After nearly a year after being approved by FDA, Weigh loss drug Qsymia can now be filled at about 8,000 certified pharmacies nationwide. Qsymia is used together with diet and exercise to treat obesity. This medication is sometimes used to treat obesity that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
According to Vivus Pharmaceutical, Weight loss drug Qsymia — is the first new weight loss drug to reach market in 13 years. Vivus chose the name Qsymia after the FDA rejected a previous name, Qnexa.
Weight loss drug Qsymia
Qsymia as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults. Dramatic weight loss can come from lifestyle changes alone. Lifestyle change is hard for anyone, but obesity makes it harder. The body burns less and less fuel, appetite increases and exercise hurts.
Michelle Look, MD, of San Diego Sports Medicine and Family Health Center, treated patients in the weight loss drug Qsymia clinical trials.
“Obesity needs to be treated as the chronic medical disease it is,” Look says. “This means putting people on medication, but we have not had an effective tool for treating people. Now, in addition to diet and exercise, we have a medical therapy.”
As part of a risk-reduction plan Vivus negotiated with the FDA, Qsymia will be available only to doctors who have completed a Qsymia provider-training program. The drug will be sold only through certified mail-order pharmacies. At this time, those pharmacies are CVS, Walgreens, and Kaiser Permanente (for Kaiser members only).
Weight loss drug Qsymia
These are serious drugs with serious side effects. They are for those with significant obesity and who have medical complications as a result. One of the most alarming is that the drug can cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Women must confirm with their doctor that they are using 100% effective birth control before they can get a Qsymia prescription. Other possible side effects include increased heart rate, suicidal thoughts or actions, and serious eye problems.
Contact you family physician to see if Qsymia is right for you.
