The medications most often
used in the management of obesity are commonly
known as "appetite
suppressant" medications. Appetite suppressant medications
promote weight loss by decreasing appetite
or increasing the feeling of being full. These medications
decrease appetite
by increasing serotonin or catecholamine--two
brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite.
Several appetite suppressant medications are
available to treat obesity. People respond differently
to appetite suppressant medications, and some people
experience more weight loss than others. Some obese patients using medications
lose more than 10 percent of their starting body weight--an amount of weight
loss that may reduce risk factors for obesity-related diseases, such as high
blood pressure or diabetes. Maximum weight loss usually occurs within 6 months
of starting medication treatment. Weight then tends to level off or increase
during the remainder of treatment.
All manufacturing and marketing
of the weight loss medications is conducted in
strict compliance with the guidelines established by the
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). The FDA is a federal agency in the United
States government staffed with pharmaceutical and medical
experts who approve
safe and effective drugs for sale. No prescription
drug in America may be sold without this approval.
