April 26, 2024 – Earlier than there was Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound, there have been cost-friendly, secure, and efficient weight reduction medicine. FDA-approved weight problems medicine like orlistat (model identify: Xenical), phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia), and naltrexone/bupropion prolonged launch (Contrave) have been in the marketplace for many years.
“Some older weight problems medicines go all the best way again to the ’50s and ’60s – like phentermine, which continues to be some of the broadly prescribed medicines on the earth,” stated Anthony Auriemma, MD, medical director of Ascension Illinois Weight Loss Options.
Whereas newer GLP-1 medicine like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) typically result in higher levels of weight reduction, the advantages of extra established medicine – like decrease prices, ample provide, and ease of entry – additionally makes them priceless choices, stated Andres Acosta, MD, an weight problems knowledgeable with the Mayo Clinic.
“Many individuals say that the GLP-1s are the primary medicines to present you weight reduction at double digits,” he stated. “That’s not true. Qsymia was already at double digits, supplying you with 11% [of total body weight loss] on the medium dose and 13% on the excessive dose.”
And two cost-friendly and efficient medicine supply decrease levels of weight reduction: Contrave (round 9%) and Xenical (5% to six%).
Some sufferers can get drugmaker coupons for Qsymia and Contrave for as little as $100 monthly, and generic phentermine as little as $20 monthly, Auriemma stated. Yow will discover Xenical for $200 to $300 monthly. Examine these prices to GLP-1s, like Ozempic, the place you’re shelling out a minimal of $500, all the best way as much as 1000’s of {dollars}, monthly.
An impartial evaluation by the Institute for Scientific and Financial Assessment discovered that Qsymia is essentially the most cost-effective medicine amongst semaglutide and different weight problems medicine that got here earlier than it. Qsymia’s “twin mechanism” suppresses your urge for food within the morning, and the extended-release perform can hold you satiated into the afternoon – which implies much less snacking and extra energy, in response to John Amos, CEO of VIVUS, the drug firm behind Qsymia.
One other key distinction between older weight problems medicine and newer GLP-1s is that the previous are taken orally, and also you get the latter as photographs.
“The very nice factor about older medicines like phentermine, Contrave, or Qsymia is that almost all of them keep away from lots of the gastrointestinal unwanted side effects that you just hear about with GLP-1 medicine, the place individuals typically have considerations about nausea, vomiting, and a few speak about gastroparesis, or abdomen paralysis,” stated Auriemma.
Have in mind: Some sufferers could have to take weight problems medicines for longer intervals of time, which makes in search of a cost-friendly drug much more essential. It’s also vital to do not forget that weight problems medication will not be “one-size-fits-all,” as a result of our our bodies do not need the identical reactions to medicines, nor can we all have related consuming habits and existence. So present fads or waves of recognition shouldn’t be the decision-maker when contemplating a medicine. Converse to your physician about which, if any, weight problems drug could possibly be best for you, Auriemma stated.
“When you can’t afford GLP-1s, your insurance coverage doesn’t wish to cowl them, otherwise you do not need entry, there are different choices which can be already FDA-approved,” stated Acosta. “Once we try this map between value and end result, that’s when these different medicines, notably phentermine/topiramate, change into essentially the most value efficient.”
