Treatment
Table 5. Pharmacotherapy for Obesity in the United States
Mechanism of
Action
Drug
Dose
Mean Weight Loss
with Placebo // with Drug
Duration of Clinical Studies
5HT2c receptor
agonist
Lorcaserin
• 10 mg bid
-2.5% placebo // -5.8%
7.9 lb (3.6 kg )
a
1 year
GABA receptor
modulation
(T) plus
norepinephrine-
releasing agent (P)
Phentermine/topiramate (P/T)
• 3.75 mg P/23 mg T ER qd
(starting dose)
• 7.5 mg P/46 mg T ER qd
(recommended dose)
• 15 mg P/92 mg T ER qd
(high dose)
-1.2% placebo //
-7.8% (mid dose)
-9.8% (full dose)
14.5 lb (recommended dose) (6.6%)
a
18.9 lb (high dose) (8.6%)
a
1 year
GLP-1 agonist Liraglutide
• 3.0 mg subcut qd
-3% placebo // -7.4% (full dose)
12.8 lb (5.8 kg )
a
1 year
Norepinephrine-
releasing agent
Phentermine resin
b
• Adipex-P (37.5 mg )
37.5 mg/d
• Ionamin (30 mg )
30–37.5 mg qd
- 4.5% placebo // -12%
7.9 lb (3.6 kg )
a
2–24 wks
