Pre-Ozempic Weight problems medicines: efficient and budget-friendly
April 26, 2024 – Earlier than that was the case Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound, there have been cost-friendly, secure and efficient weight reduction medicine. FDA-approved weight problems medicines corresponding to orlistat (model title: Xenic), phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia), and extended-release naltrexone/bupropion (Reverse) have been in the marketplace for many years.
“Some older weight problems medicines go all the best way again to the Fifties and Sixties – like phentermine, which stays one of the vital prescribed medicines on the planet,” says Anthony Auriemma, MD, medical director of Ascension Illinois Weight Loss Options.
Though newer GLP-1 medicines corresponding to semaglutide (Ozempic, Away) typically result in higher ranges of weight reduction, however the advantages of extra established medicines — corresponding to decrease price, large provide and easy accessibility — additionally make them helpful choices, says Andres Acosta, MD, an weight problems knowledgeable on the Mayo Clinic.
“Lots of people say that the GLP-1s are the primary medicine to offer you double-digit weight reduction,” he mentioned. “That's not true. Qsymia was already in double digits, providing you with 11% [of total body weight loss] on the medium dose and 13% on the excessive dose.”
And two cost-friendly and efficient medicines supply decrease charges of weight reduction: Contrave (about 9%) and Xenical (5% to six%).
Some sufferers can get drug coupons for Qsymia and Contrave for as little as $100 a month, and generic phentermine for as little as $20 a month, Auriemma mentioned. You’ll find Xenical for $200 to $300 per thirty days. Examine these prices to GLP-1s, corresponding to Ozempic, the place you'll be a minimal of $500, as much as hundreds of {dollars} per thirty days.
An impartial analysis from the Institute for Scientific and Financial Overview discovered Qsymia to be essentially the most cost-effective drug 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 its extended-release function can maintain you satiated till the afternoon — which suggests fewer snacks and extra energy, in keeping with John Amos, CEO of VIVUS, the pharmaceutical firm behind Qsymia .
One other key distinction between older anti-obesity medicine and newer GLP-1s is that the previous are taken orally, and the latter as injections.
“The wonderful thing about older medicines like phentermine, Contrave or Qsymia is that the majority of them keep away from most of the unintended effects. gastrointestinal unintended effects you hear about with GLP-1 medicines, which individuals typically fear about nausea, vomitand a few discuss it gastroparesisor gastric paralysis,” Auriemma mentioned.
Needless to say some sufferers might have to take anti-obesity medicines for prolonged intervals of time, making the seek for a cost-friendly remedy much more necessary. It’s also necessary to keep in mind that weight problems drugs is just not 'one-size-fits-all' as our our bodies wouldn’t have the identical responses to medicines, nor will we all have the identical consuming habits and existence. So present fads or waves of recognition shouldn’t be the choice maker when contemplating a drug. Discuss to your physician about which weight problems drug is perhaps best for you, Auriemma mentioned.
“In case you can't afford GLP-1s, your insurance coverage received't cowl them, otherwise you don't have entry to them, there are different choices which have already been permitted by the FDA,” Acosta mentioned. “Once we have a look at the fee and end result, these different medicines, significantly phentermine/topiramate, develop into essentially the most cost-effective.”