Anti-Obesity Drugs
Long-term treatment with the anti obesity drugs orlistat,
sibutramine or rimonabant produces slight weight loss, but all three drugs
influence cardiovascular risk
profiles in different ways and have different side effects.
High drop out rate with anti obesity drugs
High drop-out rates -- 30% to 40% -- limits the
effectiveness of these drugs.
Effectiveness of anti obesity
drugs
Patients taking these anti
obesity drugs are more likely
than those taking placebo to experience a 5% to 10% reduction in weight. In a
review of long term studies, compared with placebo, orlistat reduced weight by 2.9 kg, sibutramine by 4.2 kg,
and rimonabant by 4.7 kg.
Benefit of orlistat anti obesity drug
Orlistat reduces the incidence of diabetes and
improves levels of total and LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and glycemic
control in patients with diabetes but increases rates of gastrointestinal side
effects and lowers HDL levels.
Benefit of sibutramine anti obesity drug
Sibutramine lowers HDL and triglyceride levels but raised blood pressure and
pulse rate.
Benefit of rimonabant anti
obesity drug
Rimonabant
improves HDL and triglyceride levels, as well as
blood pressure and glycemic control in diabetic patients but increases mood
disorders, such as depression or anxiety.
Acomplia
may increase the risk for suicide.
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