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Wellbutrin Weight Loss: A Dangerous or Welcome Side Effect?
Wellbutrin is a well-known anti-depressant medication used to treat seasonal affective disorder and major depressive disorder. To do this, Wellbutrin helps to balance the neurotransmitters called dopamine and norepinephrine. Wellbutrin is also used to minimize the cravings and withdrawal effects that occur when one is trying to stop smoking, and can be used for other medical reasons as well. Despite the many benefits that Wellbutrin can provide, there are many negative side affects, as there are with any drug. But there are other side effects that could be considered positive. One of these side effects is wellbutrin weight loss. With the obesity rates in the United States on the rise, many health experts are welcoming this new weight loss tool. But is wellbutrin weight loss really worth the risks involved in taking this medication?
Side Effects Include&
There are many negative side effects of Wellbutrin, as there are with any drug. These side effects include: headache or migraine, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, confusion, dizziness, agitation, tremors (shaking), mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, appetite changes, mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating, or loss of interest in sex. A more serious side effect is the increased risk of seizures. Approximately four out of every 1,000 people taking Wellbutrin at the maximum dosage will have a seizure.
Is It Worth The Risk?
In a recent study conducted by the Duke University Medical Center, two groups of women were placed on diets of 1,600 calories per day. One group combined this diet with taking Wellbutrin, and they lost a significantly greater amount of weight than the other group did due to wellbutrin weight loss. Sixty seven percent of those women taking wellbutrin lost more than five percent of their body weight, while only fifteen percent in the other group lost this amount. Additionally, the study showed that wellbutrin weight loss leads to the loss of fat as opposed to loss of muscle, which is an added benefit. Low calorie diets alone can lead to a loss of muscle; thus, wellbutrin weight loss provides an advantage in that it induces a greater loss of fat. Scientists are unsure what the connection is between Wellbutrin and weight loss, but wellbutrin weight loss appears to be unrelated to depression as none of the women in the study were depressed.
If you are considering taking Wellbutrin for weight loss, make sure you understand the risks and potential side effects. Wellbutrin weight loss is not recommended if the patient has epilepsy or if they have a history of an eating disorder; this increases the risk of seizure.
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