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 treatment like orlistat (model identify: Xenical), phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia), and naltrexone/bupropion prolonged launch (Contrave) have been available on the market for many years.
“Some older weight problems medicines go all the way in which again to the ’50s and ’60s – like phentermine, which continues to be one of the vital broadly prescribed medicines on this planet,” mentioned Anthony Auriemma, MD, medical director of Ascension Illinois Weight Loss Options.
Whereas newer GLP-1 medicine like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) typically result in better levels of weight reduction, the advantages of extra established medicine – like decrease prices, ample provide, and ease of entry – additionally makes them priceless choices, mentioned Andres Acosta, MD, an weight problems knowledgeable with the Mayo Clinic.
“Many individuals say that the GLP-1s are the primary medicines to offer you weight reduction at double digits,” he mentioned. “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 provide 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 mentioned. You will discover Xenical for $200 to $300 monthly. Examine these prices to GLP-1s, like Ozempic, the place you might be shelling out a minimal of $500, all the way in which as much as 1000’s of {dollars}, monthly.
An unbiased assessment by the Institute for Scientific and Financial Evaluation discovered that Qsymia is probably the most cost-effective treatment 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 preserve you satiated into the afternoon – which implies much less snacking and extra energy, in accordance with 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 pictures.
“The very nice factor about older medicines like phentermine, Contrave, or Qsymia is that the majority of them keep away from most of the gastrointestinal unwanted side effects that you just hear about with GLP-1 medicine, the place individuals typically have issues about nausea, vomiting, and a few speak about gastroparesis, or abdomen paralysis,” mentioned Auriemma.
Have in mind: Some sufferers could have to take weight problems medicines for longer intervals of time, which makes looking for a cost-friendly drug much more vital. It is usually vital to do not forget that weight problems drugs will not be “one-size-fits-all,” as a result of our our bodies wouldn’t have the identical reactions to medicines, nor will we all have comparable consuming habits and existence. So present fads or waves of recognition shouldn’t be the decision-maker when contemplating a medicine. Communicate to your physician about which, if any, weight problems drug could possibly be best for you, Auriemma mentioned.
“In the event you can’t afford GLP-1s, your insurance coverage doesn’t need to cowl them, otherwise you wouldn’t have entry, there are different choices which might be already FDA-approved,” mentioned Acosta. “Once we do this map between value and end result, that’s when these different medicines, significantly phentermine/topiramate, grow to be probably the most value efficient.”
