Everything You Need To Know About Mysimba

What is Mysimba?

Mysimba is a brand of weight loss pills designed to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise to assist individuals in achieving their weight management goals. 

How does Mysimba work?

Mysimba distinguishes itself from other weight loss medications by combining two active ingredients: naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride. Each ingredient works differently to influence your appetite.

• Naltrexone: This ingredient acts within the brain’s reward system to subtly influence how much dopamine the brain releases. This means that you have a reduced surge of dopamine associated with eating, leading to decreased cravings and impulsive eating behaviours.

• Bupropion: Originally developed as an antidepressant, bupropion has been discovered to have appetite-suppressant properties. It is thought to influence specific brain regions involved in regulating appetite, potentially leading to feelings of fullness and reduced desire to eat.

Eligibility for Mysimba Treatment

Mysimba is a prescription medication and will only be recommended for you by a qualified clinician or pharmacist. In general, you may be eligible for Mysimba if you are over 18 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) over 30 - which is classified as ‘obese’. In cases where individuals have weight-related conditions like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, a BMI over 27 might make you eligible. 

During a consultation, a doctor will assess your individual needs and medical history. This evaluation includes factors such as your current weight, BMI, overall health status, and any existing medical conditions. To see if you’re eligible for weight loss medications, get started with our online consultation.

Who can’t take Mysimba?

For your own health and safety, there are certain people who should not take this particular medication. This includes if:

• You are allergic to naltrexone, to bupropion or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine

• You have an abnormally high blood pressure (hypertension) that is not controlled using a medicinal product

• You have a condition that causes fits (seizures) or if you have a history of fits;

• You have a brain tumour

• You are usually a heavy drinker and you have just stopped drinking alcohol, or are going to stop while you are taking Mysimba

• You have recently stopped taking sedatives or medicines to treat anxiety (especially benzodiazepines), or if you are going to stop them while you are taking Mysimba

• You have or have had a bipolar disorder (extreme mood swings)

• You are using any other medicines which contain bupropion or naltrexone

• You have an eating disorder or had one in the past (for example, bulimia or anorexia nervosa)

• You are currently dependent on chronic opiates or opiate agonists (for example methadone), or you are going through acute withdrawal (cold turkey)

• You are taking medicines for depression or Parkinson’s disease called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have taken them in the last 14 days

• You have severe liver disease

• You have terminal kidney disease

Does Mysimba work?

In research outlined by the European Medicines Agency, one study showed that the average weight loss for patients treated with Mysimba was around 3.7% to 5.7%, compared to 1.3% to 1.9% for individuals in the placebo group. This study indicated that Mysimba has a positive influence on weight loss. 

How to take Mysimba

Mysimba comes in the form of tablets and is initially taken in a small dose which is increased over time. Here is the recommended dose for Mysimba:

Week 1 – One tablet, once in the morning

Week 2 – One tablet, twice a day

Week 3 – Two tablets in the morning and one in the evening

Week 4 and onwards – Two tablets, twice daily

How long does Mysimba take to work?

In general, there will be a gradual effect and the effectiveness of Mysimba is typically evaluated after approximately 16 weeks of use. How much weight you lose with Mysimba will depend on whether you’re combining the medication with a healthy balanced diet and exercise.

Mysimba side effects

As with all medicines, there is a risk of experiencing side effects when taking Mysimba. The most common side effects of taking the medication include:

• Insomnia

• Restlessness

• Anxiety

• Headache

• Disturbance in concentration

• Dizziness

• Hot flushes

• Palpitations

• Constipation

• Nausea

• Muscular pain

If these symptoms are impacting your quality of life and you’d like help and advice, please contact your GP. If dizziness is impacting your ability to concentrate or react properly, you should not drive or use machinery until these symptoms have passed.

There is a small risk of more severe side effects, such as seizures, which can be read more about in the medication leaflet. 

How long do Mysimba side effects last?

Generally, side effects tend to improve within a few days to a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication. Some people may not experience any side effects while others do, so the experience depends on the individual. If you’re concerned about side effects, your doctor can advise you on managing them and whether they warrant any adjustments to your dosage or treatment plan.

Mysimba vs saxenda

Saxenda is another prescription-only weight loss treatment, but it differs from Mysimba in its mode of administration. Saxenda is a daily injection compared to Mysimba which is administered in the form of tablets. While Saxenda makes you feel fuller for longer, Mysimba suppresses appetite and controls cravings.

Mysimba vs Orlistat

Mysimba and Orlistat are both weight loss medications, but they work in different ways. Rather than reducing appetite like Mysimba, Orlistat works in the gut by blocking the absorption of some dietary fat. 

FAQs

Can you take Mysimba and Orlistat together?

Both Mysimba and Orlistat are prescription medications, so your doctor is unlikely to recommend using them at the same time. It is a myth that taking two lots of weight loss medication will make you lose twice the amount of weight. Combining medications could simply make you experience more unpleasant side effects. If you aren’t happy with your current medication, speak to your doctor and it may be possible to change your weight loss medication.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Mysimba? 

The consumption of alcohol during naltrexone/bupropion treatment should be minimised or avoided. For some people, drinking alcohol while taking bupropion may have negative psychological effects and your body may not be able to handle alcohol as well as usual.

Can you take Mysimba if you’re pregnant?

No, you should not take Mysimba if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The main reason for this is that there have not been enough studies to determine if it is safe for a foetus. 

If you're already taking Mysimba and discover you're pregnant, talk to your doctor immediately. They can advise you on the safest course of action. If you're planning to get pregnant, discuss alternative weight loss options with your doctor before stopping Mysimba.

Weight loss support from Pharmacy2U

If you could use a helping hand in your weight loss journey, the team Pharmacy2U is on hand to help. We offer a simple online consultation process, in which you can share your health data in confidence via a questionnaire. From there, our qualified GPs will review your health problems, before making a recommendation on which treatments can help you achieve your goals.