Are obesity drugs the answer to all
your weight problems?

Especially if the prescription drugs are stimulants, which should never be used long term (they can cause all kinds of health problems.)

Here’s some info on obesity drugs that might help.

1. Orlistat (Xenical); reduces intestinal fat absorption by inhibiting pancreatic lipase. Originally available only by prescription, it was approved by the FDA for over-the-counter sale in February 2007.

Problems; it can cause frequent oily bowel movements, stomach pain, and flatulence.; but if you reduce the fat in your diet, this can be minimized.

2. Sibutramine (Reductil or Meridia); is an anorectic or appetite suppressant. It reduces your urge to eat.

Problems; Sibutramine can increase blood pressure along with giving you a dry mouth, constipation, headaches, and insomnia.

3. Metformin: used by people with Diabetes mellitus type 2, the drug metformin (Glucophage) can reduce weight.

Problems; nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, diarrhea along with loss of appetite.

4. Byetta (Exenatide); is a long-acting analogue of the hormone GLP-1. GLP-1 delays gastric emptying and promotes a feeling of fullness. Byetta is currently available as a treatment for Diabetes mellitus type 2. Some patients find that they lose substantial weight when taking Byetta.

Problems; it must be injected twice daily, and that it causes severe nausea in some patients.

5. Pyruvate; is a popular product that may result in a small amount of weight loss.

Problem; it has not been thoroughly studied and its weight loss potential has not been scientifically established.

6. Symlin (Pramlintide): is a synthetic analogue of the hormone Amylin. Amylin delays gastric emptying and promotes a feeling of fullness.

Problem; Symlin must be injected at mealtimes.

7. Rimonabant; The discovery of cannabinoid receptors in the brain, liver and muscle has stimulated research in a new class of drugs, namely cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonists. These drugs not only cause weight loss, but prevent or reverse the metabolic effects of obesity.

Problems; due to safety concerns, the drug has not received approval in the United States.

Note: any obesity drugs with substances related to amphetamine can cause medical complications, such as fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage (due to Redux and Fen-phen) plus hemorrhagic stroke (due to phenylpropanolamine.)

In general, stimulants carry a risk of high blood pressure, faster heart rate, palpitations, closed-angle glaucoma, drug addiction, restlessness, agitation, and insomnia.

Many unresearched nonprescription obesity drug products or programs for weight loss are heavily promoted by mail, ads in magazines and on the internet. The US Food and Drug Administration and common sense recommends caution with use of these products.

You’ll find most of the claims of safety and effectiveness are unsubstantiated, in other words, buyer beware.

Also products that work as a laxative can cause the blood's potassium level to drop, which may cause heart and/or muscle problems.

The problem science is having in developing new, effective anti-obesity drugs is that they do not fully understand the cerebral wiring of our appetite and as a result are limited in ways to manage it. But they are working feverishly on it.

The rub here is that our appetite is key in our ability to survive. So if science did create the wonder drug that killed our appetite, it would probably kill a lot of us as well. A bit ironic isn’t it…

So the quest goes on for the miracle obesity drug or combination of drugs that will take the pounds off without seriously harming your health. Not an easy task.

For the time being, your big decision will be, is the obesity more of a threat to my health than the drugs? And that’s for you and your doctor to decide.

Smiles…Gigi

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