I was on Citalopram 40mg for 2 years and gained a total of 40 lbs. My doctor switched me to wellbutrin xl 150 mg but I saw no difference in my weight so she just upped my dose to 300mg. It has worked wonders with my anxiety though, as did the citalopram, but the weight gain and uncontrolled hunger was making me depressed. Please help :-(
Has anyone gained or lost weight on BUPROPION XL 300mg (generic for W0ELLBUTRIN) ?
Question posted by brighid on 10 Feb 2013
Last updated on 2 March 2020 by WildcatVet
19 Answers
Wellbutrin (bupropion) is consider "weight neutral" because weight changes can go either way depending on each individual patient's response to the medication and metabolism:
"Metabolic
Very common (10% or more): Weight loss greater than 2.3 kg (up to 28%), weight gain greater than 2.3 kg (up to 11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia, decreased appetite, increased appetite, thirst/thirst disturbance"
Regards,
Husband lost 100 lbs on Wellbutrin. My daughter lost 135 lbs. Citalopram hasn't made me gain weight not lose it 10 mg daily been on this drug for many years. Vyvanse is a good med for weight loss of obesity. I was on it
I gained about 30 Lb over 6 months . I think it’s working differently on each person.
I began taking Bupropion XL in May. Started with 150 mg for a month, then switched to 300 mg as of last week. Since taking this, I have noticed suppressed appetite on most day. There are still days when I crave fatty food and exceed my caloric intake for that day. I am taking this medication for depression and binge eating. I don’t weigh myself, but my pants are fitting better. I have more energy to work out, but I get faint easily during my work outs since I’m probably not eating enough. I am also getting insomnia on most nights and was prescribed ambien, but I haven’t taken it, and the reason belongs on a whole separate post. Anyway, as for the weight loss, I’d guess in the last month or so, I probably lost at least 5 pounds. I’m 5’2” and was 125 before I started the medication.
hi, i know this is a really old comment but i started taking bupropion 150 mg 2.5 weeks ago and i had no appetite change, i’m wondering what the difference between 150 mg and 300 mg was for you?
hi, i know this is an old comment but i started taking bupropion 150 mg 2.5 weeks ago and i had no appetite change, i’m wondering what the difference between 150 mg and 300 mg was for you?
I was on Celexa for 2 years 20 msg twice a day. My Dr switched me to Bupropion XL 150 in the Am and the Celexa 20 at night. Since my change in the middle of January 2018, I have gained 12 pounds! I am not happy! I had Gastric Bypass in 2000, this is very devastating to me. It has helped me with my depression, but I will go right back into a different type if I continue to be so hungry, and watch the scale go up. I don't want to go back to making myself vomit like I did once before. So needless to say when I see my Dr. In June we will be changing to something else!
I Just Started Taking Bupropion XL I am Taking it to help Me Lose Weight! I wanted to know What People Side Affects Are! I would Love To Lose 20 Pounds! I Exercise And Watching My Diet! I also Have Diabetes It Makes It Hard To Lose! Thank You!!
I just picked up my prescription for 150 bupropion XL. I am going to take it to lose weight also. I am just wondering if you have had any side effects and if you have lost any weight. Thank you
Hi, I know this post is old but I thought I would share my experience with this drug. I was put on Wellbutrin by my doctor to help me quit smoking and with anxiety. I started taking it back in Dec of 2016 it work wonderful for me I’m a nonsmoking now. I have lost 25lbs and still don’t have a appetite it’s almost like I have to remind myself eat. It works for weight loss. I put on some weight going though the change of life and now I think I need to stop Wellbutrin!!! I never thought I would say this but now I’m getting to thin. I hear different story’s it helps some and not others with the weight loss part.
Been on Wellbutrin since July 2017. Started at 159mg then to 300mf January. So then, I guess it works different for everyone bc I’ve lost lots of weight and can’t get it back and yet I pig out at times too! (good food for the most part) I have to tell myself to eat most of the time bc it takes away my appetite. Then sometimes when I am a little hungry I take advantage and eat lots and I think “ok I’ll be up a couple pounds tomorow bc I ate so much today” but I’m not I’m the same. It’s crazy I’m trying to gain weight this time around than lose it? I can’t stand to lose anymore weight bc I’m 5’5” and down to 120 lbs. I like myself at 125-130 but can’t seem to achieve that - I’m trying to build some muscle now to put on a couple pounds.
Does anybody know what componite is in this Wellbutrin that is causing weight loss??
Also it gives me anxiety and twitches when I’m nervous or at rest or thinking... mostly on my left side.
I take it for deep depression and it did the trick for that but not good for anxiety at all.
I know this is not an SSRI so apparently that’s why I’m not gaining weight on it - but really I don’t know the difference between the 2? Can anyone also tell me the difference please?
Hope this helps.
Just want to let you know that wellbutrin XL @300mg or more generally will cause weight loss. As with anything else, you must be consistent with it... do not skip doses. Wellbutrin also improves your energy levels and lessens your appetite in general. However, please note that no two people have the same response. Good Luck!
Yes I have I too have similar issues and had to stop and crawl back under my shell.. it’s sad to think such a wonderful remedy has such bizarre side effects ohh lord.
I started taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg in September of 2015 and in January of 2017 it was increased to 300 mg. Since I have started taking it, I have lost 80 pounds. However; I gained 5 pounds back over Christmas break. Three pounds of it will come back and go away. I was wondering if I have plateaued out on this? I'm not sure if there is a dosage higher than 300 mg. It has made a huge impact for me mentally and physically. I previously took Lexapro for 3 years, which I suspect is why I gained so much weight to begin with.
I have been taking generic bupropion xl since about last August, it is now December and I've gone from 190 pounds to 164 pounds without any change in lifestyle except the fact I'm not as hungry so I eat smaller portions... it is working great for me and I have 4 girlfriends taking the same thing that have all lost alot of weight too... everybody is different...
I am Glad To Hear Someone is Doing Good On this Drug My Doc Just Gave It To Me! I Can’t wait To Start It! Did you Have Any Side Affects?
Great News! And No Side Affects!! I Love It!!!
For me it was the complete opposite, I gained a ton of weight in months. And different generic brands do have different side affects for me . Everyone is different . Start with one and try other companies for that same med to find what works for you
ALWAYS LOST WEIGHT!!! I gained 30+ lbs on Cymbalta after stopping Wellbutrin XL 300 mg. So now I am weaning myself off Cymbalta and adding Wellbutrin back in.
The Wellbutrin website has a coupon you can print from their website to help with or without insurance. I have heard it can cost as low as nothing or $5 with the coupon and insurance. I haven't tried using it yet, but I will. I have been on generic 150mg XL for 3 weeks, and appetite is slightly less but barely noticeable. I'm going to switch to 300mg XL, but want to use the brand due to all the negative comments I've read on the Web about generic.
I realize this post is slightly old but I wanted to respond for anyone who is checking online to see if generic Wellbutrin can cause weight gain. The answer for me was YES!! I took it to quit smoking and was slowly putting on weight. I wanted to eat all of the time and I was also having mood swings and break outs. After I realized that it might be the medication, I started to research online. I had been told it was not a weight gaining medication so I hadn't even considered it. I called my doctor and asked to switch to name brand Wellbutrin. I didn't want to quit altogether because I had quit smoking and was managing that aspect. She agreed to prescribe but then there was the cost; $1200 every three months, with insurance. More research... you can order name brand medication from Canada for a fraction of the price! I got three months worth for $230. The difference between the generic and name brand is night and day for me.
Immediately I stopped feeling the urge to binge eat. Two weeks in to the new medication and I've dropped 2 of the 10 pounds I gained, my acne cleared up and I feel like myself again! Most importantly, I'm five months smoke free!!
nicponk: Good news for you! Unfortunately , where I live, name brand Wellbutrin would cost me $1389.00/month. A little too steep for my pocketbook! By the way, are you talking about Wellbutrin SR or Wellbutrin XL?
Big difference in the two for me!
Hi Nicponk, when you took the generic wellbutrin was it bupropion 150xl and what company makes this med. Also, for the brand wellbutrin was it 150xl and what company made this med. I will be starting soon on the generic bupropion 150xl made by Cipla. If this does not work; I will try the brand wellbutrin 150xl made by Valeant. It will cost me $140.00 for 3 months supply by my insurance if I go to the brand wellbutrin. They say mfr or the companies that makes bupropion and wellbutrin makes a big difference in how you feel and weight loss/gain. I have tried bupropion 100 SR (2x's a day) made by Sandoz for 2 months only the 1st 3 days I was full of energy and laughing and after that it did nothing for me except gained about 8 lbs. I hope in trying the company Cipla works well.
Gee P
Hi Linda: Your comment-"Take Bupropion XL 300MG
I have gained 20 lbs" ???
I think the original question (even though it is a very old post) was showing that the person asked, what she was saying - she did not want to gain weight with Wellbutrin after gaining weight with Citalopram. She doesn't want to take Wellbutrin if others are gaining weight on it! That is how I perceive what she is asking. You are telling her that you gained 20 pounds and you think she should take Bupropion XL 300mg? I don't think that is what she wants, more weight gain?
I absolutely did not say she should take this drug.
I said I gained 20 lbs taking this. I would not recommend it to anyone.
Sorry, Linda, I misunderstood when your comment started with this-- "Take Wellbutrin XL 300mg". Thanks for clarifying.
No worries
Everyone is different for some they lose weight and for other they gain weight for some sex drive decreases and for others sex drive increases what people don’t understand is every medication is not for everyone you need to find which works for you . I been takkng Wellbutrin 300 mg for 5 weeks now and so far it increased my sex drive and i have loss 10 pounds which is great. NOW many years ago i use to take zoloft as I remember 100 mg or less but i do remember my sex drive was shut down and i blew up like a blimp on that medication BUT for some people i know Zoloft works perfectly fine . So just try different ones to see which one your body and mind would be compatible with to it ... hope for everyone feel better
Related topics
wellbutrin, wellbutrin xl, bupropion, citalopram, weight, generic, doctor
Further information
- Wellbutrin uses and warnings
- Wellbutrin XL uses and warnings
- Bupropion uses and warnings
- Citalopram uses and warnings
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