Hello,

I've tried Wellbutrin in the past and gained 20 lbs as a result. I know this is an uncommon side effect since most lose weight, but I definitely gained the weight due to Wellbutrin and not lifestyle changes. The same has happened to me with Paxil, Effexor and Buspar. I know these are all completely different medications, so it's not the neurotransmitters themselves that alter my metabolism. It must be due to the mechanism in which they work. I don't know too much about this. Based on this past experience, do you think I would gain weight on Stratterra? I know it does not effect serotonin, but neither does Wellbutrin, which caused a great deal of weight to be gained with me. What do you think?

Yes I gained five pounds and I can't get rid of them! I work out every day, eat practically nothing and what I do eat is healthy and low fat. It could be a winter thing, too, not just the Wellbutrin - I am even more active in summer (cycling) and usually weigh less then. So...I am giving myself one more shot at really looking at how much I am eating, pare down and see if I can lose this weight and if not I am going to wean off Wellbutrin. This is weird but I have only gained the weight in the last month and a half and that's when the WB started working. I was also very active even before meds, so WB didn't cause any increase in my activity level. I have a lot of natural energy and my depression wasn't sedentary. I think that depressed people who have not been active before meds suddenly feel energized by WB and start burning more calories, and that may be one of the reasons why weight loss is considered a common side effect.

I'm sorry you are experiencing the weight gain as I had, but doesn't it make you feel better that you're not making it up? Have you tried any other meds before? Did you gain? I'm starting to think in me it's realted to the liver. I've read that fat metabolism is inhibited when taking medications, thus the weight gain I've had with various types.

Jeali, yes, I think my gain might be due to the WB but I really can't tell because this is the first time in a long time that I have actually been weighing myself. I know it's not that much and I could have been up and down 5 lbs for the past few years and not known it. My clothes actually feel looser, maybe because of my longer workouts & toning etc. Also, I was on Lexapro for almost a year but again I have no idea if I gained because I wasn't into weighing myself. If there was a gain it was very slight.

I know it's not a lifestyle thing, as you were saying. We eat small & healthy and don't have much of a social life and we don't eat out very often either, as the closest decent restaurant is about half an hour away. But like I said I may be actually eating more than I think I am, so this week I have been very careful to write down everything.

I'll let you know how I do next time I get on the scale (if I dare).