Articles
Prescription weight-loss drugs
Common weight-loss drugs
Safety of weight-loss drugs
Factors to consider
What drugs are approved in the U.S. for weight loss?
Content
Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?
How well do weight-loss drugs work?
What you should know about weight-loss drugs
How long does drug therapy last?
What drugs are approved for weight loss?
The bottom line
How long does drug therapy last?
How long you'll take a weight-loss drug depends on if the drug helps you lose weight. If you've lost enough weight to improve your health and you haven't had serious side effects, your doctor may suggest that you take the drug indefinitely.
If you haven't lost at least 5% of your body weight after three to six months on the full dose of a drug, your doctor will probably change your treatment and may switch you to a different weight-loss drug.
