Weight Loss Medications
There are many weight loss medications on the market today. But which one is right for you?
It’s important to understand the different types of weight loss medications and their potential side effects before you make a decision.
This blog post will help you learn about the different types of weight loss medications and their pros and cons.
However, during treatment, attention should be paid to diet and exercise, and these drugs are not suitable for everyone.
Doctors usually prescribe only if her BMI is above 30, or if she is over 27 and has weight-related health conditions. B. Type 2 diabetes or hypertension.
The drug semaglutide (Wegovy) was approved by the FDA in 2021 to treat obesity.
The most common and longest-used weight loss drugs are liraglutide (Saxenda), bupropion, naltrexone (Contrave), orlistat (Alli, Xenical), phentermine (Adipex-P, Ionamin, Pro-Fast), phentermine topiramate (Qsymia). .
Tell your doctor about your medical history before prescribing weight loss medications.
This includes allergies or other medical conditions, medications or supplements you are taking (whether herbal or natural), and if you are pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant.
Eating less and exercising more is the key to permanent weight loss. Prescription weight loss drugs may help some people.
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
How it works:
What you need to know:
If he doesn’t lose 4% of his body weight after 16 weeks of treatment with liraglutide, the FDA considers it unlikely to work, so your doctor may discourage you from using the drug. We may advise you to stop.
Side effects:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, hypotension. Serious side effects include increased heart rate, pancreatic inflammation, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, and suicidal thoughts.
Liraglutide has been shown to cause thyroid tumors in animals, but it is not yet known if it can cause thyroid cancer in humans.
Naltrexone HCl and bupropion (Contrave).
How it works:
Contrave combines two FDA-approved drugs, naltrexone and bupropion, in a sustained release formulation.
Naltrexone is permitted for the remedy of alcohol and opioid dependence. Bupropion is approved for the treatment of depression, seasonal depression, and smoking cessation.
Side Effects:
The most common side effects are nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and dry mouth.
Contrave contains warnings about an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior with bupropion.
The warning also states that serious neuropsychiatric problems have been reported with bupropion.
Contrave can cause seizures and should not be used in patients with seizures. This drug may also increase blood pressure and heart rate.
What else you should know:
If he doesn’t lose 5% of his weight after 12 weeks of using Contrave, your doctor will stop using the drug because the FDA has determined it’s unlikely to work.
Orlistat (Xenical)
It prevents the body from absorbing about one-third of the fat it eats.
When doctors prescribe orlistat, they call it Xenical. If available without a prescription, it is called Ali, which contains half the dose of Xenical.
Approval for continued use? yes.
Side effects
Include abdominal cramps, bloating, oily stools, more frequent bowel movements, and inability to control bowel movements.
These side effects are generally mild and temporary. However, eating fatty foods may make it worse.
There have been rare reports of severe liver damage in people taking orlistat, but it is unknown whether the drug causes these problems.
What else you should know:
You should eat a low-fat meal (less than 30% of your daily calories from fat) before taking orlistat.
Also, multivitamins should be taken at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking orlistat. This is because the drug temporarily makes it difficult to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Orlistat is the only drug approved for use in the United States. All other prescription weight loss drugs reduce appetite, including:
Phentermine
How to use. It reduces appetite.
Doctors may prescribe it as Adipex or Suprenza.
Is it approved for long term use? no it isn’t. Approved for short-term (several weeks) use only.
Side effects: can be serious.
These include high blood pressure, heart palpitations, restlessness, dizziness, tremors, insomnia, shortness of breath, chest pain, and difficulty doing activities that used to be easy.
As with some appetite suppressants, there are risks of drug dependence.
- Do not take late at night as it may cause insomnia.
If you are taking insulin for diabetes, consult your doctor before taking phentermine, as your insulin dosage may need to be changed.
- Do not take phentermine if you have a history of heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Do not use this medicine if you have glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, substance abuse, or are pregnant or nursing.
What you need to know:
Phentermine is an amphetamine. Because of their potential for addiction and abuse, these stimulants are “controlled substances” and require a special kind of prescription.
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
How does that work?
Semaglutide was originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is prescribed for that purpose under the names Ozempic and Rybelsus.
Under the name Wegovy, the drug is specialized in treating obesity.
Is it approved for long term use? Yes, it is.
Side effects
include stomach cramps, constipation, vomiting, gas, headache, fatigue, and gastroesophageal reflux.
These aspect consequences are normally moderate and temporary.
Kidney problems and blurred vision occurred infrequently. Semaglutide has been associated with cases of pancreatitis (disease of the pancreas).
See your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of pancreatitis:
Examples: Severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting.
