Table 1.
Mechanisms of action of currently used anti-obesity drugs and their side effects.
| Drug | Mechanism of action | Side effect | Year approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| ∗Phentermine | Causes the release of Noradrenaline, serotonin Dopamine, all of which lead to suppression of appetite | Increases blood pressure insomnia, restlessness. | 1959 |
| ∗∗Orlistat | Inhibits pancreatic lipase activity and delays absorption of fat | Steatorrhea, Altered absorption of fat soluble vitamins. | 2009 |
| ∗∗Lorcaserin | Receptor agonist for 5-hydroxytryptamine, decreases appetite enhances satiety | Could lead to liver and kidney Injury, flatulence, headache, nausea, dizziness, disorder of the heart. | 2012 |
| ∗∗Phentermine | Enhances release of dopamine and serotonin, Decreases appetite | Increases heart rate; | 2012 |
| ∗∗+ topiramate | Enhances satiety | Birth defects |
∗Recommendation is for short term use; ∗∗ Recommendation is for long term use; Sources: Dietrich and Horvath (2012), Klein and Romijn (2016), Lee et al. (2016), Yoon et al. (2016), Weaver (2018).