Table 1.

Efficacy of weight loss medications

Medication	Percentage (approximate) of people who lose at least 5% of their body weight*	Adverse effects	Comments
Lorcaserin	50%	Headache, dizziness	Risk of serotonin syndrome
Qsymia	70% with high dose combination	Dry mouth, paresthesia	contraindicated in people with glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, unstable heart disease
Orlistat	50%	Flatulence, Vitamin deficiencies	Replace fat soluble vitamins
Metformin	50%	GI disturbance, diarrhea	Risk of lactic acidosis
Exenatide	50%	Nausea, vomiting	Risk of pancreatitis
Liraglutide	76% with 3 mg dose	Nausea, vomiting	Contraindicated if history or family history of Medullary thyroid carcinoma

^*Efficacy of some of these medications was evaluated in small studies with significant limitations (e.g. lack of gender, ethnic and racial diversity). The results might not be applicable to general population.