Anti-obesity medication can get you on the road to successful weight loss when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a limited number of drugs that suppress your appetite for the express purpose of weight loss. But prescription appetite suppressants aren't designed for long-term use; they can have undesirable side effects and may not be suitable for everyone.
Appetite Suppressants
As of July 2011, the FDA approved only three anti-obesity "anorectic" or "anorexigenic" drugs that suppress the appetite. These include phentermine, the most commonly prescribed anti-obesity medication; diethylpropion; and phendimetrazine. According to information on Drugs.com, all three of these drugs are similar to amphetamines; they act on your central nervous system to make you feel less hungry. Weight Control Information Network indicates that some medications, such as antidepressant and antiseizure medications, may be prescribed "off label" for appetite control as well. From 1997 to 2010, a fourth drug that acted as an appetite suppressant called sibutramine was also available. Sibutramine was sold under the trade name Meridia. In October 2010, the FDA ordered a recall of this drug after a post-market review showed a 16 percent increase in serious adverse effects, including heart attack, stroke and death.
Side Effects
Prescription drugs that suppress your appetite can have unpleasant side effects. These can include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, insomnia and nervousness. These medications should not be used in conjunction with any other weight loss drugs. Nor are they appropriate for people with certain medical conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease, glaucoma and hyperthyroidism. Due to their potential to be habit-forming, these medications are generally not prescribed to people with a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
Results
MayoClinic.com indicates that most people lose 5 to 10 percent of their body weight on average a year when they take appetite suppressants, eat a reduced-calorie diet and increase their level of physical activity.
Other Information
The FDA has approved phentermine, diethylpropion and phendimetrazine only for use in adults --- and only for a short duration: no longer than 12 weeks. These medications aren't for you if you only need to lose 5 or 10 lbs.; doctors prescribe them to obese individuals with a body mass index, or BMI, of more than 30, as well as those with a BMI of more than 27 who have additional risk factors --- such as diabetes --- that make being overweight particularly dangerous to their health. Although prescription anti-obesity medications can help you during the initial weeks of your weight loss program, reducing calories and getting regular exercise are necessary to maintain your results.
References
- Weight-control Information Network: Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity
- Drugs.com; Diethylpropion; June 2011
- Drugs.com; Phendimetrazine; May 2011
- Drugs.com; Phentermine; June 2010
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Meridia (Sibutramine): Market Withdrawal ...; October 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Weigh-loss Drugs: Can a Prescription Help You Lose Weight?; October 2010
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