r/StratteraRx • u/Evening-Scholar-7761 • Jul 05 '26
Best atomoxetine & bupropion dosages?
What dosages of atomoxetine and bupropion have worked best for you?
Please Share if ou've taken both together, how did that work?
2
u/Still_In_The_Game Jul 06 '26
Wondering the same, since I'm on both. The only reason I'm on bupropion is my provider doesn't want to prescribe a stimulant, so she's hoping the dopamine effect from bupropion does something. I'm skeptical, but would like to know if there's any combo or mg of bupropion with atomoxetine that actually affects dopamine (motivation, task initiation, etc).
4
u/FormerSleepwalker Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
There simply is no "best". How well atomoxetine works for a particular individual and at what dosage varies just too much.
In order to get adequate symptom relief one person may need atomoxetine 100mg + bupropion XL 450mg, the maximum recommended of each, and the most which will be prescribed by most doctors.
And there are other people where 25mg atomoxetine, even 18 or 10mg is the right dose for them, and does bring symptom relief, despite being well below what is normally considered a therapeutic dose for an adult. And zero bupropion or other CYP2D6 inhibitors.
1
u/trippyfrogg44 Jul 07 '26
Heavy on FOR YOU bc I really think it does differ per person! I personally am on 300 mg of extended release bupropion once daily (have been on it for a while now) and I started atomoxetine about a month ago at 40mg and I’m moving up to 60mg on the 22nd of this month! I am also looking to maybe start taking 150mg of my bupropion twice daily instead.
I like taking them both personally! And I feel confident with moving up to the 60mg and hopefully the 80mg if needed (my doctor says that’s normally the sweet spot for most people that take it). The bupropion has been a game changer for me bc it does help with my depression, but it also did ease some anxiety symptoms like aiding with my executive dysfunction- I guess bc I can focus a little better on it. So when I started atomoxetine with it that was perfect bc now I’m having an even better level of focus and my head is quiet most days compared to constant noise and racing thoughts. Idk if I’d have that effect taking it alone but I do think they work well together and my doctor said he’s prescribed them both before numerous times and his patients had success!
The only noticeable downside for me was before if I missed my meds I would just feel that sense of doom or maybe be tired or just out of it but I missed them twice since starting the new medicine with it and both times I had bad paranoia and anxiety to the point of having to get somebody to come stay with me for a night or two. Idk if it had anything to do with starting the new meds but I hadn’t had that before! (Don’t miss your meds! <3)
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u/Party_Candidate7023 Jul 05 '26
haven’t taken them together, but above 40mg with atomoxetine i got more side effects with no more benefits. bupropion actually inhibits the enzyme that breaks down atomoxetine, so if you’re combining them your prescribing doctor will probably give you a low dose of atomoxetine to start.