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Anti-Obesity Drugs
Only Orlistat / Xenical, Sibutramine / Meridia Approved by FDA for Long Term Use
Diet and Weight Loss Information

Use of Weight Loss Drugs & Pharmacology to Treat Obese Patients and Improve Weight Control

Anti-Obesity Drugs

Questions About Obesity Medications
Appetite Suppressants - Anti-Obesity Drugs - Prescription Obesity Drugs
Development of Diet Pills - Meridia Short-Term Obesity Drug - Xenical Lipase Inhibitors - Xenical Study
Orlistat & Obesity Management - Orlistat Weight Loss Study - Sibutramine FDA Approved Obesity Drug
Sibutramine Study - Obesity Drugs & Diabetes - Risks of Weight Loss Pills - Adipex Obesity Drug
Side Effects of Adipex - Phentermine to Reduce Appetite - Side Effects of Phentermine

Obesity or severe overweight requires long-term treatment in order to achieve lasting weight loss and control. As in other chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, long-term use of prescription medications may be appropriate for some obese patients. That said, only Orlistat/Xenical and Sibutramine/Meridia weight loss drugs are approved by the FDA for long-term use. In addition, like all medications, anti-obesity drugs can have side-effects. Most are mild, but some serious complications have been reported.

Above all, remember that these anti-obesity drugs are not a cure-all. The use of weight-loss medications should be combined with physical activity and improved diet to lose and maintain weight successfully over the long term.

Currently, most anti-obesity drugs are approved by the FDA for short-term use, meaning a few weeks or months.

Most available anti-obesity drugs are appetite-suppressant medications. These include: Didrex, Tenuate, Sanorex, Mazanor, Adipex and Meridia. These medications generally come in the form of tablets or extended-release capsules (pills that release medication over a long period of time). Appetite suppressants can be obtained by a doctor's prescription or purchased over-the-counter.

In the mid 1990s doctors prescribed the popular appetite suppressant Redux or the combination of phentermine and fenfluramine, called "Phen-fen." However fenfluramine (Pondimin) and Redux were withdrawn from the market in 1997 because they caused damage to heart valves. Phentermine is still available. Taking phentermine alone has not been associated with the adverse health effects of the fenfluramine-phentermine combination.

Another type of prescription weight loss drug is a fat absorption inhibitor. Xenical is the only example of this type of treatment approved for use in the U.S. Xenical works by blocking about 30 percent of dietary fat from being absorbed, and is the most recently approved weight loss drug

Meridia and Xenical are the only weight-loss medications approved for longer-term use in significantly obese people, although the safety and effectiveness have not been established for use beyond 1 year.

INFORMATION ABOUT BODY WEIGHT and BODY FAT
Weight Estimate - Healthy Weight Range - Body Weight Composition - Body Fat Guidelines - Healthy Body Fat Percentage - Healthy Waist Circumference
Body Mass Index Calculator - Weight Chart - Weight Loss Tools - Healthy Weight Loss Diet - Healthy Balanced Diet - Calorie Needs to Maintain Weight
Calorie Needs to Lose Weight - Exercise to Lose Weight - Guide to Metabolism
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT and FAT REDUCTION
How to Lose Weight - Fast Weight Loss - Lose Weight and Reduce Fat - Types of Weight Loss Programs - Reviews of Weight Loss Diets - Weight Cycling
Weight Loss Advice - Weight Reduction for Diabetics - Weight Loss for Teenagers - How to Control Weight - Effective Weight Management
How to Maintain Weight - Weight Loss Advice for Women - Weight Control in Pregnancy - Weight Control in Menopause - Weight Loss Questions
DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOSE FAT
Surgery For Weight Loss - Gastrointestinal Surgery - Bariatric Gastric Bypass Surgery - Benefits & Risks of Bariatric Surgery - Guide to Diet Pills
Guide to Weight Loss Drugs - Obesity Drug Treatment - Guide to Weight Loss Pills - Weight Loss Supplements - Healthy Weight Loss Diet Program
Atkins Diet - South Beach Diet - Weight Watchers - Zone Diet - Weight Loss Program
DIETARY HEALTH and DIET SUPPORT
Weight & Health - Weight Loss Guidelines For Adults - Obesity Facts - Obesity Health Risks - Treatment of Obesity - Hypothyroidism Guide
Dietary Guidelines - Types of Diets - Cholesterol Diet - Cholesterol - Weight Loss Support - Weight Management Information - Weight Loss Resources

This site provides general information about how to reduce weight and weight maintenance, featuring articles on a variety of weight-related topics like obesity and overweight, calorie reduction, exercise expenditure, healthy eating plans and dietary nutrition, as well as fat loss, healthy body fat and more. If you are concerned about your weight, for optimum health please talk to your doctor or health care provider before embarking on a new diet, fitness or weight reduction program. © 2005. All Rights Reserved.