Obesity often requires long-term treatment to lose weight and keep it off. Prescription weight loss drugs may help.
Keep in mind that these drugs are not a cure-all for obesity. Weight loss drugs should be combined with physical activity and a healthy diet to lose and maintain weight over the long term.
Do I Need a Prescription Weight Loss Drug?
Using prescription weight loss drugs to treat obesity is an option for the following people:
- People with a body mass index(BMI) of 30 or above
- People with a BMI of 27 or above with obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
Types of Prescription Weight Loss Drugs
Most weight loss drugs are for short-term use, meaning a few weeks or months.
One
type of weight loss medication is "appetite suppressants." Appetite
suppressants promote weight loss by tricking the body into believing
that it is not hungry or that it is full. They decrease appetite by
increasing serotonin or catecholamine, two brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite.
These
drugs come in the form of tablets or extended-release capsules (pills
that release medication over a long period of time). Appetite
suppressants can be obtained by a doctor's prescription or bought over the counter. One common prescription appetite suppressant is phentermine.
The FDA has also approved the appetite suppressant Belviq for long-term
use in treating obesity. Side effects include dizziness, headache and
tiredness.
The drug Qsymia combines phentermine with the seizure/migraine drug topiramate.
Topiramate causes weight loss in several ways, including increasing
feelings of fullness, making foods taste less appealing, and increasing
calorie burning. Qsymia is designed to be taken long-term. However, it
cannot be taken by pregnant women and is only sold through certified
pharmacies.
Another type of prescription weight loss
drug is a fat absorption inhibitor. They work by preventing your body
from breaking down and absorbing fat eaten with your meals. This
unabsorbed fat is eliminated in bowel movements.
Orlistat
is the only drug of this type in the U.S. Orlistat works by blocking
about 30% of dietary fat from being absorbed. Orlistat is available by
prescription as Xenical and over-the-counter as Alli.
Does Xenical Really Work?
Xenical
is moderately effective, leading to a 5% to 10% weight loss when taken
along with a low calorie/low-fat diet. Most of the weight loss happens
in the first six months.
Over the short term, weight
loss from prescription drugs may reduce a number of health risks in
obese people. But studies are needed to determine the effects of these
medications over the long term.
The Risks of Prescription Weight Loss Drugs
When considering long-term weight loss drugs for obesity, the following concerns and risks should be discussed with your doctor:
- Addiction. All prescription weight loss drugs except orlistat are "controlled substances." This means that doctors are required to follow certain restrictions when prescribing them since they could be addictive.
- Tolerance. Most people's weight tends to level off after six months while taking a weight loss medication. This leads to a concern that the person has developed a tolerance for the medication, but this is unclear.
- Side effects. Most side effects of weight loss drugs are mild (although some can be unpleasant) and usually improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Rarely, serious and even fatal side effects have been reported.
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