Mysimba

Common use

Mysimba is a prescription-only weight loss pill that contains the active ingredients naltrexone and bupropion. It aids weight loss by reducing your appetite so you feel fuller for longer and resist the urge to consume more calories than you need.

Dosage and direction

Mysimba is taken everyday, beginning with 1 tablet per day which slowly increases to a maximum of 4 tablets a day over time. Each Mysimba pill should be swallowed whole with water and should preferably be taken with food.
The recommended dosage is as follows:
Week 1 – 1 tablet once a day in the morning.
Week 2 – 2 tablets per day, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening.
Week 3 – 3 tablets every per day, 2 in the morning and 1 in the evening.
Week 4 onwards – 4 tablets each day, 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening.
The maximum recommended dose of Mysimba is 2 tablets twice a day.

Precautions

Mysimba must not be used in certain patients at particular risk of side effects, including patients with severely reduced kidney or liver function, those with high blood pressure that is not under control, those who have ever had seizures (fits), certain psychological problems or who have a brain tumour or are undergoing withdrawal from alcohol or certain drugs.

Contraindications

Do not take Mysimba if you: are allergic to naltrexone, bupropion or any other ingredients listed in Mysimba; have abnormally high blood pressure that isn’t controlled with medication; have a condition that causes fits or you have a history of fits; have a brain tumour; are usually a heavy drinker and you have stopped drinking alcohol or are going to while you are taking Mysimba; have stopped taking sedatives or medication to treat anxiety; have had bipolar disorder; are taking any other products that contain naltrexone or bupropion; have an eating disorder; are currently dependent on opiates or opiate agonists; are taking medications for depression or Parkinson’s disease; have severe liver disease; have endstage kidney disease; are under 18 or over 75.

Possible side effect

Very common Mysimba side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) include: feeling sick (nausea); being sick (vomiting); constipation; headache.
Common Mysimba side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) include: dizziness and/or vertigo; anxiety; feeling shaky (tremor); difficulty sleeping; dry mouth; taste changes; tiredness and lack of energy; ringing in the ears; hot flushes; pain in the upper abdomen; feeling jittery; difficulty concentrating; irregular or fast heart beat; increase in blood pressure; excessive sweating; rash; itching; hair loss; irritability.

Drug interaction

You should let your doctor know if you are taking any prescribed, over the counter, or herbal medications before taking Mysimba.
Do not take Mysimba with: monamine oxidase inhibitors (medications used to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease); opiates and opiate-containing medications.
Tell your doctor before taking Mysimba if you currently take medications for: depression and other mental health problems; infections; preventing malaria; asthma; allergic reactions or hayfever; lowering blood sugar levels; helping you sleep; high blood pressure; an irregular heart rhythm; treating cancer; HIV infection and AIDS; epilepsy.

Missed dose

If you have missed your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you see that it is near the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not take your dose twice.

Overdose

If you think you have used too much of this medicine seek emergency medical attention right away. The symptoms of overdose usually include chest pain, nausea, irregular heartbeat, and feeling light-headed or fainting.

Storage

Store your medicines at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.