Obesity medications are intended for long-term use, as obesity is a chronic disease. They improve health, quality of life, and body weight in patients with overweight and obesity.
Medications for weight loss are only one component of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes nutritional, physical activity, and behavioral therapies
This is the oldest medications for weight loss. Phentermine is FDA-approved for short term use, and it is an adrenergic agonist that produces appetite suppression.
Side effects include: dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness, and irritability.
Caution should be used in patients with hypertension.
This is a selective serotonin 5HT 2c receptor agonist that suppresses appetite. It is well tolerated but has modest weight loss results.
Side effects include: headache, nausea, dizziness, euphoria, and impairment of attention-cognition. It is not recommended for patients taking other serotonin-modulating medications or those with known cardiac valvular disease.
This is the most effective weight loss drug available to date. It combines an adrenergic agonist with a neurostabilizer. Adults with migraines and obesity are good candidates for this weight loss medication.
Side effects include: abnormal sensations, dizziness, taste alterations, insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth.
Contraindications: uncontrolled hypertension and coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, and sensitivity to stimulants.
It combines a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and an opioid receptor antagonist. It controls cravings and addicted behaviors related to food.
Side effects: constipation, headaches, insomnia, and dry mouth.
Contraindications: uncontrolled hypertension, history of seizures, and opioid use and dependence.
It is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), approved for diabetes type 2 and for weight loss injection. Liraglutide delays gastric emptying and causes satiety. Good candidates are adults with diabetes and prediabetes.
Side effects include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
Contraindication: patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Obesity medications are intended for long-term use, as obesity is a chronic disease. They improve health, quality of life, and body weight in patients with overweight and obesity.
Medications for weight loss are only one component of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes nutritional, physical activity, and behavioral therapies
This is the oldest medications for weight loss. Phentermine is FDA-approved for short term use, and it is an adrenergic agonist that produces appetite suppression.
Side effects include: dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness, and irritability.
Caution should be used in patients with hypertension.
This is a selective serotonin 5HT 2c receptor agonist that suppresses appetite. It is well tolerated but has modest weight loss results.
Side effects include: headache, nausea, dizziness, euphoria, and impairment of attention-cognition. It is not recommended for patients taking other serotonin-modulating medications or those with known cardiac valvular disease.
This is the most effective weight loss drug available to date. It combines an adrenergic agonist with a neurostabilizer. Adults with migraines and obesity are good candidates for this weight loss medication.
Side effects include: abnormal sensations, dizziness, taste alterations, insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth.
Contraindications: uncontrolled hypertension and coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, and sensitivity to stimulants.
It combines a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and an opioid receptor antagonist. It controls cravings and addicted behaviors related to food.
Side effects: constipation, headaches, insomnia, and dry mouth.
Contraindications: uncontrolled hypertension, history of seizures, and opioid use and dependence.
It is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), approved for diabetes type 2 and for weight loss injection. Liraglutide delays gastric emptying and causes satiety. Good candidates are adults with diabetes and prediabetes.
Side effects include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. Contraindication: patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.