Hormonal
Phentermine-topiramate extended-release is a highly effective alternative for weight loss, particularly for patients who cannot use GLP-1 agonists, achieving high percentages of total body weight loss.
If GLP-1 drugs are too expensive or not covered by insurance, Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia) is a strong alternative that can help you lose around 10-11% of your body weight. It is a daily pill. Be aware of potential side effects like irritability or sleep issues, which can often be managed by adjusting the dose or taking the medication earlier in the day. It is contraindicated if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or a history of seizures.
Phentermine-topiramate... can achieve higher weight loss at lower doses of each medication, thus lessening the chance of dose-dependent adverse effects... Phentermine-topiramate ER... 15/92 mg... 10.8% [vs placebo]
Why this rating
Supported by multiple RCTs cited in Table 3 (EQUIP, CONQUER, SEQUEL).
Source
Antiobesity drug therapy: An individualized and comprehensive approach
Yael Mauer et al. · Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine · 2021
DOI 10.3949/ccjm.88a.20080
More from this paper
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (specifically semaglutide and liraglutide) are the most effective pharmacological interventions for weight loss, producing significantly greater total body weight loss than other FDA-approved anti-obesity medications.Strong
- Bariatric weight loss surgery is significantly more effective than pharmacotherapy and lifestyle modifications for long-term weight loss and improvement of comorbid conditions in eligible patients, yet remains severely underutilized.Strong
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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