Comparing new weight loss diet pills - Contrave, Belviq and Qsymia

In September 2014, the US FDA approved another weight loss medication, Contrave, a unique combination of two existing medications in extended release, Bupropion and Naltrexone. 

The epidemic of Obesity

Obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic among adults, adolescents, and children in the United States. 

Current weight loss options

Currently, there are three main approaches to the treatment of obesity: (1) diet, physical activity, and behavioral modification (diet and exercise); (2) pharmacotherapy; and (3) surgery. 

Diet and exercise is the mainstay of weight management and generally precedes other measures. Unfortunately, diet and exercise alone yield mostly limited and transient weight loss, with many individuals finding it difficult to adhere to such regimens. 

The strategy to implement pharmacotherapeutic or surgical approaches in addition to diet and exercise depends upon the patient’s BMI as well as the presence of obesity-related comorbidities. 

However, unlike the situation for other metabolic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, there are very limited obesity pharmacotherapies available. Although orlistat is approved for long-term use and provides efficacy beyond that usually achievable using diet and exercise alone, it is not tolerated well by some patients. The other available pharmacotherapies, e.g. phentermine, are approved for short-term use only. 

While more invasive options (e.g., gastric banding, bariatric surgery) do result in greater weight loss than is achievable with pharmacotherapy, these are targeted primarily to those patients with the highest BMI. 

The benefit of surgery is also offset by greater expense and risk. In the face of such limited options, patients often resort to the use of off-label medications or dietary supplements that may be ineffective or unsafe. 

In this context, agents such as Contrave(NB) may offer viable alternatives for many obese patients.

Locations where Contrave may be offered 

W8MD’s NYC Weight Loss, Sleep & Medspa
Manhattan, NY – 401 E 55th Street New York, NY 10022

Call 718-946-5500

W8MD’s NYC Medical Weight Loss, Sleep & MedSpa – Brooklyn, NY

2632 E 21st St., Suite L2, Brooklyn, NY, 11235

Call 718-946-5500

Poly-Tech Sleep, W8MD’s Philadelphia Weight loss & Aesthetics NE Philadelphia
1718 Welsh Road, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19115

Call 215-676-2334

Poly-Tech Sleep, W8MD Weight Loss & MedSpa – King of Prussia, PA

987 Old Eagle School Rd Suite 712, Wayne, PA 19087

Call 215-676-2334

 Coming soon – W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep & Medical Spa Cherry Hill, NJ

140 E Evesham Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Call 800-986-3007