Which class of drugs is prescribed to promote weight reduction for a patient who is obese
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Under a Creative Commons license Open access Highlights• Low carbohydrate and low fat diets, when energy-restricted, promote weight loss. •Diets with low glycemic load are suited for patients with insulin resistance. •A GLP-agonist may be used both for weight loss and for glycemic control. •Bupropion/naltrexone is efficient in many patients with addictive overeating. AbstractNumerous combinations of diets and pharmacological agents, including lifestyle changes, have been launched to treat obesity. There are still ambiguities regarding the efficacies of different approaches despite many clinical trials and the use of animal models to study physiological mechanisms in weight management and obesity comorbidities, Here, we present an update on promising diets and pharmacological aids. Literature published after the year 2005 was searched in PubMed, Medline and Google scholar. Among recommended diets are low-fat (LF) and low-carbohydrate (LC) diets, in addition to the Mediterranean diet and the intermittent fasting approach, all of which presumably being optimized by adequate contents of dietary fibers. A basic point for weight loss is to adopt a diet that creates a permanently negative and acceptable energy balance, and prolonged dietary adherence is a crucial factor. As for pharmacological aids, obese patients with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance seem to benefit from LC diet combined with a GLP-1 agonist, e.g. semaglutide, which may improve glycemic control, stimulate satiety, and suppress appetite. The lipase inhibitor orlistat is still used to maintain a low-fat approach, which may be favorable e.g. in hypercholesterolemia. The bupropion-naltrexone-combination appears promising for interruption of the vicious cycle of addictive over-eating. Successful weight loss seems to improve almost all biomarkers of obesity comorbidities. Until more support for specific strategies is available, clinicians should recommend an adapted lifestyle, and when necessary, a drug combination tailored to individual needs and comorbidities. Different diets may change hormonal secretion, gut-brain signaling, and influence hunger, satiety and energy expenditure. Further research is needed to clarify mechanisms and how such knowledge can be used in weight management. Graphical AbstractKeywordsAnti-obesity drugs GLP-1-agonists Semaglutide Low-fat Low-carbohydrate Gut-brain Cited by (0)© 2021 Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences and Innlandet Hospital. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. Prescription weight-loss drugsExamine the pros and cons of medications to treat obesity. By Mayo Clinic StaffAre you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight? Have you tried diet and exercise but haven't been able to lose enough weight? If you answered yes to these questions, a prescription weight-loss drug may be an option for you. You should know, however, that prescription weight-loss drugs are used in addition to — not instead of — diet and exercise. Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?Your doctor may consider a weight-loss drug for you if you haven't been able to lose weight through diet and exercise and you meet one of the following:
Before selecting a medicine for you, your doctor will consider your history and health challenges. Then your doctor will talk with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs. It's important to note that weight-loss drugs aren't for everyone. For example, prescription weight-loss drugs shouldn't be used if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breast-feeding. How well do weight-loss drugs work?Prescription weight-loss drugs approved for long-term use (more than 12 weeks) produce significant weight loss compared with placebo. The combination of weight-loss medication and lifestyle changes results in greater weight loss than lifestyle changes do alone. Over the course of a year, that can mean a weight loss of 3% to 7% of total body weight above that achieved with lifestyle changes alone. That may seem like a modest amount. But a sustained weight loss of 5% to 10% can have important health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and triglyceride levels. What you should know about weight-loss drugsMild side effects, such as nausea, constipation or diarrhea, are common. They may lessen over time. Rarely, serious side effects can occur. For this reason, it's important to thoroughly discuss treatment options with your doctor. Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren't always paid for by insurance. Ask your insurance company about coverage. Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. However, adopting healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain. How long does drug therapy last?How long you'll take a weight-loss drug depends on if the drug helps you lose weight. If you've lost enough weight to improve your health and you haven't had serious side effects, your doctor may suggest that you take the drug indefinitely. If you haven't lost at least 5% of your body weight after three to six months on the full dose of a drug, your doctor will probably change your treatment and may switch you to a different weight-loss drug. What drugs are approved for weight loss?Four weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use:
Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by decreasing appetite or increasing feelings of fullness. Some do both. The exception is orlistat. It works by interfering with absorption of fat. Bupropion-naltrexoneBupropion-naltrexone is a combination drug. Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. Bupropion is an antidepressant and quit-smoking aid. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure, and monitoring is necessary at the start of treatment. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation. LiraglutideLiraglutide is also used to manage diabetes. Unlike other weight-loss drugs, liraglutide is given by injection. Nausea is a common complaint. Vomiting may limit its use. OrlistatOrlistat is also available in a reduced-strength form without a prescription (Alli). Orlistat can cause bothersome gastrointestinal side effects, such as flatulence and loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. Rare cases of serious liver injury have been reported with orlistat. However, no cause-and-effect relationship has been established. Phentermine-topiramatePhentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug (phentermine) and an anticonvulsant (topiramate). Phentermine has the potential to be abused because it acts like an amphetamine. Other possible side effects include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, constipation, and nervousness. Topiramate increases the risk of birth defects. Phentermine by itself (Adipex-P, Lomaira) is also used for weight loss. It's one of four similar weight-loss drugs approved for short-term use (less than 12 weeks). The other drugs in this group aren't widely prescribed. The bottom lineWeight-loss drugs aren't an easy answer to weight loss. But they may help you make the necessary lifestyle changes to lose weight and improve your health. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health
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. Which kind of drugs are used to treat obesity?The most commonly used medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of obesity include:. Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave). Liraglutide (Saxenda). Orlistat (Alli, Xenical). Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia). What are the three classes of drugs commonly prescribed for weight loss?Three types of drugs are used in weight loss therapy. Stimulant-like drugs stimulate the central nervous system and reduce appetite. Sibutramine (Meridia) increases levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, helping you feel full. Orlistat prevents a sizable amount of fat absorption in the gut.
Which treatment is best for obesity?The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly. To do this you should: eat a balanced, calorie-controlled diet as recommended by your GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian) join a local weight loss group.
What is the name of the new drug for obesity?Anti-obesity medications have been around for decades, and there are several currently in use. But semaglutide is the first of a new generation of highly effective hormone-based obesity medications.
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