Lancet Study Shows Effectiveness of Medications (Phentermine and Topiramate) in Weight Loss

A study published in the Lancet this week has shown that a combination of Phentermine and Topiramate can help patients lose weight.  The report is based on just under 2500 patients who were given different treatments and assessed to see the amount of weight they lost.  The drug called Qnexa, is a combination of phentermine and topiramate.  Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that is currently used by some specialist weight loss clinics.  This has approval in the US by the Food and Drug Adminstration for short term use in weight loss.  Topiramate is an anti-epileptic medication which has also been shown previously to reduce weight.  The combination of the two drugs was compared with a placebo (drug with no active ingredient).  The results of the study showed that those patients taking Qnexa had significantly more weight loss than those taking the placebo.  In fact, after 1 year those on placebo lost 1.4 kg and those on a higher dose of Qnexa lost 10.2 kg.  The researchers also state lowering of blood pressure in their patients.

To read the abstract of the Lancet article, please visit the Lancet website here.

Read our article about slimming pills in Ezinearticles.com

We talk about slimming pills, how they work and safety in this article on Ezinearticles.com

http://ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss,-Slimming-and-Diet-Pills---Do-They-Work?&id=5958716

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Slimming Pills

There are many diet medications and pills that claim to help you lose weight and aid slimming. There are also many herbal supplements that say they can reduce your weight. There is little or no evidence that these readily available pills and supplements work. Articles by BBC News and the Daily Mail confirm the lack of evidence that over the counter weight loss supplements and tablets work. There is however evidence that prescription only medications can help patients lose weight. If you are considering using medication when slimming this should be done under the supervision of a fully trained and registered doctor. Doctors are the only people that can provide prescription only slimming medication. These medications have been shown in clinical research and trials to actually help patients lose weight. Diet pills should also be part of a weight loss management plan which also looks at changes in diet, lifestyle and exercise. When any patient is taking prescribed slimming pills they should have regular check-upsOnly take medication under the supervision of an experienced doctor. with a doctor to monitor their response and health. Beware of medications available on the internet as these will often be fake or can potentially be harmful to your health. 

How do prescription only weight loss pills work?

These prescription medications can work by a few mechanisms depending on the tablet. Some pills can help suppress appetite and reduce hunger, these are called appetite suppressants. Some tablets reduce the digestion and absorption of fat, these are known as lipase inhibitors. 

Do slimming tablets work?

There is a good amount of evidence that prescription only slimming medication works in helping patients lose weight. This evidence comes from clinical research and trials when patients are given the medication or placebo (a tablet with no medical effect or active ingredient). The results showed that those taking the prescribed diet tablets had much more weight loss than those taking the placebo pills. There is little or no evidence that diet supplements and pills that you can buy over the counter help in weight loss. Articles about these over-the-counter diet tablets have been written by the BBCDaily Mail. 

Are appetite suppressants safe?

When given under doctor supervision appetite suppressants can be a safe and effective way to lose weight. As with all medications there are some risks and potential side effects. When appetite suppressants are prescribed you should have regular check-ups to make sure there are no problems with your health. This involves a consultation with a doctor who will measure your weight and blood pressure. 

Can anybody use weight loss medication?

No. There are some patients who should not have appetite suppressants or diet pills because of their current health or medicines. These patients include those who are or have:

Pregnant or breast feeding

Severe high blood pressure or heart disease

Diabetes, thyroid problems, or glaucoma

Taking some types of antidpressant pills and other medications or supplements

Please consult a specialist doctor in slimming for further details on who can have prescribed weight loss diet pills.

Weight Loss Maintenance Research - Diets

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine this month reports that diets with increased protein and a reduction in glycaemic index maintain weight loss.

They concluded that "In this large European study, a modest increase in protein content and a modest reduction in the glycemic index led to an improvement in study completion and maintenance of weight loss."

For more details about this study visit this New England Journal of Medicine page.

Welcome to our Believe Slimming Clinic Blog

Welcome to our blog featuring the latest information on research and developments in the world of weight loss and slimming.  Our doctors provide the latest advice and treatments to help you lose weight.  For more information visit our Believe Slimming Clinic website.