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Diet Pills - An inside look at FDA approved and non-FDA approved weight loss medications

By: Julian Chee


Posted Thursday, October 19, 2006



Anti-obesity drugs include all pharmacological treatments intended to reduce or control weight. Because these drugs are intended to alter one of the fundamental processes of the human body, prescription weight-loss medications should be used only by patients who are at increased medical risk because of their weight. Prescription weight-loss drugs are approved only for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above, or 27 and above if they have obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (abnormal amounts of fat in the blood), or type 2 diabetes.

Types of Weight Loss medications

Appetite suppressants

Most available weight-loss medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are appetite-suppressant medications. Appetite-suppressant medications promote weight loss by decreasing appetite or increasing the feeling of being full. These medications make you feel less hungry by increasing one or more brain chemicals that affect mode and appetite. Phentermine and sibutramine are the most commonly prescribed appetite-suppressants in the United States. Other appetite-suppressant medications include Benzphetamine, Diethylpropion, Phendimetrazine. However please take note that Amphetamines are a type of appetite suppressant. However, amphetamines are not recommended for use in the treatment of obesity due to their strong potential for abuse and dependence.

Lipase inhibitors

One drug works in a different way. Orlistat (FDA-approved weight-loss medication) works by reducing the body's ability to absorb dietary fat by about one third. It does this by blocking the enzyme lipase, which is responsible for breaking down dietary fat. When fat is not broken down, the body cannot absorb it, so fewer calories are taken in.

Other medications (not FDA-approved for the treatment of obesity)

Drugs to treat depression

Some antidepressant medications have been studied as appetite-suppressant medications. While these medications are FDA-approved for the treatment of depression, their use in weight loss is an "off-label" use. Off-label use is the practice of prescribing drugs for a purpose outside the scope of the drug's approved label, most often concerning the drug's indication. Studies of these medications generally have found that patients lose modest amounts of weight for up to 6 months and tend to regain weight while they are still on the drug.

Drugs to treat seizures

Two medications used to treat seizures, topiramate and zonisamide, have been shown to cause weight loss. Whether these drugs will be useful in treating obesity is being studied.

Drugs to treat diabetes

The diabetes medication metformin may promote small amounts of weight loss in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. How this medication promotes weight loss is not clear, although research has shown reduced hunger and food intake in people taking the drug.

Drug combinations

The combined drug treatment using fenfluramine and phentermine ("feb/phen") is no longer available due to the withdrawal of fenfluramine from the market after some patients experienced serious heart and lung disorders. Little information is available about the safety or effectiveness of other drug combinations for weight loss, including fluoxetine/phentermine, phendimetrazine/phentermine, orlistat/sibutramine, herbal combinations, or others. Until more information on their safety or effectiveness is available, using combinations of medications for weight loss is not recommended, except as part of a research study.

Drugs in development

Many medications are being tested as potential treatments for obesity. Two are being studied with patients in clinical trials. Rimonabant affects brain chemicals and ciliary neurotrophic factor affects hormones to control appetite. Currently, these medications are only available in clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies with human volunteers so that specific health questions can be answered.

Please be reminded that the above information is for informational purposes only and it is not intended to replace any health care services you need. The information provided is strictly not meant to diagnose medical conditions, offer medical advice, or endorse specific products or services. Do not rely upon the information provided alone for medical diagnosis or treatment. Kindly consult your doctor about any personal health concerns.

Julian Chee is the founder of Weight Loss Diet Clinic. This internationally accredited clinic provides information on diet plans (atkins, medifast, mediterranean, south beach), diet pills (benzphetamine, diethylpropion, mazindol, phendimetrazine, phentermine, sibutramine, hoodia, orlistat) and weight loss surgery (gastric bypass, lapband). Weight Loss Diet Clinic also provides free weight loss calculator (BMI, BMR, WHR). For more acne information, please visit http://www.weightloss-diet-clinic.com

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