Medication Commonly Prescribed During Minnesota Winters Can Actually Help You Lose Weight

There's been a lot of talk in the last year about new weight loss drugs on the market like Wegovy and Ozempic. With the injections, people can lose up to 15% of their body weight within a year. However, there has been another medication available for years that can also help and is more likely to be covered by your health insurance.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Many people in Minnesota and other northern states suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's called SAD for short. When the season changes from fall to winter and the days get really short, it can affect some people's mental health. It's hard not to feel down or depressed when the sun sets at 4:30 pm. Right?

Buporprion Prescribed For SAD

Bupropion is an anti-depressant that is commonly prescribed for people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's one of the few antidepressants that doesn't cause weight gain. In fact, it promotes weight loss in roughly 70% of people who take it.

How much weight do people lose on bupropion?

Studies have shown that people can expect to lose about 5% of their body weight within 8 weeks of starting a prescription of bupropion. It's important to talk to your doctor about whether taking bupropion is right for you. There are some other possible side effects that you should be aware of.

At 24 weeks, some participants in a study lost 12.9% of their body weight.

Commonly Sold Under the Brand Name Wellbutrin

The most common brand name for bupropion is Wellbutrin. It's also sold under the names Aplenzin, Budeprion, Buproban, and Forfivo.

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How does it help you lose weight?

According to the medical website RO, bupropion is an NDRI (norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor). It increases the level of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

It helps adjust your brain chemistry and helps you stop over-eating. It also can be used to help people quit smoking. Taking the medication also can give you more energy.

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Discuss with your doctor.

You and your healthcare provider should have an honest conversation about healthy weight loss and strategies and determine if the medication is right for you.