Mysimba isn’t another fad diet or miracle supplement. It’s a prescription medication approved for long-term weight management in adults with obesity or overweight who also have weight-related health issues like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Unlike quick-fix pills, Mysimba works by targeting the brain’s control centers for appetite and cravings, helping people eat less and stick to healthier habits over time.
How Mysimba Actually Works
Mysimba is a combination of two active ingredients: naltrexone and bupropion. Each one has a different job, but together they create a stronger effect than either alone.
Naltrexone, originally used to treat opioid addiction, blocks certain receptors in the brain that trigger reward-seeking behavior. When you eat high-calorie foods, your brain releases dopamine - a chemical that makes you feel good. Naltrexone dulls that reward signal, so those cravings for chips, cookies, or ice cream lose their punch.
Bupropion, commonly known as an antidepressant (sold as Wellbutrin), also helps reduce appetite. It increases levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which can make you feel fuller longer and less driven to snack between meals. It also helps with mood, which matters because stress and low mood often lead to emotional eating.
These two drugs don’t speed up your metabolism or block fat absorption. They don’t make you sick if you eat sugar. Instead, they change how your brain responds to food. That’s why people on Mysimba often report feeling less obsessed with food, not because they’re starving, but because the urge to overeat just isn’t as strong.
Who Is Mysimba For?
Mysimba isn’t for everyone. It’s only approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher (obesity), or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition like prediabetes, sleep apnea, or hypertension.
It’s not meant for people trying to lose 5 or 10 pounds for a wedding or vacation. It’s designed for those who’ve tried diet and exercise but still struggle to keep weight off - often because their body fights back by increasing hunger and slowing metabolism. In clinical trials, people using Mysimba lost an average of 5% to 10% of their body weight over a year, compared to just 1% to 2% with placebo.
It’s also not for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of seizures, eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia, or those taking certain antidepressants or opioid painkillers. Your doctor will check your full medical history before prescribing it.
How to Take Mysimba
You don’t start on the full dose. Mysimba comes in tablets, and you begin with one tablet daily for the first week. Each week, you increase the dose until you reach the full dose of two tablets twice a day - that’s four tablets total per day.
This slow ramp-up helps your body adjust and reduces side effects like nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Most people feel better after the first two weeks. You should take it with food, never on an empty stomach, to avoid stomach upset.
It takes time to work. Many people don’t notice major changes until after 4 to 8 weeks. If you haven’t lost at least 5% of your body weight after 16 weeks, your doctor may stop the treatment. That’s because if it’s not helping by then, it’s unlikely to work later.
Side Effects and Risks
Like all medications, Mysimba has possible side effects. The most common ones include nausea, constipation, headaches, dry mouth, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. These usually fade within a few weeks.
Less common but more serious risks include increased blood pressure, seizures (especially if you have a history), and mood changes. There’s a small chance of suicidal thoughts, particularly in people with a history of depression. That’s why doctors monitor patients closely in the first few months.
Alcohol should be avoided while taking Mysimba. Combining it with alcohol can raise the risk of seizures. Also, never take it with other medications that contain bupropion or naltrexone - you could overdose on one or both components.
What Happens When You Stop?
Weight loss with Mysimba doesn’t last if you stop taking it. In studies, most people regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year after stopping the medication.
This doesn’t mean Mysimba failed. It means weight management is a long-term process. The drug helps you build healthier habits by reducing cravings, but you still need to eat well and stay active. Think of it like a training wheel - it helps you ride longer until you learn how to balance on your own.
Some people stay on Mysimba for years. Others use it for 12 to 18 months, then slowly taper off while continuing lifestyle changes. The goal isn’t lifelong dependency - it’s to give you the mental space and physical control to make lasting changes.
Mysimba vs. Other Weight Loss Drugs
There are other prescription weight loss medications like Saxenda (liraglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Contrave (which is actually the same as Mysimba - just a different brand name in the U.S.).
Wegovy and Saxenda are GLP-1 agonists. They work by slowing digestion and making you feel full faster. They’re injected weekly and tend to cause more weight loss on average - around 15% of body weight. But they’re also more expensive and can cause more nausea.
Mysimba is taken as a daily pill and is generally cheaper than the GLP-1 drugs. It doesn’t cause as much nausea, but it also doesn’t lead to as much weight loss. For people who prefer pills over injections and want a moderate but steady result, Mysimba is a solid middle-ground option.
Real-World Results
One patient, a 48-year-old teacher with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 36, started Mysimba after losing 30 pounds through diet and exercise - only to gain it all back within a year. She began Mysimba at the lowest dose and increased slowly. After six months, she lost 22 pounds. Her blood sugar improved. She stopped needing one of her diabetes meds.
"It didn’t make me lose my appetite," she said. "It just made me not care as much about snacks. I still ate three meals a day, but I didn’t crave the candy bar at 3 p.m. anymore. That’s what changed everything."
Another man, a 55-year-old truck driver with high blood pressure, lost 18 pounds over nine months. He didn’t join a gym, but he started walking after dinner and swapped soda for water. Mysimba helped him stick to those changes.
Getting a Prescription
You can’t buy Mysimba over the counter. You need a doctor’s prescription. Many primary care doctors now treat obesity as a medical condition, not just a lifestyle issue. If your doctor doesn’t offer it, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist or obesity specialist.
Insurance coverage varies. In some countries, it’s covered if you have a qualifying BMI and health condition. In others, it’s out-of-pocket. The monthly cost can range from $80 to $200 depending on your location and pharmacy.
Is Mysimba Right for You?
If you’ve struggled with weight for years, tried multiple diets, and feel like your body is working against you - Mysimba might help. It’s not magic. It won’t fix poor eating habits overnight. But if you’re ready to make real changes and want a tool that reduces the mental battle around food, it’s one of the most evidence-backed options available.
It’s not about being "thin." It’s about being healthier, more energetic, and less burdened by weight-related illness. For many, Mysimba isn’t the end of the journey - it’s the first real step forward.
Can I take Mysimba if I’m pregnant?
No. Mysimba is not safe during pregnancy. If you’re planning to get pregnant or think you might be pregnant, stop taking it immediately and talk to your doctor. Weight loss during pregnancy can harm the baby, and the effects of naltrexone and bupropion on fetal development are not fully known.
Does Mysimba cause weight gain after stopping?
Yes, most people regain weight after stopping Mysimba. That’s why it’s meant to be used alongside long-term lifestyle changes. The goal is to use the medication as a bridge to build new habits - eating better, moving more, managing stress - so you can maintain your weight without it.
How long does it take to see results with Mysimba?
Most people start noticing reduced cravings and slight weight loss after 4 to 8 weeks. Significant results - like losing 5% of body weight - usually appear after 12 to 16 weeks. If you haven’t lost at least 5% by week 16, your doctor may stop the treatment.
Can I drink alcohol while on Mysimba?
No. Drinking alcohol while taking Mysimba increases your risk of seizures. Even moderate drinking isn’t safe. Avoid alcohol completely while on this medication.
Is Mysimba addictive?
No. Mysimba does not cause physical dependence or addiction. Unlike some weight loss drugs, it doesn’t produce a high or lead to cravings for the medication itself. You can stop it safely under medical supervision without withdrawal symptoms.
Can I take Mysimba with other medications?
You must tell your doctor about every medication you take. Mysimba can interact with antidepressants (especially SSRIs and SNRIs), opioid painkillers, and medications for seizures. Never combine it with other drugs containing bupropion or naltrexone.
If you’re considering Mysimba, talk to your doctor about your goals, your health history, and what you’re willing to change in your daily routine. The medication can help, but it works best when you’re ready to work with it - not against it.
Bruce Bain
November 20, 2025 AT 01:09Mysimba isn't magic, but it's one of the few things that actually helped me stop obsessing over food. I didn't feel hungry-I just didn't care about snacks anymore. That’s the real win.
mithun mohanta
November 20, 2025 AT 09:59Let’s be real-this is just pharmaceutical capitalism repackaging dopamine dysregulation as a ‘medical condition’… Naltrexone + Bupropion? That’s not a weight-loss drug-it’s a neurochemical leash for the lower classes who can’t afford to ‘eat clean’ full-time. The FDA loves this stuff because it keeps people docile while Big Pharma rakes in $200/month. 🤡
benedict nwokedi
November 21, 2025 AT 04:20They don’t tell you that bupropion was originally developed as an antidepressant for people who couldn’t handle SSRIs-and now it’s being used to make fat people ‘less hungry’? This is medical colonization disguised as science. The FDA’s approval is just a corporate handshake. And don’t get me started on how they cherry-picked trials to show ‘5-10% weight loss’-as if that’s somehow a victory when your body was designed to store fat as survival mechanism. 🤖
deepak kumar
November 22, 2025 AT 05:52Bro, I’ve been on this for 6 months. Lost 18kg. No gym. Just walked after dinner, swapped soda for water, and stopped fighting every craving. Mysimba didn’t take away my hunger-it took away the *noise*. You still eat, you still live, you just don’t crave that donut at 3pm. Trust me, it’s not about willpower. It’s about brain chemistry. 🙌
Sarbjit Singh
November 23, 2025 AT 21:31Been on Mysimba 4 months. Lost 14lbs. My knees don't hurt as bad anymore. 😊 I still eat pizza on weekends. Just don't eat 3 slices anymore. It's not about being skinny. It's about not feeling tired all the time. You got this!
Dave Pritchard
November 25, 2025 AT 19:16For anyone scared of this-start slow. The nausea fades. The cravings fade faster. This isn’t about starving yourself. It’s about giving your brain a break from the constant ‘eat more’ signal. I’ve seen people transform-not because they changed everything overnight, but because they finally had the mental space to change one thing at a time.
malik recoba
November 27, 2025 AT 06:29i was skeptical but i tried it after my doc said my bp was going up again. lost 12lbs in 3 months. no more midnight snacks. i still eat dessert but i dont need it. kinda feels like my brain finally stopped yelling at me. thanks for sharing this, really helpful.
Erica Lundy
November 28, 2025 AT 02:40The philosophical underpinning of pharmacological weight management reveals a troubling epistemological shift: we now outsource agency to neurochemistry, treating the symptom (excess weight) as the disease, rather than interrogating the sociocultural architectures that produce it. Mysimba, then, is not a cure-it is a palliative for a system that refuses to reform itself. The individual becomes the site of intervention, while the food industry, the agricultural subsidies, the sedentary urban design-all remain untouched. Is this liberation, or merely a more sophisticated form of discipline?
Don Angel
November 28, 2025 AT 09:34Don’t let the hype scare you. If you’ve tried everything and your body keeps pulling you back, this might be the bridge you need. It’s not forever. It’s not a crutch. It’s a tool. Like glasses for your brain. And if it helps you eat better, move more, sleep better? That’s not weakness-that’s wisdom.
Shravan Jain
November 30, 2025 AT 09:26Another ‘pharma scam’ dressed in clinical jargon. 5-10% weight loss? That’s a marketing metric. The real cost? Your autonomy. You’re not ‘managing weight’-you’re outsourcing your biology to a pill. And when you stop? You gain it back. So what’s the point? To keep you dependent? To keep you paying? The system wins. You lose.
Brandon Lowi
November 30, 2025 AT 19:28They want you to believe this is science-but it’s just another way to control the masses. In America, we don’t fix food deserts-we give people pills. In India, they starve. In Europe, they ban it. Why? Because this isn’t about health-it’s about profit. And if you’re dumb enough to take it, you’re part of the problem. 🇺🇸
Sameer Tawde
December 1, 2025 AT 14:32My cousin lost 30 lbs on this. No surgery. No keto. Just pills + walking. Now she plays with her kids without getting winded. That’s not a miracle. That’s dignity.
Angela J
December 2, 2025 AT 03:21Wait… so bupropion was originally for depression? And now they’re using it to make people less hungry? That’s terrifying. What if it’s just suppressing your emotions? What if you’re not losing weight-you’re just numb? I’ve seen people on antidepressants lose their joy. Are we trading food addiction for emotional numbness? 🤔
Richard Couron
December 3, 2025 AT 07:37They’re turning obesity into a mental illness so they can sell you pills instead of fixing the food system. This is how they keep you docile. You think you’re ‘taking control’? No-you’re just another customer in their profit machine. And if you dare question it? You’re ‘anti-science.’ Wake up.
Alex Boozan
December 4, 2025 AT 06:48Let’s not pretend this is about health. The FDA approved this because the pharmaceutical lobby spent $200M on lobbying. The trials? Funded by the manufacturer. The doctors? Paid to promote it. The patients? Told they’re ‘broken’ if they don’t comply. This isn’t medicine-it’s corporate control disguised as care. And you’re being played.