Mysimba Tablets (90mg)

Mysimba tablets should preferably be taken with food and swallowed whole with water. Do not cut, chew or crush the tablets, as they are designed to release the medicine gradually (6).

Try to take Mysimba at around the same times each day, in both the morning and evening once you’re at the maintenance dose. If you forget a dose, skip it. Take your next dose at the normal time and don’t take extra tablets to make up for the missed one.

Mysimba dosage guide

The number of Mysimba tablets for weight loss that you need to take is gradually increased over the first four weeks of treatment (1):

• Week 1: Take one tablet in the morning.

• Week 2: Take one tablet in the morning and one in the evening.

• Week 3: Take two tablets in the morning and one in the evening.

• Week 4 onwards: Take two tablets in the morning and two in the evening.

The maximum recommended dose is four Mysimba weight loss tablets per day (1,6).

Your prescription label will explain how much Mysimba to take. Always follow the instructions provided by your prescriber and do not take more than the recommended dose.

How to store Mysimba

There are no special storage requirements for Mysimba weight loss tablets.

Keep them in their original packaging at room temperature (below 30°C) out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use the tablets past the expiry date shown on the medication box (6).

All medicines can cause side effects, although not everyone will get them. Below we’ve highlighted the most important Mysimba side effects, but this is not an exhaustive list.

Read the Mysimba Patient Information Leaflet for a complete list of all possible side effects.

Common Mysimba side effects

The most common side effects affecting more than 1 in 10 people who take Mysimba include (1):

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Vomiting

While unpleasant, most people only experience mild digestive upset. These side effects are also often more noticeable when you first start Mysimba or while your dose is being increased, but quickly resolve themselves as the body gets used to the medicine.

Other common Mysimba side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) include headache, dizziness, dry mouth, and difficulty sleeping, which also improve with continued treatment.

Serious side effects of Mysimba

Serious side effects are less common, but it is important to know what to look out for. Stop taking Mysimba and seek urgent medical help if you experience (6):

• Thoughts about suicide or harming yourself, or other distressing thoughts

• Fits or seizures

• Problems with your vision, such as severe eye pain or changes in vision

• Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, e.g. difficulty swallowing or breathing and swelling of the face, tongue, mouth or throat

• Signs of a severe skin reaction, such as a spreading rash, blistering or peeling skin, or sores or blisters affecting your mouth, eyes or genitals

• Signs of liver problems, such as yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, and tiredness.

Mysimba warnings

If you have controlled high blood pressure or heart problems. You may still be able to take Mysimba, but it can increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Your clinician will check whether treatment is suitable, and your blood pressure and pulse should be monitored during treatment (1)

If you have depression or another mental health condition. You may still be able to take Mysimba, but tell us about any current or previous mental health problems before starting treatment. Seek advice straight away if you experience significant changes in your mood or behaviour (1).

If you have an increased risk of seizures. Certain factors, such as a previous head injury, low blood sugar or some medicines, can increase the risk of seizures. Tell your clinician about your medical history and any medicines you take so they can assess your risk before prescribing (1).

If you have type 2 diabetes. Losing weight can increase your risk of low blood sugar if you take insulin or certain other diabetes medicines. Your blood glucose should be monitored and your diabetes medication may need to be adjusted (1).

If you have kidney or liver problems. You may still be able to take Mysimba if you have mild or moderate kidney or liver impairment, but you may need a lower dose to reduce the risk of side effects. Tell us about any liver or kidney problems in your consultation (1).

Taking Mysimba with other medications

Mysimba can interact with other medicines. In your online consultation, tell us about all medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medicines.

Do not take Mysimba with (1):

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) often used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease, such as phenelzine, selegiline, or rasagiline. You must discontinue these drugs for at least 14 days before starting Mysimba.

• Other medicines containing Bupropion or Naltrexone, such as Zyban. Mysimba already contains both of these active ingredients, so taking another medicine containing either of them could increase your risk of side effects, including seizures.

• Long-term opioid medicines or opioid-dependence treatments, such as morphine or methadone. The naltrexone in Mysimba blocks the effects of opioids and can cause withdrawal in people who are dependent on them.

If you occasionally need an opioid medicine, such as for short-term pain relief, tell the healthcare professional treating you that you take Mysimba. You may need to temporarily stop Mysimba before taking the opioid, but this should be done under medical supervision.

Tell your physician if you take (1):

• Medicines that can increase your risk of seizures, including some antidepressants and antipsychotics, antimalarials, systemic steroids, quinolone antibiotics, theophylline and sedating antihistamines

• Antidepressants or other medicines for mental health conditions

• Epilepsy medicines, including carbamazepine, phenytoin or valproate

• Certain medicines for high blood pressure, including metoprolol

• Some medicines for irregular heart rhythms, such as propafenone or flecainide

• Certain cancer medicines, including tamoxifen, cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide

• Parkinson's medicines, including levodopa or amantadine

• Ticlopidine or clopidogrel

• Certain HIV medicines, including efavirenz or ritonavir

• Digoxin

Who should not take Mysimba?

Mysimba is not for everyone. Do NOT take Mysimba if you (1):

• Are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding

• Have end-stage kidney failure

• Have severe liver impairment

• Have a history of bipolar disorder

• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure

• Have or have previously had seizures (fits)

• Have or have previously had an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia

• Have a tumour of the central nervous system, such as a brain tumour

• Are experiencing opioid withdrawal or take an opioid agonist like methadone

• Are going through sudden withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines or certain sedatives

• Are allergic to Bupropion, Naltrexone or any of the ingredients in Mysimba