Mysimba Progress - an honest review

[StanleyOscar]

Hello!

I'm one of those people who can go on a diet, lose weight, but not keep it off! I also want to say that I am in no way affiliated with Mysimba, but wanted to share with you all my experience so far.

2 years ago at 18st 7lbs I joined up with SlimmingWorld for 12 weeks, that set my mind right and for the next 4 months (7 months total) I carried on by myself and lost a total of 78lbs. To be 12st 13lbs and size Medium was lifechanging. I honestly can't put into words how I felt, but it was heaven having spent 25 years around 18st, and tipped the scales at 18st 13lbs!

Fast forward to 2023 and yes, as I expected, I have put weight back on. I have gone from the 12st 13lbs to 16st 4lbs. This is devastating because it feels like the party is over, and although I didn't as yet put back on the full 78lbs, and more, those wonderful slimmer days are gone. However, I'm not one to give up, but having done many diets which work to 'lose' weight, I haven't found one yet which can keep the weight off. I need to re-educate my brain as I have a food addiction, I crave junk food.

In the past, my primary motivation when dieting is losing the pounds, I become obsessed, almost replacing my food addiction. That's why SlimmingWorld works so well for me, winning Slimmer of the week, month etc. However, when my weight levels out, and I stop losing the pounds, the motivation diminishes and bit by bit, the cravings come back, I slip into old habits...and the pounds go on. I've been there and back so many times.

Which brings me to 2 weeks ago when after a chance conversation with my father who has been an alcoholic most of his life, he mentioned he has been on Naltrexone for 6 months, not gone on a drinking binge, and it has transformed his thinking, and his life. For the first time in as long as he can remember, he is able to have a drink, and walk away with no cravings. It was then that he mentioned about various similar drugs for obesity, including Mysimba.

So, with that information I did a tonne of research, and ordered some online, did all the consultation etc and started on a 16 week course on Monday 18th September. Today I am on day 14, on three tablets a day and can reliably say that Mysimba is working well for me. I started at 16st 4lbs, and this morning I weighed in at 15st 9lbs, a loss of 9lbs in two weeks.

My cravings for junk food have vanished. Shopping is so different, food is food, and I have no interest in crisps, cakes, peanuts etc. There are bags of crisps in the house which my wife is tucking into, but I haven't touched them and have no desire to.

I hope to last the 16 weeks, and hopefully my brain will be re-educated, time will tell. Any thoughts, questions or experiences to share, please feel free, would love to hear from you all.

I started Mysimba today. I'm 15 stone 7 lbs and I want to get down to 11 stone again. I'm 5ft so even 11 stone is a bit heavier than I should be, but it's where I feel comfortable.

So far today I'm really sleepy. Absolutely no desire whatsoever to eat. I'm trying to eat one of those Van Houlton pickles that are zero calorie, zero fat etc. Because it's the only thing that remotely caught my eye when I opened the fridge. I felt a little nausea

Normally by now I would of eaten quite a bit: breakfast eggs, toast or on a mini tortilla with some shredded cheese and coffee, then probably a mid morning snack with my coffee, something sweet like a mini cake or biscuit. Then I'd have lunch which could be leftovers or a tin of tuna with mayo , mustard and some chopped dill pickle with crackers to eat. And then in the afternoon probably some crisps. Then I'd eat dinner. All I've managed today is breakfast and this pickle.

How did you feel the first week you were taking it ? What did you eat ? Are you exercising ?

Would love it if we keep the thread going to update on progress. Feel free to send me a PM as well .

Hello @Pherian and thank you for contribution to my thread, I was beginning to think nobody was interested. There isn't much info or feedback about Mysimba on this site, a few threads that last a few days, but then sadly people give up prematurely due to the side effects, which is very understandable.

Your story absolutely mirrors mine, for many years I too have binged throughout the day, and well into the evening. Food has always been my best friend, but sadly I have to break that friendship if I am to get anywhere with losing weight. I'm 51 years old and 5ft 7in tall.

I am on day 17 now of taking Mysimba, and have lost 10lbs since starting, and I can physically feel the difference. I'm not going to lie though, I'm finding it brutal now I am on 3 tablets, but not enough to give up. It's so strange going shopping and having absolutely no interest in junk food. I genuinely walk past the crisps, cakes, biscuits etc. There are 12 small bags of crisps in our kitchen cupboard which my wife bought, and so as an experiment I had one bag today. It taste the same as always, nice, but I didn't want another bag, which is totally unlike me. Normally I would demolish at least 4 bags!

For me, the first week on 1 tablet was fairly easy, especially when the initial weight dropped off. I was a little hungry each day, but had no appetite, so I didn't pick at food. @Pherian sounds like you are experiencing the same, stick at it!

Week 2 got a little harder as I began to feel hungry, and a little light headed but that soon went as the week went on. Still no appetite.

Week 3, my god I can really feel the effects of the tablets, it is brutal, but tolerable. I am experiencing hunger all day, light headed and dry mouth, yet I still have no desire to eat. In some ways Mysimba is possibly too effective? I eat coco pops for breakfast, cuppa soup for lunch with a banana, and in the evening a normal meal usually with chicken, potato, beans etc. However, my portions are a third of what they used to be, and no desert and I have to remind myself that I can eat, it won't turn into a binging session.

I'm pushing on and hope to last the full 16 weeks. Next week it will be the max 4 tablets a day, so quite a strong dosage. As the week goes after each increase, I do settle down and get used to it. Interestingly though, most days I am euphoric, buzzing. Today I have felt a bit down and lethargic. Make sure you bear in mind the medication if you are having a strange day and don't assume it is a normal mood swing.

As for exercise, I'm doing a little treadmill, but generally just keeping my steps up.

I couldn't bear the manic insomnia .. if I did sleep I had really violent nightmares and other side effects that were just too much
Good luck , I hope you can get through and do well

@anybloodyname So sorry to hear it didn't work out for you, insomnia is an awful side effect which luckily I haven't experienced yet.

Just wanted to add to my previous posts that the reason I am taking Mysimba as opposed to Saxenda or Ozempic is because apart from the supply issues, and the problems people have experienced coming off them with cravings returning with a vengeance, I need to re-educate my brain and tackle my food addiction. Simply blocking the feeling of hunger just wouldn't work for me, as soon as I come off such medication I would binge bigtime!

Mysimba consists of Bupropion to supress my appetite and stop me snacking, binging etc, and Naltrexone to block the dopamine hit I get when I eat junk food, and in time hopefully my brain will re-educate itself to not want junk food.

The weight loss is secondary, but a nice to have.

Well that's the plan!

Sorry to hear about your insomnia. I am not feeling that yet, but I’m joining the gym next week and I’m hoping the exercise is going to wear me down for sleep.

I used Contrave (same stuff different brand name). I found it helpful however really struggled with the constipation. Had to stop because it was so bad. So make sure you are on top of your fluid intake and other supports if that is an issue for you.
It helped me lose about 10 kilos.

When you say brutal is it the feeling of being lethargic and nauseous. Does that never end ?

for dinner I had my in laws over tonight and looked at me like I had three heads when I only ate one small taco and a peppermint tea.

I love spice in my food. The food just tasted flat tonight.

I’m following this thread.

its my first day with my simba. My goal is to lose 44lbs.

i have acute insomnia. I’m really afraid my insomnia gonna comeback. Hopefully not.

@Pherian It's brutal because as I am in the third week the effectiveness of Mysimba is really kicking in. I am constantly hungry, but simply don't have any appetite to eat and as a result I do feel tired and lethargic. However, for me the benefits outweigh the negatives. It will just take a little time to adjust, I will get the balance with food whereby I eat enough to not feel hungry, but at the same time not binge. As you say, food is flat, thats the effect of Naltrexone.

@DrJump That's a shame that you had constipation, 10 kilo loss is great though!

For the first time in my life, I genuinely feel free of food cravings.

This interesting I was about to start semaglutide when the shortages hit and think my eating is a form of addiction so will follow with interest

@MrsNK28 Welome aboard and well done for starting your journey! You can and will lose 44lbs, just hang in there.

Don't worry about the insomnia coming back, it may never happen. I sleep better than before now I am taking Mysimba.

@QueenOfHiraeth Yes, absolutely. For me, my eating is an addiction like alcohol, gambling etc. Naltrexone was originally used for opioid addiction, and then alcoholism to combat cravings, hence it can be effective for eating disorders.

Sleep was weird last night. I was tired. I went to bed but don’t think I actually slept. I was conscious at 3am as I’d gotten up. Went back to bed and tried to sleep. I’ll see how the day goes.

What will happen when you stop taking it though? Won't your cravings and desire to eat come back?

@toomuchfaster The cravings 'shouldn't' come back which is why I am taking Mysimba because it contains Naltrexone which is used for treating various addictions long-term. It blocks the dopamine hit when eating the usual binge food when the cravings start, therefore not wanting to eat anymore and the binge eating never starts. If the full course is done properly, just as it is with alcoholics, it should re-educate the brain that junk food isn't fun anymore, just like alcoholics learn that booze is no longer fun. Going on a diet which excludes junk food doesn't educate the brain, it just makes the food seem more desirable, hence people crack eventually. The same with supressing hunger, it's not normal. Mysimba allows me to have a normal balanced diet with absolutely no restrictions, but due to the bupropion, I have a lower apatite but still experience hunger.

I didn't want to try Saxenda etc for the very reason that they won't work with me, I know as soon as I stop taking them the cravings will return. I have a food addiction, and losing weight and or drugs which temporarily suppress hunger won't fix it.

Of course, everyone is different, but for me, it's not a physical thing, it's a mental problem. Phycological approach is the way to go for me.

@StanleyOscar Interesting, are you having counselling with it? Or a discussion with the prescriber? Or will it just work? I thought alcoholics had to do support group work alongside it?
I have a couple of stone to loose and am looking at options so this is really lovely to read.

@toomuchfaster I'm in discussions with the supplier, Asda Online Doctor and they have been really helpful. I had to have a consultation before they agreed to supply Mysimba, standard procedure. I get to speak with a doctor as and when, and they keep a check on how it's going. They have given me advice, and literature all about Naltroxene/bupropion and it's effects on tackling obesity, hence I have a decent understanding of the way it works and the goals. Seems very different from anything I have tried before, although I know it has been available for a while under other names, but generally it is still in it's infancy. Also, it does have mixed results and works for some people, but others have no effect at all.

@Pherian I too woke up at 3am and struggled to get back to sleep in my first week, but it wasn't often, not enough to call it insomnia.

Stick at it and see how it goes. It's very early days for you, and your body has to adjust/adapt and that takes time.

Day 19 and still going. Much easier now, almost like my body is getting used to taking Mysimba daily. Still not cracked, no cravings at all. Not feeling hungry either, and not so lethargic.

Weight loss still at 10lbs, which is fine. It always plateaus and then drops again. Lost an inch around the waist and can see my face changing.

All good!

Day 23 - Now on 4 tablets a day, the full dosage of Mysimba. Towards the end of last week I was suffering somewhat from feelings of doom, and was lethargic which I didn't get when on 1-2 tablets. I persevered and those symptoms have gone now but I do still have a dry mouth. Thankfully I have been sleeping well, albeit with vivid dreams on and off.

We went away for 3 days and we had a few meals in pubs. I am pleased to say that I each time I only had the main meal, and wasn't able/interested in eating the plateful. Hunger pains have gone away, and it is wonderful to be able to get through the day without snacking, or even feeling like I need something to eat, the cravings are gone.

Also pleased to say that I didn't put on any pounds whilst away, my weight remained the same, currently at an 11lbs loss with around 35-49 to go depending on what weight I decide is comfortable.

How's everyone else getting on with your diets?

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it long-term. For six months Mysimba was like a miracle for me. No cravings, reduced appetite and I lost three stone.
Then..it stopped working. I've tried having a break and starting again but nothing. It's very depressing.

That's a shame it stopped working for you I'm sorry to hear that. Did you put the 3 stone back on or did you manage to keep it off?

In the past I haven't really struggled to get my weight down, I just can't keep it off. Normally I go on a calorie controlled diet for say 6 months to a year, but all that does is inflame the cravings, so when I hit my target weight and come off the diet, I play catch up, hence putting weight back on. Last diet I lost 5.5 stone, and fortunately only put back on 3 stone over 2 years.

Really don't know about the future, whether Mysimba will continue to work or not. I'm kind of hoping my brain has re-educated itself by the end of 16 weeks, but it may not. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Day 25 - Another pound off, total of 12lbs. May not be the nicest solution to my food addiction, but something is working!

Most of the side effects have worn off, just a little bit moody but that could be down to not eating as much as I used to and my body adjusting. Definitely slimmed down already, clothes getting quite loose and so may have to drop down to size L. Bring it on!

Bags of crisps are still intact! Not touched them, and no intentions of doing so. Overall, very pleased with Mysimba, especially not having any cravings, but still feels weird.

@Pherian How are you getting on? Is Mysimba working for you? Would love to get an update. 😎

Been a struggle this week with work. I've lost 3lbs so far. Still going though :) How are you doing ?