weight loss on wellbutrin

I was on Wellbutrin about a year and a half ago for severe depression. I lost weight fairly quickly with it and then got off of it 6 months ago. Since then, I have gained 20 lbs and today got put back on Wellbutrin XL 150. My question is, if my body responded with the weight loss the first time, is it going to do it again? Also, I saw that people with higher doses of the antidepressant lose more weight. Would it be bad if I took maybe 2 pills of the 150 instead of 1 daily?

Yes, weight loss is a common side effect of Wellbutrin, I have spoken with several doctors plus have been on it myself. Eventually, you will likely gain it back.

I lost weight on it. Some of the weight loss was without even trying but then I ran out of my prescription and went off of it in April 2008.

I weighed myself in June 2008...about 6 weeks later and had gained 14 lbs since I had been to the doctor in mid April.

I tried working out and eating around 1200-1500 calories a day and I had SOOO much trouble losing like 3 pounds.

I have now been back on it for 2 weeks and I feel like I have lost some weight.

We will see how it goes from here...I am also back on the generic brand.

i just started wellbutrin and noticed a drastic decrease in appetite and also some jitters and itchy sleepless nights.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin for depression about six weeks ago. After using Wellbutrin for about a month I realized I was hardly smoking anymore. (I have been a 1 1/2 pack smoker for 40 years.) I didn't realize this was happening until one day after driving for an hour and reaching my destination, I realized I had not had one cigarette for the entire drive. Previous to taking Wellburtrin, the first thing I always did was light up a cigarette as soon as I was in the car. I still have the same pack of cigarettes I bought 6 days ago. I have to admit I am trying to have a couple a day because I have put on some weight recently and attribute it to not smoking.

For anyone wanting to quit smoking Wellbutrin should be tried. I had no intention of giving up cigarettes, but again, the Wellbutrin has a been a miracle - I have no desire for cigarettes - I have tried in the past to stop, I tried cutting back, quitting cold turkey, even the patch and the gum. Nothing worked ..............the longest I could go without smoking was about 3 weeks.

Has anyone else had a similiar experience???

[quote="Guest"] i just started wellbutrin and noticed a drastic decrease in appetite and also some jitters and itchy sleepless nights. [/quote]

Through my readings on the medication - itchiness, jitters, and the inability to sleep are some common side effects. I have heard from the medical community that Wellbutrin is weight neutral but with my own experience with it and listening to others, weight loss is more common.

I started Wellbutrin XL in February 2009 first at 150 mg and then at went to 300 after 2 weeks but I noticed appetite suppression right away. One of the side effects that I have found that is a bit troublesome is hand tremors. Apparently it is not a common side effect but it does occur. I really do not want to get off this med - it is helping so much. Weight loss has been a big plus too along the way. I am using it for an eating disorder (which I know is one of the cautions of the meds) - psychiatrist is combining it with another med - I have to be careful of seizures.

I have been taking Wellbutrin for 2 months for anxiety. No one told me that it would cause weight loss. I now assume my doctor gave it to me because I was concerned about weight gain with other medications. So I'm less anxious about life in general now, but I'm starting to wonder about how Wellbutrin is affecting my metabolism now and in the future. I find myself eating about 600 more calories a day now to try and stop the weight loss. Is there a plateau?

Hi all, I just recently started on wellbutrin SR 150 mg today. Last time I started out in Feb '08 and by May '08 was up to 300 mg. The interesting thing is during that 3 month period, I maybe lost about 5-10 lbs. But during the summer (June-August 2008) the weight just started melting off. Granted maybe I was walking also about 6 miles back and forth from school in 95 degree DC weather but it got to the point that I went from a size 6 to a size 4 to a size 2 in the month of July, and went from about 140 lbs to 118 by the end of the summer. It wasn't bad, because I was skinnier even than when I was in high school, but the annoying things were: constantly having to buy new pants--was walking and my pants were falling off! Had to stop in GAP and buy a new size 2 pair on the fly (which wasn't cheap), excessive sweating, and yes, belligerent behavior.
However stopped taking it and boy did I pack on the weight, all the way up to 160 (ugh). I'm 5"7 but still--trying to squeeze into my old 6 jeans sucks (so I've opted for stretchy pants and big tops...). Plus of course I felt like shit--sleeping all the time, crying, etc.
Hopefully I'll be able to lose about 20-30 lbs on this (not trying to get back down to under 120 because while I lost a lot of fat, I also started losing muscle on my arms, which was not nice at all). Of course am also excercising again so that should help.

Guest wrote:

I was prescribed Wellbutrin for depression about six weeks ago. After using Wellbutrin for about a month I realized I was hardly smoking anymore. (I have been a 1 1/2 pack smoker for 40 years.) I didn't realize this was happening until one day after driving for an hour and reaching my destination, I realized I had not had one cigarette for the entire drive. Previous to taking Wellburtrin, the first thing I always did was light up a cigarette as soon as I was in the car. I still have the same pack of cigarettes I bought 6 days ago. I have to admit I am trying to have a couple a day because I have put on some weight recently and attribute it to not smoking. For anyone wanting to quit smoking Wellbutrin should be tried. I had no intention of giving up cigarettes, but again, the Wellbutrin has a been a miracle - I have no desire for cigarettes - I have tried in the past to stop, I tried cutting back, quitting cold turkey, even the patch and the gum. Nothing worked ..............the longest I could go without smoking was about 3 weeks. Has anyone else had a similiar experience???

Yes, the same thing happened to me. I wasn't needing that cigarette like I use to. Matter of fact, I haven't smoked in 4 weeks now and have been on Wellbutrin XL 150mg for 2 1/2 months. I was so thrilled. Good luck to you!!!

Guest wrote:

I was on Wellbutrin about a year and a half ago for severe depression. I lost weight fairly quickly with it and then got off of it 6 months ago. Since then, I have gained 20 lbs and today got put back on Wellbutrin XL 150. My question is, if my body responded with the weight loss the first time, is it going to do it again? Also, I saw that people with higher doses of the antidepressant lose more weight. Would it be bad if I took maybe 2 pills of the 150 instead of 1 daily?

hi there,
i am experiencing the same thing as you are..i went back on Wellbutrin without notice my doc. i don't know if it's very bad to me. i am taking 150 everyday so far. it's nothing changed for almost a month. how's your feel now?