Wellbutrin With Vitamins

Although depression has genetic, social and environmental components, your risk of developing depression is 1.5 to three times higher if someone in your family has depression. Antidepressants, which include Wellbutrin, are the third most prescribed medications in America. Weight loss can be a positive side effect to Wellbutrin. However, Wellbutrin's side effects that might decrease food intake have the potential to create vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Learn how to prevent nutritional deficiencies while taking wellbutrin. (Image: champja/iStock/Getty Images)

Anorexia

Anorexia -- a lack of interest in eating with subsequent weight loss -- occurs in 4 percent of prescribed Wellbutrin users. Eating is unbalanced, severely restricted or both, and might lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. A multivitamin containing A, C and E, the B vitamins and the trace minerals magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper and selenium, taken daily, might prevent micronutrient deficiencies.

Dry Mouth

Wellbutrin also causes dry mouth in 12 percent to 28 percent of users. Dry mouth from lack of saliva prevents formation of an easily swallowed ball of food. It also changes how foods taste. According to the Complementary Medicine Department at University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, might lessen dry mouth, especially from the side effects of antidepressants. In addition, sour foods such as lemon and lime -- good dietary sources of vitamin C -- stimulate the parotid glands, or salivary glands, to produce saliva. Sucking on a lemon before eating will increase saliva and reduce dry mouth.

Nausea

Nausea occurs in 9 percent to 15 percent of Wellbutrin users, further reducing the appetite. A vitamin that might help reduce nausea is pyridoxine, or B-6. According to University of Maryland Medical Center, pregnant women who took 30 milligrams of pyridoxine daily experienced less morning sickness. Bland foods that are rich sources of pyridoxine include chicken, eggs, rice, oats, peanuts and walnuts. An anti-nausea remedy that might help increase pyridoxine includes adding ginger root or powder to hot tea, soups and cereals. Other sources of ginger include noncarbonated ginger ale and ginger cookies.

Oral Cavity Inflammation

Chronically reduced food intake might lead to oral inflammatory conditions that occur in 1 out of 100 Wellbutrin users. Inflammation of the oral cavity includes a combination of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. A dietary deficiency of the water-soluble B-2 vitamin, called riboflavin, results in stomatitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the mouth. Inflammation of the gums, or gingivitis, possibly results from a vitamin D deficiency. Fortified milk is a good source of vitamin D. Dietary deficiencies of vitamins B-12 and B-6, as well as the trace element iron, result in glossitis, inflammation of the tongue. Good dietary sources of vitamins B-2, B-12 and B-6 and iron include meat, pork and poultry. Dairy products are good sources of vitamins B-2 and B-12.