Mysimba

What is Mysimba?

Mysimba is currently licensed for use in the UK as a weight-loss treatment. It is effective only when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and a regular exercise routine.

Mysimba is only licensed for use by adults who are obese (have a body-mass index of 30 or above) or overweight (have a BMI of 27 or above), and have weight-related health complications, such as diabetes or high blood pressure or sleep apnoea.

How does it work?

Mysimba contains two active ingredients, bupropion and naltrexone. These drugs work on the central nervous system to suppress appetite, improve satiety after eating and increase energy expenditure.

This allows you to feel less hungry, and less likely to snack in between meals. It also helps you to burn calories more efficiently during exercise

How to use Mysimba

It is essential to follow the dosage instructions carefully to see the best results.

· Week 1- one tablet should be taken daily for 7-days

· Week 2 – two tablets are taken daily for 7-days.

· Week 3 – three tablets daily for 7-days – (two should be taken in the morning, and one in the evening)

· Week 4 – Four tablets daily, two in the morning, two in the evening to continue.

Review your progress with the doctor after 16 weeks of treatment and discontinued if patients have not lost at least 5% of their initial body weight after 16 weeks of treatment.

If you continue treatment beyond this period, you should have your progress checked at least annually.

Take doses with food. Do not crush, break or split tablets.

Side effects & precautions

Assuming you do not suffer from any of the conditions that preclude its use, Mysimba rarely results in side effects. However, some of the most common that do occur include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• abdominal pain
• headache
• insomnia (reduce by avoiding dose at bedtime)

These reactions are usually short-lived and generally improve after a few weeks.

However, if you experience these (or any reactions not listed) for a prolonged period, or they are particularly distressing or dangerous, stop treatment and consult your doctor.

The patient leaflet contains a full list of all possible side effects.

If you start to experience suicidal thoughts, depression or an allergic reaction, you should discontinue treatment and seek immediate medical attention.

Mysimba has direct effects on your central nervous system functions. This means it can have severe complications if you suffer from any of the following conditions.

• liver or kidney issues
• history of psychological issues
• a brain tumour
• alcohol dependency
• any drug dependency
• are taking any opiates
• history of seizures
• history of head trauma

Avoid Mysimba if you are either pregnant, breastfeeding or over 75 years of age.

Mysimba can cause dizziness when patients first start treatment, and it has also been known to cause seizures. For this reason, you should first consider how you react before driving or operating any machinery.

Will Mysimba affect my ability to drive or operate machinery?

What should I do if I forget to take Mysimba when I should?

Can I drink alcohol while taking Mysimba?

Documentation