Obesity is a serious medical condition requiring treatment from a qualified health professional. Part of your treatment may include prescription medications that work with a number of different mechanisms to help you lose weight. For example, such medications may depress your appetite or make changes to digestion. In addition, some doctors may prescribe medications not meant for obesity but still help you lose weight. The amount you will lose will vary, according to the Weight-control Information Network. On average, you could expect to lose 10 more pounds than you might experience with non-prescription efforts. Moreover, you will experience your best results within six months of starting the drug, then weight loss tends to taper off.
Who Can Obtain
Weight-loss drugs are generally prescribed for obese patients medically at risk due to weight. For example, you may also have high blood pressure, be diabetic or have multiple risk factors for heart disease. Generally, says the Weight-control Information Network, you may be prescribed a weight-loss drug if you have a body mass index of 30 or greater or if it is 27 or greater with addition medical factors. Usually, prescription diet pills aren't provided alone. Your doctor or dietitian will also "prescribe" lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity.
Phentermine
Phentermine, working mainly as an appetite suppressant, is prescribed to hasten weight loss while you are already involved in healthy eating and workout regimen. Most people take phentermine for about three to six weeks, with some up to 12 weeks. Follow the dosing instructions your doctor provides. Typically, you will take either one morning dose or a three-times daily dose before meals, according to PubMed Health. Common phentermine side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, sleeplessness and nervousness, according to The Weight-control Information Network.
Orlistat
From a class of medications known as lipase inhibitors, Orlistat reduces your ability to absorb about one-third of the fat from the food you eat. It blocks an enzyme called lipase so fat is not broken down and gets eliminated through your stools; consequently, you take in fewer calories. The prescription version is called Xenical and an over-the-counter version known as Alli is available. A review of research on Orlistat published in "Health Technology Assessment" reported that the drug produced as much as 10 percent loss of body weight in some patients. However, PubMed Health indicates that Orlistat can cause abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea and involuntary loss of gas and stools. Authors of a report in the "Canadian Family Physician" suggest that eating extra fiber can mitigate these side effects.
Diethylpropion
Diethylpropion is another appetite suppressant which stimulates your central nervous system to cause temporary relief from hunger and food cravings. Sold under the brand name Tenuate, the medication comes in both an immediate and extended-release version. Your doctor may advise you to take it three times daily at least one hour before you eat or as a once-a-day mid-morning pill. Follow your health care provider's instructions carefully. The National Institutes of Health advises that diethylpropion can be addictive. The Weight-control Information Network says side effects reported with use of diethylpropion include dizziness, headache, sleeplessness and nervousness.
Off-Label Prescriptions
Some medications intended for other purposes also cause weight loss. This means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved these medications for obesity treatment purposes, but your doctor may still prescribe them as a result of their weight-loss performance in clinical trials. For example, at the time of publication, anti-seizure medications such as topiramate and zonisamide were under investigation as possible obesity treatments. Diabetes drug Metformin is also known to induce weight loss. In addition, anti-depressants like bupropion have helped patients keep weight off for up to one year. However, all come with a variety of side effects. Talk to your physician about all your options when considering these medications.
References
- Weight-control Information Network; Prescription Medication for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- PubMed Health; Phentermine; January 2011
- PubMed Health; Orlistat; August 2010
- Drugs; Diethylpropion
- "Health Technology Assessment"; A Rapid and Systematic Review of the Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Orlistat in the Management of Obesity"; S. O'Meara et al.; 2001
- "Canadian Family Physician"; Should Weight-loss Supplements Be Used for Pediatric Obesity?; Alex L. Rogvik and Ran D. Goldman; March 2009
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