Who uses prescription weight loss medicines?
Prescription weight-loss medicines are only for people who are
obese. Most of these medicines are designed for people who
weigh 20% or more above what is ideal for their height and
body type. Or they are used with people who have a high body
mass index (BMI). The BMI is a measure of your weight in
relation to your height. Your doctor may prescribe you
medicine to treat your obesity if you have:
Your doctor can tell you if prescription weight-loss medicines
might be helpful for you.
Path to improved health
Prescription weight-loss medicines generally work in 2 ways.
Most work in your body to make you less hungry or feel full
faster. One FDA-approved medicine works in your digestive
tract. It blocks the amount of fat your body can absorb. Some
medicines are approved only for a short period of time, usually
no more than 12 weeks. Others can be used long-term.
The following are medicines currently approved by the FDA for
weight loss. Also included is information on how they work,
common side effects, and warnings for each.
Orlistat
Orlistat is also available in a lower dose without a
prescription. That over-the-counter medicine is called Alli.
Orlistat is the only medicine of its kind to be approved in the
U.S.
The following medicines make you feel less hungry or full
faster. They share common side effects, including constipation,
dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. Additional side
effects are listed for each medicine.
Lorcaserin
Naltrexone-bupropion
Phentermine-topiramate
Liraglutide
There are other medicines that can reduce your desire to eat.
These include:
These medicines are only FDA-approved to be used short-term,
up to 12 weeks. They have some side effects, too. These
include:
You should not use these medicines if you have uncontrolled
high blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or
glaucoma. You should tell your doctor if you have anxiety or
mood disorders before using these medicines.
In rare cases, some weight-loss medicines can cause
serious liver injury. Call your doctor right away if you notice
symptoms of liver injury, including:
Some weight-loss supplements containing ephedra, ephedrine,
or caffeine are available without a prescription (over the
counter). It is not known whether these medicines are safe.
Such supplements have been linked to reports of heart attack,
seizure, stroke, and death. It is important to talk to your doctor
if you are taking or are considering taking an over-the-counter
weight-loss supplement.
Things to consider
How can I avoid gaining
weight back when I stop
using the medicine?
There is no easy cure for being overweight. Prescription
weight-loss medicines can help you get off to a good start.
But once you stop taking them, the weight you lost may come
back. To keep the weight off, you must eat a healthy diet and
be physically active on a regular basis. You must continue
these healthy habits even after you stop taking the medicine.
Remember that losing weight and keeping it off is a lifelong
effort.
How can I lose weight
without taking a weight-loss
medicine?
If you decide weight-loss medicines aren’t right for you, you
can still meet your weight-loss goals. It’s important to develop
healthy eating habits. But don’t expect to change everything
overnight. Start by training yourself to eat without doing
anything else at the same time. For example, don’t eat while
you watch TV. Focus on what you’re eating. Try to eat slowly.
Next, change what and how much you eat. Your doctor can
help you create a low-calorie diet plan that will help you lose
weight.
It is also important to be physically active. A good goal for
many people is to work up to exercising for at least 30
minutes, 4 to 6 times a week. Regular exercise helps you burn
calories faster, even when you are sitting still. Exercise also
helps you burn fat and build muscle.
Aerobic exercise raises your heart rate and helps you burn
calories. Aerobic exercises include swimming, brisk walking,
jogging, and bicycling. Anaerobic exercise, such as weight
training, is also good because it adds muscle mass to your
body. Muscle burns calories faster than fat.
Be sure to check with your family doctor before you begin an
exercise program. He or she can help you create an exercise
plan that will help you meet your goals.
Questions to ask your doctor
Resources
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and
Obesity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Weight
Last Updated: January 12, 2018
This article was contributed by: familydoctor.org editorial staff
Categories: Drugs, Procedures & Devices , Food and Nutrition,
Prescription Medicines, Prevention and Wellness , Weight Loss
and Diet Plans , Your Health Resources
Tags: obesity , treatment, weight loss
Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians
This information provides a general overview and may not apply
to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this
information applies to you and to get more information on this
subject.
A BMI of 30 or greater. •
A BMI of 27 or more and you have a disease or
condition that may be related to your weight (this could
include diabetes or high blood pressure).
•
Brand name: Xenical •
How it works: reduces the amount of fat your body
absorbs
•
Side effects: diarrhea, gas, uncontrollable bowel
movements, leakage of oily stool
•
Warnings: can reduce the amount of certain vitamins that
your body can absorb. You should take a multivitamin pill
every day
Prescription weight-loss medicines are only for people who are
obese. Most of these medicines are designed for people who
weigh 20% or more above what is ideal for their height and
body type. Or they are used with people who have a high body
mass index (BMI). The BMI is a measure of your weight in
relation to your height. Your doctor may prescribe you
medicine to treat your obesity if you have:
Your doctor can tell you if prescription weight-loss medicines
might be helpful for you.
Path to improved health
Prescription weight-loss medicines generally work in 2 ways.
Most work in your body to make you less hungry or feel full
faster. One FDA-approved medicine works in your digestive
tract. It blocks the amount of fat your body can absorb. Some
medicines are approved only for a short period of time, usually
no more than 12 weeks. Others can be used long-term.
The following are medicines currently approved by the FDA for
weight loss. Also included is information on how they work,
common side effects, and warnings for each.
Orlistat
Orlistat is also available in a lower dose without a
prescription. That over-the-counter medicine is called Alli.
Orlistat is the only medicine of its kind to be approved in the
U.S.
The following medicines make you feel less hungry or full
faster. They share common side effects, including constipation,
dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. Additional side
effects are listed for each medicine.
Lorcaserin
Naltrexone-bupropion
Phentermine-topiramate
Liraglutide
There are other medicines that can reduce your desire to eat.
These include:
These medicines are only FDA-approved to be used short-term,
up to 12 weeks. They have some side effects, too. These
include:
You should not use these medicines if you have uncontrolled
high blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or
glaucoma. You should tell your doctor if you have anxiety or
mood disorders before using these medicines.
In rare cases, some weight-loss medicines can cause
serious liver injury. Call your doctor right away if you notice
symptoms of liver injury, including:
Some weight-loss supplements containing ephedra, ephedrine,
or caffeine are available without a prescription (over the
counter). It is not known whether these medicines are safe.
Such supplements have been linked to reports of heart attack,
seizure, stroke, and death. It is important to talk to your doctor
if you are taking or are considering taking an over-the-counter
weight-loss supplement.
Things to consider
How can I avoid gaining
weight back when I stop
using the medicine?
There is no easy cure for being overweight. Prescription
weight-loss medicines can help you get off to a good start.
But once you stop taking them, the weight you lost may come
back. To keep the weight off, you must eat a healthy diet and
be physically active on a regular basis. You must continue
these healthy habits even after you stop taking the medicine.
Remember that losing weight and keeping it off is a lifelong
effort.
How can I lose weight
without taking a weight-loss
medicine?
If you decide weight-loss medicines aren’t right for you, you
can still meet your weight-loss goals. It’s important to develop
healthy eating habits. But don’t expect to change everything
overnight. Start by training yourself to eat without doing
anything else at the same time. For example, don’t eat while
you watch TV. Focus on what you’re eating. Try to eat slowly.
Next, change what and how much you eat. Your doctor can
help you create a low-calorie diet plan that will help you lose
weight.
It is also important to be physically active. A good goal for
many people is to work up to exercising for at least 30
minutes, 4 to 6 times a week. Regular exercise helps you burn
calories faster, even when you are sitting still. Exercise also
helps you burn fat and build muscle.
Aerobic exercise raises your heart rate and helps you burn
calories. Aerobic exercises include swimming, brisk walking,
jogging, and bicycling. Anaerobic exercise, such as weight
training, is also good because it adds muscle mass to your
body. Muscle burns calories faster than fat.
Be sure to check with your family doctor before you begin an
exercise program. He or she can help you create an exercise
plan that will help you meet your goals.
Questions to ask your doctor
Resources
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and
Obesity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Weight
Last Updated: January 12, 2018
This article was contributed by: familydoctor.org editorial staff
Categories: Drugs, Procedures & Devices , Food and Nutrition,
Prescription Medicines, Prevention and Wellness , Weight Loss
and Diet Plans , Your Health Resources
Tags: obesity , treatment, weight loss
Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians
This information provides a general overview and may not apply
to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this
information applies to you and to get more information on this
subject.
A BMI of 30 or greater. •
A BMI of 27 or more and you have a disease or
condition that may be related to your weight (this could
include diabetes or high blood pressure).
•
Brand name: Xenical •
How it works: reduces the amount of fat your body
absorbs
•
Side effects: diarrhea, gas, uncontrollable bowel
movements, leakage of oily stool
•
Warnings: can reduce the amount of certain vitamins that
your body can absorb. You should take a multivitamin pill
every day
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