Table 6.

Drugs approved by the FDA for weight loss^*

Generic name, year of approval	Trade name(s)	Dose	DEA schedule
Pancreatic lipase inhibitor approved by the FDA for long-term use (≥12 months)
Orlistat, 1999	Xenical	120 mg 3 times daily before meals	Not scheduled
Orlistat, 2007	Alli (over the counter)	60 mg 3 times daily before meals	Not scheduled
Serotinin-2C receptor agonist approved by the FDA for long-term use (12 months)
Lorcaserin, 2012	Belviq	10 mg twice daily	IV
Combination of phentermine-topiramate approved by the FDA for long-term use (12 months)
Phentermine-topiramate, 2012	Qsymia	3.75/23 mg 7.5/46 mg 15/92 mg	IV
Noradrenergic drugs approved for short-term use (usually <12 weeks)
Diethylpropion, 1959	Tenuate	25 mg 3 times a day	IV
	Tenuate Dospan	75 mg every morning
Phentermine, 1959	Adipex and many others	15–30 mg/day	IV
Benzphetamine, 1960	Didrex	25–50 mg 3 times daily	III
Phendimetrazine, 1959	Bontril	17.5–70 mg 3 times daily	III
	Prelu-2	105 mg daily

DEA, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

^*Side effect profiles can be found in the package inserts for each agent.