So what has triggered people to think about using medications for
weight loss? It is the frustrating disappointment of all kinds of
weight loss plans and the fact that the medical community fails to see
obesity as an illness. Often doctors believe that their obese patients
simply have no will power and control and thus they hold back
medications that could assist them with weight loss. Other doctors
believe, frequently without vocalizing it, that dropping weight and
sustaining fat loss is a hopeless situation anyway so why try? While
other people associate all diet prescription drugs with phen/fen.
Over the previous few years, there has been a shift in perspective on the part of doctors and their therapy of obesity. They have seen such horrible complications: epidemics of diabetes and its complications, strokes, and coronary heart disorders that they are prepared to try various other modes of treatment. Just look at the escalating number of gastric bypass surgical procedures in the previous several years. The FDA has authorized two brand new drugs in 2012 - Qsymia and Belviq. Only Qsymia is available in September 2012.
The first, Qsymia is readily available now with a doctor's prescription. Below are a few guidelines for its use. Qsymia is a prescription treatment that contains phentermine and Topamax (topiramate extended-release) that may help some obese adults or some over weight adults who also have weight-related medical conditions lose weight and keep the weight off. The phentermine is the appetite reducer and is similar to the phentermine drugs that have been on the market since the mid 1970's. The Topamax has been available for a decade and is used for seizures and headaches. So Qsymia is not actually new-it's two older drugs blended in a distinctive delivery method with 4 different dosing levels that stretch over months. A titrated dose delivery system was developed to lessen the side effects.
Both medications need to be used in a plan of reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity. It is not known if Qsymia reduces your risk of heart difficulties or stroke. It is not known if Qsymia is risk-free and productive when taken with other prescriptions, over-the-counter, or natural weight loss items, so be careful.
Side Effects of Qsymia:
The unwanted effects are related to the two unique prescription drugs. Since these drug treatments have already been on the marketplace for a very long time, we are familiar with possible side effects. Anybody who has taken Phentermine or phendimetrazine has experience some of these side effects.
Women of Child Bearing Age Warning:
The FDA and manufacturer are seriously concerned with possible birth defects such as cleft palate. All women of child bearing age will have to have an initial negative pregnancy test and a monthly pregnancy test. In addition, unless she is in menopause, has had surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries or has a partner with a vasectomy, she must use effective birth control. If a woman do not have an IUD or progesterone implant she will need to use TWO different forms of birth control. Women should not get pregnant taking Qsymia.
How to Take Qsymia:
1. To qualify you must have a BMI of 27 with medical problems or 30 without any medical problems.
For example, a 5 ft 2 inch women who weights 150 has a BMI of 27, if she weighed 165 her BMI would be 30. A man who is 5 ft 10 inches has a BMI of 27 if he weighs 180 lb and a BMI of 30 if he weighs 205 lb. Obviously with 68% of Americans overweight or obese millions of people will be able to qualify for this new medication.
"Medical problems" include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis of knees, feet and hip and heart disease or strokes. Possibley polysystic ovarians and infertility might be included in this group.
See BMI calculator at CDC web site: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/
2. For women in the childbearing age, she must have a negative pregnancy test to start with and then a negative test each month.
3. You can purchase Qsymia only from CVS or Walgreen's by sending a doctor's prescription with an order form using the doctors fax machine. The on- line pharmacy will then call you for your credit information and send you the medications in 3-5 days.
4. You take 1 tablet a day in mid morning. You need to follow the dosing guidelines carefully. There are 4 different dose levels spread over many months.
My Preliminary Experience with Qsymia:
At the time of this writing, Qsymia has been on the market for 10 days. I have prescribed it for 5 of my overweight female patients. Here is what they tell me they have found taking the lowest starter dose. Hunger was markedly reduced in 3 of the 5 dieters. One of 5 said she was "a little less hungry." One of 5 patients reported no change in hunger at all. All of the five reported a marked decrease in cravings especially for sweets and salty food. One of the 5 patients had difficulty sleeping (she was also drinking ice tea in the evening). No one experienced dizzyness, memory loss, tingling of the fingers with this very low starter dose. I will report more information as my patients continue on with this interesting new medication.
Qsymia offers the individual who has difficulty losing weight an opportunity to control his hunger, feel full, often for the first time in their lives and reduce cravings with this FDA approved medication. The various components of Qsymia have been on the market for a very long time. Most physicians have experience prescribing both of the components and the FDA has insisted on extensive retesting. The system of medication controls suggests that the FDA sees Qsymia as a serious drug for a very serious problem.
Over the previous few years, there has been a shift in perspective on the part of doctors and their therapy of obesity. They have seen such horrible complications: epidemics of diabetes and its complications, strokes, and coronary heart disorders that they are prepared to try various other modes of treatment. Just look at the escalating number of gastric bypass surgical procedures in the previous several years. The FDA has authorized two brand new drugs in 2012 - Qsymia and Belviq. Only Qsymia is available in September 2012.
The first, Qsymia is readily available now with a doctor's prescription. Below are a few guidelines for its use. Qsymia is a prescription treatment that contains phentermine and Topamax (topiramate extended-release) that may help some obese adults or some over weight adults who also have weight-related medical conditions lose weight and keep the weight off. The phentermine is the appetite reducer and is similar to the phentermine drugs that have been on the market since the mid 1970's. The Topamax has been available for a decade and is used for seizures and headaches. So Qsymia is not actually new-it's two older drugs blended in a distinctive delivery method with 4 different dosing levels that stretch over months. A titrated dose delivery system was developed to lessen the side effects.
Both medications need to be used in a plan of reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity. It is not known if Qsymia reduces your risk of heart difficulties or stroke. It is not known if Qsymia is risk-free and productive when taken with other prescriptions, over-the-counter, or natural weight loss items, so be careful.
Side Effects of Qsymia:
The unwanted effects are related to the two unique prescription drugs. Since these drug treatments have already been on the marketplace for a very long time, we are familiar with possible side effects. Anybody who has taken Phentermine or phendimetrazine has experience some of these side effects.
Women of Child Bearing Age Warning:
The FDA and manufacturer are seriously concerned with possible birth defects such as cleft palate. All women of child bearing age will have to have an initial negative pregnancy test and a monthly pregnancy test. In addition, unless she is in menopause, has had surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries or has a partner with a vasectomy, she must use effective birth control. If a woman do not have an IUD or progesterone implant she will need to use TWO different forms of birth control. Women should not get pregnant taking Qsymia.
How to Take Qsymia:
1. To qualify you must have a BMI of 27 with medical problems or 30 without any medical problems.
For example, a 5 ft 2 inch women who weights 150 has a BMI of 27, if she weighed 165 her BMI would be 30. A man who is 5 ft 10 inches has a BMI of 27 if he weighs 180 lb and a BMI of 30 if he weighs 205 lb. Obviously with 68% of Americans overweight or obese millions of people will be able to qualify for this new medication.
"Medical problems" include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis of knees, feet and hip and heart disease or strokes. Possibley polysystic ovarians and infertility might be included in this group.
See BMI calculator at CDC web site: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/
2. For women in the childbearing age, she must have a negative pregnancy test to start with and then a negative test each month.
3. You can purchase Qsymia only from CVS or Walgreen's by sending a doctor's prescription with an order form using the doctors fax machine. The on- line pharmacy will then call you for your credit information and send you the medications in 3-5 days.
4. You take 1 tablet a day in mid morning. You need to follow the dosing guidelines carefully. There are 4 different dose levels spread over many months.
My Preliminary Experience with Qsymia:
At the time of this writing, Qsymia has been on the market for 10 days. I have prescribed it for 5 of my overweight female patients. Here is what they tell me they have found taking the lowest starter dose. Hunger was markedly reduced in 3 of the 5 dieters. One of 5 said she was "a little less hungry." One of 5 patients reported no change in hunger at all. All of the five reported a marked decrease in cravings especially for sweets and salty food. One of the 5 patients had difficulty sleeping (she was also drinking ice tea in the evening). No one experienced dizzyness, memory loss, tingling of the fingers with this very low starter dose. I will report more information as my patients continue on with this interesting new medication.
Qsymia offers the individual who has difficulty losing weight an opportunity to control his hunger, feel full, often for the first time in their lives and reduce cravings with this FDA approved medication. The various components of Qsymia have been on the market for a very long time. Most physicians have experience prescribing both of the components and the FDA has insisted on extensive retesting. The system of medication controls suggests that the FDA sees Qsymia as a serious drug for a very serious problem.
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