3
Pharmacologic and Supplement-Based Obesity Treatment
FDA-Approved Prescription Obesity Medications
Agents currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity
Sympathomimetics This class is Schedule III or IV controlled
substance. Clinicians should review federal,
state, and local statutes before prescribing
Phentermine Short-acting sympathomimetic; available in
multiple branded and generic formulations
• Adipex-P 37.5 mg scored tablet or 15 mg, 30 mg, and
37.5 mg capsules
• Lomaira 8 mg scored tablet, dosed three times daily
• Suprenza 15 mg, 30 mg, 37.5 mg orally disintegrating
tablets
• Lonamin
(controlled-release
resin capsule)
15 mg and 30 mg phentermine resin; the
brand formulation has been discontinued, but
equivalent generic resin capsules are available
Diethylpropion
hydrochloride (Tenuate,
Tenuate Dospan)
25 mg immediate-release tablet and 75 mg
controlled-release tablets
Phendimetrazine
tartrate (Bontril PDM,
Bontril SR)
35 mg immediate-release tablet and 105 mg
extended-release capsule
Benzphetamine
hydrochloride (Didrex)
50 mg tablet
Phentermine/
topiramate extended-
release (Qsymia)
Combination product with a lower dose of
phentermine due to the synergistic effect of
the two medications
Orlistat (Xenical 120
mg; Alli 60 mg OTC)
Pancreatic lipase inhibitor that blocks dietary
fat absorption
Naltrexone/bupropion
extended-release
(Contrave)
Acts via hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin
activation and dampening of the mesolimbic
reward pathway
Liraglutide (Saxenda) Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor
agonist (RA) with daily dosing
Semaglutide (Wegovy) GLP-1 RA with weekly subcutaneous dosing or
daily oral dosing
Tirzepatide (Zepbound GLP-1/gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor
agonist with weekly dosing
Setmelanotide
(Imcivree)
Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist for BBS,
as well as POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiencies
