Does the antidepressant Wellbutrin have negative side effects?

Question

Weight gain? Insomnia? I'm thinking about asking my physician for some. Thank you.

Answer 1

http://www.wellbutrin-xl.com/
"WELLBUTRIN XL is not for everyone. There is a risk of seizure with WELLBUTRIN XL which increases with higher doses. Taking more than 450 mg/day increases the chance of serious side effects. Don’t use it if you’ve had a seizure or eating disorder, or if you abruptly stop using alcohol or sedatives. Don’t take with MAOIs, or medicines that contain bupropion. When used with a nicotine patch or alone, there is a risk of increased blood pressure, sometimes severe. To reduce risk of serious side effects, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. Other side effects may include weight loss, dry mouth, nausea, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, sore throat, constipation, or flatulence.

"WELLBUTRIN XL is approved only for adults 18 years and over. In some children and teens, antidepressants increase suicidal thoughts or actions. Whether or not you are taking antidepressants, you or your family should call the doctor right away if you have worsening depression, thoughts of suicide, or sudden or severe changes in mood or behavior, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose (see Medication Guide: What is important information I should know and share with my family about taking antidepressants?)."

I took it without any significant physical side-effects, my already high libido was not effected, and I did not gain or lose weight (I had hoped it would help me lose because I have a history of compulsive eating). However, my one and only suicide attempt in a lifetime of depression occurred while taking it. Of course, I was taking the drug because I was severely depressed, so I can't say whether the pill was just ineffective for my depression, or whether it made it worse. It certainly didn't help.

Answer 2

DO NOT listen to Go_Know_'s explanation it is ridiculous. The recommendation that you do not take wellbutrin if you recently stopped abusing alcohol/drugs, eating disorders or any of the other reasons mentioned is because going into withdrawal symptoms while taking wellbutrin may increase the risk of having a seizure. NOT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT EASIER TO ABUSE SUCH THINGS. Wellbutrin does not "enable" you to do anything. Infact consuming any alcohol while on wellbutrin is highly discouraged because it greatly increases the risk of seizure. (alcohol is a downer people who suffer from depression should not be using anyway) Do not listen to such UN-educated theories, take the advice of your doctor.


Insomnia is a side effect.

Weight gain is not, weight loss is actually a side effect.

Answer 3

What is Wellburtin
-Wellbutrin is an antidepressant medication.
-Wellbutrin is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder.
-At least one brand of bupropion (Zyban) is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects.

Wellbutrin is not suitable for
-Those with epilepsy or a seizure disorder
-Those who have had, or still do have an eating disorder
-Those taking another form of bupropion (the generic name for Wellbutrin, also found in Zyban the drug used to help people stop smoking)
-Those who have recently stopped using Alcohol or seditives
-Those who have taking an MAOI in the last 14 days

Some side effects
+Severe Side effect
- Some have argued that there can be an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior at the start of treatment with an antidepressant medication, especially if you are 18 years of age or younger. Contact your doctor if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity), or thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
-It can increase the risk of a seizure, especially when taken with Alcohol or other forms of bupropion
-Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
-Stop using Wellbutrin and call your doctor at once if you have a seizure (convulsions) or fast, uneven heartbeats.

+Continue taking Wellbutrin and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
-headache or migraine;
-sleep problems (insomnia);
-nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth;
-confusion, dizziness, agitation, tremors (shaking);
-appetite changes, weight loss or gain;
-mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating;
-loss of interest in sex.

See the final like for patients comments on the drink

Good luck


Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Answer 4

Yes it does. They ALL do!!

So consider that fact before starting on anything that you will eventually grow a dependency on, that WILL have to be changed eventually or you will have to be weaned off of as none of them let you go without a fight...Often taking a slight condition and making it 10 times worse.

Once you introduce a psych med into your system you will need something to get by once it begins to work and they ALL have side effects and they ALL lose their effectiveness over time and have to be changed to something else eventually and/or the dose increased gradually ... Usually right after they actually begin to work for you, you are forced to change to something else and get used to a new drug all over again... And since they are all different and no one really understands how ANY of them actually work. It is a hit and miss situation.

It is a vicious cycle that you are better off not starting.

Get therapy instead.

I call Wellbutrin the "Enabling Drug." If you are anorexic, bulemic, obsessive compulsive, an alcoholic or drug addict, suffer from PTSS...

Basically, it makes it easier for you to starve yourself to death, throw up, Drink, give in to self harming urges and hurt yourself worse basically... Lotta good that is to anyone...

Read the side effects in the answer below... This is why it warns you not to take it if you have this or that.

Answer 5

Try St. John's Wort. It is a herbal remedy available in most health foodstores.

I tried it. It really helped and there were no nasty side effects. I wouldn't touch prescribed antidepressants with a bargepole.

Answer 6

I have been on wellbutrin and i didn't have any negative side effects, but everyone is different. So talk to your doctor about it.

Answer 7

yes yes yes yes. It's supposed to help with weight gain, and it's supposed to help with mania, but it just made everything worse. I personally had a bad experience with Wellbutrin.

Answer 8

NO SEX DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you coulda paraded the chipendales and a few hooter girls in front of me and i would have told them to move i had stuff to do.ive always had an extremely high sex drive (5.times a week) but it totally went away. Needless to say my husband took me to the doctor and I got PAXIL. I LOVE IT. i have more energy. no more panic attacks or depression, sleep good and still have my healthy sex drive. The only side affect is I drink more so my mouth doesnt get dry. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

I have a friend who took it for a while. She completely lost interest in sex while on it - probably because it made it nearly impossible to climax while taking it. And you cannot abruptly stop taking it, you have to be weaned off it. People who have tried to quit it cold-turkey have had suicidal episodes until it was all out of their system. My friend says she will never take it or anything like it ever again.

Answer 10

I"m not reading this off a bottle or anything, but I tried welbutrin and it gave me tremors. My (for instance) right arm would just suddenly move," like snap" move ten inches. Scarey if you ask me. But then drugs act differently on different people