Qsymia is a prescription weight loss medication that combines immediate-release phentermine hydrochloride and extended-release topiramate. It helps with weight loss by suppressing your appetite and helping you resist food cravings.
It should be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise to help you lose weight. It can also be used as a treatment for diabetes and high cholesterol.
Side Effects
Qsymia reviews for weight loss claim that the once-daily capsule helps control your hunger and resists cravings. The drug can also reduce the taste of some foods.
In a trial that lasted 28 weeks, patients taking a lower dose of the medication lost 8.5% of their body weight while those receiving a higher dosage lost 9.2%. These results are similar to those of other studies, a 2015 report found.
The FDA states that you must use a reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly to lose weight with this medication. It should not be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It may harm your unborn baby.
You should stop using this medicine if you experience any side effects. These may include problems with concentration, attention, memory or speech. You should also tell your doctor if you have problems with your arm or leg muscles, trouble walking, unsteady walking, very stiff muscles, high fever, or tremors.
If you are taking any other medications, such as a diuretic (water pill), an antacid (to treat heartburn), or a blood thinner, tell your doctor before you start using Qsymia. These medications may interact with Qsymia and increase your risk for serious side effects.
Do not take Qsymia if you are allergic to phentermine, topiramate, or any of the other ingredients in the drug. The medication can also cause serious side effects in babies if taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
This drug can also affect the way your kidneys function. It can cause increased serum creatinine levels in adults and children. It can also lower the amount of potassium in your body.
These side effects can get better over time as your body gets used to the medicine. However, if they become severe or last for a long time, you should call your doctor right away.
Your doctor will also want to see you before starting this medication and monitor your progress. They will need to know your weight, height, and medical history.
It is important to tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal products. It is also important to disclose any other medical conditions you have, especially heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Dosage
Qsymia uses the combination of immediate-release phentermine hydrochloride and extended-release topiramate as its active ingredients. The dosage ranges from 3.75 to 15 mg of phentermine and 23 to 92 mg of topiramate per capsule. The drug is typically taken by mouth with or without food once daily. It should be swallowed whole to prevent side effects and should not be chewed or crushed.
A review article in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine found that preparations with a combination of two drugs were more effective than those that used one active ingredient alone for weight loss. It also noted that patients reported fewer side effects when taking such a preparation.
The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and dry mouth. You should contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. You should also report any changes in your appetite or how much you eat. You should also let your doctor know if you feel very depressed or suicidal.
If you have diabetes, you should check your blood sugar levels more closely while taking Qsymia. This is because it can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Some people who have diabetes might have a hard time losing weight. If you have this problem, your doctor may prescribe a medication called insulin or another type of diabetes medication that helps to control your blood sugar. If you take a non-insulin antidiabetic medication, you should reduce your dose or switch to an insulin-sensitizing medication while on Qsymia.
Your doctor may also recommend a special diet, exercise program, or other lifestyle changes while you’re taking Qsymia. These changes can help you to lose more weight and keep it off.
The onset of Qsymia’s effects usually takes place within 12 hours after you take the pill. You should take the pill in the morning so it’s available in your body for the entire day.
Dosing should be adjusted if your bodyweight decreases faster than expected, especially if you’re losing more than 5% of your body weight. Your doctor may increase your dose until you reach the highest amount recommended by the FDA.
Availability
Qsymia is a weight loss drug that combines two drugs in one capsule. This medication has a synergistic effect on reducing appetite and curbing cravings. This combination is backed by research and a number of clinical studies.
The main ingredients of Qsymia are phentermine and topiramate, which are a type of anti-epileptic drug. The combination works by combining both phentermine’s appetite suppressing effects and topiramate’s ability to lower cravings.
Using these ingredients in conjunction with diet and exercise helps patients achieve better results with less side effects. However, it is important to discuss the potential risks with a physician before beginning treatment.
Phentermine is a common weight loss drug that can be prescribed to patients who are overweight or obese. It is used to help people lose excess body fat and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
The use of phentermine should be closely monitored by your doctor, as it can cause side effects, including dizziness, insomnia, and dry mouth. It should also not be used by pregnant women.
Another important warning about this medication is that it can increase heart rate, so people who have had a heart attack or a stroke within the past six months should not take it. In addition, it may cause birth defects in babies born to women who are pregnant or breast feeding.
Those with diabetes should monitor their blood glucose levels while taking Qsymia and decrease their insulin and other non-glucose-dependent medications as necessary to avoid hypoglycemia. If they experience hypoglycemia while on Qsymia, they should stop treatment and contact their healthcare provider.
It is also important to note that Qsymia can raise the level of potassium in the blood. This is because it inhibits the activity of a type of enzyme called carbonic anhydrase, which reduces the amount of potassium in the blood. It can also be a problem when it is taken in conjunction with other potassium sparing diuretics, such as furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.
Other side effects of this drug include tingling hands and feet, dry mouth, altered taste, insomnia, and constipation. Some of these effects get better as you continue to take the medication, but it is still a good idea to talk to your doctor about them.
Cost
Qsymia is a prescription medication that can help overweight or obese people lose weight when used with diet and exercise. It consists of two drugs that help control hunger, reduce cravings, and boost metabolism.
The drug is also designed to help you manage your blood sugar levels and decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It’s also used to reduce your cholesterol and high blood pressure.
But despite its benefits, the drug is expensive. Its price can drive up medical costs and health premiums, a new report finds.
A draft report published Wednesday by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) found that the price of Qsymia — which is made by Vivus, a subsidiary of Icahn Enterprises LP — is more than twice as expensive as an older drug combination. The older combination, Wegovy, boosted patients’ weight loss and decreased their risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and stroke. But its price, Rind said, is “about twice as much as should be” when it’s compared with other treatments.
To calculate the cost of Qsymia, ICER modeled a scenario where patients remain on the drug for two years, with 50 % of the weight loss occurring in the first year and full benefits occurring in the second year, which then decline to zero in the third and fourth years. It estimated the net cost to be $3,680 per year in the first year and $13,618 per year in the second year, based on a market value for Qsymia of $5.12 a day in September 2013.
Another study looked at long-term cost and effectiveness of Qsymia compared to a placebo for overweight or obese people with at least one medical condition associated with obesity, such as diabetes or heart disease. The study analyzed data from the clinical trials supporting FDA approval of Qsymia and compared it to an alternative treatment called adipocytopenia therapy, which includes dietary changes and physical activity.
The analysis found that the recommended dose of Qsymia was cost-effective, and that its long-term use in this population may be cost-effective for reducing the risk of developing a range of comorbid conditions. However, it noted that a significant percentage of participants discontinued their medication mid-trial and did not stay on the drug for a full 52 weeks.
