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?
Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?
How long does drug therapy last?
The bottom line
Content
Who can take weight-loss drugs?
How well do weight-loss drugs work?
What you should know about weight-loss drugs
How long do I take a weight-loss drug?
What drugs are approved for weight loss?
Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Orlistat (Xenical)
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
Other weight-loss drugs
Medicines not approved by the FDA
Are weight-loss drugs right for you?
Safety of weight-loss drugs
Factors to consider
What drugs are approved in the U.S. for weight loss?
Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?
How long does drug therapy last?
The bottom line
Content
Who can take weight-loss drugs?
How well do weight-loss drugs work?
What you should know about weight-loss drugs
How long do I take a weight-loss drug?
What drugs are approved for weight loss?
Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Orlistat (Xenical)
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
Other weight-loss drugs
Medicines not approved by the FDA
Are weight-loss drugs right for you?
Other weight-loss drugs
The FDA also has approved setmelanotide (Imcivree). But it's only for people age 6 and older who have obesity due to one of these rare conditions that are passed through families, called inherited:
- Proopiomelanocortin deficiency.
- Proprotein subtilisin-kexin type 1 deficiency.
- Leptin receptor deficiency.
- Bardet-Biedl syndrome.
Setmelanotide doesn't treat any of the gene issues that cause these conditions. But taken as a daily shot, it can help people with one of these conditions lose weight. It can make them want to eat less and make them feel full sooner. And it may help them burn more calories.
Side effects include headache, skin darkening, upset stomach, loose stools, belly pain, depression and thoughts of suicide.
