Lexapro With Wellbutrin, Adderall or Ibuprofen: What to Know
Lexapro is often combined with Wellbutrin on purpose, while some other medications need care. Here is what the labels say about common combinations and what people on Reddit report.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-10-23 · 5 min read
Medical review pending. Written by the Claro editorial team from the FDA label and published studies.
Key takeaways Lexapro with Wellbutrin is a common combination that prescribers use on purpose, often when one medication is not enough. Adderall and other amphetamines raise the risk of serotonin syndrome with Lexapro, a rare reaction to too much serotonin, so the label asks for monitoring. Ibuprofen and aspirin with Lexapro raise the risk of bleeding, according to the FDA label. In 79 r/lexapro threads, Wellbutrin was the medication people combined with Lexapro most often; of 100 who said how a combination went, 64 said it helped. On this page
What 211 people on Reddit said about combining Lexapro Can you take Lexapro with Wellbutrin? Can you take Lexapro with Adderall? Can you take ibuprofen with Lexapro? Can you take hydroxyzine with Lexapro? What combinations with Lexapro are dangerous? What should you tell your prescriber before combining medications? Lexapro (escitalopram) can be taken with Wellbutrin (bupropion), and prescribers often combine them on purpose. Other combinations need more care: the FDA label warns about amphetamines such as Adderall and about pain relievers such as ibuprofen. What matters is that your prescriber and pharmacist know everything you take.
What 211 people on Reddit said about combining Lexapro
We read 79 recent threads on r/lexapro about taking Lexapro with another medication, comments included, and 211 people described a combination they take or took themselves. These are people's own accounts, not a measure of how often anything happens, and people who post tend to have a strong experience, good or bad, so treat this as a range rather than odds. Almost everyone named one added medication, so the table counts people:
What they took with Lexapro Of 211 people Wellbutrin (bupropion) 114 Adderall or another stimulant 42 A pain reliever such as ibuprofen 36 Buspar (buspirone) 10 A benzodiazepine such as Xanax 10
Of the 211, 100 said how the combination went: 64 said it helped, 11 had mixed results, 10 noticed no difference and 15 said it made things worse or they stopped the added medication. One person on r/lexapro explained why they added Wellbutrin:
Lex has been awesome for everything expect the weight gain and exhaustion. Hence, the need for Wellbutrin.
Can you take Lexapro with Wellbutrin?
Yes, under a prescriber's care. Bupropion works differently from SSRIs and is a common add-on when an SSRI alone has not been enough. The large US STARD study, published in 2006, used citalopram. Escitalopram is the active form of citalopram, its pure S-enantiomer, but there is no large trial of adding bupropion to escitalopram itself.[^1][^3] In STAR D, adding sustained-release bupropion to citalopram led to remission in about 30% of people who had not reached remission on citalopram alone. Adding buspirone did about as well; bupropion's edge was that fewer people stopped because of side effects.
There are two things prescribers watch. Bupropion can raise seizure risk, which depends on the dose. The Wellbutrin XL label's usual target is 300 mg once a day. On the upper limit it contradicts itself: its seizure warning says the dose should not exceed 300 mg once a day, while the label summary puts the limit at 450 mg. Both parts say to raise the dose gradually. Bupropion can also raise blood levels of some SSRIs. In one study it raised citalopram's peak level by 30% and total exposure by 40%; no figure is given for escitalopram itself.
Can you take Lexapro with Adderall?
Sometimes, but it needs monitoring. The Lexapro label lists amphetamines among the drugs that raise the risk of serotonin syndrome when taken with it. Serotonin syndrome is a rare reaction to too much serotonin, and it usually appears within hours of starting a medication or raising a dose. The label asks prescribers who combine them to warn about the risk and watch for symptoms.
People with ADHD and depression are sometimes prescribed both. If you take both, watch for restlessness, sweating, shivering, a fast heartbeat or twitching muscles within hours of starting or raising a dose, which can be signs of serotonin syndrome, and call your prescriber. A high fever, rigid muscles, confusion or a seizure need emergency care.
Can you take ibuprofen with Lexapro?
Occasional use is common, but the combination raises the risk of bleeding. The FDA label says SSRIs increase the risk of bleeding and that NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin can add to it. The NHS also lists NSAIDs among the medicines that may not mix well with escitalopram.
Ask a pharmacist which pain reliever suits you, especially if you need one for more than a few days or also take a blood thinner. The label asks you to tell your prescriber about any unusual bleeding or bruising. One person on r/lexapro wrote:
I took ibuprofen without knowing that and started bruising super easily.
Can you take hydroxyzine with Lexapro?
Ask your prescriber first. Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine, and the NHS lists antihistamines among the medicines to check before taking with escitalopram. Both can make you sleepy. Lexapro's label lists QT prolongation, a change in heart rhythm on an ECG, among reports after it came on the market, so your prescriber may want to check how hydroxyzine fits with that.
What combinations with Lexapro are dangerous? Clinical section: medical review pending
Two combinations are ruled out. The label says not to take Lexapro with an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping one, because of the risk of serotonin syndrome, and not to take it with pimozide, an antipsychotic. It lists other drugs that raise serotonin syndrome risk: other SSRIs and SNRIs, triptans, tricyclics, opioids such as tramadol, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines and St. John's wort. On heart rhythm, the label reports that in trials no one on escitalopram had a large QT change on an ECG, and QT prolongation appears among reports after it came on the market. The clinical view, including the combinations that need care:
Antidepressants are often combined with other medications on purpose, but some combinations raise the risk of serotonin syndrome or bleeding.
Prescribers add a second medication when one is not enough, or to help with sleep or anxiety. They weigh the benefit against the extra risk.
Serotonin syndrome usually appears within hours of starting a medication or raising a dose. Mild signs include restlessness, sweating, shivering, diarrhea, a fast heartbeat and twitching muscles. High fever, rigid muscles, confusion or seizures need emergency care.
Combinations that need care include:
two antidepressants together some migraine and pain medications, such as tramadol St. John's wort, and recreational drugs such as MDMA anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin, which can raise the risk of bleeding Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about everything you take, including supplements. Starting or stopping one of them can change how the others work.
What should you tell your prescriber before combining medications?
List everything you take, so your prescriber and pharmacist can check for interactions before a new medication starts:
Every prescription medication and its dose, including ones from other doctors. Pain relievers, allergy pills and sleep aids you take, even occasionally. Supplements such as St. John's wort, tryptophan or 5-HTP. Any blood thinner, or a history of bleeding problems or seizures. How you felt after any recent change in a dose. Download on the App Store When a second medication is added to Lexapro, changes in sleep, energy and mood can come from either one. The withClaro app lets you log mood, sleep, energy and side effects each day, linked to your doses, and turns it into a report for your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions Can you take Tylenol with Lexapro? The Lexapro label's bleeding warning names NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin, not acetaminophen. Check with a pharmacist before taking any pain reliever regularly.
Can you take Xanax with Lexapro? Prescribers sometimes combine them for a short time, but both can cause drowsiness. Use it only as prescribed, and avoid alcohol and driving until you know how it affects you.
How long after stopping an MAOI can you start Lexapro? The label says at least 14 days, in both directions. Your prescriber plans any switch involving an MAOI.
Can you take Lexapro with melatonin? Ask your pharmacist. Tell your prescriber about any supplement you take, so they can check it against your medications.
Related articles
More about Lexapro Comparisons
Taper guides
Sources LEXAPRO (escitalopram) prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed, revised April 2024 WELLBUTRIN XL (bupropion) prescribing information, US Food and Drug Administration via DailyMed, revised November 2025 Trivedi et al., 2006, New England Journal of Medicine: Medication augmentation after the failure of SSRIs for depression NHS: Escitalopram r/lexapro: Did you lose weight when adding Wellbutrin? r/lexapro: Is it true that you can’t take ibuprofen on lexapro? r/lexapro: Anyone else just added Wellbutrin? r/lexapro: How many of y'all are on Lexapro + Wellbutrin ? r/lexapro: Have u taken Wellbutrin with lexapro r/lexapro: Any success stories adding buspar to lexapro? r/lexapro: What is a Lexapro & Wellbutrin combo like? Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).