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Wellbutrin and Weight Gain

Although weight gain is a potential side effect of Wellbutrin, the medicine is more likely to cause weight loss than it is to cause weight gain. If you are taking Wellbutrin and weight gain does become a problem, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider. He or she will do a physical exam to look for other causes of weight gain (such as certain medical conditions). He or she may also recommend lifestyle changes or possibly trying another antidepressant drug.

 

Does Wellbutrin Cause Weight Gain?

There are a number of possible side effects with Wellbutrin® (bupropion hydrochloride). Weight gain does appear to be one of them. This data comes from clinical trials that extensively studied Wellbutrin and documented its side effects.
 

Side Effects and Clinical Trials

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which 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 carefully 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.
 
As many as 13.6 percent of people taking Wellbutrin gained weight. However, weight gain was reported in 22.7 percent of those not taking Wellbutrin. Essentially, people taking Wellbutrin were less likely to gain weight. In fact, Wellbutrin is more likely to cause weight loss (see Wellbutrin and Weight Loss).
 

Wellbutrin and Weight Gain: Suggestions

If you are taking Wellbutrin and weight gain occurs, talk with 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 possibly switching to another antidepressant medication.
 
(Click BMI Calculator to see if your weight is within a healthy range.)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;