Medications Related to Weight Loss

Bupropion-naltrexone

Bupropion-naltrexone is a combination drug. Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid addiction. Bupropion is a drug to treat depression, called an antidepressant, and a drug to help people stop smoking, called a quit-smoking aid. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure. So your provider will need to check your blood pressure regularly at the start of treatment. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP1receptor agonists and also used to help control type 2 diabetes. You take it as a weekly shot to manage obesity.

It can cause side effects such as:

·       Reflux/ Sour stomach

·       Constipation/Diarrhea

·       Nausea and vomiting

·       Headache

·       Tiredness

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a GIP receptor, GLP1receptor agonists and used to help control type 2 diabetes. You take it as a weekly shot to manage obesity.

It can cause side effects such as:

·       Reflux/ Sour stomach

·       Constipation/Diarrhea

·       Nausea and vomiting

·       Headache

·       Tiredness

Other Medications

Liraglutide

Liraglutide also is used to manage diabetes. It's given as a daily shot. Nausea is a common complaint. Vomiting may limit its use. While FDA approved its efficacy is significantly lower than other GLP1receptor agonists.

Orlistat

You also can get orlistat in a reduced-strength form without a prescription (Alli). Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat. But researchers haven't found that the drug causes liver injuries.

Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug called phentermine and an anticonvulsant called topiramate. Phentermine has the potential to be misused because it acts like a stimulant drug called 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 cannot be prescribed by telemedicine and the side effect profile may warrant in person assessments.

Setmelanotide

The FDA has approved setmelanotide only for people age 6 and older who have obesity due to one of these rare inherited conditions:

·       Pro-opiomelanocortin deficiency

·       Proprotein subtilisin-kexin type 1 deficiency

·       Leptin receptor deficiency

To take the drug, you'll need to have test results that show you have one of these conditions. Setmelanotide also has a significant side effect profile that warrants in person evaluations/assessments.