nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

MyFitnessPal Community

Wellbutrin and weight loss

A_New_Horizon

I am looking for those that have been on Wellbutrin before. I am currently on Celexa 40 mg for depression starting in Nov 2011 when I became suicidal. Well, one of the biggest side effects of it is weight gain in which I have gained 15 lbs. I have been watching my diet and exercising faithfully 4 days/week with no success. Today, I saw my dr and told her of my concern. She said that my anti-depressant is very much the culprit, so we are transitioning me to Wellbutrin. For the next 2 weeks, I will be take 20 mg of Celexa along with my Wellbutrin then just Wellbutrin. I am looking for those that have been on it while trying to lose weight - any success? Any issues? She said if it works for me, I should notice a difference in a few weeks. I have worked really hard on my weight, and I don't want to start putting it back on again. These 15 lbs that I have "gained" really, really bother me. Thanks in advance.

Replies

Erika1962

Some years back I heard that wellbutrin helps some people to stop smoking so I went to the doctor and asked him to prescibe it to me for that reason. My urge to smoke diminished within a couple of weeks, bareley wanted a cigarette anymore, BUT I started coming home with a bag of candy, icecream, gummy bears and so on EVERY day after work and would wolf all of it down the same evening!! Wellbutrin triggered a sugar craving in me like I never experienced before, needless to say I threw them out.:noway:

composerclark

I've been on Wellbutrin for years, with no side effects that I am aware of. The transitioning period from my previous antidepressant was difficult; I think it took a couple of weeks to feel back to my old self again. Wellbutrin does not seem to have hurt my attempts to loose weight; if I meet my calorie-loss goals, I loose weight.

Passionfruit525

I have been on Wellbutrin XL 300MG for 5 months now for depression and have lost 30 pounds WITHOUT a single days workout.It did give me a headache for weeks at first and sometimes I do still get some but as long as I'm not depressed I can over look that.

angi4466

I have been on Wellbutrin for a little over 7 weeks. The first six weeks was on 150 mg dose and that changed nothing for me, so my doctor upped my dose to 300 mg. After one week on the increase, I have lost 4 pounds, have a lot more energy and my mood has improved greatly.

Amazingly, I sit down to eat and halfway through a meal I am full and don't wish to eat any more. This is absolutely abnormal for me. Also I don't find myself obsessing about food, or cravings, etc. I am really pleased!!

I understand that part of this is because many of us turn to food in depression and eat to fill the 'hole' inside. When the depression abates, naturally our desire to emotionally eat dies away. I know this logically, but I am amazed at how it is working for me.

dadthegreatest

I use 450mg Wellbutin for 2.5 years. My Dr. told me it does not cause weight gain, so I could not use it as an excuse for my recent gain. LOL

halcy

I have taken Wellbutrin off and on for years. For me, during the first few weeks it stops my INSANE sugar cravings and kills my appetite just enough to help me get into a more healthy eating routine. The cravings & appetite do come back eventually, though, so sooner or later I have to do "the work". Personally, since a form of Wellbutrin is often prescribed for smoking cessation, I suspect that the same brain chemistry that gets people addicted to cigarettes gets others addicted to sugar - but that's just my opinion.

Oddly, for me Wellbutrin is the one thing that helps my anxiety issues. Everything else has made my anxiety a zillion times worse.

LisaB55

I have been on several different antidepressants over the years but have been on Wellbutrin XR 150 mg for quite a while now along with some other psychoactive medications. I think it can be very difficult to assess the effects of medications when you are being treated for depression and other mental health conditions given the impact of those problems themselves on your mood. When you are depressed your appetite, energy level and sleep all often change. I have checked several of these medications including Wellbutrin, Celexa, Lexapro in Lexicomp, and ALL of them are associated with both increased appetite and decreased appetite and ALL of them are associated with weight gain and weight loss. You will notice that I say "associated with" not "cause". That is because drug studies can rarely determine cause and effect relationships and because the drug companies basically report any symptom anyone had while taking a medication during a drug trial. They have no way of knowing whether the drug actually caused that symptom. I am simply trying to point out that it can often be hard to know with any certainty that taking an antidepressant is the reason you lost or gained weight.

TanzaMarie

I've been on Wellbutrin 300XL for about 5 years. I didn't gain weight from it. If it does suppress my appetite then I'd hate to see what it would be like without it! Normally I want all my meals. Some days I'm starving all day, others I'll eat whenever I get around to it. It is what keeps me the most normal. I still very much have my full range of emotions (and appetite apparently) and am much more normal, without the desire to stay in bed all day and being anti social.

Arthemise1

I was prescribed it to lose weight and to help me kick my carb addiction. I have no depression. It made me jittery, which did help me lose weight. Once I got over that side effect, the weight loss went away, and it didn't help with the carb addiction. What did help was finally making myself cut out a lot of carbs. Once I managed to get out of the carb cycle, I lost weight again.

Naytahlee

I was on it to help me quit smoking....It gave me heart palpitations, whacked out dreams, and made me go frigging nuts...like literally crying one second, then happy the next, then ready to kill someone right after that...kinda nuts. I did however lose 5 lbs my first week on it...but after day 13 I couldn't handle it anymore...and I have been on quite a few things for depression. I think it is worth a try, just watch yourself on it and if you start feeling odd call your doc right away:)

^^This! I took it for about two weeks to quit smoking and it made me insane. Rapid thoughts/speech, insomnia, mood swings, easily angered or upset and the final straw I tried to kill myself. It took another two weeks to be completely normal again.

ackersb

Wellbutrin worked great for me and I lost a lot of weight. Some of it was anxiety related. One of the biggest things that helped me get off all meds was diet. I had to totally get off sugar and white flour and my anxiety and depression went away. My prayers go out to you for wellness : )

seeled

I used to take wellbuitrin and thinking about taking it again. It seemed when I stopped taking it is about the same time I started gaining weight. Not sure if it was the medicine that helped me not gain or the stress that I came under about the time I stopped that made me gain.

JennaGthtzMe

Hi.
I have been taking prozac 60 mg for the past year with 200 mg wellbutrin. At first everything was fine and then I gained 10lbs in less than a month. I went to my doc she put me on celexa 40 mg and stopped the prozac. i still take the 200 mg wellbuterin. I am so fearful of the going weight thing I feel it will make my depression worse. I have been on the celexa for 5 days now taking it at night and the well butrin in the am. Yesterday I ate all day and never got full. Any advice on the time I take my meds or if this is a good combo?

abbiejw

I took Celexa for 6 months and gained 12 lbs, despite keeping up my exercise and diet (mostly) that helped me lose 24lbs. It did increase my appetite some, but more so I think it screwed up my metabolism. I switched to Wellbutrin for this reason, but couldn't keep taking it after two weeks because of the side effects - insomnia, crazy vivid dreams when I did sleep, headaches, anxiety (I went on Celexa for anxiety in the first place), and just generally feeling "drugged." Now that I read the comments about feeling angry, I experienced some of that also. But, if you're willing to put up with all that to have a supressed appetite, you may find what you're looking for. Good luck! I've found that everyone really is different when it comes to what works.

SRIOS1129

Im new to taking this medication! Ive never been on any anti-depressant before, ive actually been against it because my sister has been on a lot of different anti-depressants and ive witnessed her gain about 50lbs on each meds! But ive read alot about this medication for the past couple days and Ive heard about 90% of good things about it! Im overweight anyway, so im hoping to lose some weight! I started taking Wellbutrin on Tuesday and Today is Sunday and so far ive been okay! Not having trouble sleeping! I have a headache sometimes but i dont think its from the meds I just chalk it up to having three kids! If i dont eat frequent small meals throughout the day, I get this burning feeling in my stomach! Similar to the feeling of being hungry but not quite! Its not anything i cant handle, if it means i wont be a crazy person all the time! I'l wait it out and see what happens!

sarahjane2020

Hope this works for me!

Ortax

I don't take wellbutrin but I take Abilify, Lexapro, and Effexor and gained 50 lbs on them.

Why do you guys think people gain weight on these medications? Do you think they affect your metabolism, or is just good old fashioned calories in/out?

DopeItUp

Are you pregnant?

kmyers_e

I have been on wellbutrin for about two weeks i have noticed that my appetite is completely gone I've lost 8lbs in 6 days. I have also noticed my nicotine craving are gone so know all i have to work on is the habit (WONDERFUL). I absolutely love this med it has diminished my anxiety unless something huge has happened in my life then i have a panic attack but they're manageable so far. I had never heard of wellbutrin suppressing the appetite but I am super glad of it. I have diabetes so I just eat when I start to shake because I know my sugar is low but it is hard to get me to eat because every time i think about eating i get sick to my stomach i just have to get over it and push through. My attitude is different I have noticed I'm not as high strung as i once was I kinda just am like it is what it is and whatever happens happens I love it

sherritro

I am on Oxcarbazepine, Wellbutrin xl, buspar, vistaril, seroquel xr, trazadone, zoloft. I just can't seem to find something that works for me, Instead of switching things up, my dr just keeps adding stuff. The Wellbutrin is new in the last month and I am experiencing so much anxiety I havent been able to leave my apartment for the last week. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Sreneesa

I am on Oxcarbazepine, Wellbutrin xl, buspar, vistaril, seroquel xr, trazadone, zoloft. I just can't seem to find something that works for me, Instead of switching things up, my dr just keeps adding stuff. The Wellbutrin is new in the last month and I am experiencing so much anxiety I havent been able to leave my apartment for the last week. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Honestly, I would get another doctor.

Sometimes you have to switch doctors to find a better fit for your needs.

Trust me I know and not just talking out the side of my neck.

You also may want to be a little proactive in your health plan with him/her. Meaning, discuss your concerns with him/her and let them know what you are experiencing and do not just settle for what they give you if it is making you worse. Speak up and let them know.

Sometimes it takes several different combinations to finally get it right. Hang in there. I know its hard and so stressful and I feel for you. I really do. But, it will get better. Just gotta hang in there.

alexandriax03

I have severe generalized anxiety and panic disorder. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and started meds then.

I have taken:

Zoloft
Prozac
Lexapro
Celexa
Cymbalta
Propranonol
Ativan
Xanax
Pristiq
Effexor

I was a healthy 97 lbs when I started the antidepressants 3 years ago and in just 3 months time, I have gained over 100 lbs from the medications. Due to the rapid weight gain, I developed insulin resistance and reactive hypoglycemia which also causes weight gain. I HIGHLY suggest staying away from these drugs. These drugs ruined my body, my self confidence, and overall health.

chelsea123453342

Wellbutrin did nothing for me, I was on it for 6 months and just stopped taking it.. I have been on lexapro for 6+ years and it is amazing!

chelsea123453342

Wellbutrin gave me anxiety, I would switch doctors.. one thing i learned about psychiatrists is they are pill mills. I would get a psychologist and talk to them, they know just as much about medication and may be able to make recommendations...

@sherritro

tayloar

I am on Prozac and have continued weight loss. If anything, my urge to binge is now 0%. Food and emotions just don't mix for me anymore, which is quite a relief! I think this is why it's often used for treating bulimia. Not to mention I'm much happier and more inspired to love myself and treat my body with the respect and food it deserves.

)

kmm7309

I was prescribed Wellbutrin when I started quitting smoking. Because of this, I can't really help you, as I ate constantly while quitting :sad:

marvybells

I was on it to help me quit smoking....It gave me heart palpitations, whacked out dreams, and made me go frigging nuts...like literally crying one second, then happy the next, then ready to kill someone right after that...kinda nuts. I did however lose 5 lbs my first week on it...but after day 13 I couldn't handle it anymore...and I have been on quite a few things for depression. I think it is worth a try, just watch yourself on it and if you start feeling odd call your doc right away:)

i had a similar experience. i took it about 10 years ago to help me quit smoking. initially i loved it although it killed my appetite for food, beer, smoking, sex...pretty much everything. i felt energized even though i hardly slept from being amped up & the vivid crazy dreams. I was very animated & extra talkative for a few weeks, at first i thought it was kind of fun & that i would adjust...

but it turned into causing me to have almost violent reactions to silly things. Then paranoia set in. it was pretty bad. i mean, i didn't get to the wearing tinfoil hats level, but it might have one day if i did not stop. after my doc upped the dosage it got much worse and i had a lot of palpitations. once i realized these things were not temporary side effects that i would get used to and that i was actually getting worse & worse every day i called my doctor. unfortunately he was not a very good Dr. He told me it was all in my head & those things were not listed as side effects of Wellbutrin so it had to be from something else. I knew that these things most definitely were caused by the drug so i quit it cold turkey & switched doctors. (btw, i do not recommend cold turkey, it is much better to taper off these types of meds. the withdrawal was HORRIBLE & it can be dangerous to stop suddenly like that) eventually i got back to normal. but it took weeks, months even. and it was a very unpleasant experience for me.

A lot of people do very well with it & i hope that you do, just be mindful that there are some of us that can have a bad reaction. So i agree 100% to please be careful & contact your doc if you feel any extreme side effects like personality changes or palpitations. and make sure that he/she takes you seriously if you mention adverse side effects. if not it is time for a new doc.

good luck to you!

00NL

i wish you all a good health :flowerforyou:

Lemmon827

I was on paxil for major depression disorder and went from 140 to 167 lbs. I am starting to wean off of paxil while starting Wellbutrin sa. I have gone up 2 pants sizes

Alot of my clothes no longer fit. I will report back later to this thread if I have any luck losing weight on Wellbutrin. Just hopefully I can make it through the paxil withdrawal...

Allipate27

I'm fixing to start taking the generic of welbutrin tomorrow along with Topamax any input would help! I am always nervous to start something new. I have never been one to take anything