Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

[babymama]

I went on Wellbutrin after my third child and weight loss happens to be a side effect. I think thats rare for an anti-depressent. Another nice side effect is the change in libido.

Anyone else taking Wellbutrin? I started on 150mg for 2 weeks then I graduated to 300mg. Has anyone been on and then off it? Was there any withdrawl? I heard some anti-depressents can be addictive.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I took 300mg a day for neuropathic pain before I started Atkins. It didn't help me lose weight--in fact that is when I gained about 70 pounds. I was weaned off it, but I don't remember having any withdrawals. My body can handle massive loads of drugs, though. I have been on as much as 17 prescriptions at a time, 32 pills a day, heavy duty stuff, so don't go by my lack of withdrawals. At any rate, you would have to be weaned.

I went on Cymbalta after the Wellbutrin, and it has done me more good than any other drug, and my body hasn't acclimated to it so I have to keep increasing the dose or switch drugs like I used to.

[Whatsername]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I am on Wellbutrin..450mg/day. It has been a life saver for me. Once my body got used to it, I have had no side effects (as long as I take it with food). I lost weight initially just because it upset my stomach so much I could not eat. Once that leveled out, I have found it to be weight neutral for me. I have not gone off wellbutrin yet but have not heard that there are withdrawal problems. Nothing can be as bad as withdrawal from Effexor.

I was very nervous starting Atkins because I did it before, unmedicated, and did well. I am on lithium also and it says right in the book that people often have a hard time losing weight on that.

I wish I was losing weight faster but try to remind myself to be happy I am losing weight at all.

Anyhoo..don't know if there is anyone out there who struggles with depression or maybe bipolar disorder but if there is, I would be happy to talk anytime.

[LittleNemo]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I just found this thread, and I was just started on Wellbutrin today... i also already take Topamax, and have depression and am bipolar. I don't know if this will lead to weight loss but i will definately let you ladies know. I was started on a very very very low dose since i am very sensitive to medication. I am on 75mg a day for 2 weeks to see how i react before my Therapist increased the appropriate dosage.

I will be weighing myself tomorrow and keeping track. however i think the dosage is so low that it won't cause weight loss.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I just found this thread, and I was just started on Wellbutrin today... i also already take Topamax, and have depression and am bipolar. I don't know if this will lead to weight loss but i will definately let you ladies know. I was started on a very very very low dose since i am very sensitive to medication. I am on 75mg a day for 2 weeks to see how i react before my Therapist increased the appropriate dosage.

I will be weighing myself tomorrow and keeping track. however i think the dosage is so low that it won't cause weight loss.

I took 400mg a day of Topamax at the same time as I took 300 mg of Wellbutrin, and I gained weight.

[LittleNemo]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I took 400mg a day of Topamax at the same time as I took 300 mg of Wellbutrin, and I gained weight.

I know it is possible.. when i was on GEODON I went from 152 to the 180's
in like 2 months. I weighed in today 161.5 lets see if this combo leads to weight gain.. i just hope it treats my depression.

[LittleNemo]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

has anyone had suicidal thoughs with this drug? I am bi polar and since finding out my boyfriend of 3 years has been cheating on me this has sent me in a downward spiral since the last year that i can't get out. So bad i was having thoughts of just disapearing that my therapist but me on welbutrin, but now i am finding myself down in the shower where we have a gym at my work breaking down.

I don't know if it is the medication or just that i am getting worse.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

has anyone had suicidal thoughs with this drug? I am bi polar and since finding out my boyfriend of 3 years has been cheating on me this has sent me in a downward spiral since the last year that i can't get out. So bad i was having thoughts of just disapearing that my therapist but me on welbutrin, but now i am finding myself down in the shower where we have a gym at my work breaking down.

I don't know if it is the medication or just that i am getting worse.

I never had suicidal thoughts. Please take your medications very carefully. I would call the prescriber of the meds and ask them. Most all antidepressants take a few weeks to help.

[Whatsername]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I would call and talk to your dr. I haven't felt suicidal while on wellbutrin really. It might be more situational for you. You haven't been on wellbutrin long and you said it was a low dose (which is how I started also). I would just be honest with your dr...so you can get some answers.

Sorry about what you are going through. We are here for you...please let us know how you are doing and what the dr has to say. Take care...
Jane

[LittleNemo]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I seem to be getting better, no more break downs in the shower at work.

[Whatsername]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

Thanks for the update and glad you are doing better. Hope it continues.

[TAldous]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

Good Morning

Thanks for your kind welcoming.
I'm 53, a wife, mother, Grandmother, friend and a preschool teacher. I started my diet exactly 2 weeks ago.. now for a question...

With my age, does the weight fall off less quickly? Also, I need my "diet mountain dews" does this make induction and ketosis not work well? I stopped coffee.. but need some lift.. as I have lost a child in a car accident and my Dad died 6 weeks ago with pancreatic cancer... I started on Wellbutrin XL yesterday and after I took it .. arrgghh... I ate candy Should I start my induction all over again since I did poorly .. should I wipe out all caffeine.. ? so confused Can taking my Wellbutrin xl stop ketosis? I am confused...

Please help?
Torry

[Whatsername]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

Hi Torry. Glad you are here.

So sorry about your losses. I hope you have a good support system there to help you deal with those.

As for your questions. First of all, weight loss does seem to slow down as we get older. But it isn't impossible. Exercise is very important though.

Coffee/diet soda is very subjective. Some people can have them and still lose, and some have problems with them (aspartame in particular). I cut back a lot on coffee but do still drink it. I rarely drink diet soda at all and I used to be addicted to diet coke. The issue with diet soda/coffee are cravings. So you might end up eating/drinking things you really shouldn't. We are supposed to drink water, water and more water! How much water are you getting in? Ideally, we should do away with caffeine.

I do not think you need to redo induction. Just pick up where you were and keep going! How has induction gone for you? Depending on how much you have lost and how much you want to lose, you might consider extended induction. I had no problems going on to OWL and have continued to lose weight on that, while expanding my food choices.

Wellbutrin. I have not found that to interfer with my progress on Atkins at all. From what I have read, wellbutrin is more prone to cause weight loss than anything. However, I can't say I have experienced that. The only time I lost weight on it is when I started it and has stomach issuses from side effects. That went away though and since then it has been weight neutral for me (and I have had no side effects from it at all).

Do you have the book? (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition). It is very helpful. Also, if you have questions about the plan itself, foods, exercise, etc, you might want to post in the Main Atkins forum. It gets a lot of traffic and you are likely to get a lot of help there.

But I am happy to help however I can.

Take care and good luck.
Jane

[saucy_one]

Re: Wellbutrin and Weight Loss

I found Wellbutrin to be weight neutral as well. I also very much like it, except I experience sexual dysfunction with it. Most people usually lose 5 to 10 pounds initially because it is considered hard on your stomach, and there can be loss of appetite. These usually go away.

But in some circumstances extreme weight loss does happen. Didn't happen with me - haha - too bad!