Mysimba

What most people experience early on

In the first few weeks, many people notice a change in how their appetite feels - less intense urges to eat, and a greater sense of control over food choices.

• Less urge to snack between meals
• Portions feel more manageable
• Cravings become easier to resist
• You feel more in control of when and how much you eat

Many people describe this as a quieting of the pull towards food - less reactive, more intentional eating.

What this feels like in real life

• You stop thinking about food as constantly
• You may find it easier to stop eating when you're full
• Eating feels more like a choice, not a compulsion

Mysimba is a prescription weight loss medication. It can be used to help you lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Mysimba tablets reduce your appetite, so you feel more full after eating less food, which makes you eat less. It does this by working on the part of your brain responsible for hunger.

Mysimba can help you safely and effectively lose weight when taken alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise. Mysimba tablets should be taken once or twice a day, depending on what you’ve been prescribed.

Mysimba tablets contain the active ingredients naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride. These work on the areas of your brain that are responsible for food intake, hunger levels, and energy.

When you take Mysimba and reduce your calorie intake, you can eat less without feeling hungry. This makes it easier to make healthy lifestyle changes for safe and effective weight loss, such as snacking less.

The usual starting dose of Mysimba is 1 tablet each morning. After 4 weeks, this increases to 1 tablet twice a day.

• Week 1: 1 tablet daily (morning)
• Week 2: 1 tablet twice daily
• Week 3: 2 tablets in the morning, 1 in the evening
• Week 4+: 2 tablets twice daily (maintenance dose)

Your doctor may prescribe up to 4 tablets daily, but only follow the dosage they recommend. Take Mysimba with water, preferably with food, and stick to the prescribed dosage.

What should you do if you miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, skip it - never take a double dose.

How long can you take Mysimba for?

You can take Mysimba for as long as a doctor agrees it’s helpful for you. You’ll be monitored by your doctor to check your Mysimba tablets are working and are helping you to lose weight.

Can you just stop taking Mysimba?

You should try to wait at least 4 months before stopping Mysimba tablets, as it’s been shown that they take around this long to reach their full effect. Although, you should stop right away if you experience serious side effects. See the ‘side effects’ for more information on this. If you are not having serious side effects and you want to stop taking Mysimba, speak to your doctor first.

Mysimba tablets, like all medications, can cause side effects. This is why your dosage is increased gradually, to minimise the risk of side effects like nausea and headaches.

Common side effects include:

• anxiety
• constipation
• dizziness
• headaches
• hot flushes
• insomnia
• nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)
• heart palpitations
• tiredness
• taste changes
• tinnitus
• changes in blood pressure
• itching
• rashes
• sweating
• hair loss

If you get any of these Mysimba side effects, you should speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Mysimba without speaking to your doctor first.

Uncommon side effects include:

• hypersensitivity
• abnormal dreams, agitation and mood swings
• balance disorders
• amnesia
• tremors
• motion sickness
• abdominal discomfort
• indigestion
• burping or belching
• hepatic enzyme increase
• gallbladder inflammation
• changes to your kidney blood tests
• erectile dysfunction (ED)
• an increase in thirst and appetite
• urticarial skin rash

Rare side effects include:

• jaw pain
• dehydration
• irregular periods
• chest pain
• fever
• blood and lymphatic system disorders
• hallucinations
• loss of consciousness
• lip swelling and toothache
• seizures (fits)
• bleeding from your back passage
• hernias
• abdominal pain
• changes to how often you pass urine
• vaginal dryness, bleeding, and changes to your periods

If you get any of these side effects after taking Mysimba, you should speak to a doctor urgently.

Stop taking your Mysimba tablets and see a doctor straight away if you experience serious side effects such as:

• difficulty breathing
• dizziness or loss of consciousness
• an allergic rash
• chest pain
• seizures
• hallucinations
• severe upper abdominal pain
• mouth or lip swelling
• suicidal thoughts
• serotonin syndrome
• rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle tissue which can lead to kidney issues)

Find more information about side effects and Mysimba in your patient information leaflet.

What to do if you get Mysimba side effects

Most Mysimba side effects should go away as your body gets used to the medication, but you should always let your doctor know if you’re experiencing them. If you’re getting serious side effects that are unmanageable or you’re worried you’re having an allergic reaction to Mysimba, you should go to the hospital or call 999.

Mysimba side effects can usually be managed at home. For instance, if you feel sick or are throwing up while taking Mysimba, try to eat smaller portions, avoid fatty, greasy meals and keep hydrated. You can also take painkillers alongside Mysimba if you get a headache.

How long do Mysimba side effects last?

This is different for everyone. You may only notice Mysimba side effects for the first few weeks, but they can last a few months. Your doctor can lower your Mysimba dosage if you’re getting bothersome side effects.

Some people get no Mysimba side effects at all. Most side effects are mild and should go away after a while.

Mysimba is generally safe if a doctor has approved treatment for you. However Mysimba is not safe for everyone and it may not be right for you if you have an existing health condition.

Mysimba contraindications

You should not take Mysimba tablets if you:

• are pregnant or trying to conceive
• have a history of an eating disorder
• suffer from severe liver or kidney disease
• experience uncontrolled hypertension
• have ever had a seizure

Mysimba interactions

Mysimba tablets may not be suitable for you if you take:

• antidepressants
• opioid analgesics like codeine, morphine, or tramadol
• drugs metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes
• anti-epileptics
• medication for HIV
• antiplatelet medication
• medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease

Always let your doctor know about any medication you are currently taking before starting Mysimba diet pills. This is to make sure Mysimba won’t interact with these