Top diet drugs promise weight-reducing benefits, but generally work while people also practice a healthy diet and exercise program. Weight-loss drugs include prescription and over-the-counter varieties. They usually have the risk of side effects. People should read product warnings or talk to their doctor when taking these medications.
Here are some of the top diet drugs on the market, according to WebMD and Drugs.com.
• Orlistat blocks the absorption of about a third of fat from
foods, WebMD reported. Prescription versions are called Xenical. A non-prescription formula called Alli has about half the dose of Xenical. A low-fat diet, consuming about 30 percent of daily calories from fat, is recommended before taking the drug. Supplements might be added to boost vitamins that are harder to absorb because of orlistat.
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• Phentermine curbs the appetite and is usually approved for short-term use, such as a few weeks. It is an amphetamine that can increase the risk of addiction or abuse, so it requires a special prescription for a certain amount of time.
• Belviq helps to curb the appetite by promoting a feeling of fullness,
according to Drugs.com. Diabetics can suffer side effects such as low blood sugar, headaches, fatigue, and back pain. The drug is not recommended for pregnant women or those who intend to get pregnant.
• Contrave combines naltrexone and bupropion, which are also used to treat alcohol dependence, depression and smoking cessation. Contrave increases metabolism and suppresses the appetite.
• Qsymia contains phentermine and also topiramate, a drug that helps burn calories, gives people a full feeling and makes food taste less appealing with the aim of less food intake. The two drugs are in lower doses than when prescribed alone, but they act as an appetite suppressant.
• Saxenda tricks the brain into thinking the stomach is full.
Other top diet drugs sold in non-prescription formulas include:
• Bitter orange, or citrus aurantium, has a possible modest benefit in
weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. It helps burn calories and suppresses the appetite.
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• Conjugated linoleic acid helps reduce body fat and also has a possible modest benefit, the Mayo Clinic noted.
• Green coffee extract reduces absorption of sugar and green tea extract decreases fat absorption. Both pills increase calorie and fat metabolism and may have a slight to modest benefit.