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Apr 1, 2024 · New injectables are getting a lot of attention, but several weight-loss medications are available as pills, too. Some popular weight-loss pills are Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion), Qsymia (phentermine / topiramate ER), and phentermine (Adipex-P). Some clinical studies suggest that Qsymia is the most effective weight loss pill.
- Diagnosis
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- Prognosis
- Mechanism of action
- Side effects
- Medical uses
Your doctor may consider weight-loss drugs for you if you haven't been able to lose weight through diet and exercise and you meet one of the following:
Before selecting a medication for you, your doctor will consider your health history, possible drug side effects and potential interactions with medications you're already taking.
It's important to note, however, that weight-loss drugs aren't for everyone. For example, prescription weight-loss drugs shouldn't be used by women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant or women who are breast-feeding.
All prescription weight-loss drugs approved for long-term use produce significant weight loss compared with placebo. In addition, studies show that the addition of weight-loss medication to lifestyle changes results in greater weight loss than lifestyle changes alone produce.
Over the course of 12 months, that can mean a weight loss of 3 to 7 percent of total body weight beyond that achieved with lifestyle changes alone. That may seem like a modest amount, but sustained weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of total body weight can have health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and triglyceride levels.
Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and are not always paid for by insurance. Check with your insurance company to learn about coverage for each medication option.
How long you will need to take weight-loss medication depends on whether the drug helps you lose weight and whether you have any side effects. If you have lost enough weight to improve your health and aren't having serious side effects, your doctor may suggest that you stay on the medication indefinitely. If you don't lose at least 5 percent of you...
After stopping weight-loss medication, many people gain back some of the weight they lost. However, adopting healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain.
Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by decreasing appetite or increasing feelings of fullness, and some do both. The exception is orlistat, which works by interfering with absorption of fat.
Lorcaserin initially raised concerns because it works somewhat like fenfluramine a drug that was withdrawn from the market because it damaged heart valves. However, there is no evidence that lorcaserin damages heart valves. Lorcaserin is typically well-tolerated. Possible side effects include headache, nausea and back pain. Orlistat can cause both...
Phentermine as a single agent (Adipex-P) is also used for weight loss. It's one of four weight-loss drugs approved for short-term use (less than 12 weeks). This group of drugs isn't widely prescribed because of the limited duration of use, side effects and potential for abuse. The exception is phentermine. It's commonly prescribed and the actual ra...
Dec 12, 2023 · Plenity is one of the best weight loss pills currently out there due to its strong safety profile and effectiveness seen in the research. While a few other weight loss pills are FDA approved, such ...
Jul 29, 2024 · Weight loss medications can be an effective tool and may support weight management by reducing your food intake, decreasing fat absorption, or increasing your metabolism. In most cases, these ...
- GLP-1 agonists are currently the most effective anti-obesity medications and are considered safe for long-term use. Currently, only liraglutide (Sa...
- If considered medically necessary, insurance companies may cover certain prescription weight loss medications. Some manufacturers also offer saving...
- Ozempic and Wegovy are two different brands of the same drug, semaglutide. However, there are differences in the recommended dosage and how each is...
- Saxenda (liraglutide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are two GLP-1 medications recently approved for weight loss. Other GLP-1 medications, such as Mounja...
- Liraglutide (Saxenda) How it works: Liraglutide is the same drug as the type 2 diabetes drugs Sadenxa and Victoza. It mimics an intestinal hormone that tells the brain your stomach is full.
- Naltrexone HCl and bupropion (Contrave) How it works: Contrave is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs, naltrexone, and bupropion, in an extended-release formula.
- Orlistat (Xenical) How it works: Blocks your body from absorbing about a third of the fat you eat. When a doctor prescribes orlistat, it's called Xenical.
- Phentermine. How it works: Curbs your appetite. Your doctor may prescribe this under the names including Adipex or Suprenza. Approved for long-term use? No. It's approved for short-term use (a few weeks) only.
Sep 13, 2023 · Trulicity is a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine to improve blood sugar in adults and children 10 years of age and older with Type 2 diabetes. It's used off label for weight loss. It's ...
Apr 12, 2024 · This includes pills such as oral semaglutide, orforglipron, and amycretin. The same goes for injectable medications, such as retatrutide, CagriSema (cagrilintide and semaglutide), and MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide). Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and more are already FDA approved as weight loss treatments.
