Real world efficacy of naltrexone/bupropion for weight management in obesity and after bariatric surgery.

Abstract

Background: Insufficient weight loss or weight regain after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is frequent, and evidence to support the use of pharmacotherapy for weight management is limited.

Methods: In this single-centre retrospective cohort study, the effectiveness of naltrexone/bupropion (NB) for weight control in surgery-naive and post-MBS patients was evaluated. Data was collected between 2016 and 2022 on all patients started on NB after multidisciplinary consult. Patients received weekly dose escalation up to 32/360 mg daily per the manufacturer's protocol, with submaximal doses administered in cases of adverse effects or sufficient therapeutic response. Weight evolution, metabolic status, adherence and adverse events were analysed at 4 and 12 months after NB initiation. Data are presented as median (interquartile range).

Results: A total of 151 patients were included, 111 were surgery-naive and 40 with prior MBS. The median time after MBS was 7.1 years (4.2, 14.9). Among the post-MBS patients, 18 (45%) patients had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 11 (27.5%) sleeve gastrectomy. Four months after initiation of NB, 46.8% of the surgery-naive patients and 67.5% of the post-MBS patients continued using NB, with a median weight loss of 6.4% (3.0, 10.1) and 6.3% (2.3, 12.1) respectively. At 12-months, 38.5% of surgery-naive patients and 63.0% of post-MBS patients had continued NB, with median weight loss of 8.8% (5.0, 16.7) and 10.0% (4.5, 16.5) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in weight loss between the surgery-naive and post-MBS group. Weight loss was not significantly influenced by whether the maximal dose was reached in both the surgery-naive patients (p = 0.38) and the post-MBS patients (p = 0.72).

Conclusion: Real-world data show that NB treatment is equally effective in surgery-naive patients and in patients experiencing weight regain after bariatric surgery, regardless of the maximal dose administered.