Tesofensine Information

What is Tesofensine?

Tesofensine is a potential new weight loss medication that is currently undergoing clinical trials. Results from the Phase IIb clinical trials suggest that Tesofensine may be even more effective than the two slimming pills currently on the market: Xenical and Reductil.

The trials in Denmark and reported in the respected medical journal, The Lancet, concluded that patients who were dieting and taking the highest dose of the medication for 24 weeks lost up to 12.6% of their body weight.

How does Tesofensine work

Tesofensine is categorised as a pre-synaptic reuptake inhibitor of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. When these three neurotransmitter chemicals (serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline) are prevented from being reabsorbed by the central nervous system, the body responds by feeling less hungry. Patients therefore are more inclined to have smaller meals and are less likely to snack. Tesofensine also appears to affect the pleasure sensation of food consumption by modulating the action of dopamine on a particular sector of the brain.

Is Tesofensine Effective?

In a double-bind trial with 203 people (with half given a placebo) those taking the placebo had lost 2.0% of body weight while those taking the medication with the active ingredient had experienced far more successful results. For those taking the lowest dose of 0.25 mg, average weight loss was 6.5%, those taking the medium dose of 0.5% lost 11.2% and those taking the highest dose of 1 mg lost 12.6%. In the two highest dose groups, the treatment led to a 4 point drop in BMI in a period of 24 weeks.

Patients being treated with Tesofensine also displayed the following positive results:

• Reduction in appetite sensations within a period of 14 days, with those being treated reporting a greater level of satiety and less desire to eat.
• Significant increase in fat oxidation and reduction in fat tissue. The 24 hour fat oxidation increased by 15% and there was a reduction in protein oxidation. Scanning was able to provide confirmation of a statistically significant reduction in fat tissue compared with the placebo control group.
• Improved levels of insulin sensitivity were noted, leading to a higher metabolism of glucose, making this medication potentially suitable for patients at risk from type II diabetes.
• After 14 days, a significant increase in energy expenditure at rest of 6% was observed compared with the placebo control group. This increase was directly linked to Tesofensine and any external factors were excluded as possible causes.

What are the side effects of Tesofensine

One of the main reasons for holding clinical trials is to make sure that a medication is safe for people to take. As the trials are by no means finished, side effects are by no means confirmed. However at this stage is appears that side effects can include insomnia, nausea, diarrhoea and at the highest dose, an increase in blood pressure.

Due to the blood pressure concerns, researchers have said they are most hopeful about the medium dose of the drug, as it does not lead to this specific complication while still providing excellent levels of weight loss.

All medications have potential side effects so the identification of the side effects mentioned here would not rule out this medication being approved so long as there is a statistically significant clinical benefit.

Where to buy Tesofensine

Tesofensine is still being developed by Danish manufacturers Neurosearch. They are meeting with the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S to decide on the parameters of the third stage of clinical testing, which is a promising step forward. However, if this drug does ever reach the market, it will not be for a good few years yet. In the meantime, we may be able to prescribe Reductil or Xenical for you, depending on your personal circumstances.