Thursday, October 24, 2013

Wellbutrin: The Magic Weight Loss Pill?

By Daryl Cocklin


Wellbutrin is the branded name of an antidepressant. The generic name is bupropion. You will see both terms used in this article. Just know we are talking about the same medication and how it is used to help with weight loss. Although bupropion was originally formulated to address depression, it was soon discovered that it helped people lose weight too.

Wellbutrin treats depression by keeping the uplifting chemicals, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain longer. This allows these mood enhancing compounds to build to effective levels and lift the patient's spirits.

For people fighting their weight, Wellbutrin could be exactly what they need to slim down. But, because it is a prescription medication, a doctor's supervision is required. It has side effects and some of these side effects could serious.

How Wellbutrin helps weight loss is not completely understood, however it's believed to minimizes appetite while at the same time increasing metabolism. This creates a two prong attack on fat by burning more calories while, at the same time, reducing the number of calories consumed.

The FDA has not approved Wellbutrin for the treatment of weight disorders. This doesn't mean it can't be used as such. It only means using it to lose weight is an 'off-label' use. It is not unusual for a doctor to prescribe a medication for 'off-label' uses.

People who need to lose a lot of weight may wish to speak to their doctor about combining Wellbutrin with Naltrexone. This combination has proven very successful when a lot of weight must be lost and nothing else seems to help. In fact, this formulation is so effective a couple of companies are in the process of getting their proprietary formulation approved by the FDA.

Naltrexone was developed to treat addictions. It works by blocking an addict's cravings for drugs and other addictive substances. When it is taken for weight loss, Naltrexone blocks a patient's cravings for food. Breaking this cycle significantly reduces the amount of calories consumed.

Wellbutrin can help you lose weight, but it does have side effects. It's a serious medication and still controversial in some medical circles. Doctors who embrace a non-pharmaceutical approach to health warn that there is no magic pill for losing weight. They recommend learning why you are overweight and addressing those concerns. For them, excessive weight is the symptom of something deeper and to paint over it with a pill is to miss an opportunity to truly regain your health.




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