Is Contrave the best “WEIGHT LOSS” drug?

It looks like the ideal drug for weight loss is just around the corner. Contrave has received approval from the FDA for use in the USA in the near future. Contrave is a combination of the anti depressant, bupropion and the anti addiction drug, naltrexone.

Unlike all previous drugs, contrave has no affect on the belly, waist or hips. It works where it matters- in the brain. It has been shown in experimental studies that the drug suppresses the appetite center and helps burn of excess energy.

Bupropion has been around for many years and it is well known that people who use this drug often complain of initial weight loss. However, with bupropion, this initial weight loss is only transient and is soon regained. This is where the addition of naltrexone may help. It is now believed that naltrexone continues to suppress the appetite center and food intake is reduced. While all this sounds great in medical journals and in rats, does the darn combination work in humans?

The drug has been extensively tested in obese people. A large study in obese people compared contrave to exercise and diet counseling. At the end of 1 year, only 60 percent of people remained in the study. Those people who only undertook exercise and diet control lost anywhere from 6-16 pounds in weight over 12 months. In comparison, people who took contrave did excellent. The average weight loss was more than 15% of the body weight, which averaged close to 20-25 pounds in 12 months.

The side effects of contrave included headaches, constipation and nausea. These side effects were common early and easily managed with time. Very few of the patients on contrave suffered emotional side effects like depression or anxiety. In fact most reported feeling good about themselves.

Definitely, this drug works and there was no mucking around with different diet plans because the people just did not feel hungry.

Now the FDA is re-looking at all the side effects, especially on the heart, to make sure that the drug manufacturer is not hiding any negative data. If all things are clear, contrave should be in your corner pharmacy on Jan 31, 2011. 

The recommended dose of contrave is two 8 mg naltrexone/90 mg bupropion tablets taken twice a day. When first starting, the dose will be one tablet per week and gradually increased. The only negative about contrave- the pill is not going to come cheap and you have to take it for a whole year. So save up on your vacation to Disney this year and next year when you are slim, trim and gorgeous- you can go to the Bahamas and flaunt the body you have always wanted.

Drugs for weight loss: Part 4

Using other off label drugs

Other unorthodox weight loss experts claim that other not recommended drugs may also help in the weight loss program. These drugs are not approved for use in obesity. These drugs include thyroxin, diuretics and the anti diabetic agent, metformin.

The anti diabetic drug, metformin is an effective weight loss reducing agent and has been used by non diabetic individuals. However, in non diabetic individuals, the drug can cause profound drop in blood sugar and lead to coma. Thus daily blood glucose monitoring is mandatory.

The antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) has also been associated with weight loss. When the drug is prescribed to patients with depression, weight loss has been a noticeable side effect.

Temporary weight loss can also occur with diuretics and thyroid hormone. However, these drugs have potent side effects but still are frequently abused by athletes and boxers.

Results

There is no doubt that no matter what weight loss drug is prescribed, most patients will initially lose 5-10% of their starting body weight. This is significantly more than any conventional behavior modifying treatments. The most important rule for success is that individuals have to have realistic goals. Setting sights at losing 10-15% of body weight in a year is reasonable but the majority of individuals are unrealistic and loose hope after a few months. For the physicians, it is essential to educate patient on a reasonable amount of weight loss. Physicians who promote 25-50% weight loss in a year are setting up all patients for failure.

Most weight loss experts now feel that it is essential to help patients lose 3-10% of body weight. Results indicate that medications plus aggressive life style changes can produce dramatic results. An important part of that strategy includes educating patients to stay on low-calorie, low-fat maintenance diets and continue to exercise. While losing 3-5% of the body weight may not sound too impressive and may not be the patient’s goal, these results combined with life style changes have shown a significant reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.