Best Prescription Weight Loss Medications
The optimal course of action will be recommended by your doctor based on your current weight, medical history, and desired weight. Among the most prevalent medical weight loss drugs are:
Ozempic
Ozempic® is a semaglutide injectable that is used once a week. By reducing appetite and delaying digestion to keep the stomach fuller for longer, it aids patients in losing weight. The drug imitates the actions of GLP-1, a hormone that the body creates on its own during digestion. Ozempic is used off-label for weight loss even though it has FDA approval for treating type-2 diabetes.
Wegovy
A weekly self-injection is used to administer the semaglutide medication Wegovy®. The drug prolongs feelings of fullness by slowing digestion and suppressing appetite. It is FDA-approved for weight loss. In contrast to Ozempic, Wegovy is available in larger doses.
Mounjaro™
Tirzepatide is an FDA-approved type-2 diabetes drug that suppresses appetite and controls blood sugar by activating multiple receptors that regulate hormones related to digestion. It is marketed under the brand name Mounjaro.
Others
Other prescription weight loss drugs include setmelanotide, or Imcivree®. This injectable inhibits the body's MC4 receptors, which regulate hunger and metabolism, to facilitate weight loss.
Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), also referred to by its generic name, bupropion. This class of drugs prevents dopamine and adrenaline from entering the brain. Not only is it an FDA-approved treatment for depression, but doctors prescribe it off-label for weight loss.
Researchers theorize that the drug modifies neurotransmitters and related receptors that regulate hunger and metabolism. Wellbutrin is available as a pill.
A sympathomimetic amine, Qsymia® is also generically referred to as phentermine-topiramate. By stimulating the central nervous system, this FDA-approved drug reduces appetite and promotes feelings of fullness.
Lastly, Saxenda®, also marketed as liraglutide, is a medication that many patients take to lose weight and keep it off.