FDA Approves New Weight-Loss Drug Qsymia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the diet drug Qsymia(TM).

This weight-loss drug, a combination of the stimulant phentermine and the anti-seizure drug topiramate, claims to help people lose weight by suppressing the appetite and creating a feeling of fullness after eating. Researchers say the drug works by targeting multiple brain pathways that trigger overeating.

Clinical trials of Qsymia have shown that people who took the drug combined with a healthy eating plan and fitness regime did lose weight. However, Qsymia does come with several side effects that include:

• Increased heart rate
• Birth defects
• Hyperventilation
• Fatigue
• Anorexia

Should I take a diet pill?

Only you and your doctor can decide if it is safe for you to take a diet pill. People who take any diet drug should be monitored closely by a physician who can detect heart disease or other cardiovascular risks.

The safest and best recommendation for long-term weight loss is a healthy diet combined with a fitness regime. For some people who have struggled to control their weight throughout their whole lives, weight-loss surgery may also be an option to lose weight.

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program

Register for this free weight-loss information session.