wellbutrin and weight gain

[DeliaMarie]

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???

[svlmg]

I took Wellbutrin for over a year and did not have any problems. Everyone is different and of course a lot depends on your health history.
I only took the smaller dose as the higher dose turned me into a crazy woman. I just felt so uptight and my kids could get under my skin very easily.
Good luck with it. I hope it helps you the way you need it to.

[Imhere2]

I switched from Lexapro to Wellbutrin because of weight gain and high blood pressure and have had wonderful results. Blood pressure is normal again and I have lost weight. Hopefully this medication will work for you too.. Good Luck

[kk2]

I'm certainly no substitute for a medical professional, but I'm prettty sure that its just that you shouldn't take the Welbutrin if you already have a problem with seizures. Lots of people take it without developing a seizure problem and it really helps them. good luck

[danielleurban]

I have been on effexor for about a year-started on 75mg and now taking max dose of 225mg.  I gained 59 lbs since being on the pills and now I am curious if this could be related. I am retaining a TON of water weight (pitting edema) I started the B6/B12 combo shots Monday and 3000mg of Vitamin C..I go today to get weighed.  I did feel a burst of energy after the first shot, also difficulty sleeping...anyone have any of these experiences?

[mary29-4-ever]

I STARTED WELLBUTRIN OVER A YEAR AGO AND GOT GREAT RESULTS IT HELPED ME GET MOTIVATED TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY WEIGHT AND CARE HOW MY HOME LOOKED AND SO FORTH WELL AFTER ABOUT 6MTHS I QUIT TAKING IT FOR A WHILE AND RELIZED I REALLY SHOULDNT HAVE STOPPED TAKING IT. I STARTED BACK ON IT ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE NOT GOT THE SAME RESULTS AS LAST TIME. DONT UNDERSTAND WHY MAYBE I NEED TO UP MY DOSEAGE GOING TO SEE MY DOCTOR MONDAY I'LL FIND OUT THEN.

[SlimMom]

I took Wellbutrin for over a year and was very happy with it But then I had a seizure and a year later I had another one. They were the grand mal type and #2 kept me in the hospital for three days of tests. Seizures are becoming more recognized as a side effect of this drug and I have noticed that it is mentioned in the TV ads now. Other than that I did lose some weight and felt really great. But because of the seizures I had quite a lot of trouble with my driving licence.

[LADIVA]

I JUST WANT  TO KNOW LIKE HOW MUCH AND IN HOW LONG U GIRLS LOSS WEIGTH. THAT U WENT IN A DIET OR JUST U LOOSE THE WEIGTH. THANK U VERY MUCH.

[daisygirl9]

I took Wellbutrin for over 2 years and I steadily gained over 40 pounds in that period of time. I was on the 300 XL dose. It just made me want to eat so much and disrupted my sleep. I know they say you don't gain weight on it but that was not my experience. I am now finally off that drug and trying to lose the weight.  

[Jewelzie1990]

I know this is an old thread, but did you ever lose the weight you had gained when you got off Wellbutrin? If so, did it come off quickly? I went from 107 to 125 in 6 months. I just got off Wellbutrin and back onto Effexor (Effexor never caused me to gain or lose weight, if I ate bad and didn't work out on it I gained, but if I ate healthy and worked out I could lose it fairly easily). I work out (strength train and cardio) 5 times a week (for the past several years). I don't eat fast food, fried food, or copious amounts of food (nor do I starve myself). I am a 26yr old female, 5'4.

[Jewelzie1990]

I know this is an old thread, but did you ever lose the weight you had gained when you got off Wellbutrin? If so, did it come off quickly? I went from 107 to 125 in 6 months. I just got off Wellbutrin and back onto Effexor (Effexor never caused me to gain or lose weight, if I ate bad and didn't work out on it I gained, but if I ate healthy and worked out I could lose it fairly easily). I work out (strength train and cardio) 5 times a week (for the past several years). I don't eat fast food, fried food, or copious amounts of food (nor do I starve myself). I am a 26yr old female, 5'4.

[sweetsarah1]

I just read your comments about weight gain while taking Wellbutrin.  I've been on it for a few years now for anxiety/panic problems.  I take 200 mg once a day, which I'm told is a relatively low dose.  My psych told me that people lose weight while on Wellbutrin.  NOT ME!  I've gained 50 pounds and I don't seem to be able to take it off even with diet and exercise.  I started thinking it was just me.  I'm sorry you've had the same experience but I'm glad to know I'm not alone.  It has really helped with the anxiety/panic thing but I can't stand how I look!  I think I'm going to try something else.  

[Star_ruby]

I have just started to take Wellbutrin and I am a little concern about I have read so far.  Some say they have lost weight other have gained so I guess it works different for everyone.  For those of you who have been taking the medication and did lose weight......how long before you noticed the weight-loss?  I have been on it for about 3 weeks and have not seen any difference.  I am still stressing, ver sensitive to everything, and have trouble sleeping.  I do noticed that I am not as hungry as I used to be and I do have a little more energy.  Please somebody respond!!

[Walking by Faith~]

I have been on Wellbutrin for about 2 months now. I have lost over 25lbs and it is beginning to scare folks around me.  I take Wellbutrin for anxiety/panic attacks. I don't know if it was just stress that contributed to the weight loss or the drug alone, but 25lbs in less than 2 months concerns me.
Other side effects I have are horrible constipation...so much I had to lessen my meat intake and increase my vegetable/fruit...which isn't all bad. AND these headaches! They're horrible.
I can say my anxiety and panic attacks have dramatically changed, Thank God! I thought I was loosing my mind.  Good luck for anyone who is on the drug, but please don't take it for the wrong reasons.

[Star_ruby]

Thanks for the comment.  I was on Lexapro and gained a lot of weight so the doctor changed me to Wellbutrin because it heps to lose weight.  I have not lost any weight in 3 weeks. Maybe is too early to tell and that is why I was asking......when did you start to notice that you were losing weight? How long had you been taking it before you saw the weight loss results?  I think it has helped me with the anxiety although I have a hard time falling asleep and wake up during the night or wake up really early.  I guess it is just a matter of getting used to it.

[laura1977]

hey everyone, I just thought that you guys would benefit from hearing this.  Wellbutrin does cause seizures in people that have had no known seizure problem.  Trust me I know first hand.  I had a bad seizure and stopped breathing while driving my car.  Luckly there was a nurse in another car and she did CPR on me.  My neighbor was also on this medicine and it caused her to have anxiety attacks.  I just wanted to let people know that stuff is happening so be careful.

[tfhud58]

I'm glad I'm not the only one......my doctor changed me from Lexapro to Wellbutrin for the exact same reason, I have been on it a couple of months now.....no weight loss, extreme constipation...loss of sleep and I certainly don't feel as well as I did on Lexapro, but just like you, I was on Lexapro for eight months and I gained over 25 lbs, if it wasn't for the weight gain itself...I would go back on Lexapro.  I go back to the doctor next month (October), I'll see what she suggests.  I haven't had any seizures but I do experience headaches every day and this stupid "blushing" that comes with the headaches.

[HopeIsReal]

I think everyone is right.  I have been off and on this drug for 6 years.  What I think is that is gives you a little kick in the booty.  Thats all.  I have experienced all the different moods with this drug, and the hopelessness of why it has worked one time and not the other.  In the past I have tried other anti-depressants and it less but similar results....sometimes weightgain, sometimes weightloss.  The one thing I noticed the most about it, is that whatever NEEDS to be happening at the time the MOST, is what we end up concentrating on (while on this drug).  If we feel a little edgy, we really are probably being pulled apart from the edges from those around us... before wellbutrin and dare I say, domestic violence counceling I couldn't stand up to anyone, was always afraid of hurting their feelings and being rejected.  It helped me to stop whining and do something.  If everything was great in my life... my focus became my weight and it seemed easier to get off my duff and get some exersize.  Since I've been on wellbutrin my life has changed for the positive... sure sometimes there was some weight gain... other times it came off.  I guess the best I can say is literally, one thing at a time and one day at a time...  p.s.  I lost the biggest hunk of my weight (in my lifetime) and kept it off on this drug... and it stayed off for a year off on the drug... I went back on it, gained a little, then once again began to lose it.  I too am afraid of seizures and strive to get to a point in my life where I no longer need wellbutrin.  I feel better completely off of everything... my suggestion to anyone that needs it, take a domestic violence class... b/c sure as the dickens, someone you know is hurting you and your tender hearts let them.  God bless.

[TareLee]

Ok...So I have gained like five pounds on Wellbutrin (Buproprion SR) but I also am taking it for quitting smoking - - I used to smoke a pack a day- and now surprisingly, I quit - - I have been on this for about 5 weeks.  I am not sure if the five pounds is related to the quitting of smoking...or a side effect.  I used to have an eating disorder so I think if I gain another five pounds I will get off this drug as that will cause anxiety!!!  Is a month too soon to determine weight loss?

[cherryb]

Hi, I just started Wellbutrin one week now. I am ADHD /anxiety and it already seems to help with concentration. I was on effexor last six mos and gained 15lbs so i ask my doc if i could try something else. I am concerned about the possibility of seizures. Does anyone know if the there is a greater risk when you first start to take wellbutrin or does that matter? Can you suddenly have one even after months or years ..thanks:)

[NeedtoKnow3668]

Have you had any luck taking the weight off?

[lovesunflowers]

I have been on Welbutrin for about 5 weeks, I agree this drug seems to give you the willpower or perhaps clarity to start taking care of yourself.  I think the reason that there is so much weight loss is the fact that depressed people are usually overweight or battling some other type of addiction to lessen the pain of depression.  In my case I have lost about 10lbs and feel less fogged out in the head.  I have Fibromyalgia and that makes you awfully tired so this drug has helped me get moving and motivated.  I also am worried about Seizures but I weighed the pros and cons and decided I needed this help more than the risk of a seizure.  Good luck everyone!

[ramina]

Here is some info for you. I was born seizure free, and now have epilepsy thanks to Welbutrin. I will never be allowed to drive again, I had to fight to get to live safely alone. I had to have surgery implanting a device to help control the seizures because I was having grand mals 3 to 4 times a MONTH! That stuff needs taken off the market!! I was 20, its 7 years later now and I lost my freedom to do what everyone else is doing who is my age! Too I get to thank the Welbutrin for having brain damage from falling and getting uncountable concussions! BEWARE to all who are taking it, weigh the pros and cons, but you could be risking your entire future and your freedom to do everything you enjoy!! I cant even SHOWER safely alone!

[tjacobs]

I have been on wellbutrin xl for a little over a month.  I feel like I am starving all of the time!  I can't seem to control myself.  My mood is better most of the time but I still feel like I could explode!  Maybe I haven't been taking it long enough.  Before I started taking it I had lost 40 lbs.  I have started to regain some of that.  Also, the seizures that everyone is talking about is making me a little nervous.  I also take metformin.  I read that it can increase your chances of seizures when taken together, but when I asked the pharmacist he just blew it off like it was no big deal.  Has anyone else heard about this?

Tjacobs540

[Geoff_Alcock]

I am on 450 mg Wellbutrin which I believe is the maximum allowable dose.  When I came off the SSRIs and went on Wellbutrin it was like I came out of the fog after seven years of SSRIs,  I have to take a 150mg pill three times a day.  This has been completely effective insofar as I have never had a seizure.

A couple of people have mentioned changing their dosage or even going off their meds alltogether.  My psychiatrist has told me several times that if one reduces the dosage, or stops taking it for a while, there is a very real likelyhood that it will not be as effective as before.

The side effects that I have noticed are trouble sleeping and sore mouth.  I now take 50 mgTrazodone before I go to bed at night.  As regards the sore and sometimes ulcerated mouth, I just put up with it rather than risk losing the effectiveness of Wellbutrin.  The way I look at it a sore mouth just affects the mouth.  Duh!  but mental illness shut me down from everything and completely disabled me.  I will settle for a sore mouth anyday than go back to that miserable existance.

Geoff.

[lovesunflowers]

So far so good.  Wellbutrin seems not to cause the unwanted side effects I was experiencing with all of the others ( I tried everything over the years)  The big one is that I can acheive and experience orgasm again.  I was absolutely dead from the waist down with all the others.  This is only supposed to happen to Men - this is what my Dr. told me but I think it happens to lots of women too.  I am happy to be able to share passion again with my husband, it is important to me to be able to function and experience life while I am getting better.  Anyone else find they are better able to function sexually with Wellbutrin?  If you are depressed and have anxiety the last thing you need is an SSR to make you feel dead and loose your bond with your significant other.

[sissy910]

I had been on zoloft for 10 years and decided to switch to effexor XL.  My blood pressure shot through the roof.  My doctor switched me to Welbutrin XL 150.  My blood pressure has come down a lot, but I always go through withdrawals when switching from one to another.  Has anyone ever heard zapping sounds in their heads or intensified sounds when using a blow dryer?  I know that sounds weird, but it happens every time. I also experience dizziness.  I think if my doctor increases my dose the side effects will go away, but she said wellbutrin is not like zoloft, so you can't compare doses.  I've only been on it for 5 days, but I am bloated and experienced nausea the first couple days and hope this will adjust with continued use. If I had to do it over again, I would have never started taking anything, because it's too hard to come off of them.