Medications for Obesity

Usually, physical activities and a healthy diet help manage obesity. However, it may be difficult to treat obesity alone with them in some people. Therefore, physicians may consider offering some weight loss medications. These drugs are recommended to obese people with a risk of obesity-related complications.

 
Orlistat

Orlistat can be used by adults and children 12 years and older. It inhibits the enzyme known as lipase, which is secreted by the stomach and the pancreas. Lipase helps digest fat in your diet. Therefore, Orlistat reduces the digestion and absorption of fat. Undigested and unabsorbed fat is removed in the stool. It can lower roughly one-third of fat from your diet from being absorbed. If you use Orlistat for one to two years, you can shed about five to seven pounds (2.3-3.2 kg) of your body weight. If you use Orlistat with exercise and a healthy diet, you can lose more. However, weight regain happens, following the drug is stopped.

Common adverse effects of Orlistat are abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, and frequent leakage or passage of oily stool. Usually side effects are mild and short-term. However, they may be more intense, if you consume high-fat meals. These effects can be decreased, if you lower the amount of fat in your diet. Orlistat also inhibits the absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients. Therefore, your doctor will prescribe a multivitamin, while using Orlistat to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Rarely, Orlistat can cause severe liver damage. If you get itching, dark urine, loss of appetite, light-coloured stools, or yellowish discolouration of eyes or skin, you should stop using Orlistat and see your doctor right away. Orlistat should not be used with Cyclosporine.


Lorcaserin

Lorcaserin is recommended as a long-term medication. It affects some chemicals in the brain and lowers the appetite. Therefore, you will feel early satiety and eat less. The physician should carefully keep an eye on the patient’s weight loss while using the medication. If the patient doesn’t shed about five per cent of the body weight in 12 weeks of using Lorcaserin, it is improbable the medication will work for him or her, and the treatment should be discontinued.

Common unwanted effects are dizziness, headache, tiredness, cough, dry mouth, nausea, constipation. Rarely, Lorcaserin can lead to a chemical imbalance known as serotonin syndrome, which is a serious adverse effect. Serotonin syndrome causes confusion, high fever, muscle rigidity, psychiatric problems, suicidal thoughts, issues with understanding or memory. It can occur, if you use Lorcaserin with MAOI (mono-amine oxidase inhibitor) drugs or SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) antidepressants. Lorcaserin is not recommended to use during pregnancy.


Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is recommended to manage obesity in adults. It is a combined medication. Phentermine is an appetite suppressant. Topiramate is used to manage fits (seizures) and prevent migraine. Phentermine can be used for only short-period (few weeks). However, the combined medication is safe to use even for two years. Usually, Phentermine-topiramate is offered in three doses as a starting dose, normal recommended dose, and high dose. If you do not shed at least three per cent of the body weight in 12 weeks of beginning treatment, your doctor will either stop the drug or increase the dose. If you don’t lose at least five per cent of the initial body weight in 12 weeks with a higher dose, your doctor will ask to discontinue the drug because, it is improbable the drug will work for you.

Common adverse effects of Phentermine-topiramate are dizziness, numbness of hands and feet, sleep disturbances, dry mouth, altered taste (specially with carbonated soft drinks), increased heart rate (palpitations) and constipation. Rarely, Phentermine-topiramate can cause some serious unwanted effects like problems with understanding or memory, mood problems, suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances, allergic reactions, and visual impairments. Rare adverse effects of Topiramate include acute glaucoma and kidney stones. Phentermine-topiramate is not recommended during pregnancy because, it may harm the baby and cause birth defects. If you are planning to become pregnant, you shouldn’t use Phentermine-topiramate. Individuals with glaucoma, overactive thyroid gland, or who have used specific antidepressants called MAOI, should not take Phentermine-topiramate. Some studies show that the drug can be used with SSRI and other antidepressant medication without side effects.


Other appetite suppressant drugs

These medications suppress your appetite by changing some chemicals in the brain. They cause early satiety, limiting your food intake. These drugs are recommended for short-term use (up to 12 weeks) in adults.

E.g.

• Phentermine
• Diethylpropion
• Benzphetamine
• Phendimetrazine

Appetite suppressants cause some common adverse effects. They include dizziness, dry mouth, headache, sleep disturbances, irritability, abdominal discomfort, and constipation or diarrhoea. These medications may lead to some severe unwanted effects such as fainting, palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, foot or ankle swelling (oedema). They are not recommended to people with hypertension, heart disease, glaucoma, or overactive thyroid gland.


Other medications

Physicians may prescribe some other medications to manage obesity. Those medications include Metformin and Bupropion. Metformin is usually used to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus while Bupropion is generally offered to treat depression.


How to use weight loss medication?

If your doctor prescribes you a weight loss medication, you should follow his or her instructions well. You require close medical supervision as well. It is not good to obtain these drugs over the Internet. While using weight loss medications, you should follow lifestyle modifications, and an exercise plan as well. Ask your physician about precautions and adverse effects of the drug. You should tell your doctor regarding current health issues and medications, and family clinical history. It will help the doctor to select a better drug for you. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, do not use weight loss drugs.



Related Links:

What Is Obesity?
Complications of Obesity
Obesity and Dietary Control
Tips for Diet in Obesity
Pharmacological Management of Obesity
Weight-loss Surgery for Obesity