Matching articles for "phentermine/topiramate"
Diet, Drugs, Devices, and Surgery for Weight Management
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 4, 2018; (Issue 1548)
Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25
and 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight. Those
with a BMI ≥30 are considered obese. The initial
recommendation for any weight loss effort is to
achieve a...
Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25
and 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight. Those
with a BMI ≥30 are considered obese. The initial
recommendation for any weight loss effort is to
achieve a 5-10% reduction in weight, which has been
associated with a reduction in the risk of developing
type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diet,
exercise, and behavior modification are the preferred
methods for losing weight, but long-term weight
maintenance can be difficult. Several drugs are FDA-approved
for weight reduction and maintenance (see
Table 1), and procedures such as endoscopic
placement of dilated balloons have produced beneficial
short-term results (see Table 2), but bariatric
surgery has been the most effective intervention for
sustainable long-term weight loss and reduction of
obesity-related comorbidities.
Comparison Table: Some FDA-Approved Drugs for Weight Management (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 4, 2018; (Issue 1548)
...
View the Comparison Table: Some FDA-Approved Drugs for Weight Management
Drugs for Epilepsy
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 31, 2017; (Issue 1526)
Treatment of epilepsy should begin with a single
antiepileptic drug (AED), increasing its dosage
gradually until seizures are controlled or adverse
effects become intolerable. If seizures...
Treatment of epilepsy should begin with a single
antiepileptic drug (AED), increasing its dosage
gradually until seizures are controlled or adverse
effects become intolerable. If seizures persist,
specialists generally recommend trying at least
one and sometimes a second alternative drug as
monotherapy before considering use of two drugs
concurrently. When used for the appropriate seizure
type, AEDs are roughly equivalent in efficacy. Drug
choice is usually based on factors such as ease of
use, adverse effects, drug interactions, presence of
comorbidities, and cost.
In Brief: Phentermine (Lomaira) for Weight Loss
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 5, 2016; (Issue 1509)
The FDA has approved Lomaira (KVK Tech), an 8-mg tablet formulation of phentermine that can be taken up to three times daily before meals, as an adjunct to lifestyle modifications for weight loss. It is only...
The FDA has approved Lomaira (KVK Tech), an 8-mg tablet formulation of phentermine that can be taken up to three times daily before meals, as an adjunct to lifestyle modifications for weight loss. It is only approved for short-term use (a few weeks) in adults with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, or with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 in addition to a weight-related comorbidity such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes. Phentermine has been available alone and in combination with topiramate for years.1
Lomaira was approved by the FDA under an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) and is considered a generic drug. Its approval was based on the results of earlier phentermine trials. No studies are available comparing the efficacy and safety of Lomaira to standard doses of phentermine or to any other drug approved for weight loss.
Like other sympathomimetic amines approved for weight loss, Lomaira is classified as a schedule IV controlled substance. All sympathomimetics can increase heart rate, raise blood pressure, and cause nervousness and insomnia.2 Phentermine is contraindicated for use in patients with cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, or a history of drug abuse, and in pregnant women. It should not be used while taking, and for 14 days after stopping, a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor because of the risk of hypertensive crisis.
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Lomaira was approved by the FDA under an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) and is considered a generic drug. Its approval was based on the results of earlier phentermine trials. No studies are available comparing the efficacy and safety of Lomaira to standard doses of phentermine or to any other drug approved for weight loss.
Like other sympathomimetic amines approved for weight loss, Lomaira is classified as a schedule IV controlled substance. All sympathomimetics can increase heart rate, raise blood pressure, and cause nervousness and insomnia.2 Phentermine is contraindicated for use in patients with cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, or a history of drug abuse, and in pregnant women. It should not be used while taking, and for 14 days after stopping, a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor because of the risk of hypertensive crisis.
- Diet, drugs, and surgery for weight loss. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2015; 57:21.
- SZ Yanovski and JA Yanovski. Long-term drug treatment for obesity: a systematic and clinical review. JAMA 2014; 311:74.
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Liraglutide (Saxenda) for Weight Loss
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 22, 2015; (Issue 1471)
The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
receptor agonist liraglutide, previously approved by the
FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes as Victoza, has
now also been approved at a higher dose as...
The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
receptor agonist liraglutide, previously approved by the
FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes as Victoza, has
now also been approved at a higher dose as Saxenda
(Novo Nordisk) for chronic weight management
in adults with a BMI ≥30, or a BMI ≥27 with a
weight-related comorbidity such as hypertension,
dyslipidemia, or diabetes.
Diet, Drugs, and Surgery for Weight Loss
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 16, 2015; (Issue 1462)
Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between
25 and 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight. Those
with a BMI ≥30 are considered obese. Losing even
a small amount of weight and increasing physical
activity...
Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between
25 and 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight. Those
with a BMI ≥30 are considered obese. Losing even
a small amount of weight and increasing physical
activity can prevent some of the complications
of obesity, particularly type 2 diabetes. Diet and
exercise are the preferred methods for losing weight,
but long-term failure rates are high. Several drugs
have been approved by the FDA for weight reduction,
but adherence is poor, adverse effects are common,
and patients usually regain the lost weight when
the drug is stopped. Bariatric surgery can produce
substantial weight loss and significantly reduce
obesity-related comorbidities; long-term data on its
safety are encouraging, but still limited. Guidelines
for the management of overweight or obese adults
have recently been published.
Two Drugs for Weight Loss
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 3, 2012; (Issue 1398)
In 2013 the FDA approved one new drug and a new combination of 2 old drugs as adjuncts to lifestyle changes for chronic weight management. Lorcaserin (lor-ca-SER-in; Belviq – Arena/Esai) is a selective...
In 2013 the FDA approved one new drug and a new combination of 2 old drugs as adjuncts to lifestyle changes for chronic weight management. Lorcaserin (lor-ca-SER-in; Belviq – Arena/Esai) is a selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist. Qsymia (Vivus) is a fixed-dose combination of the weight-loss drug phentermine and an extended-release (ER) formulation of topiramate. The new products are approved for use in obese patients (body mass index [BMI] of ≥30 kg/m2) and for patients who are overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) and have one weight-related risk factor such as hypertension, dyslipidemia or type 2 diabetes.