Naltrexone-Bupropion
Pronounced
"nal-TREX-one/bue-PROE-pee-on"
Uses
This medication is used with a doctor-approved exercise, behavior change, and reduced-calorie diet program to help you lose weight. It is used by certain overweight people, such as those who are obese or have weight-related medical problems. Losing weight and keeping it off can lessen the many health risks that come with obesity, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a shorter life.
Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. Bupropion is an antidepressant that helps to restore the balance of certain natural substances (dopamine, norepinephrine) in the brain. These two medications work together on separate parts of the brain to reduce appetite and how much you eat.
Most opiates should not be used for 7 to 10 days before starting naltrexone, but some opiate drugs (such as methadone) should not be used for 10 to 14 days before starting naltrexone. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Other forms of naltrexone or bupropion are used to treat a variety of conditions including depression, other mental/mood disorders, smoking cessation, addiction to opioid medication, and alcohol abuse. This combination product is not approved for these other uses.
Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication, as well as other ways to lose weight, with your doctor.
Warning
This medication is a combination of bupropion and naltrexone. Bupropion is an antidepressant used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. It can also be prescribed to help with smoking cessation or weight loss. Antidepressants can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provide other important benefits. However, studies have shown that a small number of people (especially people younger than 25) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts. It is very important to talk with the doctor about the risks and benefits of antidepressant medication (especially for people younger than 25), even if treatment is not for a mental/mood condition.
Tell the doctor right away if you notice worsening depression/other psychiatric conditions, unusual behavior changes (including possible suicidal thoughts/attempts), or other mental/mood changes (including new/worsening anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, hostile/angry feelings, impulsive actions, severe restlessness, very rapid speech). Be especially watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed.
If you are using naltrexone/bupropion to lose weight, stop taking this medication and tell your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms after stopping treatment.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Medication Guide if available from your pharmacist before you start taking naltrexone/bupropion and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with a low-fat meal as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily.
You may have trouble sleeping when you start taking this drug. Do not take your evening dose too close to bedtime.
Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush or chew this medication. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects such as seizures.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Your dose will be slowly increased to lower the risk of seizures and to limit side effects such as sleeplessness, symptoms of withdrawal from opiates, and high blood pressure. Do not increase your dose, take it more often, or stop taking it without your doctor's approval.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.
Tell your doctor if you have not lost weight after 16 weeks on this medication.
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