Question:
Anybody started taking Welbutrin 3 months or so after surgery?

I had been taking Zoloft for 2 years before my rny 3 months ago. They didn't give it to me while I was recovering in the hospital but sent me home with instructions to resume all regular meds. I never resumed the Zoloft; I wanted to see if I could do without it. Well here I am 3 months later and I'm going crazy. I need to go back on something. After reading about Zoloft's possibly causing weight gain, I'm alittle hesitant to go back on it. I didn't get cut open to help me loose weight, just to have some stupid med work against me. I asked my surgeon last night about it & he said that yes, Zoloft can cause weight gain & suggested Welbutrin. He said that sometimes they give it to people to help them loose weight. I like the sound of that! I heard though that it kills sex drive. I'd just like to know how those of you who have started Welbutrin post-op are doing on it. And to those of you who have tried several different meds - are there any other meds that you'd recommend instead; a "perfect" med that has no negative side effects (sexual problems, weight gain, etc) and works just as well (if there is one)? Btw, I was taking Zoloft for depression/anxiety. Now I seem to be bipolar, having huge mood swings. Of course I can't diagnose myself & need to get back in touch with my shrink. Alls I know is that I need SOMETHING!!!    — lalasmommy (posted on August 21, 2001)

August 21, 2001
Alexandra, i know nothing about Wellbutin but i've been on anitdepressants for over a year. My doc. prescribed Celexa because are no side affects and he thought it might help me lose weight. It is non habit forming, does not cause sexual dysfunction and works like a charm. I too went off of it when i came home from the hospital, saw a big difference and went back on. That was the right choice. Please talk to your doc. about Celexa and see if he thinks it will be a good choice for you. Works well for me. Good luck!
   — Christine H.

August 21, 2001
I agree with Anon above, but will give you my 2 cents worth. I took Zoloft for a few years and steadily gained weight. Back then, there was no proof it could contribute to weight gain. I asked the doc to change me and she put me on Wellbutrin. I was also having sexual side effects from Zoloft and she chose Wellbutrin because of the lack of sexual side effects. It seems to be working well. I am not bi-polar as you say so I highly recommend the use of a Psychiatrist (sp) as well. They know the most about these drugs. Good Luck.
   — Dot W.

August 21, 2001
I've been on both Welbutrin and Celexa for a few years. I complained to my shrink about the "sexual side effects". He looked up the drugs in his BIG BOOK on drugs and said Welbutrin does'nt have that problem. I said something is doing it! Then he looked up Celexa and says that DOES give problems. I surprised by the previous post that says Celexa does'nt. I looked at his book and indeed it says Celexa has that side effect. Now I'm on only Welbutrin and things seem to be better although not where I would like them to be. If I remember right (from my days on Prozac) Prozac is another bad one. However deppression itself will kill your sex drive. You may have to try several things and see what works for you. But based on my experience and my shrinks book, I'd stay away from the Celexa unless you really need it. ;)
   — Danmark

August 21, 2001
I have had experience with Wellbutrin, as well as other anti-depressants. For me, Wellbutrin had the least amount of NEGATIVE side-effects, including sexual. Remember, Wellbutrin is bupropion, which is also sold as Zyban for people trying to quit smoking. There is also research that it may prove useful for weight loss, as a deterrant to over-eating. Some literature states that doctors aren't quite sure how it works, but that it does work differently than SRRI's like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. It's #1 problem side-effect is seizures. I've never had them and don't know anyone who did, but evidently if you're prone to them for some other reason, Wellbutrin is not for you. Personally,I think it's a wonderful drug.
   — scottiemaam O.

August 21, 2001
Be careful with Wellbutrin. A doctor put my husband on that and he started having fits of rage. I had the same experience with a co-worker who was on it. She was nearly fired because she totally lost it and started yelling at someone in the middle of the hall. My husband has no problems with Prozac.
   — [Anonymous]

August 22, 2001
Thanks for all the responses to my question on Welbutrin. To the first anonymous poster - OF COURSE I will talk to my doctor about this. I can't get the drug w/o an Rx! I was only trying to gather some personal experiences from those who have taken it. Ultimately it's between me & my dr. To the other poster who mentioned the possibility of seizures from taking Welbutrin, thanks for this detail as I do have a seizure disorder. Alls I can say is bummer! I was begining to like the sound of this Welbutrin up until then. Oh well! I'll double check with my neurologist to see if I might still be able to take Welbutrin despite the seizure risk; maybe I'll need more anti-seizure meds to counteract the seizure side-effect. And to the other poster who mentioned the risk of rages - WOW! That worries me because that's one of the things I'm hoping Welbutrin (or any other drug the dr deems more appropriate) will control. Maybe Welbutrin won't have this effect on me. Thanks to all of you for the info!
   — lalasmommy