Qsymia Plan for Weight Loss: A Practical Guide To Using the New Diet Medication

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In another 12-week study, people with BED or bulimia nervosa received the drug combination or a placebo ( 19). After you take the lowest dose for 14 days, your doctor can choose to progress you to a higher dose ( 9, 20). You can findAdipex-P in both capsule and tablet forms and is manufactured by Gate Pharmaceuticals. The company is now called Teva Pharmaceuticals which has been eyeing phentermine formula for over a decade. Phentermine was approved for weight loss in 1959 as an appetite suppressant, physicians may prescribe a single capsule per day before breakfast. The dosage is also adjusted by the physician or pharmacists to three times daily by shortening the dosage strength.

Qsiva is the European name for Qsymia, an appetite suppressant approved in the United States. An application for Qsiva was rejected by the European Medicines Agency but it is likely that a new application will be submitted with further information taken from post-marketing studies in the United States. Qsiva has been developed by Vivus, a fast-growing pharmaceutical research company based in North America. If Qsiva is licensed in the EU then this is unlikely to happen before 2015. Qsiva is designed to help obese patients reduce their appetite and feel satisfied with less food. It comes in capsule form and is taken daily. How does Qsiva work? The most commonly reported side effects of phentermine and combined phentermine and topiramate are ( 6, 20, 21): In the CONQUER trials, involving 2,487 patients with co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol, the results were as follows over a 56 week period: While phentermine can be a powerful weight loss aid, the only proven way to shed weight and keep it off in the long term is to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors ( 23, 24).Increases of acid in bloodstream (metabolic acidosis). If left untreated, metabolic acidosis can cause brittle or soft bones (osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteopenia), kidney stones, can slow the rate of growth in children, and may possibly harm your baby if you are pregnant. Metabolic acidosis can happen with or without symptoms. Sometimes people with metabolic acidosis will: feel tired, not feel hungry (loss of appetite), feel changes in heartbeat, or have trouble thinking clearly. Your healthcare provider should do a blood test to measure the level of acid in your blood before and during your treatment with Qsymia. Due to its relation with the “Amphetamine” class, Phentermine is classified as a Class C drug of Controlled Substance. This also means Phentermine users are very much prone to addiction or dependency. Phentermine Weight Loss

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as Zonegran (zonisamide), Diamox (acetazolamide) or Neptazane (methazolamide).

These are not all of the possible side effects of Qsymia. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Bulimia nervosa involves the same binge-eating behavior as with BED but also includes behaviors people use to compensate for the effects of binge eating, such as self-induced vomiting ( 17). However, since it’s a best practice for doctors to prescribe the lowest effective dose, the FDA approved an 8-mg formulation (Lomaira) in 2016, which can be taken up to three times daily at least 30 minutes before meals.

Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication. Increases of acid in bloodstream (metabolic acidosis). If left untreated, metabolic acidosis can cause brittle or soft bones (osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteopenia), kidney stones, can slow the rate of growth in children, and may possibly harm your baby if you are pregnant. Metabolic acidosis can happen with or without symptoms. Sometimes people with metabolic acidosis will:

This medication is available in four doses, ranging in strength from 3.75–15 mg of phentermine and 23–92 mg of topiramate. It’s offered in an extended-release capsule that should be taken in the morning ( 7, 9, 20).

Compared to three other commonly prescribed drugs for weight loss, the combination of phentermine and topiramate was associated with the highest odds of losing at least 5% of initial body weight ( 13). Birth defects (cleft lip and cleft palate). If you take Qsymia during pregnancy, your baby has a higher risk for birth defects called cleft lip and cleft palate. These defects can begin early in pregnancy, even before you know you are pregnant. Topiramate works through GABA receptors in the brain to increase feelings of satiety and fullness. Phentermine stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenalin, which reduces appetite. The combination of Topiramate with Phentermine appears to increase Topiramate's window of effectiveness. Is Qsiva effective? According to the FDA, you should stop using the medication if you don’t lose 3% of your body weight after 12 weeks on the highest daily dose ( 20). Summary Your healthcare provider should tell you to stop taking Qsymia if you have not lost a certain amount of weight after an additional 12 weeks of treatment on the higher dose.

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This medication can rarely cause a serious metabolic problem (high amount of ammonia in the blood), especially if you are also taking valproic acid. Tell your doctor right away if you experience sudden/unexplained tiredness, vomiting, or mental changes (such as decreased alertness). Do not take Qsymia if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or become pregnant during Qsymia treatment; have glaucoma; have thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism); are taking certain medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have taken MAOIs in the past 14 days; are allergic to topiramate, sympathomimetic amines such as phentermine, or any of the ingredients in Qsymia. See the end of the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Qsymia. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 1959 for short-term use of up to 12 weeks for people older than 16 ( 1). After reports of significant heart problems in users, the FDA pulled the other two drugs that were used in the treatment — fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine — from the market ( 2).