Weight loss pills

Any medication, supplement or drug used for the sole purpose of losing weight can be called a weight loss or diet pill. The weight loss medications can be of several types depending on the mechanism of action of the weight loss medication.


 * Stimulant type weight loss drugs


 * Appetite suppressants


 * Other weight loss medications

Current weight loss pills in the United States
While there are many weight loss medications on the market, the most effective medications for best appetite suppression and weight loss are those that target multiple pathways in the brain as the appetite center in the brain has multiple redundant pathways! If you just block one of these pathways, the other pathways that control your appetite might be compensating so blocking at least two pathways at the same time makes better sense.

What is the best weight loss medication combination?
While the answer depends on the individual situation, according to Dr. Prab R. Tumpati, MD, founder of W8MD medical weight loss centers of America, the combination of low dose of Phentermine with low dose of Topiramate as in the recently FDA approved brand name weight loss medication, Qsymia.

The other new weight loss medication, Belviq, although not a combination medication as in Qsymia, can in fact be combined with Phentermine and Topiramate when medically appropriate.

List of weight loss medications considered stimulants

 * Phentermine (Adipex, Duromine, Fastin, Ionamin, Metermine, etc.)
 * Diethylpropion (Tenuate)
 * Rimonabant† (Acomplia; cannabinoid antagonist selective for CB1. Withdrawn amidst concerns about psychiatric consequences of drug treatment)
 * Sibutramine† (Meridia, Reductil; withdrawn from the market due to concerns regarding its cardiovascular effects. )
 * Oxymetazoline (Over the Counter Afrin nasal decongestant)

List of medications considered as appetite depressants

 * Phentermine with various brand names such as Adipex, Duromine, Fastin, Ionamin, Metermine is one of the most commonly used weight loss medication or diet pill.
 * Qsymia is a combination of two weight loss medications: Topiramate combined with phentermine, brand name Qsymia, is probably the most effective weight loss medication.
 * Topiramate (Topamax, an anticonvulsant medication with weight loss as a side effect and this is often combined with Topiramate as in Qsymia.
 * Diethylpropion
 * Phendimetrazine
 * Phenylpropanolamine

New weight loss medications

 * Qsymia
 * Contrave
 * Saxenda
 * Belviq

Less commonly used stimulant weight loss medications

 * Benfluorex
 * Butenolide
 * Cathine
 * Pyroglutamyl-histidyl-glycine

New weight loss medications

 * Lorcaserin (Belviq), the latest weight loss medication on the market and one of the safer weight loss medications, although slightly less effective compared to Phentermine and Topiramate as in Qsymia.

Other weight loss diet pills

 * Amfetamine (also known as amphetamine, US brand name of mixed amfetamine salts is Adderall)
 * Benzphetamine (Didrex)
 * Bupropion (formerly known as amfebutamone; brand names: Prexaton, Wellbutrin, Zyban) - An atypical antidepressant
 * Dexamfetamine (also known by its USAN and brand names: Dexamphetamine, Dexedrine, Dextrostat)
 * Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
 * Metamfetamine (also known as methamphetamine, Desoxyn)
 * Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin)
 * Phendimetrazine (Bontril)
 * Phenethylamine

Drugs that were withdrawn from the market due to adverse effects.


 * Fenfluramine (Ponderal, Ponderax, Pondimin; one of the two components [the other being phentermine] of Fen-phen. Since discontinued to its potential for causing valvulopathies and pulmonary hypertension)* Glucagon (GlucaGen)
 * Oxymetazoline (Over the Counter Afrin nasal decongestant)
 * Dexfenfluramine (Adifax; the d-enantiomer of fenfluramine; withdrawn for the same reason as its racemate)
 * Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
 * Rimonabant (Acomplia; cannabinoid antagonist selective for CB1. Withdrawn amidst concerns about psychiatric consequences of drug treatment)
 * Sibutramine (Meridia, Reductil; withdrawn from the market due to concerns regarding its cardiovascular effects. )
 * Dexfenfluramine† (Adifax; the d-enantiomer of fenfluramine; withdrawn for the same reason as its racemate)
 * Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
 * Fenfluramine (Ponderal, Ponderax, Pondimin; one of the two components [the other was phentermine] of Fen-phen. Since discontinued to its potential for causing valvulopathies and pulmonary hypertension)* Glucagon (GlucaGen)
 * Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)

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