My doctor recently switched me from Effexor XR 75mg/day to Wellbutrin XL 150mg/day due to significant weight gain in less than a month on effexor. He told me Wellbutrin will help with the unhealthy weight gain( I'm only 5'3 and over 150lbs since being on effexor) and that within a month it will have improved my anxiety and depression symptoms and will increase my energy levels and weight loss from the effexor. Can anyone give me feedback from their experiences? Effexor helped my moods but made me hungry 24/7 and it didn't matter if I ate 1000 calories a day and burned as many calories, I jut kept gaining weight. I'm hoping Wellbutrin will have the same impact for my moods but not the feeling hungry and wanting to always be eating. Thanks :)
Wellbutrin XL 150mg and weight loss?
Question posted by Saraj28 on 5 Nov 2016
Last updated on 3 March 2021 by brittanyleann
5 Answers
Sara, I am VERY curious to see how you results were after switching. I am on venlafaxine (75 mg) and am switching to Wellbutrin (300mg) tomorrow. I started venlafaxine March 2019, and as of today have gained 18 pounds on venlafaxine, I am hoping wellbutrin will help me lose all the weight that I had gained.
I've been on Wellbutrin xl 300mg for about 9 months? Im also 5'3" and at the start weighed a whopping 171lbs. My medications are for bipolar disorder. Most of these medications can cause weight gain.
The problem with my weight began when I was making decent money. That meant eating our pretty much every day. Stress from work had me constantly going to the vending machine. My clothes where getting so tight and stretched out!
So after so many years, I bought new cloths just a few months before starting Wellbutrin. Also started eating more vegetables, went for walks and tried hard to stay away from the machines.
Anyway I wasnt told it could help with weight. My main concern is getting the depression under control. I started to know the difference after a month. The big pants I just bought were starting to look rediculous.
They say the weight will come back. I only believe that if you can't control your eating habits. Been on it for months and haven't seen a change. Now since being on it I'm more aware of how much I eat and what I eat so that if I every come off it, I can remember that it's not impossible to stop eating so much.
Honestly I love it because I'm back to my old self! I'm now at 128lbs and can't be happier!
Hi, my doctor was always very kind not to put me on any drugs that caused weight gain, choosing instead for weight neutral drugs when possible. For a mood stabilizer, he initially used Lamictal. Unfortunately, I got Stevens Johnson syndrome, so he switched me over to Topamax, using it off label.
(Unfortunately, he's since passed away, I'll never find anyone like him!)
Hi I’m losing weight and I don’t need to lose it ! I may have to come off to try Vortioxetine. I have no appetite on Wellbutrin 150 mg XL and now taking 300mg XL - I have to remember to eat but then only nibble at my food. It causes me anxiety too lots of twitching - does anyone else have weight loss and anxiety from Wellbutrin XL ?? And is anyone on Vortioxetine?? Want to know what to expect??
Hi Sara: I can't exactly speak for Wellbutrin XL, but this is what happened to me: I gained 20 pounds while taking lexapro, along with many other adverse side effects while taking it. I then went to Wellbutrin SR, and lost the 20 pounds that I had gained while taking lexapro. Maybe Wellbutrin XL will help you in this regard also.
Hi, Sara! Weight gain on psychotropic drugs has little to do with eating and almost everything to do with how the drug affects your metabolism. I other words you cou;d starve and exercise all day and still gain weight.
Wellbutrin IS more weight neutral than Effexor (and Effexor is a great drug!) but you'll have to wait and see how it affects you. Every drug affects each individual differently and there's no way to predict. There is NO drug that doesn't cause weight gain in sensitive individuals.
But think positive because Wellbutrin is also a good drug and may just be your answer!
Best wishes and good luck!
I'm interested in this conversation because in April I went off of Effexor after over 20 yrs. I have been able to lose weight easier using weight Watchers since then. Now though I am concerned I may need a little anti depressant again. I don't want Effexor again!! And I don't want weight gain. Wondering about Wellbutrin then . I haven't asked the doctor yet. Any advice?
All I can say is that in the clinical trials and postmarket follow-ups the PDR reports that 13.6% of users gained weight. This is opposed to 18.7% gaining weight on Effexor and the bright light for some folks would be that 6.9% of Wellbutrin users LOST weight.
There is no antidepressant/anti-psychotic that will not cause weight gain in certain susceptible users. Otherwise we'd all be taking it. :-(
My dr just took me off Effexor and now I'm taking Wellbutrin. I didn't notice real weight gain while on Effexor though. Curious to see with the Wellbutrin. However I was eating better and not snacking like I was and I didn't really lose weight. Maybe with Wellbutrin I'll finally see a change
I've been taking 150mg for almost a decade. I totally agree that weight gain is due to the med altering my adrenal and related glands that regulate metabolism. There is no question this is true WildcatVet. I have successfully found and started using herbal adrenal support 3 weeks ago along with an herbal mixed loose leaf tea. These two changes have helped me bridge away from effexor. I've titrated, on my own, and as of yesterday I'm taking 1/4 cap (18mg approx) daily. Most importantly, the weight is coming off about 2 lbs a week. I do work out 3 x a wk and now the deficit calories I burn are actually making a difference! No doubt, it's a full-time job to do this; however wellness is key for me. My triglycerides are ridiculously high even though my diet is nearly stellar! I also found that Juniper berries added to my tea brew help to keep anxiety at bay. Do your homework first. We are all different in our experiences. We are all very much the same in that we are human ; )
Wow-how nice to read that! I have had so much trouble loosing wt even though my calories are usually under 1200/day. Have to admit not a lot of exercise though; however even when I walked faithfully with low calories only lost 15 of the 50 I gained on anti-dep's. I'm having horrible side effects switching from 150mg (75 mg for 1 wk) effexor to 150 mg wellbutrin. Brain noises, anger-almost rage not known since 1989 when I started anti-dep's, cold feet& hands with sweating elsewhere, dizzy, I could go on:( Had a bad reaction to pesticides 2 yrs ago & the brain thing seems the same--don't know, maybe it's the switch in meds? Not good although I felt great the week I was on 75mg effexor after the 2nd day. 1st day fine, 2nd not so good, then OK again. It's the Wellbutrin & NO effexor in my system (I imagine it's gone in 10 days). Anyway, thanks for the info about calories/metabolism. PS: are you medically trained?
Related topics
effexor, effexor xr, wellbutrin, wellbutrin xl, depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), anxiety, weight, doctor
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