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These medications also decrease appetite and create a sensation of fullness. Hunger and fullness (satiety) are regulated by brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Examples of neurotransmitters include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Anti-obesity medications that suppress appetite do so by increasing the level of these neurotransmitters at the junction (called synapse) between nerve endings in the brain. Phentermine alone is still available for treatment of obesity but only on a short-term basis (a few weeks). The common side effects of phentermine include headache, insomnia, irritability, and nervousness.
However, no clinical trials have been conducted to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this combination. Therefore, this combination is not an accepted treatment for obesity. The next class (category) of drugs changes the metabolism of fat. Orlistat (Xenical, alli) is the only drug of this category that is U. This is a class of anti-obesity drugs called lipase inhibitors, or fat blockers.
Fat from food can only be absorbed into the body after being broken up (a process called digestion) by digestive enzymes called lipases in the intestines. Drugs in this class do not affect brain chemistry.
Theoretically, orlistat also should have minimal or no systemic side effects (side effects in other parts of the body) because the major locale of action is inside the gut lumen and very little of the drug is absorbed. Food and Drug Administration approved orlistat capsules, branded as alli, as an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for overweight adults in February 2007. The drug had previously been approved in 1999 as a prescription weight loss aid, whose brand name is Xenical.
The OTC preparation has a lower dosage than prescription Xenical. Orlistat is recommended only for people 18 years of age and over in combination with a diet and exercise regimen. People who have difficulties with the absorption of food or who are not overweight should not take orlistat.
Overweight is defined by the U. National Institutes of Health as having a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater. Orlistat can be taken up to three times a day, with each fat-containing meal. The drug may be taken during the meal or up to one hour after the meal. If the meal is missed or is very low in fat content, the medications should not be taken. The most common side effects of orlistat are changes in bowel habits. These include gas, the urgent need to have a bowel movement, oily bowel movements, oily discharge or spotting with bowel movements, an increased frequency of bowel movements, and the inability to control bowel movements.
Women may also notice irregularities in the menstrual cycle while taking orlistat. Side effects are most common in the first few weeks after beginning to take orlistat. In some people, the side effects persist for as long as they are taking the drug. People with diabetes, thyroid conditions, who have received an organ transplant, or who are taking prescription medications that affect blood clotting should check with their physician before using OTC orlistat (alli), since drug interactions with certain medications are possible.
A long-term decrease in fat absorption can cause deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, K). Therefore, patients on orlistat should receive adequate vitamin supplementation. In June 2012, the FDA approved Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) as a weight-loss medication. The medication works by controlling appetite (via serotonin activation). This was only true for patients without type 2 diabetes.
The predominant side effects were headache and dizziness, as well as fatigue. In patients with diabetes, low blood sugar was also a concern when taking Belviq. Qsymia is the newest medication approved for weight loss. It is a combination of phentermine and extended-release topiramate. All patients in the study were also encouraged to eat a well-balanced, reduced-calorie diet.