Table 3.

Mechanism of anti-obesity drugs acting in the central nervous system

Drug name	Mechanism
Phentermine, diethylpropion, benzphetamine, and phendimetrazine	norepinephrine release with minor dopamine release
Bupropion/naltrexone	Stimulates dopamine and POMC neurons and blocks inhibitory feedback to mu opioid receptor on POMC neurons
Topiramate/phentermine	norepinephrine release, GABA modulation, voltage-gated ion channel modulation, inhibition of AMPA/kainite excitatory glutamate receptors and inhibition of carbonic anhydrase
Lorcaserin	Serotonin 2C receptor agonist
Lorcaserin-ER	Serotonin 2C receptor agonist
Liraglutide	Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist
Drugs in Phase III
Tesofensine	Reuptake inhibitor of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine

ER = Extended Release; POMC = Proopiomelanocortin; GABA = Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; AMPA = α- amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid