Hi,

I just started wellbutrin a couple of days ago to help augment my
prozac. I have been very emotional and tired and my pdoc thiniks
this may help with the energy level and the depression. I could stand
to lose a few pounds also (which would improve my mood!). She told
me it takes 5 days to get into your system so I may actually notice
some improvement in a week or so.

Best wishes,
starr

Hey! So I started WB XL 150mg 2 weeks ago. Since then I have lost 7, almost 8 pounds. I was wondering what people's experiences with such rapid weight loss are? When did you stop losing weight? Did you keep it off? Why exactly does this happen? Is it that your metabolsim speeds up and you burn more calories? Is it because of decreased appetite? I'm guess it's a combination of both but would love to hear other thoughts!

For now I am over some pretty wicked SE's. I'm glad I stuck with it though as I have had a few great days. I think the WB still gives me some headaches and again that strange pressure/dizzy feeling but I feel it is tapering off dramatically!


Thanks!


~ Lara

long time lurker....first post.

I started wellbutrin in late april at 150mg of xl. After 3 weeks I bumped up to 300mg XL. For two years prior I was bodybuilding and gaining weight (mostly muscle, some fat) and looked like an NFL linebacker. I wasn't fat I was bulky. About the same time I started taking wellbutrin I realized I was becoming rediculously huge and I had big muscles but moving around that much human was starting to make me not want to do other things. At my heaviest I weighed 262lbs.

I took wellbutrin for may and june and lost a little weight. My appetite was decreased- I ate enough for a normal person but not enough to sustain 262lbs. In july I started biking and lifting higher reps/lower weight. I am now at 220lbs and begining to see my abs and more definition showing. comes out to 42 lbs lost in 6 months--just about the upper limit for healthy weight loss at 2 lbs a week.



Your results may vary

I personally lost weight while on Wellbutrin. I believe it sped up my metabolism. I could eat anything I wanted and still lose weight (or not gain). The first week of Wellbutrin I lost 5 lb, but that's because it totally took away my appetite. My appetite was lost for about one month, and then it came back. Then (because i was also trying, but not too hard) I would lose about 1-2 pounds every few weeks or so.

Hi Poogles. I have GAD and panic disorder, so I was afraid to add WB to my Lexapro and mirtazapine regime. When I added 150 I didn't notice much at all; no increase anxiety and no decrease in appetite. That was four months ago. Five days ago I went to 300XL. It is too early to tell if I will get results from it, but again it did not trigger anxiety, panic, palpitations, etc. Must be the Lex takes care of that. If I was on WB alone, I believe I'd be telling a different story. So that's my experience. Hope it helps. Cheryl

i think that i have put on weight since starting WB. I dont seem to have an off switch like before and i dont seem to care what i eat. Its getting better and i am back in the gym so i am not worried about it. I just think its a bit strange to put on weight with this medication. Then again , i am strange...

I too have maintained my weight ( would love to lose some ) after about 6 weeks on WB. Might be the Remeron at night.

It certainly motivates me when I'm up and about.

Oh Yeah! I forgot you are on Remeron too! Me too. What dosage are you on? I'm beginning to believe nothing will counteract the power of the Mirtz! I'm trying to find something that will fight my insomnia without putting on weight.. as reluctant as I am to give up the mirtz.

It's too early to tell if 300WB is going to help that category or not. But it will help the energy and motivation areas as well as restoring a healthy libido; those things are important to me too!

Cheryl

I haven't noticed any significant change in weight or appetite since increasing to 200 mg SR about a month ago. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed much increase in effectiveness either.

Cheryl, please keep us posted about your increase to 300mg. I'm seriously considering trying that too (not for weight, but for depression). As you probably know, I have major anxiety issues too, so I'm a little nervous about taking that much. Then again, I need all the help I can get right now. Are you still taking the Lex? If so, how much and how is the combo working for you? As bad as I hate the idea of adding an SSRI back into the mix, I might have to try it if my mood doesn't let up soon.

I have been on it 5 days now and have already lost 5 lbs in conjuction with the fact I am on atkins. I had hit a stall in my weight loss with atkins so Im assuming the WB has helped with that for sure. I have a terrible sweet tooth, more so than everyone else i know and found that i craved sugar all the time on atkins (but wouldn't give in - ok a couple times I did) but since ive been on WB i have had no cravings for sweets at all - i used to be addicted to food and have found that this has really helped though I know 5 days on is a short amount of time, but it feels like it has made a difference.

Hi! I have only been taking WB for 4 days and shortly after the first pill I had NO appetite. Over the past couple of days although I smell food it's not something that I have to have. I am aware that I need to eat so I have made sure that I eat. I already lost a couple of pounds, so I will definitely make sure I keep aware of weight as I don't want to lose too much.

Yes.
I've been on Wellbutrin over 3 months now and I've managed to lose the 10 KG I put on with Remeron. Yippee! Still have 10kg of Efexor weight to lose, though. Recently Efexor was re-introduced to my cocktail and I've started to get those Efexor munchies again.... I'm now exercising and trying to eat more veges and stuff as I WANT to lose the rest.

Does anyone out there take wellbutrim and cymbalta together? I was on wellbutrin awhile back with other meds (paxil, lamictal, effexor) but now am on cymbalta and lamictal. I am still have no energy which is why I went on wellbutrin back in the day (as an addition to paxil to add a boost) and wonder if it would work now.

My doc is very conservative. I did not notice weight gain on wb but have a little on cymbalta.

Any advice? My doc will listen to my requests.

Thanks

Ha, I was really curious about this myself! I wouldn't say I've had a loss of appetite at all, I still eat 3 very healthy meals every day. But I've been vegetarian for 14 years now and try to exercise and have been unable to lose wieght. I have two kids, one is 4 years old and the other turns 1 this month. I have, unfortunately, about 20lbs to go to lose my baby weight - quite depressing when you work so hard. I recently found out my triglyceride level is through the roof! Normal level is 150 and I'm an 800. I think this could have been preventing weight loss because your body holds onto fat. (if anyone has specifics on this PLEASE let me know)

Anyways, I started Wellbutrin XL 150 3 weeks ago. For 4 days I took just one, then on the 5th I started taking two. THose were samples (just making sure no nastiness came along with the meds). Then I filled my prescription and got the generic Budeprion SR 150mg (taking those twice a day.

Like I said no loss of appetite, but I also don't snack all day like I used to. This is good for me because I used to get really aweful hunger pains when I'm doing normal stuff, and I'd almost HAVE to answer them. So that added to why I couldn't lose! Well now that I'm only eating the 3 meals I should I have lost about 4-6lbs in the last 2 weeks. It flucuates a lot.

Some of you say it wears off but is there anyone who says this would actually help keep my appeitite in control. I feel like it's right where it should be. I eat really healthy - it's amazing I can gain weight at all! I eat nothing but protein, fiber, and low fat foods. All vegetarian. Hardly any dairy. I even eat raw vegetables a lot of days and with 2 of 3 meals a day there are 1-3 vegetables.

Any chance this will stick with me?!!!! I hope so. As of about 4 days ago I really started feeling much much better mentally. My anxiety is far reduced, my sadness is lifting, and I'm slowly returning to the mother I used to be a few years ago. Oh yeah, I'm 27 if that helps.

Thanks for any feedback!

I'm glad I found this thread! I was starting to wonder what was happening because I've already lost 7 lbs. in just two weeks. My appetite has definitely decreased and my energy level is much higher. Although I haven't started an exercise routine yet.

I have another 20 lbs. to lose, so it will be interesting to see if the weight loss continues. I definitely have the energy to start exercising now...I'm crossing my fingers to continue losing. I know my weight has been a huge part of my depression.

Your posts give me great peace of mind!! thank you...

I lost my 15 vanity pounds while I was on Remeron! I believe it was possible b/c I was on it so long I was able to control the cravings, and had the will power to stick to the diet. Anyway, now that I'm skinny and on WB, there are times I have to remind myself to eat and other times that I feel ravenous, stomach growling hungry. I have noticed a change in the way that food tastes, or that it tastes bland, so I have become a saltaholic. I will have to monitor my blood pressure. I'm still new to WB so these SE's may wear off, hopefully, so that I can stabilize my weight and eating habits.

The lessening of appetite and weight loss effect wore off for me, unfortunately :( Would love to have it back!

im on wb sr 300mg, someone said that might be too intense for some, for me i dont know, i started with a 300 dose and have only been taking this particular med for 2 weeks at most, im going to wait a couple months before i decide whether or not to continue with wb but as far as the weight loss goes, for those who have lost, or even gained weight, how soon did that affect you?

Do you have weight to lose? If not, maybe it won't affect you as much.

no it doesnt matter, but i heard thats the biggest side effect

On topic,

I lost 2 pounds in 2 days (day 3 of WB XL 150). LOL. It's probably just water that my body's been hanging onto. I've been drinking a TON of water.

Very interesting. I'm going to pay attention to my body fat levels to determine if i'm losing muscle or water. If you lose muscle and water you will gain the scale weight back (or even more) after you leave the WB (if it's controlling your appetite and/or speeding up your metabolism).

I think it's making me burn more calories during the day, as my heartbeat has increased. I noticed it yesterday mid-day. I was also very anxious and nervous after drinking a coffee.........happened two days in a row. I had a latte and then an hour later everything was seriously nerve-wracking.