This is my third day on Bupropion HCL XL 150. I got on it for compulsive eating and slight depression. I am not very large, I am 5"9' and 150 lbs. For three days I have felt constantly hungry. I am not over eating, just eating when I need to. And I eat pretty healthy, a lot of fruits and veggies. Will this get better? The constant feel of hunger is so irritating. Will it stop within a week or two or ever??
Wellbutrin XL - Will the constant hunger ever end?
Question posted by BupropionConcerned on 18 April 2013
Last updated on 1 April 2022 by asdfasdf21312
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23 Answers
Bupropion took away my appetite. Not to the point where it's harmful, but I now find fasting for 24 hours or up to days super easy. I often forget I haven't eaten for 12-16 hours.
Having been obese previously this has never been the situation for me before.
It ended for me. The first two or three days I felt an insatiable hunger even when I knew I was completely full. It was annoying, but on day four I didn't feel as hungry. Then about a week and a half in, I'm only eating two meals a day (I used to stress eat 4-5 times a day) and don't feel hungry at all after meals anymore. No more late night snacking. This is only my personal experience and I encourage you to talk to your doctor about any concerns, especially with prescription drugs.
I've been taking bupropion for over a year and actually lost my appetite and I've also lost weight.
Lucky me!
"Very common (10% or more of users): Weight loss greater than 2.3 kg (up to 28%), weight gain greater than 2.3 kg (up to 11%)"
"Common (1% to 10% of users): Anorexia, decreased appetite, increased appetite, thirst/thirst disturbance"
I've been taking only 75mg a day for 4 weeks and I've been hungry the whole time. I'm also so constipated I'm miserable and stopping it. I'm disappointed I have to stop because it's helped with my ptsd and a little with my chronic pain. But my constipation issues are serious without a medication making it worse.
I've been on wellbutrin for 3 months and I can't stop eating. I'm always hungry and my impulsiveness makes me give in.
I have been on Wellbutrin/ Bupropion XL, (300mg) in addition to (Busebar) now for (YEARS) and the hunger NEVER goes away, (at least for me). Im CONSTANTLY HUNGRY! Even after I eat a gigantic meal I would still be hungry!
Sadly, no it does not end. I have been eating constantly since I started taking it in 2016. The psychiatrist explained that weight gain was not a side effect, but the more research I am doing online from people who actually take it tells me that it can and does cause weight gain.
I was always 130-135 lbs. (5'3"), am still super active (workout 3-5 times per week) and have always ate well, focusing on natural foods.
I have comes to terms with my weight, because I can't stop taking this medicine.
I am on Dr. Reddy's generic Bupropion HCL XL and I'm going on my third week on it. I lost my hunger and appetite in the first week. The second week, I got my hunger back, but no appetite. Now, I noticed that both my hunger and appetite is back, but I eat a lot less than I used to. I binged because of depression as well. I do notice that I am a lot more often, but a small amount of food will fill me up. It's nice to know that I'm only eating when I'm hungry (albeit quite often), instead of binge eating out of emotional support when I'm not even hungry.
Hello! I just got on Wellbutrin Xl 150 mg 6 days ago and side effects are crazy. I feel like I’m light headed most time, very hungry and been having vivid dreams. I notice I’m in better mood at times but slightest noises, smells, and people talking a lot drives me nuts.
Hi Concerned - My doctor started me on the same dossge of Bupropion that you are on 8 months ago for depression/anxiety. I am also on one other antidepressant. I believe as a result, for the last several (most) of the last consecutive months my body tells me I am hungry but I don't feel like eating anything - nothing is appealing. Then I wait until a couple hours before bedtime and force myself to eat a NORMAL size dinner and afterwards I am starving for the next several hours and cannot eat enough to satisfy my craving to eat. My stomach churns and gurgles audibly and begs to be fed more. Many times I lay awake for hours until I eventually fall asleep, because I am starving. My appetite is the same as it was before I started take Buproprion in the morning (breakfast) and noontime (lunch). There has been no difference whatsoever, except at night.
Tonight for dinner I went to a local chicken place - ordered and ate 3 skinless chicken breasts, and large-size side orders of steamed broccoli and pinto beans. 2 hours later (now), I am STARVING. I'll have to force myself to eat a banana, an apple, and 2 Clif bars if I am going to get any sleep. Maintaining my weight with all this new, excess hunger is really hard. BRIAN
It's generally a side of coming off the Wellbutrin, it's why it happens at night it's like your body is going through withdrawal. For some it passes after a while but it sounds like you are taking Wellbutrin SR which is 6 hour release as opposed to XL which is 12 hour release.
I started off a few weeks ago on Bupropion XL 150 mg. I did notice my appetite spike, and I was constantly snacking. However, in the past 2 weeks my doctor upped my dosage to 300 mg and I noticed that I have zero appetite. I can go until 7pm or longer without eating breakfast. I noticed I am feeling more tired lately too.
I've been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg for about a week, and I too am constantly hungry, BUT I also have no appetite! I go to the kitchen looking for food, and see NOTHING that appeals, except maybe a single Oreo to make the shakes go away. When I sit down to dinner, I eat a few bites, and have to stop because I already feel full. Sometimes the smell of the food makes me (ever so slightly) nauseous so I don't want to eat, even usual favorites. If I can get some of it down, the hunger goes away for an hour or two then comes back. I am already small and can't afford to lose weight. I took it supposedly for depression, had no idea about this other (off-label??) use for the drug, and wondered why I was suddenly so hungry my hands would shake until I had a cookie, but when faced with food, it turned me off. One night I made myself a small salad, a small steak with grilled onions and a tiny potato. Sounds yummy, right? It lasted me three meals before I could get it all down.
I actually went on Wellbutrin XL (150 mg in the morning) because I had gained weight after taking Prozac long term, I am finding that I am EATING LIKE A HORSE and while my depression does seem to be lifting, I am concerned about gaining more weight! I have been on it for about a week but if I keep feeling this constant hunger, I may have to look into another antidepressant. I was told that I would likely LOSE weight on this and that often people had to actually remind themselves to eat while taking this! Lol, I wish! The upside is that I am not feeling thirsty and am not having sleeping issues and, of course, that the depression is lifting. Still, I hope the hunger will end soon.
I am having a really hard time on Wellbutrin. I thought it was a miracle drug at first but now I am so depressed and obsessing that I want to crawl under my bed. I am 6 weeks in. Going off tomorrow. I yelled at a TSA employee at the airport today and I'm pretty sure she was about one insult away from arresting me. I am a business professional. wtf.
On hunger though, it works fab. No weight gain. I will miss that.
I've been on Welbutrin for 3 weeks, the first 5 days on 150 xl, the next e weeks on 300xl, and now the last 3 days back to the 150xl. I couldn't take the higher dose as it made my anxiety much worse. However, for me, the Welbutrin has dramatically reduced my appetite. I have been on Remeron since the first of May and gained 25 lbs so Dr moved me to Welbutrin. I had a total knee replacement Oct 15, 2013 from which I have still to recover. Extra weight is much worse for my knee. Because the Welbutrin made the anxiety worse, Dr has me take 15 of Remeron at night ( I can get a few hours sleep) & the 150 Welbutrin in am. All this being said, my body is still adjusting to this new dose change but thankfully my appetite is still suppressed. Maybe you just need a little more time on the med for it to be as effective as it can be. I was told it is one that generally helps with weight loss. I'll be thinking of you & hoping the best!
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wellbutrin, wellbutrin xl, depression, bupropion, appetite
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