Are you a Florida-based prescriber, trying to figure out what weight-loss prescription meds to recommend? This is the article you need to read. Today, the global weight management market size is valued at over $142.58 billion. This is fueled by the increasing number of weight loss prescriptions that have flooded the market. But while there has been an upsurge in quantity, sadly, this has made it hard to pick out effective weight loss solutions for your patients. In this article, we’ll make your work much easier by recommending the top prescription meds to recommend for your weight loss patients:
First things first; Criteria for choosing what weight loss meds to describe
Not all patients are eligible for weight loss medications. To establish this, you may need to carry out a BMI test. If this comes up to 30 or more, then weight loss meds are recommended.
However, if the BIM is less than 27, your patient may not be suitable for weight loss prescription meds. This is also the case if the patient has weight-related conditions. Feel free to contact Bay Life Pharmacy in Tampa Bay, Florida if you’d like assistance with determining if a patient is the right fit for weight loss medications.
Top Prescription meds for weight loss
Semaglutide
Back in 2021, Semaglutide, which also goes by other brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, got the green light from the FDA. It’s essentially a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which basically means that it mimics those abilities of the GLP-1 hormone. The purpose of this hormone is to assist our bodies in managing weight and blood sugar levels.
Here’s how it generally works;
- Reducing appetite
- Slowing down digestion
- Decreasing sugar production by the liver
- Encouraging insulin production.
This prescription medicine can be taken via injections, typically in the abdomen or in the upper arm. If you’d like to increase the effectiveness of Semaglutide therapy for your patients, pharmacy compounding can be the answer. Reach out to compounding specialists at Bay Life in Clearwater, Florida for assistance with your patient’s Semaglutide compounding needs.
Tirzepatide
Also known as Mounjaro or Zepbound, this is another excellent weight loss medication to prescribe to your patients. It was initially leveraged to treat obesity, particularly in adults with a BMI greater than 29.
Just like Semaglutide, it’s also a GLP-1 and GIP receptor, which means that it works in almost similar fashion. The similarities, however, don’t end there though, with Tirzepatide also administered as an injection.
Liraglutide
Saxenda or Liraglutide is also an injectable medication. It works by fooling the brain to help achieve satiety quicker, resulting in lower food intake which encourages weight loss. Additionally, it also suppresses hunger signals as well to prevent overeating.
By the end of the treatment, Bay Life Pharmacy in Florida confirms that patients can lose up to 10% of their body weight.
Some side effects that patients may need to watch out for though include:
- Renal insufficiency
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Dizziness.
It’s important to sit down with your patients to help them understand the side effects of weight loss prescription medications so that they can make a more informed decision.
Phentermine
True, tried and tested. Phentermine is not new to the weight loss scene. This drug has been around for a long time, and one of the reasons for its longevity is the simple fact that it works. While initially it served only to catalyze weight loss, similar to jumpstarting a dead car battery, now, it delivers high efficacy as a standalone, long-term therapy.
Your patients may lose up to about 5% of body weight with this drug. However, you can even achieve much better results by compounding phentermine. It’s important to note however that this drug may react adversely with alcohol, anesthetic agents and other types of drugs.
Orlistat
Whenever we eat, our digestive system breaks down the food. Excess fat, however, may get deposited across different parts of the body, resulting in weight gain. This is especially prevalent in situations where patients partake in a high-fat diet.
Orlistat steps in to change the situation. This is a lipid inhibitor that essentially stops your body from digesting fat while ensuring that this fat passes through the digestive system unabsorbed.
Compound weight loss meds to amplify efficacy!
Take your compounded weight loss prescription meds from good to great. Compounding is a great way to address the personal needs of your patients, creating a super-specific weight loss plan that increases success. It’s also an excellent strategy to help you improve the cost-efficiency of prescriptions and address patients’ unique needs in terms of flavor and form of administration. Visit the Bay Life pharmacy website for more details about compounding weight loss medications.
