Bupropion vs Sertraline for mood
Short answer: For mood, more users report improvement with Bupropion — 70% of 172 reports, versus 65% of 54 for Sertraline.
Bupropion has 411 meta-analyses and 617 randomized trials on PubMed; Sertraline has 318 and 906.
Based on 444 reports about Bupropion and 136 about Sertraline. Not medical advice.
| Bupropion Medication | Sertraline Medication | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 41%helped271 reports · high confidence | 37%helped86 reports · medium confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 411 / 617 | 318 / 906 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Mood % reporting improvement | 70% (172) | 65% (54) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 15% (34) | 86% (37) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 71% (62) | 57% (7) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 81% (57) | 33% (9) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 76% (34) | 10% (10) |
| Common side effects | anxiety, insomnia, irritability, tinnitus | fatigue, numbness, brain fog, sexual dysfunction |
| Typical dose reported | Not listed | Not listed |
Our findings represent the most comprehensive available evidence base to inform patients, families, clinicians, guideline developers, and policymakers on the choice of ADHD medications across age groups. Taking into account both efficacy and safety, evidence from this meta-analysis supports methylphenidate in children and adolescents, and amphetamines in adults, as preferred first-choice medications for the short-term treatment of ADHD. New research should be funded urgently to assess long-term effects of these drugs.
Lancet Psychiatry, 2018 ↗“It really helped. I went from being suicidal to having hope and motivation within 3 days of starting the medication.”
All antidepressants were more efficacious than placebo in adults with major depressive disorder. Smaller differences between active drugs were found when placebo-controlled trials were included in the analysis, whereas there was more variability in efficacy and acceptability in head-to-head trials. These results should serve evidence-based practice and inform patients, physicians, guideline developers, and policy makers on the relative merits of the different antidepressants.
Lancet, 2018 ↗“The first 2 months were amazing. No thinking before every word. I just reacted, talked, did things. Pleasure. I could enjoy games, sunrises, weather. Anxiety gone. Woke up with energy no exhaustion.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate