Wellbutrin And Naltrexone: A One-Two Punch For Weight Loss.

By Forest Nix


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 works to defeat depression by blocking the transfer of feel good, mood enhancing compounds out of the brain. These compounds, norepinephrine and dopamine are essential to a patient's mood and mental stability.

If someone is struggling with weight issues, Wellbutrin may be the magic pill needed for them to trim down. However, it remains a prescription medication and has side effects. Some side effects can be serious. This is why its use must be supervised by a physician.

Exactly how Wellbutrin helps someone lose weight has not been conclusively determined. However, it is believed that it suppresses the appetite so someone taking it eats less. It probably also revs up the body's metabolism so it burns more calories at the same time.

Taking Wellbutrin to lose weight is considered an 'off-label' use. This simply means the US Food and Drug Administration has not formally approved bupropion for the treatment of weight loss issues. While this should be understood, it should not cause concern. Doctors routinely prescribe medications for off-label uses.

For patients who are obese or otherwise have a significant amount of weight to lose, it might be necessary to pair Wellbutrin with another medication such as Naltrexone. Several pharmaceutical companies are testing this combination in a single pill, but until their products are available doctors will need to prescribe them separately.

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 has helped a lot of people lose weight. However, it is serious medicine and has side effects the same as most any pharmaceutical. Therefore, taking it should not be done casually. In fact, some doctors caution that there is no pill that will magically make you slim. The reasons people are overweight are complex and interconnected. Excess weight is usually a sign of deeper issues. The true solution to weight loss is to dive into these issues and find the answers that are right for you.




About the Author:



No comments :

Post a Comment