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What is Qsymia?
Qsymia is a combined drug to suppress appetite and control seizure & migraine. Vivus Inc pharmaceutical firm manufactured Qsymia and it was formally called Qnexa.
Phentermine is an appetite suppressant and it triggers the release of chemical norepinephrine in the brain that increases the blood concentration of leptin, an appetite-regulating hormone. Topiramate is commonly known as Topamax, prescribed for convulsion and migraine. It helps in weight loss by enhancing the feeling of being full, makes the food tasteless and increases the calorie expenditure. The combination of these two drugs is being a powerful punch against the obesity.
Qsymia is prescribed only for adults whose BMI is 30+ and who suffer from conditions like hypertension, Type II diabetes or high cholesterol. This is available in standard dosage, but also available at higher doses for selective patients. Women who use Qsymia should be precautious about birth control. If a woman becomes pregnant while in Qsymia treatment, she should immediately discontinue the medication and contact her physician. Results of a placebo-controlled study show the number of weight loss persons is more in Qsymia than who were under placebo.
The following people should not use Qsymia:
Pregnant women, people with eye problems, especially glaucoma, people who suffer from hyperactive thyroid, people who are under anti-depressant treatment, people who are allergic to phentermine, Topiramate. It has been instructed by FDA to pack Qsymia with a special risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) that includes an education guide for the patients, pharmacies, and providers.
The side effects of Qsymia:
The most common side effects of Qsymia are tingling sensation in the feet and hands, dizziness, changes in the taste, insomnia, dry mouth along with constipation. This drug also increases the heartbeat, affects the concentration. Topiramate may increase the suicidal thoughts or behavior, initiate new or worsening depression, cause mood or behavior changes among some patients. If the user experiences any of the said major effects, he/she needs to call the health care provider immediately. The weight loss factor may decrease the blood sugar in the case of type 2 diabetes. Qsymia users should interact with the physician to adjust the diabetes medication based on their physical condition.
Clinical trial results with Qsymia:
A recent study was done by Vivus, Inc. that obese patients consuming Qsymia lost an average of 22 pounds in a year along with reduced blood pressure and cholesterol levels. As results of a placebo-controlled study, those who took Qsymia lost an average of 8.9% Vs those who took the placebo. 7% of the people who took Qsymia lost 5% of their body weight compared to only 20% of the people who were on the placebo. Although Qsymia works in weight loss, the exact amount of weight loss will vary from person to person and it also based on the diet, exercise of the users. The user can expect 3% of weight loss during the first 12 weeks of this medication. If the user fails to lose this weight, he/she needs to alter the diet plan to help the medication work better.
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