Comments on: buproprion and e.d.'s

Question: buproprion and e.d.'s

lettuchi — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 04:37:41 -0800

Why is Wellbutrin contraindicated for patients with eating disorders?

Hi all,

I was wondering why specifically Wellbutrin is contraindicated for patients with e.d.? Is it just the weightloss side effect or does it make them worse? I currently have an ED-NOS-r diagnosis and am symptomatic, but also on 400mg bupropion and it does make a dent in my depression, but not 100% by any means. Should I be on something else?

(I am also on Abilify, Inderal, Cogentin(to counteract twitchies with the Abilify) and Lorazepam prn. Female, mid-twenties.)

By: winna

winna — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 04:44:58 -0800

It's an appetite suppressant. When I was on wellbutrin I had to remind myself to eat or it wouldn't occur to me until I was about to pass out.

By: Uniformitarianism Now!

Uniformitarianism Now! — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:35:56 -0800

If I recall correctly it's mainly Wellbutrin's link to seizure risk, which seems to be more of a risk in patients with bulimia or who vomit to purge (I believe they suspect it has to do with electrolyte imbalances/radical shifts in blood sugar/dehydration combined with bupropion's effect, but I haven't read the literature in a while).

By: elizardbits

elizardbits — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:51:08 -0800

Yes, there is a definite seizure risk for people with food issues.

By: insectosaurus

insectosaurus — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:09:30 -0800

It is not the appetite suppression; appetite suppression is okay for some, not all eating disorder patients. It's the seizure risk - Wellbutrin lowers your seizure threshold. So does electrolyte imbalance, which is most common in bulimics (due to purging). I believe that severe restriction of calories can also lead to electrolyte imbalance, but am not sure.

In my experience, doctors will prescribe Wellbutrin to people recovering from eating disorders, but only if they do not/ no longer purge and there is a very very low risk that they will purge while on it.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:00:23 -0800

Wellbutrin is bad for anorexics because appetite suppressant. Wellbutrin is bad for bulimics because of the seizure risk. If your ED-NOS includes either restricting or purging, it's something you should talk about with your psychiatrist.

Psychiatrists do prescribe Wellbutrin specifically to patients with binge eating disorder if they don't purge either by vomiting/laxatives or through exercise.