Research
Hormonal
The combination of bupropion and naltrexone reduces body weight by stimulating POMC neurons to decrease energy intake and increase expenditure, with naltrexone blocking negative feedback to enhance this effect.
Bupropion/naltrexone is a combination pill that helps reduce appetite and increase energy expenditure by acting on brain pathways. It is effective for weight loss in people with obesity and comorbidities like hypertension or diabetes. However, it is not suitable for everyone, particularly those with a history of seizures or eating disorders. Consult your doctor to determine if it is safe for you.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Bupropion is a selective inhibitor of catecholamines... It stimulates the hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons releasing the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)... The opioid receptor’s blockade by naltrexone inhibits the pathway of the negative feedback, allowing for stronger and more permanent activation of POMC neurons, and consequently increasing the anorexic effect of bupropion, thus giving a hyperadditive effect
Why this rating
Supported by multiple RCTs (COR program).
Source
Pharmacological Support for the Treatment of Obesity—Present and Future
Marcin Kosmalski et al. · Healthcare · 2023
DOI 10.3390/healthcare11030433
narrative_reviewCited 41×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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