For a lot of sufferers right now, a choice about which weight reduction treatment to strive might come right down to a number of components, together with what different medicines they take, which medication are coated by insurance coverage or are most reasonably priced, and whether or not folks want drugs or injected medicines, Dr. Jay says.
“I counsel folks to talk to their doctor to decide on an preliminary treatment and see how they reply,” Jay says. “It’s not unusual to modify medicines or have so as to add a second or third treatment.”
Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the prescription weight reduction medication which might be presently accredited.
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
Widespread unintended effects: Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation.
Interactions and dangers: Uncommon however probably harmful reactions embrace extreme gastrointestinal illness and acute harm to the pancreas, kidneys, or gallbladder.
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
The way it works: It’s one other GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a hormone within the mind that regulates urge for food.
Widespread unintended effects: Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdomen ache, headache, and fatigue.
Interactions and dangers: It could’t be utilized in mixture with liraglutide or different GLP-1 receptor agonists which might be prescribed for sort 2 diabetes. Like different medication on this household of medicines, together with tirzepatide and liraglutide, it carries an elevated threat of pancreatitis and has been linked to thyroid tumors in animals.
Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave)
The way it works: It’s a mixture of two medication which might be used to deal with dependancy and despair, and it suppresses urge for food and makes folks really feel full sooner.
Widespread unintended effects: Constipation, dizziness, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, elevated blood stress, elevated coronary heart fee, insomnia, liver harm, nausea, and vomiting.
Interactions and dangers: It shouldn’t be utilized by folks with uncontrolled blood stress, seizures, a historical past of anorexia or bulimia, folks taking psychiatric medication containing bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), or people depending on opioids or in withdrawal from medication or alcohol. It could enhance suicidal ideas or actions.
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
The way it works: It’s in a household of medicines often called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which work by mimicking a hormone within the mind that regulates urge for food and meals consumption.
Widespread unintended effects: Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, stomach ache, headache, and elevated coronary heart fee. Uncommon unintended effects embrace an elevated threat of pancreatitis, and it’s been linked to thyroid tumors in animals.
Interactions and dangers: In a smaller dose, liraglutide is used as a diabetes treatment known as Victoza, which shouldn’t be used along side Saxenda.
Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)
The way it works: This mix tablet suppresses urge for food and makes folks really feel full sooner.
Widespread unintended effects: Constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, tingling in palms and toes, mind fog or cognitive impairment, and issue sleeping.
Interactions and dangers: It shouldn’t be utilized by folks with glaucoma or hyperthyroidism, by ladies who’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or by some people with a historical past of coronary heart assault, stroke, coronary heart rhythm issues, kidney illness, or temper issues.
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
The way it works: It really works within the intestine to restrict the quantity of fats absorbed from meals you eat.
Widespread unintended effects: Diarrhea, gasoline, abdomen ache, and oily stool leakage.
