Tesofensine 101
Tesofensine is an SNDRI (Serotonin-Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor) medication that was originally developed for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, but which is now being studied for its fat-burning properties.
SNDRIs are similar to SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) in that they increase the activity of neurotransmitters to improve mood and well-being. In other words, Tesofensine could be described as an anti-depressant medication.
However, when it was first being studied for its anti-depressant and neuroprotective properties, scientists noticed that Tesofensine was more effective at reducing the weight of the participants than it was at doing what it was originally intended to do.
Therefore, they focused on its anti-obesity applications and now Tesofensine has gained the attention of people in our space after Swisschems launched it just a few days ago (I got about a dozen requests to cover it so here’s the post!)
BENEFITS OF TESOFENSINE
Tesofensine is still in development and there is basically no anecdotal information about it to be found on the internet. Therefore, everything I’m about to list here has been observed in scientific studies.
- Tesofensine may slow down degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. However according to studies it wasn’t very effective at doing so.
- As an SNDRI medication, Tesofensine may have anti-depressant and mood-boosting properties.
- Tesofensine contributes to weight loss by suppressing appetite significantly.
- Tesofensine may also contribute to weight loss by increasing energy expenditure / metabolism.
A study in particular put all of its participants in a 300kcal deficit and 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day.
The participants who were taking 1mg of Tesofensine a day lost a total of 12.8kg on average.
The participants who were taking 0.5mg of Tesofensine a day lost a total of 11.3kg on average.
The participants who were taking 0.25mg of Tesofensine a day lost a total of 6.7kg on average.
The participants who were taking placebo lost a total of 2.2kg on average.
That is a massive drop in weight compared to placebo when we consider that all the participants were on the same calorie deficit and exercise regimen.
SIDE-EFFECTS OF TESOFENSINE
According to the studies, Tesofensine was well-tolerated and only caused mild increases in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature (which are normal side-effects of any medication that increases energy expenditure).
Some participants also experienced nausea, headache, diarrhea and insomnia, but basically every drug ever invented has these listed as potential side-effects.
HOW TO USE TESOFENSINE
Based on the clinical trials, it seems that using up to 1mg a day for up to 6 months at a time is possible and well-tolerated.
Now, Tesofensine is extremely expensive, and given that the weight-loss difference between the users who took 1mg a day and the users who took 0.5mg a day is very small, I think that taking 0.5mg a day may be enough.
I would personally keep cycles shorter than 6 months, around the 8-to-12-week mark, simply because we don’t have enough long-term data to be completely sure about its safety.
In conclusion, Tesofensine shows potential as a weight loss medication due to its appetite-suppressing and metabolism-boosting properties. Scientific studies have demonstrated significant weight loss in participants, surpassing the effects of a placebo. While generally well-tolerated, mild side effects such as increased heart rate and nausea may occur. Further research is needed to fully understand its efficacy and long-term safety.
