The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just approved a new weight-loss drug called Qsymia, which can help obese patients lose 10 to 12 percent of their body weight, but should you take it?
It’s the first time in a decade since the FDA has voted to approve a weight-loss drug; it was approved with a 20 to 2 vote. But does that mean it’s safe? Not necessarily, and it’s important to note that the drug does come with side effects.
According to ABC, Qsymia is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs: phentermine, a stimulant related to the amphetamines that suppresses the appetite, and topiramate, a drug used to treat migraines and epilepsy that has weight-loss side effects.
Some of the possible side effects include confusion, memory loss, increased heart rate, and even birth defects. However, the FDA says the health effects of obesity – high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. – carry a higher risk, and with obesity rates rising across the country (it’s estimated that 40% of Americans will be obese by 2020), Qsymia has “tremendous potential.”
The drug is not intended for those who want to lose 10-15 pounds. It is only approved for use by obese adults or overweight adults with a weight-related condition like high blood pressure.
“Obesity threatens the overall well being of patients and is a major public health concern,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. “Qsymia, used responsibly in combination with a healthy lifestyle that includes a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, provides another treatment option for chronic weight management.”
In other words, there is still no such thing as a magic pill.
Do you trust weight-loss drugs? Would you take one if your doctor recommended it?
