For those who are suffering from depression, smoking issues, and taking antidepressant medications, the most common side effect that they may face is weight gain. However, this is not the fact with Wellbutrin (the brand name for Bupropion). Studies and anecdotal reports show that taking the antidepressant medication, Wellbutrin may actually result in weight loss.
Here comes the question can anyone use Wellbutrin for weight loss? Before you use this medicine for weight loss or any purpose, continue to read this article. We will help you to know how Wellbutrin causes weight loss and what are the side effects of using
this medication.
What Is Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin is the brand name for the antidepressant medication called Bupropion. Bupropion is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) and helps to boost norepinephrine and dopamine secretion in your body. These neurotransmitters help to improve sleep, the regulation of energy level, and alertness. For this reason, doctors prescribe Wellbutrin to treat depression and smoking cessation.
The Uses of Wellbutrin:
Doctors mainly prescribe Wellbutrin to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). This medicine is also useful to quit smoking as it can minimize a smoker’s nicotine cravings. The other uses of Wellbutrin include treating ADHD, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.
Function and Side Effects of Wellbutrin:
Low levels of norepinephrine and dopamine can result in depressive symptoms and mood swings. Wellbutrin helps to improve the levels of these neurotransmitters resulting in an improvement in mood swings and other depressive symptoms.
Unlike other antidepressant drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Wellbutrin is associated with milder side effects. The most common side effects of this drug include insomnia, constipation, nausea, dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, sore throat, and rapid pulse.
Can Bupropion Cause Weight Loss?
Even though most antidepressant drugs can result in weight gain, Wellbutrin (the generic name: Bupropion) is the only antidepressant to cause weight loss in depression patients. The main reason for this effect can be the change in appetite and feeding behaviors due to the increase in norepinephrine and dopamine levels.
Several studies and research have confirmed that people who have used Wellbutrin for several weeks have experienced a significant weight loss. For instance, according to a 2012 study, the bupropion patients who were also obsessed managed to lose almost twice the weight of the placebo group after taking the drug for 48 weeks. Whereas a 2016 clinical study showed that people lost 5% of their body weight after taking Wellbutrin for 16 weeks and kept that weight for one year on the continuation of the medication. Another study depicts that depressive people who have also obesity issues can lose at least 5% of their body weight within 12 weeks if they use Wellbutrin as well as an effective diet to reduce 500 calories per day. One of the most reliable studies has also confirmed that obese and depressive adults can lose up to 7 % or 10 % of their body weight if they go through exercise and diet and take 300 mg or 400 mg of Wellbutrin SR continuously for 24 weeks.
However, you should understand that this drug is an antidepressant drug and therefore, you can not use this drug solely for the purpose of weight loss. You should always consult a doctor before using this antidepressant drug.
Different Versions of Wellbutrin:
There are two types of Wellbutrin, such as Wellbutrin XL and Wellbutrin SR. Wellbutrin XL is an extended-release version that you need to take once in the morning every day. The sustained-release version, Wellbutrin SR needs to be taken twice every day typically in the morning and the mid-afternoon.
Is This Safe to Take Wellbutrin?
Taking antidepressant drugs is an ideal way to restore well-being for people with major depressive disorders and suicidal thoughts. Therefore, the antidepressant medication, Wellbutrin can be prescribed for people with depressive symptoms. One of the crucial side-effects of using this drug is weight loss. However, there are also many depressive patients who do not experience weight loss while taking Wellbutrin. In particular, Wellbutrin is not a weight loss drug, and you can not use this medication for weight loss purposes. Instead, you should go through exercise and a restrictive diet to lose weight.