Wellbutrin XL and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Mic...
• November 20, 2019

For Depression "I have been clinically depressed at various times in my life (postpartum and SAD) but have avoided medication for it. Recently I’ve been weepy, couldn’t get moving, and chores, phone calls, and bills began piling up. No energy to deal with life. I talked to my GP who suggested Wellbutrin. I was hesitant but desperate to function again. It worked within a week. I am on 150 mg, XR. I was diagnosed with ADD as a young adult, and Wellbutrin is like the gentler, kinder version of Adderall. I have focus, can complete tasks, am happier. I have energy and willpower to exercise (instead of thinking about it all day and then feeling guilty for not doing it). I have less of an appetite, but not because I feel manically energetic, hyped up, or shaky. Binging (which I did before) is not even a thought in my head. I’ve been on Wellbutrin for two and a half months, lost about 12 lbs. I would like to take Wellbutrin for the rest of my life - never felt this calm, even and steady, and capable."

• AJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2020

For Depression "I took Wellbutrin XL for 6 months, the first 3 months my dose was 150mg, the last 3 months dose was 300mg. I was taking it for anxiety and depression. Took a little getting used to, but nothing terrible. In the 6 months I went from 150 lbs to 128 lbs (part of it was appetite suppressant, part was that I had the energy to go out and do things/exercise). When I was at 150mg I had more anxiety attacks, but when I went to 300mg I felt like a normal human being (still having panic attacks, but they were due to being in a bad relationship). I loved this medication, only got off because I am now pregnant and didn't want to worry about whether it was safe for the baby or not. Will be going back on once my baby is born."

• Wel...
• November 27, 2016

For Depression "My experience with SSRIs has been terrible. I've been on Cipralex and Sertraline, and they haven't worked at all. My doctor was really excited for me to try this one, and I finally caved. The first few days were normal, and the side effects were minimal (dry mouth, constipation, low appetite, a bit of drowsiness), but all that was manageable and went away pretty quickly. By the 9th day, I woke up, and I just knew something was different. It's like my eyes were open, and I had my life back. Having had depression for about a year, I always felt this grey cloud and weight constantly taking over my body and life. By the 7th week, mood and motivation were wonderfully back. I have my life back. Please try this if you can."

• J C...
• June 20, 2019

For Depression "I'm late 40s, female, married with kids. My doc cycled me through just about every antidepressant out there (and no generics either, just the straight stuff) but they all killed my libido stone dead. Then we got to Wellbutrin XL, 150 then 300mg/day. I noticed the new, improved sexy me within the first week. Honestly, I have never been this quick or easy to satisfy... husband and I both love it. He adores pleasing and on this drug, I just about wear him out. 3-4 times a week which is 3-4 times better than before! I also have lost a lot of appetite since going on Wellbutrin XL, created some unexpected weight loss. I can see where this works for weight loss or quitting bad habits. I don't crave anything now... except sex, lol. It doesn't do much for anxiety, but works well for the depressive component. For anxiety, the best for me was Pristiq, but that was a libido-killer. No anti-depression drug is perfect for everyone. This worked the best for me, though."

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 26, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Wellbutrin 300 XL for about 3 years. It helps my depression a lot. I am able to function daily and not overreact. Started at 150 mg and went to 300 mg. Before Wellbutrin, I was very depressed, and working, parenting, and everything was causing me grief, sadness, and fear. I was overweight and I overreacted to small things. I felt hopeless and on edge every day. I have a low-functioning thyroid as well that may have been making my depression worse. So now I am on track. It took me about 2 weeks to feel a difference. Now I do have several of the side effects. I lost about 30 lbs. I have a low appetite, I have ringing in my right ear. I also have dry mouth, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and blurred vision. I can handle the side effects but not the depression. So I have stayed on the medicine. Also, I suddenly stopped taking the meds one time and it caused suicidal thoughts and flu-like symptoms."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve been taking this for a little over 2 weeks now. Before this, I was on Zoloft for almost 5 years. 6 years of my life, I had constant thoughts of ending it. Ever since I’ve been on this medication, I finally want to live. So far, I’m having the basic side effects of most antidepressants: loss of appetite (although it is coming back), dry mouth, constipation/stomach pains, and being a bit more sensitive than usual. I would much rather deal with any side effects than wanting to end my life. I’ve read that some side effects will go away within time (since I’m only on my third week)."

• Ste...
• April 27, 2015

For Depression "I've been battling moderate anxiety and depression for most of my adult life. I'm 24 now, and since my official diagnosis at age 20, I have tried 4 other medications (Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, Buspar) and found that each one increased my anxiety or made me a despondent zombie. 3 months ago, my PCP put me on Wellbutrin. Let me tell you, this medication saved my life. I went from spending days lying in bed, smoking weed, having daily panic attacks to waking up with a desire to take on the day. In the few months since I've been on the medication, I've lost 30 pounds. It suppresses the urge to binge eat and provides energy for the gym. My friends said I finally seem like me again. Highly recommended if you hate SSRIs like me!"

• the...
• November 14, 2013

For Depression "I've been taking generic Bupropion XL (150mg) for three days and I can already say I feel like a new person. Before, I had no energy. Other than going to work, all I could do was lay around and feel sorry for myself. In just three days, I feel more clear-headed, energetic, and optimistic... I wish I had started it sooner! The only other medication that's worked for me in the past was Adderall, but I couldn't go on taking it due to the many unwanted side effects. Bupropion has worked wonders - little to no side effects for me, other than a slightly increased sex drive and loss of appetite (though nothing compared to Adderall in that department). I've also been having really vivid dreams, which I love, since I've never been one to remember them."

• Hon...
• July 7, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am on day 3 of taking 150 mg Wellbutrin XL, extended release. I was previously taking 10 mg Lexapro for 4 years. I found myself constantly fatigued, absolutely no libido, and gaining weight. I'm a 44-year-old, 145 lb female. Day one I noticed immediate effects such as calmness, and I wasn't as sad. Keep in mind, I took a month off from no meds at all. I wanted to give my body time to adjust without having the Lexapro in my system. Day 2 and 3, I noticed my appetite was suppressed. I wasn't as hungry as before. I have also been experiencing a slight headache. I am also dealing with insomnia. I think I got maybe 1 hour of sleep the first night, second night, slept better but did wake up and had a hard time falling back to sleep. I will keep you updated and good luck to anyone taking this medication! I have read horror stories of mixing this with alcohol. I haven't tried it and am almost scared to have a glass of wine...I'm not a big drinker but am scared to have at least 1 or 2 glasses of wine."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "It's only been four days - I've been told it takes about 2 to 3 weeks for full effect. I am taking 300 mg per day. I definitely feel better, but it's subtle at this point (I wanted to go outside and be part of society). What I'm most surprised about is the lack of side effects (other than no appetite). I have not one side effect."

• Edn...
• July 22, 2016

For Depression "I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 450mg/day for 9 years, the brand only (I have done some personal research about brands versus generics and do not believe that generics are as good, effective, or reliable as brands). This medication saved my life, so I guess that I was lucky that it suited me. Within the first year, I remember having a dry mouth, more energy, loss of appetite, and weight loss. With time, these side effects stopped. I have no side effects now, and what this medication clearly helped me with is to still feel myself and go through my emotions without falling into the hole of depression. So I feel functional, which was not the case before taking it (for example, staying in bed because of feeling a deep sadness etc...)."

• gem...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2012

For Depression "Wellbutrin XL has saved my life. I have been on this medication for 18 months, and my only regret is that I didn't start years earlier. I did not realize that I have been depressed for nearly 20 years, and with that came many side effects, which included a full-blown eating disorder. I was a compulsive overeater that had nothing to do with willpower. It was more like an alcoholic or drug addict. I am so happy now and love my life. Thank you, Wellbutrin XL."

• Ege...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2020

For Depression "After reading a lot of these reviews, I have never heard of as many mixed effects! Mine, so, too. Been taking a dose of 150 mg Wellbutrin XL for depression for about 6 weeks; then increased the dose to 300 mg for 1 week. I've been on tricyclics for 30 years, and they really worked! Wellbutrin makes me feel 'unaffected', almost anesthetized. I don't want to talk, eat, or sleep. 150 mg works better for me. I have lost about 5 pounds, but my depression is no better after 6 weeks. Anxiety is also increased even though I'm on Buspar and Klonopin. Klonopin doesn't seem to work with Wellbutrin. Panic attacks have decreased. I don't understand the effects Wellbutrin has on me. I'm different but not better. I'm hoping one morning to wake up to a breakthrough!"

• Gue...
• September 23, 2013

For Depression "I was on Lexapro, Effexor, and Cymbalta to treat my depression. All of these meds affect sexual drive and cause weight gain (20-30 pounds). I also had hair loss on Lexapro and muscle pain on Effexor. My doctor gave me Wellbutrin brand samples for 2 weeks - 150mg a day. Wow, I started to feel a difference on the second day, my mood was excellent, I had a lot of energy, and I could feel joy from little things. The only side effects were constipation and no appetite at all."

• san...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 26, 2014

For Depression "I started taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg once a day for the first two weeks, back in November. At first, I noticed a slight change in my mood. The doctor bumped me up to 300mg once a day. I have gotten a lot better now, not depressed, angry, sad all the time. Also, before I started taking this, I was having awful anxiety attacks to the point where I'd black out and wake up vomiting. I was losing a ton of weight because I was so depressed I had no appetite. Although I haven't experienced weight gain with this medication, I still don't have much of an appetite but I have gone back to my normal weight. Drinking while taking this makes the alcohol affect you a lot quicker than usual, also causes me to black out 98% of the time."

• Pur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 24, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "It took a month or so, but honestly, the best medication I've ever been on. I tried over 15 different things before, and finally, Wellbutrin allows me to feel happy, and depression is much more manageable. I will say, side effect wise, I have a decrease in appetite and have lost around 12 pounds in 4 months. I am also more easily angered based on my menstrual cycle."

• Lal...
• June 4, 2014

For Depression "Added this on along with my Cymbalta 60mg & Abilify 1mg. Took 150mg per day for 2 weeks until I realized I had major suicidal thoughts and ideation. Just out of nowhere. Immediately discontinued and felt better in 2-3 days. Beware of sudden mood changes please! The only good thing about this medicine is that it absolutely kills your appetite- lost 13lbs in 2 weeks. Not worth dying over though- sanity before vanity!"

• Klo...
• January 16, 2016

For Depression "I've been on this for about 6 weeks. So far it's working for depression. Much better than Zoloft was for me. With the Zoloft, I had no emotions. I was a drone just going through day to day. With Wellbutrin I'm not depressed (or at least not nearly as much), and I can actually feel joy again. Also, the weight loss is a plus. The cons to this medication is sometimes I have Cottonmouth, once in a while my hands shake (though this hasn't happened recently, could have just been when my body was adjusting. And it wasn't frequent), and I really have no appetite for breakfast or lunch (I need to force down my breakfast, and I'm just not hungry at lunch). I'm going to continue this medication for a while."

• Ami...
• December 25, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion) has helped me kick cravings for alcohol and other drugs. It's really amazing. My doctor prescribed it for major depressive disorder/PTSD, and I can feel it helping me get through the winter. I started out on 150 mg for 2 months, which was fine, then one month on 300 mg, which was too much (everyday stomach aches, shakes, too much energy, very speedy), so the doctor put me back on 150 mg XL, which is again working nicely, and all the shaky/speedy feelings I had on 300 mg are gone. My first 2-3 months on this drug, I didn't have much of an appetite, but it came back after that, so now I still eat normally even though I'm on the drug. So yeah, it takes some getting used to. Don't expect immediate results."

• Mel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 2, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I highly recommend Wellbutrin XL. I used to suffer from major depression, but thanks to Wellbutrin, my depression is almost nonexistent. Another great thing about it is that I don't have any side effects. In the beginning, I lost my appetite, and everything tasted bland. I was fine with that because I wanted to lose some weight, but thanks to my other medications, my appetite came back. Darn! Maybe if you take it and want to lose weight, you will get lucky as long as you don't take other medications to counteract it."

• Anonymous
• April 26, 2015

For Depression "I used to take 75 mg 2x a day and quit. I felt like it was not working and had terrible side effects. After 6 months of not taking medications, and situations got hard to cope, I asked to be put back on. The second time around, the 75 mg had me very nervous, anxious, dizzy, and 'dopey.' The doctors said that the immediate release is harsh on your system and switched me to 150 mg XL. And just 3 days into the new dose, I do not have such harsh side effects. The only side effects I have are no appetite, dry mouth, and vivid dreams. Overall, I am no longer having obsessive negative thoughts (which triggered my anxiety), so I'm overall not as anxious or having panic attacks. I feel more motivated and energetic, but it's only 3 days in on this dose."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I switched from Zoloft to Wellbutrin in November 2019. When I first started, I had, of course, beginning side effects from anxiety, stomach issues, appetite loss, etc. All those symptoms slowly passed, and I noticed a change in my mood, as did others. I not only have depression but anxiety as well. When I started this, my anxiety got worse, then better, then worse again. My doctor prescribed me Buspar for my anxiety, it did end up helping for a short time until recently. I had a very awful first panic attack. I decided to get off Wellbutrin as my anxiety was at an all-time high. The withdrawal symptoms are not so great, but I’m glad I’m off of it. If you have depression, then this medication is great, but if you have anxiety, I would consider a different route. Everyone is different and experiences medication differently, so do not take what I said and apply that to yourself. Talk to your doctor and see what is right for you. Best of luck."

• bux...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2012

For Depression "I have been on 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL for two days, and I can already feel a difference. It has removed all appetite, which seems to be a side effect, but in all fairness, I didn't have one before I started taking the meds! I have depression and panic attacks, and after just 48 hours, I am excited about the holidays! I baked five dozen Christmas cookies today! I haven't been interested in the holiday season in years! I do recommend getting the brand name meds and not the generic, as I have heard many issues arising from the generic form. Happy holidays!"

• tnc...
• February 17, 2009

For Depression "I love it. I have not had any depression issues or suicidal thoughts. The only side effect (which I don't mind) is having no appetite. This medicine is the best one I have ever taken for my anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. It works great when combined with Klonopin."

• noc...
• July 31, 2013

For Depression "I started taking this medicine for depression and adult ADD-like symptoms. I did not notice any side effects at all in the beginning, very easy to start taking. However, after taking it for about two months, I noticed I was very easily aggravated and overreacted to little things like crazy! Very emotional, crying, deep emotional pain. I did not wean off, I just stopped taking it because I didn't feel like 'me.' No adverse reaction in stopping for me, although I don't recommend stopping cold turkey for others. Only a plus was reduced appetite and increased libido!"