Wellbutrin and weight loss

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Replies

  • RWTBR
    RWTBR Posts: 140 Member
    I have lost a ton of weight on wellbutrin 300 XL

    Oh, LOL, I just realized I already commented on this post months ago.
  • broox80
    broox80 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I take it. It hasn't affected my weight loss at all!!
  • Kdmcfly
    Kdmcfly Posts: 1
    I have been on Wellbutrin for about 4 years now. It is wonderful, and has saved my life. I never really had issues with my weight... Until I switched to bupropionxl. It seems like once a week I am bigger and bigger. I eat moderately healthy, and work out 5 days a week. I noticed weight gain, in spite of my healthy lifestyle, so I started upping my cardio. I still continued to gain weight!!! I am so disgusted. I am trying to switch back to Wellbutrin. Hopefully I can shed some of the extra weight.
  • jlshea
    jlshea Posts: 494 Member
    Today is day 1 of Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I was on it about 8 years ago and am excited to try it again now that I have better insurance.

    I had been on Buspar for 2 years. I'm so mad that it worked great for my anxiety but I literally gained 40 lbs in 2 years.

    I'm excited for my new journey.
  • resadlj39
    resadlj39 Posts: 1
    I because of anti depressants have gained alot of weight. I was concerned so I am currently on Bupropion XL 450 mg. It has been great in my efforts to lose weight. Finally the numbers on the scale is going down instead of up. It helps with appetite and energy levels. I hope it works out for you.
  • toastsoy
    toastsoy Posts: 1
    I was on Paxil for a year and gained 14 pounds on it! No anxiety but it made me sleep so much that I know that didn't help with my weight (it also numbs your feelings, I think I didn't cry OR laugh for a year!) I finally got off that and started Wellbutrin's generic Bupropion XL 150mg a week ago. What I noticed so far was that I don't crave alcohol (with paxil I did--weird and probably contributed to my weight gain), with this I can only have like 2 glasses of wine and two beers. I also noticed that I am more thorough with my studies, I don't made small dumb mistakes like I used to (I have mild ADD), my appetite has definitely decreased, not by a lot but I see that I get full really easily and seem to only eat when I am actually hungry. No weight-loss yet but I am hoping. My anxiety is still there, so I am also hoping it helps with that too. My mood so far has been ok, no real changes yet. When I went off paxil I started having emotions again which is wonderful. I have no negative reactions to Bupro--at first I thought I was having anger outbursts but then I realized I was just getting my period :) On paxil, my period came and went with no pms issues. So with this Wellbutrin generic--so far so good, but I have a feeling it hasn't fully "kicked-in" yet.
  • nonacgp
    nonacgp Posts: 132
    I've been on Wellbutrin for 4 yrs. now. Initially, you will see a decreased appetite and probably lose some but over time, this wonderful side effect is no longer evident. A lot of people experience this initial effect from the medication. Many of my patients have also reported initial wt. loss but gain it back soon after. So...let it give you the boost in wt. loss that we so often need to stay motivated! But don't depend on it to last.
  • sunger12
    sunger12 Posts: 3 Member
    Ahhh, I feel your pain! When I went on Celexa this past fall, I gained 30 lbs in 6 months. It was awful (especially since I had worked so hard the previous 3 years to lose 50 lbs all all my hard work was destroyed in 6 months because of depression).

    I expressed my concerns about my weight gain to my doctor and she switched me to wellbutrin (well, the off brand wellbutrin). While it was fine, it did nothing for my weight. In the last month, I have actually stopped taking my AD and have felt better than ever! I am back to exercising and eating healthy. So far, I'm 6 lbs down and it feels amazing. I'm hoping to continue the weight loss trend without having to get back on AD.
  • mikeanddebi1
    mikeanddebi1 Posts: 5 Member
    I have been on Wellbutrin for 3 months now. What I did notice was that my initial weight loss has slowed. But in the beginning I discovered I could not have sugar due to jitters. But in the last month I was having a few skittles here and a few M&M's there. I cut that sugar out which I think was fueling my hunger. So far on Wellbutrin I have lost 18 pounds and the cutting the sugar out in the last week really helped!
  • beautyforashes777
    beautyforashes777 Posts: 25
    Lucky you! I gained about 40. Then again, I was on it for years:laugh:
  • ShannonG0306
    ShannonG0306 Posts: 3 Member
    I have been on welbutrin 300 xl for 3 months now and have gained almost 10 pounds taking it. Which is depress I no me more after losing 122 lbs this last year.
  • laurelhitchin
    laurelhitchin Posts: 1
    I lost close to 20 pounds on wellbutrin over the course of a year, and kept it off for 3 years. I think it's partly because of the medication itself and partly because I felt better so I took better care of myself. After a few years I switched to zoloft and gained it all back, so I would just caution you to be careful when you eventually get off of it. Good luck!
  • MarkC1963
    MarkC1963 Posts: 51 Member
    I take 300 mg of Wellbutrin as an antidepressant as such runs in my family genes. Wellbutrin helped me lose weight when I transitioned to it exclusively a few years ago from other drugs like Zoloft which caused weight gain. It seems to give me a spark of energy as well as keeping my mood light. I highly recommend it.
  • deezo16
    deezo16 Posts: 7
    hey guys ive been on wellbutrin for about 4 and a half months and lost a total of 80lbs crazy but true and that is without any effort at all hope this helps
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
    I'm taking Sandoz HCL 100 mg twice a day which is generic Wellburtrin. I've been on it close to a month. The first week I felt amazing. Lots of energy and my appetite was pretty much gone. I had to force my self to eat something. I did have some pretty weird side effects. I would feel like I was gonna have a panic attack when I would stop at lights while driving. It was pretty scary also had headaches. I cut out caffeine to see if that would help it did. I lost 4 lbs so far. I binge on the weekends alot which I'm working really hard on. Don;t have much of a willpower seeing my pregnant wife eat whatever she wants and I give in and eat way more than I should. I've noticed now I got some of my appetite back and I have on and off days when I feel tired and some days I feel wired. I'm gonna see if I can get a increase on the pill on my next appointment. So far I really like wellbrutin. Its my first AD. I was suggested Celexia at first from my doctor but I refused it. My brother had crazy side effects from that and gained 40 lbs!
  • corinne1977
    corinne1977 Posts: 142 Member
    I've been on the generic Wellbutrin for 2.5 weeks now. I'm taking 150mg twice a day. So far it has given me more energy and suppressed my appetite as well as helping with my depression. I've been counting calories and I'm lucky if I eat 1000 cal/day. I also run 2-4 miles a day. Just curious as to when does the weight loss kick in or will it.
  • shed50kg
    shed50kg Posts: 69 Member
    One of my family members is always on a diet and suffers from depression, is wellbutrin a good option for her? What is the recommended dosage to start with? And, is it best taken in the morning or evening?
  • strawberrycoconut87
    strawberrycoconut87 Posts: 19 Member
    Just a heads up that Wellbutrin does nothing for anxiety. I asked to be switched a couple years ago but I had to go off it and just go back to all Celexa because I have anxiety along with depression.
  • 100acrepiglet
    100acrepiglet Posts: 1 Member
    "One of my family members is always on a diet and suffers from depression, is wellbutrin a good option for her? What is the recommended dosage to start with? And, is it best taken in the morning or evening?"



    There are never guarantees that an antidepressant will work for someone. Wellbutrin does work for a lot of people for depression (not so much anxiety), and in many people it does have the effect of curbing appetite somewhat. I don't know of many who have gained weight on Wellbutrin -- people usually lose a little (especially at the beginning).

    Paxil and Celexa are known to cause weight gain, so if that is a concern to your family member, advise the person not to try Paxil or Celexa because putting on those pounds is awful. I gained almost 40 pounds on Paxil in just a couple months.
  • kelseyg22
    kelseyg22 Posts: 36 Member
    I don't know about Wellbutrin being an appetite suppressant... I have continually been on wellbutrin (several years now), both while at my heaviest over a year ago and currently now at my goal weight....I do not think that it messes at all with the effort you will put into your weight loss......
    Do not look for this change in meds to be a quick fix.....but it shouldn't make you gain any weight :) Good luck in your efforts and stay strong!!
  • holliebevineau
    holliebevineau Posts: 441 Member
    Celexa made me crave sugar like a mad woman!! Wellbutrin caused insomnia and the trazadone gave me nightmares and cotton mouth. I am not taking anything now. I can't deal with the side effects. I am slowly breaking my OCD habits.
  • beautyforashes777
    beautyforashes777 Posts: 25
    yeah, I also gained about as much as your brother on Celexa. I was on it for 2 years. Now I'm off of it and on Wellbutrin. It's great!
  • beautyforashes777
    beautyforashes777 Posts: 25
    I think you should consult with a psychiatrist to be safe.
  • JessicaMaeHoskins
    JessicaMaeHoskins Posts: 4
    I was on wellbutrin for about 11 years. I recently weaned off of it (last week being my final pill) and have gained about 10lbs (possibly more, I'm scared to look) since starting my wean (so since april). I have been logging on to mfp religiously for over 40 days, eating 1200 calories a day (with some cheat days) and NOTHING. It's really disheartening!! I don't want this to be the hill I die on, because otherwise, things are GREAT!
  • LaReinaDeCorazones
    LaReinaDeCorazones Posts: 274 Member
    I was on both wellbutrin and celexa. ..I guess I was lucky because the 2 times I was on celexa alone I lost weight and just kept on losing when I was on both.
  • stillhere1981
    stillhere1981 Posts: 119 Member
    I did lose some weight when I started Wellbutrin, but the appetite suppression wore off after a while.

    Be very very careful with Wellbutrin. It can cause seizures. I had a seizure about a year and a half ago after being on Wellbutrin for many months. The doctors were pretty sure the Wellbutrin caused it because I had no history of prior seizures.
  • peacemongernc
    peacemongernc Posts: 253 Member
    I took Wellburtrin more than 20 years ago when I weighed over 300 pounds and dropped 40 pounds in 6 months without even trying. I felt SOOOOOO much better that I had energy to do more. I actually kept most of it off for a while. I quit taking it when I was pregnant with my first child (who is now 18) and gradually gained back about 10 pounds with each of the 3 babies I had, and gained back the last 10 I had lost when the last one finally weaned.

    Aside from the crazy sweating I did about 30 min after I took each dose, it was the easiest 40 pounds I ever lost!
  • AGAthanas
    AGAthanas Posts: 1
    Most doctors are loathe to put their patients on the maximum dosage of 450 mg/day because of the risk of seizures. But I have been on 300 mg per day for probably 7 years now (which only barely addressed the depression and did nothing for weight loss) and it wasn't until I went to 450 that my appetite got under control. Maybe 450 was the magic number for me. I hope it lasts.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    May talk to my psych about Wellbutrin because the Lexapro is not really doing anything. I still have no energy, am anxious all the time, and have been having even more trouble with my depression. My aunt is on Wellbutrin and has had a ton of success on it. Just thinking the Lexapro isn't for me.
  • esaucier17
    esaucier17 Posts: 694 Member
    I have been on Lexapro and Celexa....hated both. Gained weight,made me moody and affected my sex life!
    I've been on Welbutrin for about a year now. I love it. I didn't gain weight and it helped my anxiety a lot.
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