Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Does Wellbutrin cause weight gain or loss?

I am taking Wellbutrin and i wanted to know if it causes weight loss or gain. Also will it interact with my Lipo& B12 shots... please respond.
152 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Yes. I lost a significant amount of weight while taking Wellbutrin, too much weight in fact, but the side effects were quite unpleasant. I was extremely agitated and I constantly felt like I was in an angry rage. It did nothing for my depression and my mind was constantly racing. It was horrible.
Helpful - 0
514585 tn?1328740013
Lipo and B12 shots are just vitamins, minerals and nutrients. There should be no interactions with medications, and no adverse effects as long as the injection is given properly and you have no allergies to niacin, or B vitamins. If a physician or medical personnel is giving you the injections then you should be good.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was put on Wellbutrin 150 mg about 4 months after losing my Son.  I have been on it about 5 weeks and have lost 15 lbs., although I had lost some prior to being on it from the grief and depression.  I'm losing my hair, and my doctor said stress, but now I'm wondering, because someone on this forum said Wellbutrin could cause hair loss.  Is that a temporary side effect or will it continue or be permanent?  I didn't notice any affect on my depression until this week, now feeling a little better, and seem to be more alert - previously had brain fog.  So I'm not wanting to get off it, or increase my dose as I'm also on Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia, and it does help the pain.  But obviously I don't want to lose my hair.  Could someone please comment on this issue?  Thank you.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
This is an old post I appreciate but its frustrating reading people dismissing the fact it CAN put on weight for some people. It is not impossible at all to gain weight on Wellburtin (as the side-effects state). It was great for my depression and actually helped with my anxiety a little strangely but after 3 months it made my cravings and appetite spiral unexpectedly out of control and now 8 months later I am heavier despite watching what I eat and exercising. I am on a very low does too. I am a long distance runner so normally get too slim if I am training for a race but I have put on significant weight and cannot control the hunger cravings which are like nothing I've ever had before. I am ravenous about an hour after I take my pill in the morning...and that continues through the day, even though I try and ignore it or control it. The hunger and cravings don't dissipate with eating either. Initially I lost my appetite and interest in food and lost a little weight but that all changed around month 2/3 for no reason I can define. Despite being around 1,500 cals per day (with exercising) I am still the same weight after putting it on around month 3/4? And once it latched onto my hips and belly it refuses to let go. I also have much higher flashes of pure anger and irritability as another side effect and started losing hair.  Like Paxil for me, this drug DOES put on weight and I am going off it...weight gain depresses me more than depression and anxiety as it severly effects my running which is my natural coping mechanism for the anxiety. I run about 1 minute slower for a mile at the moment...
Avatar universal
How many tons she is now and what is height of roof?
Helpful - 0
17246523 tn?1454936874
I'm on 150 mg twice a day is that pretty high in mg's
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
At 150mg xl I started out wanting to eat a lot and I had headaches for about 2 weeks. Fast forward a few months and I was feeling better than ever! No impulsive desire to eat or anything anymore! Energy, optimism, the desire to socialize again - it was great!
Lost a total of 13lbs on it (8 by myself before I started taking it).

Well my doctor decided it might be good to up the dosage. I started taking the 300mg xl two days ago and omg it bites. I am bloated and I know it's caused by the medicine because 1) I eat very well, and 2) I'm not on my monthly. This happened both of the times I have taken it. Not only that but I've been wanting to eat like crazy, and I feel a total drain of motivation and the desire to just get out of bed. I noticed that throughout the day after about 5 hours, I start to feel a lot better. I think it may be too big of a dose at a time.

To be honest I have taken my 150mg pills 2x a day (not prescribed) and I felt perfectly fine. In fact I've taken the max dose (450mg) and felt fine as well.

I find that 300mg is the sweet spot for me, but not all at once. I wonder if I should just stick this out like I did last time, or ask my doctor if it's possible to take the er xl 150mg 2x daily. (I know the sr is usually 2x a day).

Its just frustrating because I have so much hw and I just met my weight goals and now all of that is about to fall off the table. :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ihave been on wellbutrin xl 300 2 1/2 weeks and I have no appetite at all. I have to force myself to eat and I have lost 20lbs in those 2 1/2 weeks. My doctor gave it to me to stop smoking but it hasn't helped. My doctor also gave me chantix and I'm on day 2 with that. I also take lipitor for high cholesterol and noticed the weight loss increased while taking it but I have insomnia and literally don't sleep for days. I found myself so tired the other day that I couldn't function but after a 3 hour nap I was good to go.
I'd really like to continue what I'm doing as the weight loss is great. I'd like to lose about 25 more pounds
Good luck to everyone
Helpful - 0
12592240 tn?1426123757
In the year and a half did the Medication help? When I first started taking it I helped and I had a loss in appetite. However, it only took a couple of months before it stopped helping. I'm 13 and they are trying to up my dose to 150mg SR when I was on 100mg SR and I'm scared because I'm reading I could have a seizure. Anyways once the medication stopped working my appetite changed too and I became more hungry again. So anyways while you were loosing weight was the medicine helping too?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just wondering my doctor put me on Cipralex and I gained 13-15 lbs, she then decided to switch me to Wellbutrin SR 150 mg. I have gained about 3-4 more pounds and have been sitting at the same since. Does the weight loss happen when you jump from 150 - 300? Or should I expect anything.

So frustrated, working so hard to pay attention to what I'm doing (eating) and exercising. And the weight WILL NOT go away!!

any advice  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have taken Wellbutrin Xl for 4 yrs. for family history of depression and my depression has gotten tougher the last 2 yrs. for me, learning I have SAD which is seasonal depression so this makes my winters very hard for me. I have never liked winter but to compound family depression in which I inherited  the Wellbutrin  has by far been the best anti depressant for me. I have little side effects and my thoughts are not foggy and winter is tolerable for me. As far as weight control I never saw a difference. So, there other meds. for that but in my opinion this is by far the best mood stabilizer I've been on. Best of luck and keep giving the wellbutrin a try. I made the choice to go back on since effexor and pristiq, did nothing for me .
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm on wellbutrin for for SAD which is seasonal depression winter is very hard on me mentally and to compound it with family history depression its been a great drug with little side effects for me. I didn't see a huge weight loss when I was on it the first 4 yrs. since I had a hysterectomy at 30 so hopefully I will see better results this time, but this seems to be the best med. that I have tried with little side effects. Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Phentramine helped to dump 30 lbs. in about 2 months like it should. This is a very temporary  solution to losing the tough weight we can't get rid of. but can cause serious problems. There is a time frame to be on the medication for the doctor's have to really monitor your blood pressure, weight, etc. I had to weigh in every week. I believe it to be only a 3 month drug.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This did the same for my brother when he was taking it to try quit chewing and it did change his sex drive and weight. But as for me I have never really seen a huge change in sex or weight. Maintained my weight. But, I had to go off it for a year due to a type 1 med. and just started back on it so hopefully being older it can help reduce my weight that I did gain which is only 10 lbs. but at my age of 47 its definitely tougher.  Good luck to us all struggling with depression or more.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on Wellbutrin XL for 5 yrs. and I feel that it worked very well for me. My family has depression and I have found that I'm also a SAD which is seasonal depression to make it worse. The winter's are very hard for me. I don't like the cold or snow. I had to go off it a year ago when I was put on metformin for type 1 but my scores are normal now but was but on Zoloft for the depression part and my brain was in a fog all the time and angry bouts all the time didn't matter what was going on so I'm going back on Wellbutrin as of tomorrow. I didnt have a huge weight loss with it and for 5'4 and 165 lbs. this is the most I have ever weighed. I'm 47 and the doctor just says its the change in life. Really have heard that since my hyderectomy when I was 30. But, I do feel that it is a safe drug with less side effects than most. So, it was my choice to request it back with the winter depression that I struggle with so much and I do feel happier and able to control my anger with life situations better and no brain fog. Best of luck to all.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have gained about 15 lbs. on the generic 150 and have had mood changes, depression, extreme hunger, suicidal thoughts, I haven't changed my food intake before I gained the weight, I am taking more fruit and veggies and exercising and not able to lose.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Me too !  Tired of being sad and stressed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've battled fatigue and low moods for as long as I can remember...Doctor said I was pre-diabetic gave me Metphormin (made me horribly ill) so I only took it for 1 week along with phentermine (for weightloss) only taking 1/2 pill daily which it did not help me loose any weight so I stopped it as well and my recent check up I complain of no energy and occassional sugar cravings and he insists Wellbutrin will be the answer which I was leary of because of past all bad experiences with any type of anti-depressants but I wanted to be fair to him and at least give it a try.  I'm on my third day of 1 dose of bupropion SR 140 mg tablet (purple) and I do not feel well at all.  Stomach cramps similar to diarreha but nothing comes out and slight headache and very very sleepy and sluggish.  Is this normal?  Will this pass?  I'm about ready to give up and I'm supposed to be taking 2 doses per day for a total of 300 mg but I'm afraid to take the second dose if the 1 dose is making me feel this bad.  Any input is much appreciated as I'm desperate for relief for my extreme fatigue and inability to loose weight but not if I have to go from feelin bad to worse....please help..anyone....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Are you taking Wellbutrin SR or Wellbutrin XL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been on Bupropion for about a month now. My doctor prescribed it for depression and I'm a teenage girl at only 16. I hate the side affects because I've always been paranoid but now I get super nervous and anxious and have SO much trouble falling asleep. I also feel dizzy sometimes and constipated as well as feeling mentally and physically tired all the time. I'm an athlete and this year is the first year where I've been on a break with volleyball. Now I'm just feeling like my head's in a "fog" and I can never concentrate. Problem is, I noticed when I withdrew my dosage of taking only 1 pill a day instead of 2 for the past 3-4 days I've significantly felt like I've gained weight. And so now I'm torn if I should keep taking them or not because if I don't I'll gain weight but if I do I'll have to deal with the annoying side affects. Please someone help and tell me what to do!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm female, 36 y.o. Taking bupropion sr 450 mg daily for ADD. Started in October. Four months later I'm down 20 lbs. I'm hoping to go down more (the numbers on the scale keep going lower so I seem to be).
Suppressed appetite within days of starting the med.  which is good because I was binge/emotional eating like crazy.
Negative side effects: ringing in ears but doesn't bother me really unless it's completely quiet. Dry mouth but that's okay because it keeps me drinking water all day which I need b/c I have chronic kidney stones. Occasional high bp and rapid heartbeat but I have a cardiologist and he and my GP don't seem concerned.
Positive side effects: it has done wonders for my ADD, and I'm pretty much always in a good mood. Very more at ease with everything. Sex drive has returned after being on hiatus for the last eight years or so--husband and I are loving that. Crazy energized throughout the day without crashing. I sleep just fine, whereas I used to have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep.
Overall I'm pleased with this med and hope I can continue to benefit from it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i was on phentermine i lost 60 pounds in five  months that was two years ago and  last year i held my dads hand when he took his last breath and died one day after my birthday and i got so depressed i gaind the weight back and im having a hard time getting my doctor  to give me a prescription' instead he gave me the genericprescription of wellbutrin and i have a history of seizures already
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just started wellbutrin sr 150 and im having headaches and blurred vision has anyone else had those same problems?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My Dr. put me on Paxil and I gained 12 pounds in 3 weeks and CANNOT lose it.  I would like to be on something to help my mood, but I cannot gain any more weight!  That in itself makes me depressed! My Dr. has now decided to put me on generic Wellbutrin--does this work as well as the name brand?  Is there a difference?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello..I see out of everyone you where on the generic wellbrutin..I am trying to quit smoking..that's why they put me on it..Did you lose weight from the generic or gain weight..I DONT want to gain anymore weight!! I have gained enough due to LUPUS..please email me at ***@****, thank you so much!!! Twila..
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Weight Loss Alternatives Community

Top Healthy Living Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
Learn About Top Answerers
Popular Resources
14 super-healthy foods that are worth the hype
Small changes make a big impact with these easy ways to cut hundreds of calories a day.
Forget the fountain of youth – try flossing instead! Here are 11 surprising ways to live longer.
From STD tests to mammograms, find out which screening tests you need - and when to get them.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.