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wellbutrin and weight gain
I've been given wellbutrin because since I've been on Zoloft,(about 6 months), I've gained 8 pounds. Wellbutrin is supposed to help with the weight problem but, the possible side effect of seizures terrifies me. Does anyone have any info regarding these things???
ADDENDUM/CORRECTION to my above post. In the fourth paragraph down, where I was referring to food cravings being off the charts, this was while taking the GENERIC form, not brand name as I incorrectly stated.
I too am concerned about the weight gain associated with "Wellbutrin". I noticed that there wasn't any discussion about generic vs. brand name. The reason I bring this up is that generic version of Wellbutrin XL, Budeprion has a faster dissolving rate. It's coating dissolves four times faster than the brand name, causing severe symptoms of: brain zaps, anger, disconnected feeling, short-term memory loss, headache, muscle aches across chest and neck, etc.
I only found this out once I switched from the brand name to the generic form and had a horrific experience. I decided to "google" the subject and found quite a bit of information online.
I have gained about 15 pounds after having been on Paxil for a few months and decided to switch to Wellbutrin XL for the potential side effects of curbing smoking cravings and because of all the information reported about practically guaranteed weight loss.
While I was on the brand name, my cravings for fast food and carbs was off the charts and almost impossible to ignore. I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and has switched to the brandname WELLBUTRIN XL and whether or not you noticed any decrease in the food cravings and any reported weight loss.
If you did have a decrease in cravings and noticed weight loss, do you recall how long after starting WELLBUTRIN XL you experienced this? Was it within the first week or first month, first couple of months?
Best of luck to all of you. It is so fantastic to find blogs discussing real and serious issues and questions. Unfortunately, so much of what we report doesn't match what the drug companies release so that we end up knowing more than our doctors and pharmacists.... serious problem!
Please get back to me if you've any experience with the cravings and weight gain, as noted above.
God bless!
I only found this out once I switched from the brand name to the generic form and had a horrific experience. I decided to "google" the subject and found quite a bit of information online.
I have gained about 15 pounds after having been on Paxil for a few months and decided to switch to Wellbutrin XL for the potential side effects of curbing smoking cravings and because of all the information reported about practically guaranteed weight loss.
While I was on the brand name, my cravings for fast food and carbs was off the charts and almost impossible to ignore. I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and has switched to the brandname WELLBUTRIN XL and whether or not you noticed any decrease in the food cravings and any reported weight loss.
If you did have a decrease in cravings and noticed weight loss, do you recall how long after starting WELLBUTRIN XL you experienced this? Was it within the first week or first month, first couple of months?
Best of luck to all of you. It is so fantastic to find blogs discussing real and serious issues and questions. Unfortunately, so much of what we report doesn't match what the drug companies release so that we end up knowing more than our doctors and pharmacists.... serious problem!
Please get back to me if you've any experience with the cravings and weight gain, as noted above.
God bless!
Peggy,
I feel every doctor has a different idea about anti-depressants and every case is not the same. While it may be prescribed for bulimia I know quite a few people who have gained weight on Prozac, it is much cheaper than Wellbutrin and is one reason why it is prescribed more often. I am not sure if you are in any type of therapy at all but, it has done a lot for me and my self image. Weight gain is something that has always concerned me because I was overweight as a child and if Prozac id supposed to help depression the side affect of weight gain depletes the purpose. As for you weight gain I would suggest looking at portion control it truly has helped me in the past. Try to cut you food into 3'rds and only eat 2/3 then see if you can cut it into a half out portions in America are so huge and we often feel obligated to finish what is on our plates. Eating smaller meals more often in the day has show a positive affect on weight. I am a student almost finished with a degree in exercise physiology and I am not sure if you have considered more exercise, even a walk in you neighborhood? Exercise does release "feel Good" chemicals and sometimes a small amount will help.
As for the seizure concern my doctor told me if you haven't ever experienced a seizure you are unlikely to. I had one in the 4th grade and have never had another one, I was also very sick and after a MRI and CAT scan there was nothing they could find wrong. I was on wellburtin for a while before prozac and never had a seizure. While it may be a side affect my psychiatrist has said that it is not that common in people that have never had one and aren't on a large dose. I have been on 300 mg and I have been fine.
Hope this info helps
Holly
I feel every doctor has a different idea about anti-depressants and every case is not the same. While it may be prescribed for bulimia I know quite a few people who have gained weight on Prozac, it is much cheaper than Wellbutrin and is one reason why it is prescribed more often. I am not sure if you are in any type of therapy at all but, it has done a lot for me and my self image. Weight gain is something that has always concerned me because I was overweight as a child and if Prozac id supposed to help depression the side affect of weight gain depletes the purpose. As for you weight gain I would suggest looking at portion control it truly has helped me in the past. Try to cut you food into 3'rds and only eat 2/3 then see if you can cut it into a half out portions in America are so huge and we often feel obligated to finish what is on our plates. Eating smaller meals more often in the day has show a positive affect on weight. I am a student almost finished with a degree in exercise physiology and I am not sure if you have considered more exercise, even a walk in you neighborhood? Exercise does release "feel Good" chemicals and sometimes a small amount will help.
As for the seizure concern my doctor told me if you haven't ever experienced a seizure you are unlikely to. I had one in the 4th grade and have never had another one, I was also very sick and after a MRI and CAT scan there was nothing they could find wrong. I was on wellburtin for a while before prozac and never had a seizure. While it may be a side affect my psychiatrist has said that it is not that common in people that have never had one and aren't on a large dose. I have been on 300 mg and I have been fine.
Hope this info helps
Holly
I had been on a combination of Prozac and Lithium for 6 months and while the combination helped my anxiety and depression I gained 25 lbs. I went from 125 to 150, obviously this effect depletes the concept of what a anti-depressant is supposed to do. I know Lithium is likely to cause weight gain and I have found that people have gained anywhere from 20-60 lbs. it also can affect the throid which I had my levels tested and results showed no change. My weight gain has really impacted my life and I have now switched to wellbutrin which I was on previously and I am also off of Lithium. It has only been a week and I am hoping that time will show a change in my weight for the positive as well as keeping my mental health under control. I was also wondering if anyone had experience short-term memory loss on anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications? I feel there are times I forget things and I am not sure if that is due to the fact that I worry about this a lot less and minor details aren't that important.
I have been on and off of Prozac for about 3 years now and although it did help my depression, I have gained 2 stone but have tried to fight the weight. I have always had self image issues and so looking like a fat pig spirals me into a depression all of its own and I am currently feeling so depressed but am too worried about going back on Prozac because if I gain any more weight I will seriously want to die. I know it sounds pathetic and dramatic, but I cannot stand to look at myself and the self hatred is taking over me.
I have read these messages tonight in the desperate hope that I can get back onto an even keel by taking an antidepressant that does not make me load on the weight. What annoys me is my doc says "Prozac is prescribed for Bulimia so does not cause weight gain" but let me tell you, it bloody well did for me!
I am thinking of going on wellbutrin but I'm frightend of the thought of seizures.
I'm 45, don't smoke (never have) and rarely drink (say 2 glasses of wine a month).
Any suggestions anyone?
I have read these messages tonight in the desperate hope that I can get back onto an even keel by taking an antidepressant that does not make me load on the weight. What annoys me is my doc says "Prozac is prescribed for Bulimia so does not cause weight gain" but let me tell you, it bloody well did for me!
I am thinking of going on wellbutrin but I'm frightend of the thought of seizures.
I'm 45, don't smoke (never have) and rarely drink (say 2 glasses of wine a month).
Any suggestions anyone?
Hi
I read your comment and I have had a similar experience. I have been on and off Wellbutrin for about 6 years. Usually on in the winter and off for the summer and by late Sept back on. I hadnt noticed much change until this past year (I am now 51). My doc switched me to WL XL and towards the end of the summer had a bad time so upped my dose to 300mg. I noticed about 8 lb weight loss in a couple of weeks although I also had been feeling pretty crappy. I was particularly surprised since feeling crappy wasnt going to the gym either in quite a while, I did go faithfully 5 days a week. I too had noticed lots of hot flashes. Then about November I began gaining weight particularly around the middle section and thighs..ugh.. I am not a big person so quite noticable pegnant looking belly and thighs I have never had. My weight has only increased about 8 lbs but probably would be more but as I think my muscle is turning to fat (which weighs less). Trying to get motivated to do some exercises at home but am having a hard time due to my mood and being pretty busy at work etc. as I had to take 2 months off stress towards the end of the summer. I also have problems with the fact I can't stop looking and noticing my belly and thighs!! I also have had the sleep problems. Never had a problem sleeping in my life, now I go to bed tired and sleep for maybe 2 of 3 hrs and wake up staring at the clock off and on the rest of the night. I too didnt know if the sleep problems and hot flashes and weight increase in the middle particularly was from post menopausal thing or what but after reading all these I am wondering too about my sleep, hot flashes, weight changes, and worried about the seizure thing as my sister was epileptic and i have had petite mal seizure type symptoms from migraines in the past year (my md didnt seem worried about them or think to connect it with WB). I now am wondering too if I go off WB, being on 300 mg to switch to something else (as still know I need an antidepressant) will I gain more weight coming off??
hope this comment helps with people in post menopause and as well would appreciate hearing more comments around coming off WB.
Thanks, Kipsy
I read your comment and I have had a similar experience. I have been on and off Wellbutrin for about 6 years. Usually on in the winter and off for the summer and by late Sept back on. I hadnt noticed much change until this past year (I am now 51). My doc switched me to WL XL and towards the end of the summer had a bad time so upped my dose to 300mg. I noticed about 8 lb weight loss in a couple of weeks although I also had been feeling pretty crappy. I was particularly surprised since feeling crappy wasnt going to the gym either in quite a while, I did go faithfully 5 days a week. I too had noticed lots of hot flashes. Then about November I began gaining weight particularly around the middle section and thighs..ugh.. I am not a big person so quite noticable pegnant looking belly and thighs I have never had. My weight has only increased about 8 lbs but probably would be more but as I think my muscle is turning to fat (which weighs less). Trying to get motivated to do some exercises at home but am having a hard time due to my mood and being pretty busy at work etc. as I had to take 2 months off stress towards the end of the summer. I also have problems with the fact I can't stop looking and noticing my belly and thighs!! I also have had the sleep problems. Never had a problem sleeping in my life, now I go to bed tired and sleep for maybe 2 of 3 hrs and wake up staring at the clock off and on the rest of the night. I too didnt know if the sleep problems and hot flashes and weight increase in the middle particularly was from post menopausal thing or what but after reading all these I am wondering too about my sleep, hot flashes, weight changes, and worried about the seizure thing as my sister was epileptic and i have had petite mal seizure type symptoms from migraines in the past year (my md didnt seem worried about them or think to connect it with WB). I now am wondering too if I go off WB, being on 300 mg to switch to something else (as still know I need an antidepressant) will I gain more weight coming off??
hope this comment helps with people in post menopause and as well would appreciate hearing more comments around coming off WB.
Thanks, Kipsy
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