Weight-loss Medication USA

Prescription weight loss medications can help overweight people lose weight. They are usually prescribed by a doctor when diet and exercise alone do not work. Each of these substances works differently. People on these drugs may not be that hungry. Or they may feel full after eating just a small amount of food. Another type of weight loss medicine makes it more difficult for your body to absorb fat.

 

Who Uses Prescription Medications For Weight Loss?

Prescription weight loss medications are only for obese people. Most of these drugs are for people who weigh 20% or more, which is ideal for their height and body type. Or they are used in people with a high body mass index (BMI). Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your obesity if you:

 

A BMI of 30 or higher

A BMI of 27 or higher and you have a disease or condition that may be related to your weight (this may include diabetes or high blood pressure).

Your doctor can tell you if prescription weight loss medications can help you.

 

Way to better health

Prescription weight loss drugs generally work in two ways. Most work on your body to make you feel less hungry or full more quickly. An FDA-approved drug acts on your digestive tract. Some medications are only approved for a short period of time, usually no longer than 12 weeks. Others can be used long term. 

The following are medications currently approved by the FDA for weight loss. Also included is information on how they work, common side effects, and warnings for each. 

Orlistat

Brand: Xenical

Here's how it works: Reduces the amount of fat your body absorbs.

Side effects: diarrhea, gas, uncontrollable stools, loss of fatty stools

Warnings: You can reduce the amount of certain vitamins your body can absorb. You must take a multivitamin pill every day.

Orlistat is also available without a prescription in lower doses. That OTC drug is called Alli. Orlistat is the only drug of its kind approved in the United States.

The following medications will make you feel less hungry or full more quickly. They have common side effects, such as constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. Additional side effects are listed for each drug.

Lorcaserin

Brand: Belviq

Here's how it works: Helps you feel full faster by affecting the serotonin receptors in your brain.

Side effects: cough, headache, fatigue

Warnings: May interact with medications that treat depression, anxiety, or migraines.

Naltrexone bupropion

Brand: Contrave

This is how it works: you get less hungry or you fill up faster.

Side effects: headache, high blood pressure and heart rate, insomnia, liver damage, vomiting

Warnings: Do not use if you have untreated high blood pressure, seizures, or a history of anorexia or bulimia. Don't use it if you're already using bupropion (brand names Wellbutrin, Zyban). This drug can enhance suicidal thoughts or actions.

Phentermine topiramate

Brand: Qysmia

This is how it works: it reduces your appetite and makes you feel full faster.

Side effects: taste changes (especially carbonated drinks), tingling in the hands and feet, difficulty sleeping

Warnings: Tell your doctor if you have had a heart attack, stroke, abnormal heart rhythm, kidney disease, or a mood disorder. Don't use it if you have hyperthyroidism or glaucoma. This medicine can cause birth defects.

Liraglutid

Brand: Saxenda

Here's how it works: you're more likely to feel less hungry or full

Side effects: abdominal pain, headache, accelerated heartbeat

Warnings: It is only available by injection. It can increase the chance of developing pancreatitis.

There are other medications that can reduce your appetite. These include:

phentermine

benzphetamine

diethylpropion

phendimetrazine

These drugs are only approved by the FDA for short-term use for up to 12 weeks. They also have some side effects. These include:

Difficulty sleeping.

Feeling nervous or restless

Headache.

Itchy skin.

Yellow eyes or skin.

Urine that is brown or dark in color.

Pale-colored stools.

Loss of appetite.

Stomach ache.

Such supplements have been linked to reports of heart attack, seizures, stroke and death. It is important to talk to your doctor if you are using or considering an over-the-counter weight loss supplement.

 

Things to Consider

How can I avoid regaining weight when I stop taking the medicine?

There is no easy cure for obesity. Prescription weight loss medications can help you get off to a great start. But once you stop, the weight you lost can come back. To maintain your weight, you need to eat a healthy diet and be physically active on a regular basis. You should continue these healthy habits even after you stop taking the medicine. Remember that losing weight and weight is a lifelong effort.

 

How can I lose weight without taking a weight loss medication?

If you decide that weight loss drugs are not right for you, you can still meet your weight loss goals. It is important to develop healthy eating habits. But don't expect to change everything overnight. Start by training yourself to eat without doing anything else at the same time. For example, don't eat while watching TV. Concentrate on what you eat. Try to eat slowly.

Then change what and how much you eat. Your doctor can help you create a low-calorie, weight-loss diet. He or she can provide tips for healthy snacking and portion control.

It's also important to be physically active. A good goal for many people is to exercise at least 30 minutes 4 to 6 times a week. Regular exercise helps you burn calories faster, even when you are sitting still. Exercise also helps you burn fat and build muscle.

Aerobic increases heart rate and helps to burn calories. Aerobic exercises include swimming, brisk walking, jogging, and cycling. Anaerobic exercise, such as strength training, is also good because it adds muscle mass to your body. Muscle burns calories faster than fat.

Before starting any exercise program, consult your physician. He or she can help you create an exercise plan that will help you achieve your goals.