Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)

Qsymia is a prescription weight-loss medicine that combines two drugs: phentermine, which reduces appetite, and topiramate, which helps you feel full sooner. It is taken as a once-daily capsule and is used together with diet and exercise for adults who are obese or overweight with weight-related health problems. It can help people lose significantly more weight than lifestyle changes alone.

Phentermine-topiramate extended-release (Qsymia) is a fixed-dose combination of a sympathomimetic anorectic and an antiepileptic, approved for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related comorbidity. Phentermine suppresses appetite through catecholamine release, while the appetite-suppressing action of topiramate is multifactorial, involving GABAergic and glutamatergic modulation. In trials it produced mean placebo-subtracted weight loss of about 8 to 10 percent at one year; it is contraindicated in pregnancy and requires monitoring of heart rate.

Combination anti-obesity medicines like Qsymia offer another option when diet and single agents are not enough. Dr Joseph Wang can assess whether this medication suits your medical profile and goals.