The FDA is close to approving a new diet medication and some doctors are saying, “Finally!”  No, it’s not approved yet and certainly isn’t perfect so stay on your diet!  But, as Americans continue to struggle with weight problems and the huge range of health issues they bring with it, doctors may have something they could prescribe to obese patients who can’t lose weight on their own.  The medication, Contrave, combines two previously tested drugs, naltrexone and bupropion, although they weren’t originally developed or tested for weight loss efficacy.  Naltrexone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction and alcohol dependence, is being combined with buproprion, a drug used to treat depression and smoking cessation.  In combination the drugs appear to be effective for weight loss.  3,200 obese patients participated in a clinical trial and 30% lost 5% of their body weight.  This is the minimum amount of weight loss required for the FDA to judge a weight loss drug effective.  It isn’t as much as many people will hope for and also raises blood pressure. 

Some doctors say that the weight loss is counteracted by the health risk of increased blood pressure.  It still looks like the most effective and safest way to lose weight is through diet and exercise.  The participants in the control group, those not taking Contrave, who lost weight saw a drop in their blood pressure.  There are weight loss methods that have been available since the 1950s, but key is eating less and getting moving.  Start now and don’t wait for the perfect solution!  You are your own best weapon.

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