Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Mar 27.
Published in final edited form as: Circulation. 2018 Mar 27;137(13):1391–1406. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.029617

Table 5.

Pharmacotherapy for Long-Term Obesity Management in the United States in 2017

Drug (generic) Dosage Mean Weight Loss above Lifestyle Common Side Effects Contraindications Special Populations
Phentermine/Topiramate 7.5/46 mg daily 6.6 kg, 1 year Insomnia, dry mouth, nausea Pregnancy, multiple drug interactions Young, no CVD risk factors
Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily 5.8 kg, 1 year Nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis Medullary thyroid cancer, MEN-2 Type 2 diabetes
Lorcaserin 10 mg bid 3.6 kg, 1 year Headache, nausea Pregnancy, multiple drug interactions CVD risk factors
Naltrexone/Bupropion 32/360 mg qid 4.8 kg, 1 year Nausea, constipation Seizure, eating disorder, drug or ETOH withdrawal Addiction disorders
Orlistat (Rx and OTC) 60/120 mg tid 2.9–3.4 kg, 1 year Steatorrhea, flatulence, fecal discharge Cyclosporine, malabsorption, pregnancy, certain meds Available over-the-counter

Modified from reference 102