Its not a stimulate appetite suppressant like a diet drug. It works more like an antidepressant, aims for a certain area of the brain assosiated with bite eating. It isn't a diet drug at all. It was originally marketed as an antisesiure med. Then it was approved for chronic migraines. Which I suffer from. After further study it showed that the med affected the area that helps destimulate the area of the brain that causes binge eating. It is used as a tool in controlling binge eating, so you can teach yourself coping skills. My Dr says he knows of no other med that is directly aimed at binge eating treating the "mental" disorder and not the appetite. Makes since because in my cause the binge has nothing to do with hunger.