New Appetite Suppressant Drug Combination Not Yet Ready for Prime Time

In the August 2007 Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, researchers reported the results of a study of a new appetite suppressant drug combination: bupropion, an antidepressant, taken along with zonisamide, an anti-seizure drug. A group of obese women taking both drugs lost about 16 pounds in 3 months. More weight loss might have been seen after a longer treatment period.

Although serious side effects were not seen in the study, there were too few patients, only 7 in the bupropion/zonisamide group, to evaluate the safety of the drug combination and the frequency of side effects.. Zonisamide can cause sedation, dizziness, potentially severe depression, and other adverse effects. Bupropion usually has fewer adverse effects than zonisamide.

If other appetite suppressants with an established safety record can't be used and an appetite suppressant is needed, bupropion/zonisamide might be prescribed with careful monitoring for adverse effects. However, until there is more research, the bupropion/zonisamide combination can't be considered an established, safe, effective obesity treatment. More research is needed.