List of FDA Approved Weight-loss Medication:

• phentermine products (Adipex-P® or Lomaira®)*

• orlistat (Xenical® or alli®)†

• naltrexone HCI AND bupropion HCI (CONTRAVE®)†

• phentermine- topiramate ER (Qsymia®)†

• liraglutide injection (Saxenda®)

• semaglutide 

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Approved for short term use
Approved for chronic(long term) use

Let’s take a closer look at each of these medications and learn how they work:

Phentermine (Adipex-P®, Lomaira®)

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Phentermine is a medication available by prescription that works on chemicals in the brain to decrease your appetite. It also has a mild stimulant component that adds extra energy. Phentermine is a pill that is taken once a day in the morning time. Tolerance to this medication can develop, so it is often used for only several months at a time. Common side effects are dry mouth and sleeplessness. The average weight-loss is 4-5 percent of your weight after one-year. In a 200 pound person, this means about 10 pounds of weight-loss.

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Concerns:
Due to its stimulant effect, a person’s blood pressure and heart rate may increase when on this medication; therefore, you must be monitored closely by a physician who is experienced in prescribing this medication. It cannot be used in patients with some heart conditions (such as poorly controlled blood pressure), glaucoma (increased pressure in your eye), stroke or overactive thyroid. There is some concern for abuse, but this is minimal if the medication is appropriately used as directed by a healthcare professional.

Orlistat (Xenical® or alli®)

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The medication alli® is a lower potency of the prescription drug Xenical® (orlistat). It is the only FDA-approved weight-loss medication that is available over-the-counter and available at a higher dose with a prescription. It is a capsule that is usually taken three times per day before a meal that contains dietary fat. It works by decreasing the amount of fat your body absorbs. This means that only 2/3 of the calories that you take in from fat will be absorbed. The other 1/3 of the calories gets carried away in the digestion tract as stool. The company that makes this drug (GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare) also offers a Web site with education and support tools for users at www.myalli.com. The average weight-loss is about 5 percent of your weight after one year. In a person who weighs 200 pounds, this would mean 10 pounds of weight-loss.

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Concerns:
It does not work well for people who are already on a low-fat diet since their calories from fat are already low.

Individuals using alli® on a regular basis should take a daily multivitamin as there is potential for deficiency in some vitamins. One of the advantages of alli® is that its side effects are limited to the gastrointestinal system. Common side effects are cramps, gas, stool leakage, oily spotting and gas with discharge that improve with a lower fat diet.

Lorcaserin HCI (Belviq®)

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Lorcaserin HCI was approved in June 2012 by the FDA and became commercially available in June 2013. It works by helping you feel full while eating less, and it works on the chemicals in your brain to help decrease your appetite.

Weight-loss: In individuals who took the medication for one-year, it has been shown to have an average of 7 percent weight-loss. In a 200 pound person, this would mean a 14 pound weight-loss. Blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels have also been shown to improve.

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Concerns:
The most common side effects are headache, dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, upper respiratory tract infection and nausea. Naltrexone HCI AND Bupropion HCI (CONTRAVE®)

CONTRAVE®, approved in 2014 by the FDA, is a combination of two medications that have been approved for other medical problems. Naltrexone is a medication used for the treatment of narcotic and alcohol dependency. Bupropion is used as an antidepressant and for helping people stop smoking. When used in combination, these two medications work together in the brain to decrease appetite and control eating. Among individuals who took the medication for one year, 65 percent of the study subjects lost at least 5 percent of their body weight. In a 200 pound person, this would mean a 10 pound weight-loss. Also, 39 percent lost at least 10 percent of their body weight. In a 200 pound person, this would mean a 20 pound weight-loss. Improvements in bad cholesterol, triglycerides and good cholesterol were also seen.

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Concerns:
The common side effects are nausea, constipation, headache, dry mouth, vomiting and dizziness.

Phentermine-Topiramate ER (Qsymia®)

This combination medication was approved by the FDA in July 2012. Topiramate is a medication used in migraine prevention as well as seizure prophylaxis. It was found that a common side effect of this medication was weight-loss. Phentermine, as described in this brochure, helps to increase your energy and decrease your appetite. Among individuals who took the highest does of Qsymia® (15 mg phentermine and 92 mg of topiramate ER) for one-year, they achieved an average of 14.4 percent weight-loss. In a 200 pound person, a 14.4 percent weight-loss would mean a loss of 29 pounds. Cholesterol levels have also been shown to improve.

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Concerns:
The most common side effects were dry mouth, constipation and pins-and-needle feeling in extremities. Qsymia® should NOT be used in women of childbearing age who are not using at least one reliable form of contraception. Topiramate ER, a component of Qsymia®, has been known to cause birth defects.

Liraglutide injection (Saxenda®)

Liraglutide, approved in 2014 by the FDA, is an injectable medication that increases our natural production of insulin, which is needed to regulate the levels of sugar in the blood. It decreases the production of a hormone that opposes insulin called glucagon. It also slows down the emptying of the stomach. Lastly, it works in the brain to reduce the amount of food consumed. As such, it has been used for the management of diabetes for the last few years. In four trials consisting of more than 5,000 individuals, participants received 3mg of liraglutide daily. The outcomes showed that among individuals who took the medication for one year, 73 percent of the study subjects lost at least 5 percent of their body weight. In a 200 pound person, this would mean a 10 pound weight-loss. Also, 41 percent lost at least 10 percent of their body weight. In a 200 pound person, this would mean a 20 pound weight-loss.

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Concerns:
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.