Mysimba Tablets

How to Take Mysimba

Mysimba tablets should be swallowed whole with water and can be taken with, or after food. Never chew, crush or split Mysimba tablets – this can alter the release of the active ingredients into the body.

Follow your doctor’s advice on Mysimba dosage. Your dose will typically be increased over a period of four weeks, by which time you will reach your ‘maintenance dose’. Mysimba dosage is usually increased as follows:

• Week 1 – one tablet taken in the morning
• Week 2 – one tablet taken in the morning, and one tablet taken in the evening
• Week 3 – two tablets taken in the morning, and one tablet taken in the evening
• Week 4 – two tablets taken in the morning, and two tablets taken in the evening

Once you reach Week 4, you will continue with the Week 4 dosage – this is known as the ‘maintenance dose’; the maximum recommended Mysimba dose. You should always follow your doctor’s instructions for taking Mysimba.

How Long Does Mysimba Take To Work?

If you have not lost at least 5% of your body weight at 16 weeks, your doctor will consider if you should stop taking Mysimba. Note that you can achieve the best results when combining Mysimba with a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.

Guidance from Orexigen Therapeutics, the company which manufactures Mysimba, advises that after eight weeks of treatment, improvements can be seen. Research conducted with over 4,500 overweight or obese patients shows that Mysimba has a significant effect on weight loss, compared to patients who were given a placebo.

Mysimba Ingredients 

Active Ingredient: Naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride 

• Each tablet contains 8mg of naltrexone hydrochloride and 90mg of bupropion hydrochloride 

Other ingredients: 

• Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose anhydrous, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, cysteine hydrochloride, magnesium stearate, crospovidone type A, hypromellose, edetate disodium, colloidal silicon dioxide, and indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132)
• Film-coating: titanium dioxide (E171), poly(vinyl alcohol), macrogol (3350) talc, and indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132)

Mysimba Side Effects

As with all medications, there are reported side effects that occur, although not everyone may experience them. Below, we take a look at side effects to keep an eye out for

Serious side effects of Mysimba 

• Suicidal thoughts and feeling depressed
• Erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome 
• Seizures (fits) 
• Serotonin syndrome 
• Lupus skin rash or worsening lupus symptoms 
• Rhabdomyolysis 
• Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis 

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these serious side effects.

Common Side Effects of Mysimba 

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Headache 
• Constipation 
• Anxiety 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Dizziness 
• Feeling shaky 
• Difficulty falling asleep 
• Dysgeusia (changes in the taste of food) 
• Dry mouth 
• Hair loss (alopecia) 
• Irritability 
• Feeling jittery 
• Increased blood pressure 
• Hot flush 
• Fast and irregular heartbeat 
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) 
• Pain in the abdomen 
• Rash, itching 
• Pain in the upper part of the abdomen 

Mysimba side effects should disappear if you are taking the medication exactly as prescribed and sticking to your recommended diet. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any side effects persist and do not disappear. 

Less common side effects of Mysimba 

• Hypersensitivity 
• Loss of memory 
• Motion sickness 
• Feeling nervous
• Balance disorder 
• Burping 
• Hives 
• Abnormal dreams 
• Indigestion 
• Abdominal discomfort 
• Inflammation of the gallbladder 
• Chest pain 
• Thirst and feeling hot 
• Difficulty in getting or keeping an erection 
• Increased creatinine levels in the blood
• Increased liver enzymes and bilirubin levels 
• Increased appetite and weight gain 

Rare side effects of Mysimba

• Hallucinations 
• Fainting, loss of consciousness 
• Swelling of the face, eyelids, tongue, throat, or lips 
• Decreased hematocrit 
• Low amount of lymphocytes (white blood cells) 
• Dental cavities 
• Toothache 
  Injury to the liver
• Irregular menstrual cycle 
• Jaw pain 
• Pain in the lower part of the abdomen 
• Passing fresh blood through the anus 
• Fits 
• Hernia 
• Coldness of the hands or feet

Although these side effects are uncommon, if you experience any of them, seek medical help immediately by either going to A&E or calling 999. If you have any concerns about Mysimba or would like to know more about possible side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 

Mysimba Warnings

Before taking Mysimba tablets, discuss with your doctor or pharmacist:

• If you have high blood pressure
• If you have uncontrolled coronary artery disease
• If you have a condition that affects the circulation of blood to the brain (cerebrovascular disease)
• If you have kidney problems
• If you have liver problems
• If you have a history of mania
• If you have Brugada syndrome
• If you have a history of mental health problems, including contemplating suicide, depression, panic attacks, or have attempted suicide

Mysimba Drug Interactions

Discuss with your pharmacist or doctor if any of the following points apply to you:

Do not take Mysimba with:

• Opiates and opiate-containing medication
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:

• Medicines to help you sleep
• Medicines for depression and other mental health problems
• Steroids
• Medicines used to prevent malaria
• Quinolines
• Tramadol
• Medicines to lower blood sugar levels
• Antihistamines
• Theophylline
• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure
• Medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease
• Medicines used to treat HIV infections and AIDs
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy
• Ticlopidine and clopidogrel
• Medicines used to treat cancer
• Medicines used to treat irregular heart rhythm

Mysimba Patient Information Leaflet

For more information on Mysimba medication, take a look at the patient information leaflet below:

• Mysimba patient information leaflet