Does Bupropion (Wellbutrin) cause weight gain?
The honest answer from the FDA-approved label for Bupropion (Wellbutrin)— what the trials actually reported, not the “every drug makes you gain weight” folklore.
What the label reports
The label reports weight loss, not gain. In short-term MDD trials there was a dose-related decrease in body weight: 14% of patients on 300 mg/day and 19% on 400 mg/day lost >5 lbs versus 6% on placebo, while only 2-3% gained >5 lbs versus 4% on placebo. In longer-term (up to 6 months) seasonal affective disorder trials, 23% of the bupropion group had a weight loss of at least 5 lbs compared with 11% on placebo. Decreased appetite is also listed as an adverse reaction.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bupropion cause weight gain?
The label's picture is above. Bupropion's weight effect is can cause weight loss — read the summary rather than the folklore, and track your own trend.
How much weight can Bupropion cause?
The label reports what the trials found (above) and does not hand out a single number that applies to everyone — weight change depends on dose, duration, your starting point, and why you are taking the drug. If your weight is changing in a way that bothers you, that is a specific, fixable conversation with your prescriber, not a reason to quit abruptly.
Does the weight come off after stopping Bupropion?
Often at least partly, when the drug's effect on appetite or metabolism was the cause — but that is individual, and some weight tracks lifestyle rather than the drug. Never stop a medication just to lose weight without talking to the prescriber first; for several of these drugs abrupt stopping has its own risks.
More guides for Bupropion
Source
Other drugs: Amitriptyline · Amlodipine · Citalopram · Duloxetine · Escitalopram · Fluconazole · Fluoxetine · Gabapentin · Ibuprofen · Levothyroxine · Metformin · Mirtazapine · Naproxen · Olanzapine · all drugs.
The weight information is what the drug’s FDA-approved label reports from its trials. This is general reference information, not medical advice, and weight change is individual — do not start or stop a medication to change your weight without your prescriber.