Prescription Weight Loss Medication
For many people, willpower alone isn’t enough to lose weight. If you are among them, prescription weight loss medication may help. At Texas Laparoscopic Consultants in Houston, we offer medically supervised weight loss plans that may include weight loss prescriptions. The weight loss drugs we prescribe include Wegovy, Saxenda, Contrave, Qysmia and Adipex. Whatever your weight loss goal, our experts will work with you to find the right solution and help you succeed in losing weight.
Prescription Medicine at Our Houston Weight Loss Clinic
Weight loss drugs come in different forms and work in different ways. Some are given in an injection, while others are weight loss pills.1-3 Some work in your brain to help you feel full; others will alter the taste of certain foods or reduce your cravings.1-3
At TLC’s Houston weight loss clinic, we prescribe weight loss medication that has been clinically tested and FDA approved for long-term use. If you are not a candidate for weight loss surgery, or if you prefer to explore non-surgical options first, we invite you to learn more about Wegovy, Saxenda, Contrave, Qysmia and Adipex.
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What is Wegovy™?
Wegovy is a once-per-week injectable weight loss medication that is FDA-approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher and adults with a BMI of 27 to 30 along with an obesity-related condition such as Type 2 Diabetes. Wegovy is designed to work in conjunction with a doctor-approved diet and exercise plan.
The revolutionary Wegovy formula includes a peptide hormone molecule that has previously been used to treat Type 2 Diabetes. In a clinical study, patients lost an average of 14.9% body weight, higher than patients who used diet and exercise alone as well as higher than the average results for other anti-obesity drugs.7
What is Contrave®?
Contrave is a prescription-only, FDA-approved weight loss pill that reduces your hunger and helps control cravings by working on two areas of your brain, the hunger center and the reward center.1 It contains two well-known medicines, bupropion and naltrexone, that have been prescribed separately for years.1
Three long-term studies showed that people who used Contrave along with diet and exercise lost about two to four times more weight than people who used diet and exercise alone.1 In one study, people who took Contrave for a full year and participated in intensive diet and exercise programs lost 27 pounds on average.1
What is Qysmia®?
Qysmia is a prescription-only, FDA-approved weight loss pill for people with a BMI at or over 30, or those with a BMI of 27 who have a weight-related health condition.3 It works by helping you break through and manage food cravings.
Qysmia contains two medicines. The quick-release medicine in Qysmia starts working right away and is thought to reduce your appetite. The extended-release medicine works throughout the day to help you feel full and may also alter the taste of certain foods, helping to reduce the pleasure of eating.3
What is Saxenda®?
Saxenda is a prescription-only, FDA-approved medicine that may help certain adults lose weight and keep it off. It is prescribed for people with a high body mass index (BMI at or over 27) who also have weight-related health problems or obesity.2
Saxenda is an injectable medicine. It comes in the form of a pen with a short, very thin needle. You use the pen to give yourself shots once a day in your abdomen, thigh or upper arm.2 Saxenda is intended to be used with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity. It works on an appetite hormone in your body known as GLP-1 that helps regulate your hunger.2 Regulating your appetite can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.
What is Adipex?
Adipex is a phentermine-based prescription medication and is one of the most common prescriptions recommended for weight loss.5 Adipex is sometimes prescribed in conjunction with Qysmia for patients who would benefit from a treatment plan with both medications.
Adipex works by limiting the appetite. This medicine is intended for people who are struggling with obesity and are committed to a comprehensive, medically supervised weight loss plan that involves diet and exercise.5 Adipex may have side effects such as nervousness and increased heart rate and it is not intended for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those with heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, or an overactive thyroid gland.
Choosing a Weight Loss Medicine
Keep in mind that weight loss medications don’t replace being active or eating healthy as a way to lose weight. Studies show that weight-loss medications are most effective when they are combined with lifestyle changes.4
Wegovy, Saxenda, Contrave, Qysmia and Adipex are intended to be used along with a diet and exercise plan.1,2,3 The experts at Texas Laparoscopic Consultants in Houston will consider your weight loss needs and goals, your physical health and your lifestyle in order to develop a customized weight loss plan just for you.
Contact Us to Learn More
Could medical weight loss prescription drugs be an option for you? If you have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, our doctors can help. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
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References
1 How Contrave Works. Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Available at:https://contrave.com/how-contrave-works. Accessed November 25, 2019.
2How Saxenda Works. Novo Nordisk Inc. Available at: https://www.saxenda.com/about-saxenda/how-it-works.html. Accessed November 25, 2019.
3 How Qysmia Works. VIVUS, Inc. Available at:https://qsymia.com/patient/how-qsymia-works. Accessed November 25, 2019.
4 Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and Obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Available at:https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity. Accessed November 25, 2019.
5 Mayo Clinic. Is phentermine a good option for weight loss? Available:https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/phentermine/faq-20057940 Accessed December 23, 2019.
7Anekwe C. A new treatment for obesity Harvard Health Publishing. Available: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-new-treatment-for-obesity-202109102589. Accessed October 5, 2021.
The TLC Surgery Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.