Can You Lose Weight With Bupropion? All You Need to Know.

Managing weight effectively is a struggle for many, leading to a heightened interest in medicines that could support weight loss. Bupropion, commonly found in antidepressants and smoking cessation aids, has been noted to help weight loss in some cases.

But can you take bupropion solely for weight loss? And are there approved medicines that use bupropion for weight loss? Here's what you need to know.

What is bupropion and how does it work?

Bupropion is an ingredient primarily used as an antidepressant and a smoking cessation aid. Unlike other antidepressants that often affect serotonin, bupropion works by influencing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Apart from playing a role in mood regulation and reward processing, these neurotransmitters are also involved in appetite regulation ¹.

Can you lose weight with bupropion?

Yes, some patients experience weight loss while taking bupropion. This is likely due to its effects on dopamine and norepinephrine, which can lead to:

• Appetite suppression
• Increased energy levels
• Reduced cravings for food ¹.

In some clinical studies with bupropion, 70% of patients lost more than 5% of their weight within 8 to 24 weeks. Importantly, most of it was from body fat, and not lean mass ².

Another study looked at the weight loss effects of bupropion is taken alongside a diet and exercise. According to the results, some of the obese patients were able to lose 7-10% of their body weight within 24 weeks ³.

This being said, it is important to note that bupropion is not approved as a standalone weight-loss medicine.

Important considerations: should you take bupropion for weight loss?

While bupropion can lead to weight reduction, it is not recommended to take a bupropion-containing antidepressant solely for this reason. Taking an antidepressant without a medical need can pose risks. Including increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, or seizure risk at high doses.

Because of these potential side effects, bupropion should only be taken under medical supervision for its approved indications.

Or, you should consider, together with your doctor, whether a weight loss pill containing bupropion may be an option for you.

Are there weight-loss medicines containing bupropion?

Yes, bupropion is part of a weight-loss medicine approved in Europe: Mysimba (a combination of naltrexone and bupropion).

Mysimba: how it works for weight loss

Mysimba combines bupropion with naltrexone. This combination targets two key brain regions:

• Hypothalamus – the part of the brain that regulates hunger and metabolism;
• Mesolimbic reward system – which influences cravings and eating behavior ⁴.

Together, these effects help reduce food cravings and caloric intake. This can help with losing and maintaining weight. Especially for patients struggling with emotional eating.

Mysimba (naltrexone/bupropion) is indicated for people with obesity (BMI >30), or overweight people (BMI>27) with weight-related co-morbidities, such as diabetes, dyslipidaemia, or controlled hypertension ⁴.

How much weight can you lose with naltrexone-bupropion?

In four Phase 3 trials involving 4,536 participants, patients taking Mysimba (naltrexone/bupropion) experienced an average weight loss of 5.4%–8.1% over 56 weeks ⁵. Some further highlights from clinical trials include:

• 42% of Mysimba-treated patients lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 17% in the placebo group.
• 17–30% of Mysimba users achieved at least 10% weight loss, compared to 5–6% in the placebo group.
• Patients who stayed on treatment for 56 weeks achieved more significant weight loss, with some reaching up to 11.5% body weight reduction.
• Patients with type 2 diabetes saw a smaller yet significant weight loss effect (3.7% vs. 1.7% for placebo) and improved metabolic markers, including HbA1c reduction (-0.63%) ⁵.

Conclusion: is bupropion a suitable weight-loss solution?

Bupropion alone is not a weight-loss medicine, and taking it without a medical reason can be risky.

However, when combined with naltrexone in Mysimba, it can be an effective prescription-based weight-loss treatment. If you are considering weight-loss medicines, speak to your doctor or healthcare provider to determine if Mysimba or another Ozempic alternative is suitable for your needs.

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