Emily,
I have no direct knowledge about Wellbutrin [bubroprion], but one very 
interesting study suggested that besides acting as an antidepressant it might 
also help persons with early stage Parkinson's.

"BOSTON, Sep 27, 2001 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Preliminary 
laboratory studies suggest the antidepressant bubroprion may help slow the 
degenerative Parkinson's disease, but whether the approach works in humans 
remains to be seen. "
See:    <A 
HREF="http://www.lef.org/newsarchive/disease/2001/09/27/up/0000-3137-bc-us-par

kinsons.html">Antidepressant May Slow Parkinson's</A>
Or: 
http://www.lef.org/newsarchive/disease/2001/09/27/up/0000-3137-bc-us-parkinson

s.html

However, after you see the neuro and get PD meds, a warning comes into play.

See the following from the St. Louis Parkinson Newsletter:

Does Wellbutrin, an antidepressant, relieve PD symptoms?
Wellbutrin (buproprion) inhibits the reuptake of dopamine at the nerve cell 
terminal.  Thus, it can strengthen the effect of the remaining dopamine.  
That is, in the PD patient, the remaining dopamine nerve cells release 
dopamine (but not enough of it).  Then Wellbutrin inhibits the nerve cell 
from taking it back out of the synapse (gap between the nerve cells) where it 
acts.  This ìreuptakeî is one of the ways its action would usually be 
stopped.  So the remaining dopamine can have a ìstrongerî  effect because it 
is allowed to work longer.  This is not a very strong effect.  If you give 
Wellbutrin alone to a PD patient, he is not usually noticeably better with 
respect to his parkinsonian symptoms.  Wellbutrin also inhibits 
norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake which are probably important for its 
antidepressant effect.  My chief concern is that when it is given with 
levodopa it may enhance the effect of levodopa a little but it has an even 
greater chance of enhancing the potential side effects of levodopa.  I would 
agree with the warning put out by its maker, Glaxo Wellcome, in the Physician 
Desk Reference that ìlimited clinical data suggest a higher incidence of 
adverse events in patients receiving concurrent administration of buproprion 
and levodopa.  Administration of Wellbutrin SR tablets to patients receiving 
levodopa concurrently should be undertaken with caution, using small doses 
and gradual dose increases.î  I would also point out that Zyban, marketed as 
an aid to help stop smoking, is the same thing as Wellbutrin.  It is just 
another name for buproprion.

To repeat, if the patient is also being given levodopa, Wellbutrin "may 
enhance the effect of levodopa a little but it has an even greater chance of 
enhancing the potential side effects of levodopa."

ed g 

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