Clinical studies on Wellbutrin XL and weight gain showed that it was not a side effect of the medication. In fact, weight loss often occurs. However, if you do notice weight gain with Wellbutrin XL, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she can perform a physical exam to determine if another medical condition is causing your weight gain, or may suggest lifestyle changes or another antidepressant.
Wellbutrin XL and Weight Gain: An Overview
Several side effects are possible with
Wellbutrin XL® (
bupropion XL). Weight gain, however, does not appear to be one of them. In fact, the medication is known to cause weight loss
(see Wellbutrin XL and Weight Loss). This data comes from clinical trials where
Wellbutrin XL was extensively studied and its side effects were documented.
Wellbutrin XL and Weight Gain: Understanding Clinical Trials
Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies, where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and are then compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, the side effects are always documented. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In studies, people taking Wellbutrin XL were less likely to gain weight than those not taking the drug. The studies showed that up to 11 percent of those taking Wellbutrin XL gained more than five pounds, compared to 21 percent of those not taking it.
Wellbutrin XL and Weight Gain: Suggestions
If you are noticing a weight gain with Wellbutrin XL, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she will do a physical exam to look for other causes of weight gain, such as certain types of medical conditions. If the weight gain remains unexplained, your healthcare provider may give you some suggestions, such as eating
heart-healthy foods, exercising more, and limiting your intake of alcohol. If the weight gain continues, he or she may also recommend other lifestyle changes or suggest switching to another
antidepressant medication.
(Click BMI Calculator to see if your weight is within a healthy range.)
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