Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Weight Loss Drugs

 

Who can take weight-loss medications?

Your doctor may prescribe you generic weight-loss drugs in a few cases. These cases are as followings:

1. If you haven't been able to lose weight by doing exercise and dieting.

2. Your BMI is over 30. This implies that you are living with a medical condition called obesity. It means you have excess body fat.

3. Your BMI is over 27. This implies that you might have a severe medical condition like Hypertension or Diabetes, which can be linked to obesity.

Before choosing a medicine, it's important for your healthcare provider to take into account your medical history and any health challenges you may face. After considering these factors, your provider will discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of prescription weight-loss drugs with you. Keep in mind that these medications aren't suitable for everyone. If you are a breastfeeding mother, trying to conceive, or already pregnant, it's best to avoid prescription weight-loss drugs.

How effective are these weight loss drugs?

If you're trying to lose extra pounds, you might wonder whether prescription weight-loss drugs could help you. Research shows that long-term use of these drugs can lead to substantial weight loss compared to a placebo. Combining medication with lifestyle changes can result in even more weight loss than just lifestyle changes alone. In fact, taking these drugs for a year could lead to a total body weight loss of 3% to 12% more than you would lose with just lifestyle changes. While that may not seem much, losing 5% to 10% of your total body weight and maintaining that weight can have vital health benefits, such as controlling diabetes, high/low blood pressure, and cholesterol, i.e., triglycerides levels.

What drugs are approved for weight loss?

There are 5 weight loss medications that the US FDA has approved for the long term, and they are as follows:

1. Liraglutide (Saxenda)

It works similarly to a Type 2 diabetes drug. It mimics a common intestinal hormone that sends a signal to the brain, indicating that your stomach is full. It has been approved for long-term use by the FDA. In case you are unable to lose more than four percent of your total body weight in 16 weeks of using this drug, your provider will tell you to stop taking the medicine.

Common Side Effects:

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Low blood pressure

Serious Side Effects:

• Kidney problems

• Raised heart rate

• Gallbladder disease

• Suicidal thoughts

• Pancreatitis

2. Naltrexone HCl and Bupropion (Contrave)

Contrave is a combination medication. Its primary function is to tell the brain to decrease the intake of food. Bupropion drug helps in treating depression and also in quitting smoking. Naltrexone medication helps treat opioid and alcohol dependence. If you cannot lose more than 5% of your body weight in 12 weeks of using this drug, it means it's not working for you, and you should stop taking it. 

Common Side Effects:

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Dry mouth

• Insomnia

• Constipation

• Nausea

Serious Side Effects:

• Suicidal thoughts

• Seizures

• Increases blood pressure

• Increases heart rate

3. Orlistat (Xenical)

Orlistat medication tells your body to block the absorption of about 1/3rd of the fat you consume and helps curb your appetite. It has been approved for long-term use by the US FDA. Its recommended that you take a low-fat diet, i.e., equivalent to about 30% of your daily calorie consumption, before taking this medication. 

Common Side Effects:

• Passing gas

• More bowel movements or not being able to control your bowel movements

• Abdominal cramps

Serious Side Effect:

• Liver injury

Also, some common side effects can get worse or become severe if you eat a high-fat diet with this medication.

4. Phentermine and topiramate (Qsymia)

The medication curbs your appetite as it's a combination of 2 medicines. 1st phentermine and 2nd topiramate pills help you lose weight in many ways like it makes you feel full, makes your food less appealing, and burns calories in excess. If you cannot lose more than 3% of your body weight in 12 weeks of using this drug, it means it's not working for you, and you should stop taking it. Otherwise, your doctor can also increase the dosage for the next 12 weeks to check the progress, and if it still doesn't work, you should stop taking it.

Common Side Effects:

• Insomnia

• Dry mouth

• Constipation

• Tingling hands and feet

• Dizziness

Serious Side Effects:

• Certain birth defects like cleft palate and lips

• Suicidal thoughts

• Certain eye problems can lead to vision loss

• Faster heart rates

5. Semaglutide (Wegovy)

Semaglutide pills mimics a hormone present in the intestine that releases insulin. It lowers your appetite and also makes you feel fuller. Initially, it was approved for treating Type-2 Diabetes, and later on, it was approved by the FDA for long-term use to treat obesity under the name of Wegovy. Also, you have to take it for a lifetime to manage your weight. If you entirely stop taking the drug, it can lead you to regain the lost weight.

Common Side Effects:

• Vomiting

• Headache

• Constipation

• Fatigue

• Passing gas

• Gastro reflux

Serious Side Effects:

• Pancreatitis

• Severe stomach and abdominal pain

• Non-stop nausea and vomiting

Bottom Line

Losing weight can be a pretty challenging journey, but don't lose hope. Prescription weight-loss drugs and necessary lifestyle changes are a great way to help with weight loss and better health. It's crucial to keep in mind that the above mentioned weight loss drugs aren't a magic solution to weight loss, but they can be a helpful tool when combined with healthy habits. By committing to a healthy lifestyle and using a weight-loss medication, you can achieve significant weight loss and improve your overall health. After consulting your doctor, you can buy prescription weight loss drugs from completeonlinepharmacy.com and save up to 80% on your medication cost with free shipping benefits.