NEW prescription weight loss drugs have now been approved by the FDA.
Which, if any, is right for you?
All obesity medication help some people lose weight. None of these medications are for everyone, and they are all quite different.
Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) that was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The drug is manufactured by Eli Lilly & Co. under the brand name Mounjaro™ and was approved in May 2022. its weight loss profile is better than Semaglutide. Tirzepedtide is not currently FDA approved for weight loss treatment. Any use would be considered "off label".
Semaglutide Over the last 15 years, Semaglutide has been used to treat type 2 diabetes, but has recently been approved by the FDA to help manage weight loss (along with diet and exercise) in obese or overweight adults with additional risk factors under the brand name Wegovy. Semaglutide is injected under the skin with a tiny insulin needle, once weekly at any time of day, with or without food, and should be injected on the same day each week. In 2 months, you could lose up to 25 pounds. In 4 months, you could lose up to 50 pounds or more and you can repeat this program as many times as you wish. Since this medication was initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes, we typically recommend it be taken with our intermittent fasting diet.
Saxenda is the fourth drug for weight loss approved by the FDA since 2012. It's already available in a lower dose as Victoza for type 2 diabetes. Researchers began to study it as an obesity treatment after people on Victoza reported weight loss. Saxenda, like Victoza, is injected daily. It's approved for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30, considered obese, or a BMI of 27 with weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure. It's meant to be used with exercise and a reduced-calorie diet. It costs $750 per month.
Contrave is approved for those who are obese and also for those who are overweight with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Contrave combines two drugs already on the market: bupropion (Wellbutrin), an antidepressant, and naltrexone, an anti-addiction drug. Because it contains bupropion, Contrave has a boxed warning to alert doctors and patients to the increased risk of suicidal thoughts that are linked with antidepressants. Contrave costs between $180 to $210 per month.
Qsymia is now available, but by mail order only. Qsymia, which is taken once a day, uses a one-two punch to spur weight loss. It combines low doses of topiramate, used to treat seizures and migraines, and phentermine, a currently available mild stimulant approved by the FDA for weight loss. Phentermine suppresses appetite soon after the pill is taken, and topiramate (which kicks in later in the day) creates a sense of feeling full. In the FDA reviewed clinical trials, Qsymia has been proven to help patients lose between 10% and 15% of their body weight over a year's period as well as improve various cardiovascular aspects. Further studies have shown that this mixture has also had good results when studied as a sleep apnea treatment. It costs between $135 and $184 per month.
Belviq works by targeting specific serotonin receptors in the brain linked with feelings of satiety, leading patients to feel full. The FDA has approved Beviq for adults who are obese or who are overweight and have at least one serious medical condition, such as diabetes or high cholesterol. The approved labeling for Belviq also recommends that people discontinue the drug if they fail to lose 5% of their body weight after 12 weeks as longer treatment is unlikely to lead to meaningful weight loss. Belviq is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance, which means it has a low potential for abuse. Belviq costs between $200 and $225 a month.
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We also carry other safe and effective FDA approved medications. If you'd like more information about our current program, call any of our clinics today.