Prescription Weight Loss Medicine

What are the differences between otc and prescription weight loss medications.

Prescription weight loss medicine. Contrave naltrexone and bupropion contrave combines low doses of naltrexone a medication commonly used to manage alcohol and opioid dependency and bupropion an atypical antidepressant that s also prescribed for smoking cessation. Prescription weight loss pills also called anti obesity drugs or diet pills are sometimes prescribed to a patient as an additional tool in the treatment for weight loss. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. The medicines currently available are appetite suppressants in some form.

They help control hunger and cravings so you can stick to your nutrition and exercise plan. Data sources include ibm watson micromedex updated 30 june 2020 cerner multum updated 1 july 2020 wolters kluwer. 1 results vary by medication and by person. Prescription weight loss patches.

Food and drug administration fda for long term use. Most prescription weight loss drugs work by decreasing appetite or increasing feelings of fullness and some do both. In canada three prescription medications are available for the treatment of overweight and obesity. The only fda approved over the counter medicine for weight loss is alli orlistat.

Prescription weight loss drugs can be helpful when used in combination with a low calorie diet and regular physical activity. Prescription weight loss medicines are only for people who are obese. Bupropion naltrexone contrave liraglutide saxenda orlistat xenical and phentermine topiramate qsymia. Who uses prescription weight loss medicines.

Four prescription weight loss drugs are approved by the u s. According to a recent 2014 review study even prescription weight loss pills don t work as well as you would hope. Another type of weight loss medicine makes it harder for your body to absorb fat. For some people prescription weight loss drugs may help.

Research shows that some people taking prescription weight loss medications lose 10 percent or more of their starting weight. On average they may help you lose up to 3 9 of body weight compared to a dummy. Video transcript national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases. Prescription medications for the treatment of obesity.

The broad category of weight loss medication extends to patches.