I just started an antidepressant (bupropion) and while researching the side effects, I couldn't help but notice that Wellbutrin increases Dopamine, which in theory, wouldn't that boost testosterone?
From what I read, it boosts norepinephrine, so would it be something like norepinephrine>dopamine>testosterone?
If so, would this route of testosterone boosting affect fertility positively or negatively?
I just started an antidepressant (bupropion) and while researching the side effects, I couldn't help but notice that Wellbutrin increases Dopamine, which in theory, wouldn't that boost testosterone?
From what I read, it boosts norepinephrine, so would it be something like norepinephrine>dopamine>testosterone?
If so, would this route of testosterone boosting affect fertility positively or negatively?
I wouldn't say raising dopamine is a "side effect" since that's the whole point of Wellbutrin is to raise your dopamine levels (along with norepinephrine) via re-uptake inhibition of the two. That's why it works as an antidepressant.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC514842/ (can't post links yet so just copy and paste)
About the testosterone question, are you thinking something along the lines of dopamine inhibiting prolactin and having an effect on test in a roundabout way? If so, I see where you're coming from, but I would highly doubt the effects are that noticeable.
I may be wrong though. I did a quick search for Wellbutrin and testosterone on PubMed and nothing came up.
One thing I do know is sometimes Wellbutrin is used to counteract the sexual side effects people get from SSRIs. This isn't from an increase in test so much as it is the increased dopamine, which is a "pleasure" chemical.
So if you're just looking for something to boost your libido, it may do that.
If you or anyone can find some other research showing it can raise test levels though, I'd love to check it out.
