There are seemingly endless weight loss medications on the market at any given time. Many are available over the counter, whether at the drugstore or online. Others are sold only by prescription. These tend to be costly, but come with the benefit of FDA approval and the safety and efficacy testing that approval entails.
Because of this variety, there is no single answer to the question of how weight loss medications work. Several different mechanisms of action are possible, and each medication uses one or more of them. That said, there are some that are more common or noteworthy than others.
How Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Medications Work
Placebo Effect
Unfortunately, the placebo effect is the driver behind how many over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss medications work. This is the beneficial effect that comes simply because you believe it will. In reality, the pills aren’t doing anything. Pills of this type are often sold as supplements in order to avoid the need to prove that they work.
Placebo pills are typically packaged with diet plans – sometimes extreme – that actually do all of the work. Look out for guarantees that say, usually in the fine print, that they are only valid if you carefully follow the diet plan.
Metabolism Increase
Some OTC weight loss medications work to increase your metabolism. These typically include caffeine along with other legal stimulants. The stimulants do indeed cause a metabolism increase, which then increases the amount of calories your body consumes.
The downside to this category of medication is that it can put extra strain on your heart and cardiovascular system, and other organs in some cases. Some formulations have been banned for the risk they pose to consumers.
Appetite Suppression
There are many formulations of appetite suppressants, in both OTC and prescription formulations. The OTC ones can be as simple as bulking agents, or they can use herbs or chemicals to try to deaden hunger sensations. These types of weight loss medications work to physically fill up some of your stomach with a non-fattening material, such as fiber, so you feel full. Herbal or chemical formulations, on the other hand, try to block natural hunger signals, with mixed results.
How Prescription Weight Loss Medications Work
In the United States, prescription medications must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration before they go to market. The benefit to consumers is that, as part of the approval process, they must be shown to be safe and effective. While this doesn’t mean that each option is safe and effective for everyone, it does mean that the medication should work to some degree for most people.
Because of this, you won’t have to worry about the placebo effect with prescription medications. If one doesn’t work for you, your doctor may be able to suggest another based on your case history.
Antidepressants
Some antidepressants have been shown to cause weight loss and may also be prescribed for that purpose. These weight loss medications work by helping to control mood-based eating. The big downside is that in some people, antidepressants paradoxically cause other side effects that outweigh any weight loss benefit.
Prescription Stimulants
Amphetamines and other prescription stimulants not only increase metabolism but can also curtail feelings of hunger. While they can be great for weight loss, they are also addictive if not used properly and can have other harmful side-effects. These are not often used by doctors beyond their primary purpose of addressing the medical issue at hand, such as ADHD or sleep disorders.
Diabetes Control Medications
Some of the most exciting and sought-after new prescription weight loss medications work primarily for diabetes. They were originally developed to control blood glucose levels and were first approved for that purpose. However, follow-up studies showed that they also help with significant weight loss, sometimes even in the absence of intentional dieting.
One of the most famous of these is Semaglutide, and another is Tirzepatide. Unlike most weight loss drugs, these medications are given as shots instead of pills.
Semaglutide causes the body to produce more insulin, and at doses suitable for weight loss, it also acts on appetite-related brain areas. Medically, it is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide works similarly but also slows digestion. This means you'll not just feel fuller, but that food will stay in your body for a longer time.
One of the most common side effects of weight loss shots is nausea. To combat this, dosages may be ramped up over time to give patients a better chance of getting used to the drugs.
Are Weight Loss Medications Prohibitively Expensive?
When they first hit the market, finding medications like Semaglutide were indeed prohibitively expensive, making it difficult to discover how well the weight loss medications worked. Now they are much more affordable. For example, at Unique Physique, a weight loss clinic in Baton Rouge, we offer different options for Semaglutide treatments.
Getting medication from Unique Physique is a simple process. Just book a one-time appointment, and we will help you determine which weight loss medications work for your needs or if other options are available. Contact our team today to get started.
