6 Different Weight Loss Prescription Drugs

Gaining weight always seems easier to do than losing the weight. People get in the habit of eating too much of the wrong foods throughout the day or too much of the right foods. Whatever the reason as to why the person gained the weight, they will need to find a way to take it off.

The basics to losing weight is to control what is put into the mouth and increasing metabolism. To loose weight a person would need to burn more calories than the amount of calories they ate. It also deals with what the person is eating and drinking on a daily basis. Drinking too many sugary drinks, like carbonated sodas and juice, instead of water or unsweetened tea and coffee, can cause weight gain. A person will have to change their diet in order to lose the weight. The person needs a balanced diet of the right fats and carbs. The person would have to eat the right amount of healthy protein to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If the person has changed the way their diet is, plus increased the amount of exercise they do, but still can not lose the weight, they should see their doctor. Their doctor may be able to help them lose the weight and get to a more normal weight. Their doctor might be able to prescribe a weight loss pill only available through a medical physician.

Doctors usually prescribe a patient a weight loss medication based on the patients body mass index (BMI). If a person’s weight is in some ways caused by health related issues, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or other health issues, then the person’s BMI has to be at least 27. If the person’s weight is not caused by or related to a health issue, then their BMI has to be at least 30. The person will still need to change their diet and the amount they exercise when taking a prescription weight loss pill. Although this has been the standard for many years, recently we have been able to look much closer to how a person is made up and where there weight is coming from. Even though a weightlifter and an overweight man can weight the same amount, they both do not need to lose weight although a simple BMI would say otherwise. Using the latest technology, we are able to take the BMI and find out which part of it is made up of fat, muscle and water. This allows us to dissect the BMI and find out where the weight is actually coming from.

Before being prescribed any weight loss medication, the person needs to talk with their doctor. They need to talk about allergies the person has, all medications prescribed by all doctors, and any over the counter pills the person is taking. If the person is a woman, they will need to let their doctor know if they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the near future. A woman will have to let the doctor know if they are breastfeeding. If a woman is breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant in the near future, then they may not be prescribed certain weight loss drugs until the pregnancy or breastfeeding is over with.

There are several different weight loss drugs a doctor can prescribe a person. The most common prescriptions for weight loss are: Qsymia, phentermine, orlistat, Belviq, Saxenda, and Contrave.

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types of Weight loss Prescription Drugs

Qsymia

This will curb a person’s appetite. This weight loss drug is a combination of Phentermine and Topiramate. The drug Topiramate is a seizure and migraine drug. This weight loss drug will help curb a persons appetite, help make food unappealing, and help burn more calories. The less serious side effects of Qsymia are dry mouth, insomnia, dizzy feeling, change in taste for food, and possible tingling feeling in feet and hands. This weight loss drug has some serious side effects too. The serious side effects include eye problems, suicidal thoughts, birth defects in future children, and a faster heart rate. If the person experiences the eye problems side effect, they will need to get it checked out right away or they could go blind. Qsymia has been approved for long term use.

BELVIQ

Belviq is another weight loss drug a doctor might prescribe a person. It also goes by the name lorcaserin. The way belviq works is by curbing the persons appetite. It makes a person fell full faster and less hungry throughout the day. When taking this drug there are different side effects depending on if the person has diabetes or does not have it. The people who have diabetes might have side effects which include back pain, sleepiness, headache, low blood sugar, and a cough. For a person who does not have diabetes, their side effects might include headache, constipation, nausea, dizzy spells, headache, dry mouth, and sleepy feeling. If a person who takes depression medication and takes belviq, they will need to be monitored closely for a fever and confusion. The side effects for a person taking a depression medication is a serious one but is also rare. Belviq can be prescribed long term.

ORLISTAT

Also known as Xenical. This weight loss drug, when taken correctly, will block about a third of the fat from being digested and absorbed by the body. As with any type of prescription drugs, orlistat has some side effects. The side effects are usually temporary. The side effects are mild unless the person eats high fatty foods. The side effects of orlistat are: oily stools, abdominal cramps, excessive gas, uncontrollable bowl movements, and more frequent bowel movements. If a doctor prescribes orlistat, the person will have to make sure their daily intake of fat is 30% or less of their daily calorie intake. Orlistat can be prescribed long term.

Phentermine

Is a prescription weight loss drug which curbs the persons appetite. Adipex and Suprenza are other names that Phentermine is known as. Some of the serious side effects include shortness of breath, restless, insomnia, heart palpitations, dizzy, tremors, chest pains, and raising a persons blood pressure. Other side effects which are not serious when taking Phentermine are vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, and an unpleasant taste in the persons mouth. Phentermine can only be taken on a short term basis, usually only for a few weeks.

SAXENDA

is a weight loss drug doctors prescribe. Saxenda has liraglutide in it. Liraglutide is a type 2 diabetes drug called victosa but is a higher dose of victosa. Liraglutide sends messages to the brain telling the person their stomach is full. When the brain senses the stomach is full, most people will stop eating. Saxenda has low side effects and some serious side effects. The lower end side effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, low blood pressure, and vomiting. The serious side effects of saxenda are increased heart rate, thoughts of suicide, gallbladder disease, and kidney problems. Saxenda has been approved for long term use for weight loss.

CONTRAVE

A combination of bupropion and naltrexone. The combination of the two drugs to make contrave is made to be an extended time release formula. There is a warning risk when taking contrave. The warning risk is for an increased in suicidal thoughts and behaviors because it contains bupropion. Some of the side effects of this weight loss drug are higher blood pressure, vomiting, nausea, constipation, dizzy feeling, headache, dry mouth, and increase in heart rate. Contrave should not be used by a person who has any type of seizure disorder because it can cause seizures. This weight loss drug has been approved for long term use.