Budeprion SR is a generic sustained-release, or long-acting, version of the medication bupropion, which is available in a variety of brand names. Doctors primarily prescribe bupropion for treating depression and seasonal-affective disorder; as the brand Zyban, it is approved as a smoking cessation medication. Weight loss is a relatively common side effect of bupropion.
Weight Loss as Side Effect
Up to 28 percent of participants taking bupropion in clinical studies lost more than 5 lbs., according to eMedTV. It is unclear why the weight loss occurs, although the medication causes unpleasant side effects in some people, including loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. In addition, weight gain is sometimes a symptom of depression, so a person may lose weight when he is no longer depressed.
Research
Studies published in "Obesity Research" in September 2001 and October 2002 found significant weight loss results in overweight and obese participants taking bupropion and bupropion SR while on a low-calorie diet, as compared with participants taking a placebo on the same diet. The maximum dosage was 400 mg per day. Some participants lost more than 5 percent of their baseline weight by week 12. In one study, the 14 participants who completed 24 weeks of bupropion treatment had an average weight loss of 12.9 percent.
Combination Drug
Orexigen Therapeutics has been working on obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for an obesity drug that combines bupropion SR with naltrexone SR, a medication mainly used as maintenance treatment for people who have stopped abusing alcohol or other drugs. During pre-approval clinical trials, researchers found a slight increase in blood pressure and pulse rate for some participants taking the combination medication. Because of this, the FDA asked Orexigen Therapeutics in 2011 to conduct a very large cardiovascular outcomes study, which will probably not be feasible for the company, according to Larry Smith at investment website Seeking Alpha.
Considerations
The FDA has not approved Budeprion SR or other bupropion products for weight loss, but doctors can legally prescribe medications for unapproved uses, called off-label use. If you plan to ask your doctor about Budeprion SR for weight loss, also ask about the black box warnings on bupropion products. Some people taking these medications for depression and for smoking cessation have developed suicidal thoughts and behavior, as well as hostility, agitation, and new or worsening depression. Budeprion SR has many other possible side effects as well, such as drowsiness, dizziness, constipation and sweating. Tell your doctor about any other medications you take or have taken recently, as Budeprion SR interacts with several drugs, and some of these interactions cause serious negative effects.
References
- EMedTV: Budeprion SR
- EMedTV: Bupropion and Weight Loss
- "Obesity Research"; Bupropion SR vs. Placebo for Weight Loss in Obese Patients With Depressive Symptoms; A.K. Jain, et al.; October 2002
- "Obesity Research"; Bupropion for Weight Loss; K.M. Gadde, et al.; September 2001
- PubMed Health: Bupropion
- Orexigen: Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of Contrave(R) New Drug Application for the Treatment of Obesity
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