a problem taking the Wellbutrin with the Requip and it was brought to my attention by my pharmacist. I took the Wellbutirin for about 3 months and did not feel like it was working, I was on a low dose to begin with and felt more anxious and restless, also couldn't get much sleep. The pharmacist said it was because Wellbutrin and Requip were both stimulants and not good for me because I have a problem with anxiety. I am now taking Effexor and it seems to be working much better. I don't take Azilect so I am not aware of the contraindication with these two drugs.

Caya,

I've been on Wellbutrin and Azilect for some time now and have no problems. Did the pharmacist say WHAT the problem is if you take those two together - (i.e. mood swings, high blood pressure, sleepiness?) I'm curious myself now! My neuro prescribed Azilect to help me get off of Artane. While I've lowered the Artane and have cut it in half, I'm now trying to cut back even more.

Anyway, if you get some answers, could you please let me know either by a PM or another post?

Thanks ...

buPROPion and rasagiline (Major Drug-Drug)

CONTRAINDICATED: According to the manufacturer, the acute toxicity of bupropion may be potentiated by coadministration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The mechanism of interaction has not been described.

MANAGEMENT: Concurrent use of bupropion with MAOIs or other agents that possess MAOI activity (e.g., furazolidone, linezolid, procarbazine) is considered contraindicated. At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of MAOI therapy and initiation of treatment with bupropion.

It looks like Tena has given you the best available info on the buproprion-rasagiline combination. Tena, could you provide a reference source for the material you provided?
It may be that Caya's MD did not know about her Welbutrin, or that a lower dose, 1 mg, of Azilect is unlikely to cause problems with it. Some people are prescribed 2 mg of Azilect, which is a very strong and specific MAO-B inhibitor. Azilect (rasagiline) is chemicaly related to Eldepryl (selegeline), also an MAO inhibitor, but which inhibits both A and B isoforms at the typical doses prescribed, 10-20 mg.

here is the link
http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

Thank you everyone for y'all's input. I was already taking Requip and Wellbutrin when the MDS decided to add Azilect. I had no problems with the Requip and Wellbutrin........quite the contrary. I felt great...........well, as great as one can under the circumstances. The day he told me he wanted to add Azilect, I specifically asked him could I continue with my Wellbutrin and he right aways said "yes, we've not had any problems with that." My script for the Wellbutrin was just about out and so he gave me a new one. When I went to have it filled is when all the trouble started. So for the time being, I have just quit taking the Wellbutrin.

While in Nashville the past couple days, had occasion to speak with a friend who is nearly finished with pharmacy school. Ran this situation by him and after a bit of research, his answer was somewhat the same as yours RLSmi. He said that my 1 mg. dose per day of Azilect probably would not be a problem with the Wellbutrin and also the fact that Azilect is a MAO-B. Isn't this about what you are saying RLSmi?

Poudest Mama, what dosage are you taking of both the Wellbutrin and Azilect. You may be a good example of what my MDS was talkiing aboout. When you have time, please let me know how much of each you are taking. Thank you a bunch. And thank you everyone else for taking time answer my questions. I don't post much but I read everyday. My husband says I am lurking. Whatever, I guess I am just a bit shy and don't want to look stupid. But this meds thing scared me. I finally got the Wellbutrin Rx filled but am going to wait about going back on it until I see my MDS again. I don't want to turn into a punkin or something.

Caya

I have been taking Azilect for one year along with a generic form of Wellbutrin. My pharmacist has given me many warnings about taking Azilect with Wellbutrin (Bupropion, Budeprion). My doctor is a movement disorder specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital. In an August 2007 e-mail she said: "Pharmacists get anxious about interactions with Azilect because it is a MAO-B inhibitor. MAO-A inhibitors interact with a different class of antidepressants: SSRI's. Pharmacists over generalize and worry about azilect too." My doctor is great about communicating with me by e-mail and I save them. As far as I know, I have never had a problem taking Azilect with Wellbutrin (Bupropion, Budeprion). The problem I had with Azilect was adjusting other medications. It has taken about a year which my doctor has said is not unusual. I was taking Requip when I started taking Azilect but no longer take. I was able to decrease regular carb./levo and still take same amount carb/levo sa. Presently I take 1 mg of Azilect at night and 150 mg. of budeprion sr (wellbutrin) with 1st 2 dozes of carb/levo sa. At one point I had increased carb/levo sa but had dysk and slurred speech. Once I decreased back to original doze, I was back to normal.

Karen

Karen:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your post. What you are saying is , I think, what RLSmi and my pharmacy student friend said. Your post really clears the matter for me. And by the way, my MDS came down here to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to teach and do PD research just 2 years ago. He came from Mass-General and Harvard. I am sure he knows your MDS. Thanks again for input.

Caya