The latest fast weight loss medication is now on the market.

By John D Greene


Thirty-one percent of adult Americans are not simply overweight, they are clinically diagnosed as obese. This translates into 500 million people. Obesity has become one of the most serious threats to Americans health and well-being. Figures show that obesity rates in the United states have steadily risen over the last 25 years and have reached epidemic proportions.

The medical costs directly associated with obesity are nearly impossible to calculate, simply because multiple health problems and risks are associated with the condition. The preventable health problems associated with obesity include high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and diabetes.

On the new product front, there is great news. Vivus Pharmaceuticals have recently announced a new weight loss pill, designated for considerable weight loss for obese patients. This groundbreaking medication is named Qsymia, a weight loss pill that was recently approved for prescription by the Food and drug administration.

Approval for weight loss drugs is significant in light of the fact that the FDA has not approved any drugs for weight loss in the past 10 years. Thus the weight loss pill passed FDA approval under considerable scrutiny. Qsymia is a combination drug, two drugs working together as one. Both of these drugs have enjoyed various rates of success in weight loss therapy. It was the innovative approach of Vivus to put them together.

The results from the Food and Drug Administration's clinical trials are more than convincing. The weight loss pill outperformed any other drugs that were also tested by the FDA. In one independent study; patients taking it for one year lost 6.7 percent of their body weight. In another study patients lost a reported 8.9 percent. In that same study, patients on the strongest dosage lost 11 percent of total body weight. To put it in pounds, patients reported losing as many as 22 pounds.

The two drugs that combine to make Qsymia are Phentermine and Topiramate. Phentermine is a stimulant and appetite suppressant, long acknowledged for its advantage for weight loss. Topiramate is an anti-consultant, which also makes people feel more satisfied after eating. Researchers have determined that the innovation of Qsymia is that it targets more than one component that causes people to overeat.

Research also has shown that the continued weight loss helps control other health conditions. Patients and their physicians report over extended use, that blood pressure decreases, and diabetic therapy is significantly reduced. It is also reported that symptoms associated with sleep apnea are lessened.

Qsymia has been approved for use, but not unrestricted use. Current guidelines suggest that the drug only be prescribed for patient with a BMI (Body mass index) greater than 30. In other words, the drug is for those clinically revealed as obese. In addition, Physicians and clinics that administer the drug are advised to closely monitor the patients. Side effects include congenital disorder in infants, if taken by women who are pregnant.

Forward thinking physicians and clinics nationwide have read these studies, and started programs to administer this weapon in the arsenal to fight obesity. The local provider in most areas, Equilibrium Weight Loss and Longevity Clinic, offers the drug in the form of extended-release capsules, as part of their medically supervised weight loss protocol. In the face of epidemic obesity, there is promise on the horizon.




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